Reformation Nation

If we have deficient and light views about sin, then we are liable to have defective views regarding the means necessary for the salvation of the sinner.

- W. J. Seaton

A million thanks to Berry and his friends for this list and a million more thanks to Berry for the M&M characters!

Stay tuned: next week I will reveal the list of How to tell if you’re “word of faith.” Also see How to tell if you’re Emergent.

There are generally three types of reaction you can expect to see when the Holy Spirit convicts someone of their sin:

1). Repentance: They feel the conviction and weight of their own sin and realize that they need Jesus Christ as the propitiation for those sins.

2). Suppression: They feel the conviction of their sin but just laugh it off and suppress God’s beckoning call (and their heart grows harder). They apply the “ignore it and it will go away” philosophy. They comprehend their dire condition but choose to ignore the truth, putting it off for one more day.

3). Anger: They feel the conviction of their sin but lash out with anger because their pride in self, tradition, church, organization etc., simply won’t allow them to repent.

Two minutes into the below video you’ll see a Mormon elder who can’t take the conviction of sin any longer and becomes very angry (yes, I know that most Mormons don’t act in this manner so you don’t have to e-mail me to tell me).

There’s definitiely a conviction of sin going on in this young man’s heart. Perhaps he’s been living with the gnawing feeling that a lifetime of dead works, commitment, and dedication to a defunct faith that cannot give man any assurance of salvation has come to a head. Or perhaps he was just having a bad day. Either way, he’s beside himself and another Mormon elder even tries to calm him down with no luck.

As you watch this video, remember back to all those times Mormons have come onto this blog and called me “angry” and accused me of “attacking” them because I dared to print the teachings and quotes of their own organization. Consider all the times I’ve been called “hateful” in spite of the fact that it’s the Mormon’s who founded their whole religion on the idea that the Christian faith is apostate, that Christians are heathens, and that the Christian God is the Mormon Devil. Remember all that when you watch this young man’s behavior toward Christians who are merely preaching the Gospel.

Thanks to Rhea for directing me to this video.

There are very few errors and false doctrines of which the beginning may not be traced up to unsound views about the corruption of human nature. Wrong views of a disease will always bring with them wrong views of a remedy. Wrong views of the corruption of human nature will always carry with them wrong views of the grand antidote and cure for the corruption.

- J. C. Ryle

1816 - 1900

It’s time for our weekly Saturday sermon on Ephesians: Expositing Ephesians: Part Four by Pastor Mark Escalera.

Click on the link to listen streaming, or right click on the link and click “Save As” (Internet Explorer) or “Save Link As” (Mozilla) to save to your computer. From there you can burn this to a CD or upload it to your MP3 player.

   If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.

- C. S. Lewis

1898 - 1963

Thanks to Independent Conservative for this video. Not sure whether to laugh or cry.

*** Warning: The Song May Get Stuck In Your Head ***

A man may believe what he pleases, provided he does not believe anything strongly enough to risk his life on it and fight for it. Tolerance is the great word.

- J. Gresham Machen

1881 - 1937

The Mormon is obviously feeling uncomfortable about his own sin being exposed in the light of God’s Law. Unfortunately the interviewer’s tape ran out in the middle of the conversation but it is still worth watching.

Thanks to the compromise and insidious shallowness of cultural Christianity so prevalent today, modesty is out the window! Another proof of this is a new line of skin-tight jeans called “His Spirit Jeans” by Castle Rock Jeans and Apparel Company. So what makes these pants “Christian?” Well, somewhere there’s a Bible verse smacked on them (kinda like the socks and shoe sole inserts featured here).

This company claims “Castle Rock Jeans is about innocence, life, purity and love.” Well, as you’ll see below, it’s painfully obvious this company defines “innocence” and “purity” by the world’s standards, not God’s.

For your consideration here’s just two of the many pairs of jeans available (you can click on the pictures to enlarge):

I’m not sure if the spiked-heel, knee-high, leather stiletto boots come with these women’s jeans but I’m seeing “innocence” and “purity” written all over them.

And here’s a pair of the junior women’s jeans minus the stiletto boots but with little hearts on the butt.

And why just stop at just selling immodest and seductive jeans under the guise of Christianity? Why not advertise your hoodies using a model posing with a seductive look? And what seductive looking woman modeling “Christian” clothing would be complete without having the zipper almost halfway down?

Somewhere on this sweatshirt is a “Christian” message . . . good luck finding it.

Now here’s the best part:

This company actually has a page for testimonials about their jeans. I was understandably curious as to what kind of a testimony one could give about these jeans (or any jeans for that matter) so I clicked on the link and found the following two testimonies:

“I love my jeans!!!! I now get to put on the ‘Amour of God’ and be witness. They are very comfortable and fit extremely well.”

