Does the 2nd Amendment apply to the Canons of Dort?

AMENDMENT II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

If the people have a right to bear arms can we keep a Canon? Probabally even the NRA does advocate that.

Ok, bad analogy I know but with all the talk about gun control I thought it was a good play on words.

All kidding aside, our right is actually assured by the First Amendment.

AMENDMENT I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I’ve spent the last 45 or so years attending mostly Congregational or Presbyterian Churches, which if they are true to their Statements of Faith would be fully affirmng the Westminster Standards. Over the last 7-8 years I’ve had the opportunity to faithfully teach our Sunday School Class and a small group from the original version of the Confession and Catechism. There is no finer document to help teach all of the Biblical Doctrines found in the Bible.

But a couple years ago my friends Art and Lori, shared with me some of the joy they found in their new church which was both sound Biblically but also of the traditional Reformed denomination. I continue to teach at our local church but have a few times enjoyed fellowship with their church and have gotten to know the pastor a little bit.

I never spent time looking at their statements, so I thought I should check them out. The Canons of Dort is one of the three core ones. I didn’t realize it was so simple and straightforward. Worthly of a slow reading....

BTW Listening to 2 of Pastor Ganger’s older sermons precipitated me down this path.

John 6:41-71 - Atonement - 2/28/10 PM
Luke 8:4-15 - Gospel Preaching - 4/11/10 PM

Note: These are WMA files so if you try to play them like I do on the iPad or iPhone you will need an app like OPlayer since IOS doesn’t handle that format automatically.
They of course play fine on a PC and I think MAC’s are smart enough to translate.

Some of my reading on the Internet is revealing that Calvinism, is once again coming under attack, both in it’s neo-Calvinism and hyper-Calvinism false forms this might be justified but in it’s true Reformed form there is much to be read and learned.

BTW: For a good old reading on Calvin, open Volume 2 of J.A. Wylie’s History of Protestantism. There is an earlier reflection on Calvin in Chapter 4 beginning on page 236, but the real story begins with Chapter 6. In my small group Thursday readings, we are working our way through the whole of Wylie’s work and are currentlly in this era.

BTW2: There’s nothing new about the attacks on Calvin that we see from various sides today, as you can see from this Wylie quote:

It was at Poictiers that the evangelisation of France began in a systematic way. The school which Calvin here gathered round him comprehended persons in all conditions of life — canons, lawyers, professors, counts, and tradesmen. They discoursed about Divine mysteries as they walked together on the banks of the neighboring torrent, the Clain, or as they assembled in the garden of the Basses Treilles, where, like the ancient Platonists, they often held their re-unions. There, as the Papists have said, were the first beginnings in France of Protestant conventicles and councils. “As it was in a garden,” said the Roman Catholics of Poictiers, “that our first parents were seduced, so are these men being enchanted by Calvin in the garden of the Basses Treilles.”

Certainly a lightening rod then as today.
You can decide if you agree or are not convinced.

Canons of Dort
§67. The Canons of Dort.

The Canons of Dort are likewise confined to five points or ’Heads of Doctrine,’ and exhibit what is technically called the Calvinistic system—first positively, then negatively, in the rejection of the Arminian errors. [See Note #992] Each Head of Doctrine (subdivided into Articles) is subscribed by the Dutch and foreign delegates.

FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE.

Of Divine Predestination. —Since all men sinned in Adam and lie under the curse [according to the Augustinian system held by all the Reformers], God would have done no injustice if he had left them to their merited punishment; but in his infinite mercy he provided a salvation through the gospel of Christ, that those who believe in him may not perish, but have eternal life. That some receive the gift of faith from God and others not, proceeds from God’s eternal decree of election and reprobation.

Election is the unchangeable purpose of God whereby, before the foundation of the world, he has, out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will, chosen from the whole human race, which has fallen through their own fault from their primitive state of rectitude into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom he from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect, and the foundation of salvation. These elect, though neither better nor more deserving than others, God has decreed to give to Christ to be saved by him, and bestow upon them true faith, conversion, justification and sanctification, perseverance to the end, and final glory (Eph 1:4-6; Rom 8:30).

Election is absolute and unconditional. It is not founded upon foreseen faith and holiness, as the prerequisite condition on which it depended; on the contrary, it is the fountain of faith, holiness, and eternal life itself. God has chosen us, not because we are holy, but to the end that we should be holy (Eph 1:4; Rom 9:11-13; Act 13:38). As God is unchangeable, so his election is unchangeable, and the elect can neither be cast away nor their number be diminished. The sense and certainty of election is a constant stimulus to humility and gratitude.

The non-elect are simply left to the just condemnation of their own sins. This is the decree of reprobation, which by no means makes God the author of sin (the very thought of which is blasphemy), but declares him to be an awful, irreprehensible, and righteous judge and avenger (Cat. Ch. 1. Art. 15).

SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE.

Of the Death of Christ. [Limited Atonement.] —According to the sovereign counsel of God, the saving efficacy of the atoning death of Christ extends to all the elect [and to them only], so as to bring them infallibly to salvation. But, intrinsically, the sacrifice and satisfaction of Christ is of infinite worth and value, abundantly sufficient to expiate the sins of the whole world. This death derives its infinite value and dignity from these considerations; because the person who submitted to it was not only really man and perfectly holy, but also the only-begotten Son of God, of the same eternal and infinite essence with the Father and Holy Spirit, which qualifications were necessary to constitute him a Saviour for us; and because it was attended with a sense of the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin.

