A Prosperity Gospel by Any Other Name

Any gospel that isn't centered around our need for Christ's substitutionary atonement for our sins is a prosperity gospel.

If we center our message around temporal benefits, even noble minded ones like being a better husband, we are teaching a false gospel. It true that being a discipled Christian will lead a man to be a better husband and help him get his life more correctly ordered, but that is not the center thrust of the gospel.

It's no wonder that we have so many discontented Christians in the world today. We become Christians because it will help us straighten out our lives here on earth, and then get upset when our lives suffer downs as well as ups.

The central point of the gospel has to be that I am dead in my sins, and the only reason I am not going to hell when I die is that Christ took my punishment on Himself on the cross. Just as important, He gives me the righteousness that He earned during His time here on earth, allowing me to see God face to face.

This central fact helps me deal with the low points in my life. I know that nothing I am going through here on earth comes close to what I would have gone through after death, had not Christ gone through it for me. And nothing I could ever hope to get in this world will compare to being with my Lord and His Father for eternity.

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Idolatrous Christians?

I had an interesting thought while listening to John MacArthur's talks at this address.

If I don't study my Bible, am I guilty of idolatry? Worshiping a false Christ is just as bad as worshiping a false god. No wonder Jesus said he would deny knowing some people who called Him Lord. It wasn't the "real Jesus" they were worshiping, but one that they invented themselves.

A Note From My Daily Psalm Reading - Fear of The Lord And Evangelism

I wonder if our lack of "fear of the Lord" is the reason so many people do not evangelize.

We stay away from the "angry God" parts of the Bible (the Prophets and some of the Psalms.) Indeed, some theologians follow the mistakes of past generations by removing those parts of the Bible from their own private canons.

It's no wonder we have so many prosperity gospels today. We tell people that choosing Christ will give them better marriages or get their finances in order. This may be an effect, but it's not the reason we should be evangelizing.

This lack of fear is probably one reason why modern Christians are so lacking in joy. Perhaps if we read the "woe..." parts of the Bible and stopped to think "there but for the grace of God go I" we would walk with greater joy and gratitude. �

A Random Thought

Many people have a problem with the way Christians see everything in
the Old Testament as pointing to Christ. Why is that?
The New Testament is full of exhortations to persevere in the face of
suffering because we are partaking in Christ's suffering. Why should
we not assume that people in the Old Testament would not have a
similar honor?
The only difference is that they are on the other side of the
incarnation, which makes their lives a prophecy.

Which Acts Character Are You?

Which Acts Character Are You? Your Result: Luke You love to write and record everything accurately. you might keep a journal where you record all that happens around you. you are very curious and ask a lot of questions. yuo are a very faithful friend who will always be there for others.
Peter
Paul
Mary
Saul
Which Acts Character Are You? Quizzes for MySpace

Sermon Plagiarism: The Result of a Need to Entertain Instead of Inform?

Like the team at "Theology of the Body", I'm amazed by the amount of theology that was put into the sermons by Edwards and Augustine. What's even more amazing is the amount of theological terms that were used without explanation. The people listening to these sermons must have known the definitions of the terms being used.

When I read George Marsden's biography of Jonathan Edwards I was struck by how seriously everyone took religion in those days. Even in my church, which likes to pride itself for being Reformed, there are a lot of people who want just "practical" sermons, and not a lot of theology.

A Random Advent Thought

It's interesting how we humans can make the same mistake while thinking we are avoiding it.

During His first Advent, Jesus was rejected by most of His people because He didn't fit their pre-conceived mold for what the Messiah would be. They were expecting a warrior king and received a humble miracle worker.

Now everyone is expecting "gentle Jesus, meek and mild" to return. How surprised will some people be when He does return with sword in His mouth instead of a parable and starts judging the quick and the dead.

Meditation For This Week of Advent

I've been spending part of this week thinking about what BB Warfield said concerning Christ's incarnation. Specifically, the example our Lord set when He walked among us.

The closest Christ came to receiving the honor that was due him occured during His "Triumphal Entry" the week before He died. As God incarnate He should have been greeted everywhere with prostrate worshippers and cries of joy. Instead, He constantly dealt with doubters and second guessers. For 33 years He denied what was His due to serve and not to be served.

Let me meditate on Christ's example of self denial and service to others.

Let me also meditate on why Christ denied Himself for 33 years (an entire "human lifetime" in those days.) It was for my sake.

Christ's death on the cross paid for the sins that I commited, that were imputed to Him. This saved me from the penalty of the law, but it wouldn't get me into heaven. Only perfect obedience to the law would do that. So Christ came not only to die for my sake, but to live for it. My sins became His, His obedience became mine.

Let me also meditate on why I should deny myself: for the sake of others and not myself.