Jenny K, Phoenix

Really Jenny from Phoenix, Arizona? You’re honestly equating these jeans to the “Armor of God?” Apparently Jenny has not only a zero understanding of what the Armor of God is, but her assumption that now she can be a “witness” makes me a little worried as to what she will be a witness of. Oh, biblical illiteracy is such a tragic plight to behold. Here’s some advice Jenny, crack open Ephesians and read about what the Armor of God actually is. Here’s a hint: It has nothing to do with skin-tight jeans designed to make the opposite sex stumble.

“I love my new scripture jeans. They are really comfortable, fit great and I’ve had very positive response from friends!”

Peggy in Surprise AZ

Peggy in Surprise, Arizona has had a “very positive response from friends.” I’m sure you did Peggy. And I bet most of them happened to be men.

You know, it’s one thing to sell this trash and market it as “Christian” apparel, but when you call it “His Spirit” it makes me fear for the owners when you consider the words of our Savior in Matthew 12:31.

Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.

- Jesus Christ

For a news article on this company, click here.

HT: Bill Phillips

I’ve found another uncompromising, convicting, powerful, must-hear sermon by Paul Washer. This is a compilation of highlights from a few different messages Paul Washer delivered at a 2007 conference. This is one of those Paul Washer messages that leaves you humble, contrite, and broken. Without further ado, I introduce you to your sermon of the week:The 2007 Reality Check Conference.

Click on the link to listen streaming, or right click on the link and click “Save As” (Internet Explorer) or “Save Link As” (Mozilla) to save to your computer. From there you can burn this to a CD or upload it to your MP3 player.

We who love Christ and believe the truth embodied in His teaching must awaken to the reality of the battle that is raging all around us. We must do our part in the ages-old truth war. We are under a sacred obligation to join the battle and contend for the faith.

- John MacArthur

Read what the Royal College of Psychiatrists had to say here about the connection between abortion and mental illness.

And here’s a perfect example of the problems that stem from the murder of your own children. This woman committed suicide over her grief.

What is the greatest privilege? To be able to preach like Spurgeon? No, to look like Jesus. When we talk about fruit we’re automatically in our American mindset thinking about activity instead of character, character, character; Chirst-likeness, Christ-likeness.

- Paul Washer

Now that the controversy over Barack Obama’s pastor has all but blown over, I thought I’d offer you some short video commercials to watch that will provide you with a better understanding of Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright’s denomination; the United Church of Christ.

Jesus said the heart is where the treasures are kept. So what can we say about many evangelical Christians? Getting into debt for cars, homes and furnishings that probably are not needed and sacrificing family, church and health for corporate promotions and career advancement–I believe all this is deception, engineered by the god of this world to ensnare and destroy effective Christians and to keep them from sharing the Gospel with those who need it.

- K. P. Yohannan

I must confess a little addiction I’ve acquired as of late, and it surprisingly has nothing to do with mint chocolate chip ice cream, Oreo cookies or peanut M&Ms.

It all started within the last couple months when Pilgrim Radio tweaked their format a little and began airing a little radio show called The White Horse Inn.

I began listening to it and after a few episodes I found myself craving it. Now I am an addict. I need to attend a12-step program for White Horse Inn Anonymous. For those of you who listen to the show, you can relate. For those who have never listened to it you can listen to past episodes here. But be warned, it’s addicting.

Below are a few episodes from the White Horse Inn to get your feet wet:

My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments.

- Psalm 119:120

I found the following list on another blog along with additions by those leaving comments to the original post. They were so poignant that I chose to post them here for the readers of Reformation Nation but I only had 29. So I added number 30 myself to round out the list. Enjoy!

The top 30 signs that you might be an Emergent:

30. Your church has replaced the pulpit with a bar stool.

29. You once read a good story about some Jewish people and a cross.

28. You engineer every conversation so you are able to use the phrase, “you can’t put god in a box,” and laugh like you’ve said the funniest thing in the word.

27. You make everyone define everything before you begin a conversation. Since this takes forever you never really have a conversation.

26. You think hell is a construct somewhere in Tennessee.

25. You think everything is a metaphor for something else.

24. When you hear the word “Orthodox” all you think about is the great food at the Greek Festival every year.

23. You think “Patristics” is a new brand of snack food.

22. Church history started when your pastor was born.

21. The only Creed you know is a once-popular musical act.

20. You only curse around fundamentalists.

19. You leave your church because the sermon was not obscure enough.

18. You refer to your local assembly as “church,” “synagogue,” or “mosque” depending on who you are talking to.

17. Your blog is a rant about how everyone else rants too much.

16. You brag that you have never been pinned down theologically on any issue.

15. The only thing you are sure of is that others cannot be sure of anything.

14. You bring your own wine to communion.

13. You are offended when someone says they are going to “Preach the Gospel” or “Teach the truth” believing they should just “Tell a story.”