Moreover the promise of the gospel is, that whosoever believeth in Christ crucified shall not perish, but have everlasting life. This promise, together with the command to repent and believe, ought to be declared and published to all nations, and to all persons promiscuously and without distinction, to whom God out of his good pleasure sends the gospel.

And, whereas many who are called by the gospel do not repent nor believe in Christ, but perish in unbelief; this is not owing to any defect or insufficiency in the sacrifice offered by Christ upon the cross, but is wholly to be imputed to themselves. [See Note #993]

THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE.

Of the Corruption of Man, his Conversion to God, and the Manner thereof. —Man was originally formed after the image of God. His understanding was adorned with a true and saving knowledge of his Creator, and of spiritual things; his heart and will were upright, all his affections pure, and the whole Man was holy; but revolting from God by the instigation of the devil, and abusing the freedom of his own will, he forfeited these excellent gifts, and on the contrary entailed on himself blindness of mind, horrible darkness, vanity, and perverseness of judgment; became wicked, rebellious, and obdurate in heart and will, and impure in [all] his affections.

Man after the fall begat children in his own likeness. A corrupt stock produced a corrupt offspring. Hence all the posterity of Adam, Christ only excepted, have derived corruption from their original parent, not by imitation, as the Pelagians of old asserted, but by the propagation of a vicious nature in consequence of a just judgment of God.

Therefore all men are conceived in sin, and are by nature children of wrath, incapable of any saving good, prone to evil, dead in sin, and in bondage thereto; and, without the regenerating grace of the Holy Spirit, they are neither able nor willing to return to God, to reform the depravity of their nature, nor to dispose themselves to reformation.

What, therefore, neither the light of nature nor the law could do, that God performs by the operation of his Holy Spirit through the word or ministry of reconciliation: which is the glad tidings concerning the Messiah, by means whereof it hath pleased God to save such as believe, as well under the Old as under the New Testament.

As many as are called by the gospel are unfeignedly called; for God hath most earnestly and truly declared in his Word what will be acceptable to him, namely, that all who are called should comply with the invitation. He, moreover, seriously promises eternal life and rest to as many as shall come to him, and believe on him.

It is not the fault of the gospel, nor of Christ offered therein, nor of God, who calls men by the gospel, and confers upon them various gifts, that those who are called by the ministry of the Word refuse to come and be converted. The fault lies in themselves.

But that others who are called by the gospel obey the call must be wholly ascribed to God, who, as he hath chosen his own from eternity in Christ, so he calls them effectually in time, confers upon them faith and repentance, rescues them from the power of darkness, and translates them into the kingdom of his own Son, that they may show forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvelous light; and may glory not in themselves but in the Lord, according to the testimony of the Apostles in various places.

Faith is therefore the gift of God, not on account of its being offered by God to man, to be accepted or rejected at his pleasure, but because it is in reality conferred, breathed, and infused into him; nor even because God bestows the power or ability to believe, and then expects that man should, by the exercise of his own free will, consent to the terms of salvation, and actually believe in Christ; but because he who works in man both to will and to do, and indeed all things in all, produces both the will to believe and the act of believing also.

FIFTH HEAD OF DOCRINE.

Of the Perseverance of the Saints. —Whom God calls, according to his purpose, to the communion of his Son our Lord Jesus Christ, and regenerates by the Holy Spirit, he delivers also from the dominion and slavery of sin in this life; though not altogether from the body of sin and from the infirmities of the flesh, so long as they continue in this world.

By reason of these remains of indwelling sin, and the temptations of sin and of the world, those who are converted could not persevere in a state of grace if left to their own strength. But God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms and powerfully preserves them therein, even to the end.

Of this preservation of the elect to salvation, and of their perseverance in the faith, true believers for themselves may and do obtain assurance according to the measure of their faith, whereby they arrive at the certain persuasion that they ever will continue true and living members of the Church; and that they experience forgiveness of sins, and will at last inherit eternal life.

This certainty of perseverance, however, is so far from exciting in believers a spirit of pride, or of rendering them carnally secure, that, on the contrary, it is the real source of humility, filial reverence, true piety, patience in every tribulation, fervent prayers, constancy in suffering and in confessing the truth, and of solid rejoicing in God; so that the consideration of this benefit should serve as an incentive to the serious and constant practice of gratitude and good works, as appears from the testimonies of Scripture and the examples of the saints.

In opposition to the Canons of Dort, Episcopius prepared a lengthy defense of the Arminian Articles and a confession of faith in Dutch, 1621, and in Latin, 1622. It claims no binding symbolical authority, and advocates liberty and toleration. [See Note #994]

Note #992

The term ’rejectio errorum, ’ instead of the condemnation and anathemas of the Greek and Roman Churches in dealing with heresies, indicates that Protestant orthodoxy is more liberal and charitable than the Catholic.