12. Instead of a tract, you carry a can of Play-doh in your back pocket.

11. Your website links to Green Peace and the Democratic National Convention just because conservatives are against it.

10. You start a Christian blog, but leave it blank, fearing that you might offend someone.

9. You are not any good at art, yet you continue to present the Gospel by painting stick figures on recycled paper.

8. When you present the Gospel, Heaven is renamed The Matrix and you call Christ Neo.

7. Your church caters from Whole Foods.

6. Every sermon illustration begins with “The other night I was drinking a beer and . . .”.

5. You have yet to read the book of Romans believing Paul was too modern in his thinking.

4. Your car has a bumper sticker that reads “I think my boss is a Jewish carpenter but I can’t know for certain.”

3. You don’t worship on Sundays because everyone else does.

2. You evaluate truth by asking how many people hold to it. If it is too popular, then it is wrong.

1. When someone calls out your name you get angry saying, “Don’t label me.”

HT: Parchment and Pen via Sicarii

Also check out How to tell if you’re seeker-friendly.

Coming soon from Reformation Nation:

How to tell if you’re word of faith.

This eight-minute video sums up the gospel according to Oprah and should leave no doubt in your mind whether or not she’s a sheep or a wolf.

Read the news articles here and here and watch an eye-opening video on polygamy here.

Before anyone criticizes these people who practiced this lifestyle of polygamy (especially when the criticism comes from mainstream Mormons) just keep in mind that the blame for this polygamist behavior is not to be laid at the feet of Warren Jeffs, but the blame is none other than the cult’s original founder, Joseph Smith. It was Smith and his insatiable sexual appetite that led him to claim that God gave him the “new and everlasting covenant” of polygamy:

“For behold, I reveal unto you a new and everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory. For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed . . . before the foundation of the world. And as pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, it was instituted for the fulness [sic] of my glory; and he that receiveth a fulness [sic] thereof must and shall be damned, saith the Lord God.” (Doctrine & Covenants, 132:4-6)

This “new and everlasting covenant” of polygamy was confirmed by Mormonism’s second president/prophet Brigham Young when he said in the Deseret News on November 14, 1855:

“Now if any of you will deny the plurality of wives and continue to do so, I promise that you will be damned . . .“

Sixth president/prophet of Mormonism Joseph F. Smith said in the Journal of Discourses, Volume 20, page 31:

“I understand the law of celestial marriage to mean that every man in this Church, who has the ability to obey and practice it in righteousness and will not, shall be damned, I say I understand it to mean this and nothing less, and I testify in the name of Jesus that it does mean that.”

Well, last time I checked, an “everlasting covenant” meant exactly that: an everlasting covenant.

Even LDS published Gospel Principles tells us on page 98 (1997 edition):

“The fulness [sic] of the gospel is called the new and everlasting covenant. . . . The Lord calls it ‘everlasting’ because it is ordained by an everlasting God and because the covenant will never be changed.“

So before you mainstream Mormons judge and condemn these FLDS members, remember, they’re not the ones who apostatized.

Q. What happens when you’re born a woman but you get an operation to be a man, but you elect to only do half the job, then you intentionally get artificially impregnated and everyone considers you the first man to ever become pregnant?

A. You get booked on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Duh! What else would a self-respecting society do?

You can read the article here or watch the entire Oprah interview below (if you can stomach it):

Part One:

Part Two:

Part Three:

Part Four:

Part Five:

Here’s a news flash Ms. Beatie:

No one has ever heard of a man giving birth because it doesn’t happen. Never has and never will. You’re no exception. You’re a woman. Always have been, always will.

Here’s two recent episodes of Crosstalk hosted by Ingrid Schlueter on the new rage of spirituality sweeping the nation and catching many “Christians” in its tentacles too.

The Spiritual Shift

New Spirituality Explosion

It’s time for our weekly Saturday sermon on Ephesians. Pastor Mark Escalera’s message Expositing Ephesians: Part Three is actually part four of his series. If you’re interested in Part One, Part Two and the introduction, see below.

Expositing Ephesians: The Introduction

Expositing Ephesians: Part One

Expositing Ephesians: Part Two

Click on the link to listen streaming, or right click on the link and click “Save As” (Internet Explorer) or “Save Link As” (Mozilla) to save to your computer. From there you can burn this to a CD or upload it to your MP3 player.

A Jehovah’s Witness by the name of TJ has been going “door to door” in cyberspace. Actually he’s been going “blog to blog” with his messages of Hath God really said?

I engaged him on one blog regarding the physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ (which he denies occurred). If you’re interested in some good reading you can check out that interaction here. You can also find him spreading the poisonous doctrines of the Watchtower on the following topics as well:

Is the Watchtower Jesus Adequate?

Admitting Your Need of the Savior.