Note #993

The advocates of a limited atonement reason from the effect to the cause, and make the divine intention co-extensive with the actual application; but they can give no satisfactory explanation of such passages as Joh 3:16(’God so loved the world ,’ which never means the elect only, but all mankind); 1Jn 2:2(’Christ is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world ’); 1Ti 2:4; 2Pe 3:9. All admit, however, with the Articles of Dort, that the intrinsic value of the atonement, being the act of the God-man, is infinite and sufficient to cover the sins of all men. Dr. W. Cunningham says: ’The value or worth of Christ’s sacrifice of himself depends upon, and is measured by, the dignity of his person, and is therefore infinite. Though many fewer of the human race had been to be pardoned and saved, an atonement of infinite value would have been necessary, in order to procure for them these blessings; and though many more, yea, all men, had been to be pardoned and saved, the death of Christ, being an atonement of infinite value, would have been amply sufficient, as the ground or basis of their forgiveness or salvation’ (Historical Theol. Vol. II. p. 331). Similarly, Dr. Hodge, Vol. II. pp. 544 sqq. After such admissions the difference of the two theories is of little practical account. Full logical consistency would require us to measure the value of Christ’s atonement by the extent of its actual benefit or availability, and either to expand or to contract it according to the number of the elect; but such an opinion is derogatory to the dignity of Christ, and is held by very few extreme Calvinists of little or no influence. Cunningham says (p. 331): ’There is no doubt that all the most eminent Calvinistic divines hold the infinite worth or value of Christ’s atonement—its full sufficiency for expiating all the sins of all men.’

Note #994

A German translation in Böckel’s Bekenntniss-Schriften, pp. 545–640.
Source: Philip Schaff's The Creeds of Christendom

What is Lent?

I offer this up to the reader who is curious about Lent.
Our church celebrates it as a time of reflection and preparing for Easter.

Many offer advice whether this is a good thing or not, and whether it is required or not.

I've been reading some fair bit about Lent and found the history to be somewhat concerning.
You can decide for yourself.

There were a couple of links posted here:

What is Lent?
Give up Lent for Lent.

Here is one bit of information:

Hope this is not fake news...
Lent-Babylon connection....

Read full article BTW The Two Babylon’s book has much controversy. I have not read it.

You can also get details.

The Limited fact checking I did besides Wikipedia, was to check the Bible quote and John Gill’s historical commentary from the mid 1700’s.

Btw Gill made only a couple passing comments on Lent (since the word is not in the Bible):

1 Timothy 4:3....to abstain from meats: not from some certain meats forbidden by the law of Moses, as did some judaizing Christians; but from all meats at some certain season of the year, as at what they call the Quadragesima or Lent, and at some days in the week, as Wednesdays and Fridays; and this all under an hypocritical pretence of holiness, and temperance, and keeping under the body, and of mortification; when they are the greatest pamperers of their bodies, and indulge themselves in all manner of sensuality: the evil of this is exposed by the apostle, as follows, ....(find his commentary and read for yourself).

The article quotes this verse...
Ezekiel 8:14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.


John Gill has a long comment on that verse....

and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz:

they were not in the court of the women, where they should have been; butat the northern gate, near the place of sacrifice; and they were sitting there,which none but the kings of the house of Judah, and of the family of David,were allowed in the temple (z); but, what was the greatest abomination,they were weeping for Tammuz. Jarchi says this was an image, which theyheated inwardly, and its eyes were of lead; and these being melted with theheat, it seemed to weep; wherefore (the women) said, it asks for an offering:but not the idol, but the women, wept. Kimchi relates various interpretationsof it;

"some (he says)
expound it by an antiphrasis, "making Tammuz glad"; in the month of
Tammuz they made a feast to the idol, and the women came to make him glad:
others say, that with great diligence they brought water to the eyes of the
idol called Tammuz, and it wept; signifying that it desired they would worship
it:

others interpret the
word Tammuz as signifying "burnt"; (from the words in Dan 3:19; למזא לאתונא, "to heat the furnace";) as if should
say, they wept for him, because he was for they burnt their sons and daughters
in the fire, and the women wept for them.

He further observes,
that Maimonides (a) writes, that he found written in one of the books
of the ancient idolaters, that there was a man of the idolatrous prophets,
whose name was Tammuz; who called to a certain king, and commanded him to
worship the seven stars, and the twelve signs of the zodiac, for which the king
put him to a violent death; and, the same night he died, all the images from
the ends of the earth gathered together to the temple of Babylon, to a golden
image which was the image of the sun; and this image was hanging between the
heavens and the earth, and it fell into the midst of the temple, and so all the
images round about it; and it declared unto them what had happened to Tammuz
the prophet; and all the images wept and lamented all that night; and when
it was morning, they all fled to their temples at the ends of the earth; and this
became an everlasting statute to them, that at the beginning of the first day
of the month Tammuz, every year, they lament and weeps for Tammuz; and there
are others that expound Tammuz the name of a beast which they worship;''

but, leaving theseinterpretations, Tammuz was either the Adonis of the Grecians; and sothe Vulgate Latin version renders it Adonis; who was a young man beloved byVenus, and, being killed by a boar, his death was lamented by her; and, inrespect to the goddess, an anniversary solemnity was kept by men and womenlamenting his death, especially by women. So Pausanias, speaking of acertain place, there (says he) the women of the Argives (a people in Greece)mourn for Adonis (b). Lucian (c) gives a particular account of thisceremony, as performed at Byblus, a city in Phoenicia, not far from Judea; fromwhence the Jews might have borrowed this custom.

"I have seen
(says he), in Byblus, a large temple of Venus Byblia, where they performed the
rites unto Adonis, and I was a spectator of them. The Byblians say the affair
relating to Adonis (or his death) by a boar happened in their country; and, in
memory of it, every year they beat themselves, lament and offer sacrifice, and
great mourning goes through the whole country; and when they beat themselves
and mourn, they sacrifice to Adonis as dead; but the day following they pretend
he is alive; and they shave their heads, as the Egyptians do at the death of
Apis;''

and indeed it isthought by some that this Tammuz is the Osiris of the Egyptians; the same withMizraim, the first king of Egypt, who, being slain in battle, his wife hisordered that he should be worshipped as a god, and a yearly lamentation madefor him; and indeed Osiris and Adonis seem to be one and the same, only indifferent nations called by different names. Mention is made inPlato (d) of Thamus, a king that reigned at Thebes over all Egypt,and was the god called Ammon; no doubt the same with this Tammuz; and who ishere called, in the Syriac and Arabic versions, Thamuz or Tamuz; he seems to bethe same with Ham; and Egypt was called, the land of Ham, Psa 105:27;and it is most probable the Jews borrowed this piece of idolatry from theEgyptians their neighbours; with whom they were now very familiar, and fromwhom they expected help against the Chaldeans; but as there were such shockingobscenities used in this idolatrous service, it is most amazing that the Jewishwomen, who had been instructed in the law and worship of God, should ever gointo it.

Gussetius (e) thinksthat Bacchus, the god of wine, is meant; and gives several reasons for it; andamong the rest observes, that in the fourth month, called Tammuz from him, thevine was forming in ripe grapes; near the beginning of a fifth month, it waspressed out, and tunned up; and by the next month, having done fermenting, itwas stopped up, which represented him buried; and for which the weeping was inthis month.

(y) Misn.
Middot, c. 5. sect. 3. (z) Maimon. Hilchot Melachim, c. 2. sect.
4. (a) Moreh Nevochim, par. 3. c. 29, p.
426. (b) Corinthiaca, sive l. 2. p. 121. (c) De Dea Syria.
Vid. Theocriti, αδονιαζουσαι, Idyll.
15. (d) Phaedrus, tom. 3. p. 974, Ed. Serran. (e) Ebr.
Comment. p. 903. So Luther apud Dieteric. Antiqu. Bibl. par. 2. p. 132.

ArticleQuote: (see full text)

Lent’s Ancient Roots

Comingfrom the Anglo-Saxon Lencten, meaning “spring,” Lent originated inthe ancient Babylonian mystery religion. “The forty days abstinence of Lent wasdirectly borrowed from the worshippers of the Babylonian goddess…Among thePagans this Lent seems to have been an indispensable preliminary to the greatannual festival in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Tammuz…” (TheTwo Babylons).

Tammuzwas the false Messiah of the Babylonians—a satanic counterfeit of Jesus Christ!

TheFeast of Tammuz was usually celebrated in June (also called the “month of thefestival of Tammuz”). Lent was held 40 days before the feast, “celebrated byalternate weeping and rejoicing” (ibid.). This is why Lent means “spring”; ittook place from spring to early summer.

TheBible records ancient Judah worshipping this false Messiah: “Then He brought meto the door of the gate of the Lord’s house which was toward the north;and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz” (Ezek. 8:14). This was a greatabomination in God’s eyes!

Butwhy did the church at Rome institute such a pagan holiday?

“Toconciliate the Pagans to nominal Christianity, Rome, pursuing its usual policy,took measures to get the Christian and Pagan festivals amalgamated, and, by acomplicated but skillful adjustment of the calendar, it was found no difficultmatter, in general, to get Paganism and Christianity—now far sunk inidolatry—in this as in so many other things, to shake hands” (The TwoBabylons).

TheRoman church replaced Passover with Easter, moving the pagan Feast of Tammuz toearly spring, “Christianizing” it. Lent moved with it.

“Thischange of the calendar in regard to Easter was attended with momentousconsequences. It brought into the Church the grossest corruption and therankest superstition in connection with the abstinence of Lent” (ibid.).

Beforegiving up personal sins and vices during Lent, the pagans held a wild,“anything goes” celebration to make sure that they got in their share ofdebaucheries and perversities—what the world celebrates as Mardi Gras today.

Read the larger article and articles in the links up above, and you can decide for yourself.

There are many articles that describe the other view of time devoted to prepare for Easter.

John 6:41-71 - A Word about Atonement and Election

While hiking yestarday I listened to a sermon by a Pastor I have grown to appreciate for his preaching directly from the Bible and commitment to historical reformed teaching in this post-modern day.

The sermon covers very well the often confused topic under the term “Election”, it gives a good explaination which is easy to follow, and explains why it is so important to preach the gospel to all people.

John 6:41-71 - Atonement - 2/28/10 PM

That audio file is in WMA format, it will play on a PC and most likely a MAC, but on the iPhone or iPad one needs to open it from inside an APP like OPlayer which can play files other than MP3’s. If that is the case just copy the link and paste it in your OPlayer browser, inside the APP.

You can find other sermons at the church website using the link below. These are older sermons but still very good. They are working on a new website. But are just a small local church trying to live and teach the whole word of God.

Pastor Rev. Joghinda Gangar graduated in 1984 from Westminster Theological Seminary in Escondido, CA. He was ordained in the Christian Reformed Church in 1986 and served churches in Calgary and Wellandport in Canada. Since 1998, he has been serving Trinity URC in Walnut Creek. Rev. Gangar was born in Punjab, India, and raised in England. He is married to Sheena and has seven children who ranged in age from 20 years to 6 years.

In February 2004, Rev. Gangar and his brother, also a minister, went on a mission trip to Punjab, their birthplace. This was the first time they had visited Punjab since they left as children 43 years ago. They were enthusiastically received and held three evangelistic meetings, each with about 300 present. Rev. Gangar desires to see this opportunity for missions continue and grow since the people seem to be open to the gospel.

Both Here and There......

The was an interesting post I just read, missed it when it came out.
It must be true...

Santa Claus and Schrödinger's Cat
One of the frequent arguments against the existence of Santa Claus is the question, "How could he possibly make it to every home throughout the whole world in one night?"

At last, quantum physics gives us the answer.

Also check my older post on a similiar Quantum Effect.

Btw, If you are inclined to buy into this you might want to check out a much more dangerous stream of think have been lately propogated on the visible church. Metaphysical Mysticism Masquerading as Science.

This stuff is loaded with false teaching, it is offered only as a warning and resouce if you ever come across it. Stick with your Bible reading.

Discernment

Past month or so I’ve been seeing a number of posts about discernment, and the aspect of ministering the truth through accurately discerning what is happening in the visible church today.

1 Chronicles 12:32  And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.
Acts 17:11  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Here are a few recent links that try to address whether this is helpful or not, you can decide.

One good blogger writes...

Speaking the truth in love
Posted on January 30, 2018 by Mike Ratliff
by Mike Ratliff

Christians and Apostates
Posted on January 31, 2018 by Mike Ratliff
by Mike Ratliff

Apostasy is the fruit of false prophets
Posted on February 1, 2018 by Mike Ratliff
by Mike Ratliff

And a couple of blogs by women.

Answering the Opposition- Responses to the Most Frequently Raised Discernment Objections

19 Friday Jan 2018
Posted by Michelle Lesley more in Discernment

For an interesting take on the escalating controversy surrounding discernment ministries, investigate Elizabeth Prata’s Speaking up for discernment ministries in The End Time blog.

Worshiping false gods or perhaps even the true God(s) in false ways.

Even the Best can attempt to worship God in false ways....one sees this in other passages.

Exodus 32:4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

1 Kings 12:28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Or even worse....not even attempting to worship the God(s) which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

1Ki 16:31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
1Ki 16:32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
1Ki 16:33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.

Read more here.

Where do you fall on this issue?

I may have sent this out earlier, but I decided to read it more carefully.
For myself having once been quite into these readings and practices, I was able to separate from them some 10 or so years ago. Now I only deal with difficulty with friends family and pastors who find it part of their way of faith.

One might debate whether this is good or bad, but it certainly seems that the East and West have met, and that New Age (read about Alice Bailey) is interconnected in words and practice.

These certain questions might be: does this present a different gospel, different ways to salvation, and of course are we to rely on the Bible being our sole source of truth.

The WCF has an operating statement about this in Chapter 1:

4. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man, or church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God.

5. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church to an high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scripture. And the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is, to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God: yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.

6. The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word: and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature, and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.

The author argues that despite supposed good intentions....

Show me a Scripture in the Bible in which the Holy Spirit is activated or accessed by contemplative prayer. If such a verse exists, wouldn’t it be the keynote verse in defense of contemplative prayer?

None exists!

Contemplative Prayer or the Holy Spirit – It Can’t Be Both
January 19, 2018 by Lighthouse Trails author
By Ray Yungen

A Brief Sidetrack on the Discernment Path

I read a blog post today that I thought was useful. It might be hard to internalize if you don't see things this way. I've added a few of my own thoughts. You can read the article at this link.

I don't think I will convert anyone, but if you read this it might spur some thought.

https://mikeratliff.wordpress.com/2017/03/21/discernment-is-vital-but-it-only-comes-to-those-who-are-mature-in-christ/

The opening paragraph in the linked articles above is

In 1887, Robert Shindler, a fellow pastor and close friend of Charles Spurgeon, wrote in Spurgeon’s publication, The Sword and the Trowel: “It is all too plainly apparent men are willing to forego the old for the sake of the new. But commonly it is found in theology that that which is true is not new, and that which is new is not true.” 

If we think deeply and honestly on those searing words with all humility and willingness to repent of what God shows us about ourselves, I am certain that each of us must repent of falling for the fallacy of seeking that which is new or different in our theology. If we are honestly seeking the will of God that is both good and right, but if we are looking to have itching ears tickled or are pursuing the subjective or experiential as the means of fulfillment then all we are really doing is falling for some lie and are revealing that we are indeed just infants in the Lord who are being tossed by waves and carried around by every wind of doctrine by the cunning of men with craftiness leading to the scheming of deception. I doubt if any one reading this really wants that. 

I have had my own times in the past where I have strayed down various false paths, much reminiscent of Christian's journey in Pilgrim's Progress an old work by John Bunyan, which used to be read and understood in our schools. My own journey took me into a few of the secular ways, into Richard Foster revelations of our contemplative nature, a brush with some New Age visualization or Law of Attraction material, and more recently some of the modern mega-Pastor books and writings.....Warren, Keller, Piper...and others popularized by "Chrisitan" publishers. Luckily I missed much of the error in the emergent church, NAR, and other ways to stray. I can also say that from the beginning of my walk in faith, mile makers of actually being in the Bible text consistently were along my path. I can reflect back to the early 70's to my first in depth reading of the Gospel of John, and even some early attempts at verse memorization.

In my observation there is no lack of attraction being offered along the way to draw us off the path of biblical faith. As the quote speaks clearly....there is always something new.....and if it can be sold as something old then all the better. It is true that discernment is difficult and even those who are off the path will go out of their way to rationalize their position from either the Bible or some historical figure of faith or tradition or all three. It is very difficult to figure out you are on the wrong path, even more so if your support group or spiritual guide or director is encouraging you just the opposite. 

I've found that both sides want to lay claim on having the Bible support their position. It's good to be Berean's, but hard to do so in reality.

Act 17:11  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

As for the author's title, I might add that it is good to be mature but it is not to be taken as a gnostic idea that somehow one has a higher knowledge....that in itself if a major false path. the Biblle speaks about maturity this way.

Luk 10:21  In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

Rom 2:20  An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

1Pe 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

And the old Westminster Confession speaks about how the basics/essentials of faith can be readily understood. From Chapter 1:

7. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.

You can look those up in context.

Perhaps if I have any insight the following may be helpful.

1) Even false teachers will often teach something which is true. Just look at the example of Satan in the garden.

2) Read your Bible....Read all of it.....over and over. Learn the historical confessions and catechisms.

3) Read verses in Context. Read texts before and after your text. Look to all 66 books of the Bible for support or interpretation of the broader context.

4) Pray

5) Get a KJV copy of the Bible and read it.

6) Read the old Protestant teachers....I use John Gill and Matthew Henry for commentary, I avoid most modern books and try to read older works by men like Wylie, Ryle, Spurgeon. I try to avoid those connected with the historic Roman Catholic Church. Or those promoted in the new mystical revivals. But be aware that everyone has the potential to speak to false paths.

7) It can be useful to avoid the popular or maybe more likely, the advertising hyped use to promote ideas today. If you read enough in the Bible you can begin to see that the truth will not always sell or be popular or avoid persecution. Just remember though false teachers will also often say they are the ones persecuted.

8) Try to be nice....and try to not give up.

BTW in the Old KJV the author's passage reads:

Eph 4:11  ♥️  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

At least these guys don't have the love of money to worry about....

I first found this on the Watchmansbagpipes site, it's a good one, worth sharing.

"Dave Ramsey should stick with financial advise and leave the Bible alone. "

This is a new site for me...I've only looked at the video referenced so I can't vouch for other things he says but this is amazing....Provides a good reason why churches should not video their "sermons" if you can still call them that. Watch and weep. I am only surprised at how obvious this is. And yes it is present in many churches. I can't help but feel that all the staff and pastor and guest do is just present a "Christianized" marketing ad....with all the trimmings of creating emotional desire, and guilt to direct you to buy into their product. What a sales game this is. Anyway perhaps in their other sermons they do present the gospel.

http://www.piratechristian.com/messedupchurch/2017/2/dave-ramsey-gets-biblically-scrutinized

February 20, 2017
Dave Ramsey Gets Biblically Scrutinized

YouTube Bible teacher "BezelT3" (who has a TON of great teaching videos!) does an excellent job of scrutinizing the Mega-Church message from Dave Ramsey & Company in this video:

Filthy Lucre.
Notice that this is essential for maintaining mega-church, note the staff size comment, and the slide that shows Dave Ramsey's $55m net worth...certainly works for him...but I'm sure he does give it away.

1Ti 3:3  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

1Ti 3:8  Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

Tit 1:7  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

Tit 1:11  Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

1Pe 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Repost: Intense Theological Point made Simple

Repost: Intense Theological Point made Simple...

I can't recall a better explanation of this doctrine. Besides I really like the movie.

Read my post on John 6, which is really just the Bible text, if you want some more detail.

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Miracle Max explains Arminianism v. Calvinism

https://the-end-time.blogspot.com/2017/01/miracle-max-explains-arminianism-v.html

"With all dead, there's only one thing you can do. Go through his pockets and look for loose change."

LOL. For those who might not know, Miracle Max is a fictional character in the movie The Princess Bride. Of course, the movie was an entertainment fairy tale move, not a theological treatise. But Max's words summed up a critical difference in the two actual approaches to salvation.

The Arminian believes we are slightly alive, and that in some corner of the heart, we can at some point in life choose salvation.

The person who understands the Doctrines of Grace knows that divine grace is the only catalyst for salvation, and that we have nothing to do with it. God saves us. As a matter of fact, He chose every person He decided He was going to save before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 2:1-6).

There's a big difference between Mostly Dead (Arminianism) and All Dead (Calvinism). Miracle Max, you are very wise!

Repost: Intense Theological Point made Simple...

I can't recall a better explanation of this doctrine. Besides I really like the movie.

Read my post on John 6, which is really just the Bible text, if you want some more detail.

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Miracle Max explains Arminianism v. Calvinism

https://the-end-time.blogspot.com/2017/01/miracle-max-explains-arminianism-v.html

"With all dead, there's only one thing you can do. Go through his pockets and look for loose change."

LOL. For those who might not know, Miracle Max is a fictional character in the movie The Princess Bride. Of course, the movie was an entertainment fairy tale move, not a theological treatise. But Max's words summed up a critical difference in the two actual approaches to salvation.

The Arminian believes we are slightly alive, and that in some corner of the heart, we can at some point in life choose salvation.

The person who understands the Doctrines of Grace knows that divine grace is the only catalyst for salvation, and that we have nothing to do with it. God saves us. As a matter of fact, He chose every person He decided He was going to save before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 2:1-6).

There's a big difference between Mostly Dead (Arminianism) and All Dead (Calvinism). Miracle Max, you are very wise!

Reposting a blog I read today

I think this is important and is being missed in the church today.

Article is a good start. 

Two thoughts...

I think I mentioned this the other day..in one of my small group studies.

Exo 32:1  And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

Exo 32:2  And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.

Exo 32:3  And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.

Exo 32:4  And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Exo 32:5  And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.

Exo 32:6  And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

Notice verses 4-5 these are implied to be ways intended to worship the true God, but in false ways.

Also note in out Kings study the golden calf image shows up again.

Jeroboam's Golden Calves

1Ki 12:25  Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.

1Ki 12:26  And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:

1Ki 12:27  If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.

1Ki 12:28  Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

1Ki 12:29  And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.

1Ki 12:30  And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.

1Ki 12:31  And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.

1Ki 12:32  And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.

1Ki 12:33  So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.

Again false ways to worship the true God.

Perhaps when we finish the Kings study we can look more deeply at:

The Regulative Principle of Worship.....the doctrine that helps to govern this which nobody understands today.

Reposting this blog with shows a different aspect of this issue.
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/

The Desert Fathers and the Methods They Used

By Ray Yungen

Catholic priest William Shannon in his book, Seeds of Peace, explained the human dilemma as being the following:

This forgetfulness, of our oneness with God, is not just a personal experience, it is the corporate experience of humanity. Indeed, this is one way to understanding original sin. We are in God, but we don’t seem to know it. We are in paradise, but we don’t realize it.1

Shannon’s viewpoint defines the basic underlying worldview of the contemplative prayer movement as a whole. One can find similar quotations in practically every book written by contemplative authors. A Hindu guru or a Zen Buddhist master would offer the same explanation. This conclusion becomes completely logical when tracing the roots of contemplative prayer. Let us look at the beginnings of this practice.

In the early Middle Ages, there lived a group of hermits in the wilderness areas of the Middle East. They are known to history as the Desert Fathers. They dwelt in small isolated communities for the purpose of devoting their lives completely to God without distraction. The contemplative movement traces its roots back to these monks who promoted the mantra as a prayer tool. One meditation scholar made this connection when he said:

The meditation practices and rules for living of these earliest Christian monks bear strong similarity to those of their Hindu and Buddhist renunciate brethren several kingdoms to the East … the meditative techniques they adopted for finding their God suggest either a borrowing from the East or a spontaneous rediscovery.2

Many of the Desert Fathers, in their zeal, were simply seeking God through trial and error. A leading contemplative prayer teacher candidly acknowledged the haphazard way the Desert Fathers acquired their practices:

It was a time of great experimentation with spiritual methods. Many different kinds of disciplines were tried, some of which are too harsh or extreme for people today. Many different methods of prayer were created and explored by them.3

Attempting to reach God through occult mystical practices will guarantee disaster. The Desert Fathers of Egypt were located in a particularly dangerous locale at that time to be groping around for innovative approaches to God, because as one theologian pointed out:

[D]evelopment of Christian meditative disciplines should have begun in Egypt because much of the intellectual, philosophical, and theological basis of the practice of meditation in Christianity also comes out of the theology of Hellenic and Roman Egypt. This is significant because it was in Alexandria that Christian theology had the most contact with the various Gnostic speculations which, according to many scholars, have their roots in the East, possibly in India.4

Consequently, the Desert Fathers believed as long as the desire for God was sincere–anything could be utilized to reach God. If a method worked for the Hindus to reach their gods, then Christian mantras could be used to reach Jesus. A current practitioner and promoter of the Desert Fathers’ mystical prayer still echoes the logical formulations of his mystical ancestors:

In the wider ecumenism of the Spirit being opened for us today, we need to humbly accept the learnings of particular Eastern religions … What makes a particular practice Christian is not its source, but its intent … this is important to remember in the face of those Christians who would try to impoverish our spiritual resources by too narrowly defining them. If we view the human family as one in God’s spirit, then this historical cross-fertilization is not surprising … selective attention to Eastern spiritual practices can be of great assistance to a fully embodied Christian life.5

Do you catch the reasoning here? Non-Christian sources, as avenues to spiritual growth, are perfectly legitimate in the Christian life, and if Christians only practice their Christianity based on the Bible, they will actually impoverish their spirituality. This was the thinking of the Desert Fathers. So as a result, we now have contemplative prayer. Jesus addressed this when he warned His disciples: “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions, as the heathen do.” (Matthew 6:7)

It should be apparent that mantra meditation or sacred word prayer qualifies as “vain repetition” and clearly fits an accurate description of the point Jesus was making. Yet in spite of this, trusted evangelical Christians have often pronounced that Christian mysticism is different from other forms of mysticism (such as Eastern or occult) because it is focused on Jesus Christ.

This logic may sound credible on the surface, but Christians must ask themselves a very simple and fundamental question: What really makes a practice Christian? The answer is obvious–does the New Testament sanction it? Hasn’t Christ taught us, through His Word, to pray in faith in His name and according to His will? Did He leave something out? Would Jesus hold out on His true followers? Never!

Understanding this truth, God has declared in His Word that He does not leave it up to earnest, yet sinful people, to reinvent their own Christianity. When Christians ignore God’s instructions in following Him they end up learning the way of the heathen. Israel did this countless times. It is just human nature.

The account of Cain and Abel is a classic biblical example of spiritual infidelity. Both of Adam’s sons wanted to please God, but Cain decided he would experiment with his own method of being devout. Cain must have reasoned to himself: “Perhaps God would like fruit or grain better than a dead animal. It’s not as gross. It’s less smelly. Hey, I think I will try it!”

As you know, God was not the least bit impressed by Cain’s attempt to create his own approach to pleasing God. The Lord made it clear to Cain that God’s favor would be upon him if he did what is right, not just what was intended for God or God-focused.

In many ways, the Desert Fathers were like Cain—eager to please but not willing to listen to the instruction of the Lord and do what was right. One cannot fault them for their devotion, but one certainly can fault them for their lack of discernment.

Notes:
1. William Shannon, Seeds of Peace, p. 66.
2. Daniel Goleman, The Meditative Mind 1988, p.53.
3. Ken Kaisch, Finding God, p.191.
4. Father William Teska, Meditation in Christianity , p.65.
5. Tilden Edwards, Living in the Presence , Acknowledgement page.

Related Material:

A list of ancient mystics (taken from Chris Lawson’s A Directory of Authors: Three NOT Recommended Lists booklet)

Mystics from the past oftentimes favorably endorsed by “Christian” authors today

Middle Ages (Medieval Times) and Renaissance

Angela of Foligno (1248-1309)

 Anthony of Padua (1195-1231)

 Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)

 Bonaventure (1217-1274)

 Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)

 Desert Fathers, The

 Hadewijch of Antwerp (13^th century)

 Henry Suso (1295-1366)

 Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)

 Hugh of Saint Victor (1096-1141)

 Jacopone da Todi (1230-1306)

 Johannes Tauler (d.1361)

 John of Ruysbroeck (1293-1381)

 John Scotus Eriugena (810-877)

 Julian of Norwich (1342-1416)

 Mechthild of Magdeburg (1212-1297)

 Meister Eckhart (1260-1327)

 Richard of Saint Victor (d.1173)

 Richard Rolle (1300-1341)

 The Cloud of the Unknowing (anonymous, instruction in mysticism, 1375)

 Theologia Germanica (anonymous, mystical treatise, late 14^th century)

 Thomas a’ Kempis (1380-1471)

 Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

 Walter Hilton (1340-1396)

Renaissance, Reformation, and Counter-Reformation

Brother Lawrence (1614–1691)

 Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1822)

 George Fox (1624–1691)

 Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556)

 Jakob Böhme (1575-1624)

John of the Cross (Juan de Yepes) (1542–1591)

 Joseph of Cupertino (1603-1663)

 Madame Guyon (1647-1717)

 Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582)

 Theophan the Recluse (1815-1894)

 William Law (1686–1761)

Modern Era (19^th—20^th Century)

Alexandrina Maria da Costa (1904–1955)

 Bernadette Roberts (1931–)

 Berthe Petit (1870–1943)

 Carmela Carabelli (1910–1978)

 Domenico da Cese (1905-1978

 Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941)

 Flower A. Newhouse (1909-1994)

 Frank Laubach (1884–1970)

 Frederick Buechner (1926-)

 Karl Rahner (1904-1984)

 Lúcia Santos (1907-2005)

Maria Pierina de Micheli (1890–1945)

 Maria Valtorta (1898-1963)

 Marie Lataste (1822–1899)

 Marie Martha Chambon (1841–1907)

 Martin Buber (1868-1965)

 Mary Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938)

 Mary of Saint Peter (1816–1848)

 Mary of the Divine Heart (1863–1899)

 Padre Pio of Pietrelcina (1887–1968)

 Pierina Gilli (1911–1991)

 Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881- 1955)

 Simone Weil (1909-1943)

 Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)

 Thomas Merton (1915–1968)

 Thomas Raymond Kelly (1893–1941)

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