Your Bible reference notes for today are on the topic of Hell and the eternal nature of the human soul. I composed this in 2006 during my four-week debate with Jehovah’s Witnesses as they argued that Hell is fictional and that the sinner’s soul simply ceases to exist after death.

Additionally, in light of the fact that more and more “theologians” are denying Hell’s existence, I figured this would be an important resource to pass on.

If you’re unsure of what Reformation Nation’s Bible Reference Notes are all about and how to use them, see my first installment for an explanation.

HELL AND THE ETERNAL SOUL

Hell

Daniel 12:2 Everlasting Abhorrence

Matthew 5:22 Go Into Fiery Hell

Matthew 5:29-30 Maimed / Heaven & Whole/ Hell

Matthew 8:12 Darkness, Weeping, Teeth Gnashing

Matthew 10:28 Fear Who Destroys Body/Soul in Hell

Matthew 24:51 Weeping, Teeth Gnashing

Matthew 25:30 Darkness, Weeping, Teeth Gnashing

Matthew 25:41 Eternal Fire

Matthew 25:46 Eternal Punishment / Eternal Life

Mark 9:42-48 Better Millstone Thrown Into the Sea

Mark 9:43-48 Unquenchable Fire Worm Doesn’t Die

Luke 3:17 Unquenchable Fire

Luke 16:19-28 Rich Man in Hell and Beggar

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 Eternal Destruction Away From God

Jude 7 Punishment of Eternal Fire

Jude 13 Darkness Reserved Forever

Revelation 14:10-11 Torment & No Rest

Revelation 19:20 Lake of Fire Burning With Brimstone

Revelation 20:1-3 The Abyss

Revelation 20:13-15 Lake of Fire

Degrees of Punishment

Matthew 10:15 More Tolerable for Sodom

Matthew 11:22, 24 More Tolerable for Sodom

Matthew 16:27 Repay According to Man’s Deeds

Luke 12:47-48 Many Lashes vs Few Lashes

Hebrews 10:29-31 Severer Punishment / Terrifying God

Revelation 22:12 Repay According to What Man Did

The Soul (nephesh): The Living Person or Being

Genesis 2:7 Adam a Living Soul

Ezekiel 18:4 Soul That Sins Dies

The Soul (nephesh): Separate Inner Man

Genesis 42:21 Is Distressed

Deuteronomy 28:65 Feels Sad

2 Kings 4:27 Troubled Within

Job 3:20 Is Bitter

Job 30:25 Is Grieved

Psalm 13:2 In Pain

Psalm 42:6 In Despair Within

Psalm 43:5 Despair & Disturbed Within

Psalm 86:4 Is Cheered

The Soul (nephesh): Survives After Death

Matthew 10:28 Fear Who Destroys Body/Soul in Hell

Acts 7:59 Receive my Spirit

Luke 16:19-28 Rich Man in Hell & Beggar

Luke 20:37-38 God of the Living…Live to Him

Romans 2:8-9 Evil Soul: Wrath, Distress, Tribulation, etc.

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Home in Body / Absent in Lord

Philippians 1:21-23 To Die is Gain With Christ

Revelation 6:9-10 Souls of Those Slain Cry Out

It is quite true that faith cannot be reduced to mere assent to a finite set of propositions (James 2:19). . . . Saving faith is more than a merely intellectual nod of approval to the bare facts of a minimalist gospel outline. Authentic faith in Christ involves love for His person and willingness to surrender to His authority. The human heart, will, and intellect all consent in the act of faith. In that sense, it is certainly correct, even necessary, to acknowledge that mere propositions can’t do full justice to all the dimensions of truth.

- John MacArthur

The Cynical View:

Now that your kids are almost done polishing off all that “Christian” Easter candy, make sure your kids practice proper oral hygiene by brushing with “Christian” toothbrushes because those pagan, worldly toothbrushes just can’t get to those hard to reach places. What makes these better than worldly toothbrushes? Because the manufacturers of these plastic sticks with bristles on the end smacked a Bible verse* on the toothbrush, that why.

The Optimistic View:

These toothbrushes are useful in removing plaque from the teeth caused by all those sugary candy-coated sermons that the majority of American Christians swallow week after week. How is this done? Because the manufacturers of these plastic sticks with bristles on the end were kind enough to put a Bible verse* on the toothbrush; and in many cases that means these toothbrushes contain more Scripture than many sermons preached on any given Sunday in America.

* Granted, only the reference is printed on the toothbrush (not the actual Scripture) so you still have to look it up on your own . . . that is, if you’re not too busy.

No man knows the brightness of the gospel ’till he understands the blackness of those clouds which surround the law of the Lord.

- Charles Spurgeon

1834 - 1892

Interesting little video on evolution entitled: Evilution from the website Revolution in Christ.

Interesting five-minute video entitled How Atheism is very, very convenient.

Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.

- Psalm 119:11

I received the following email from a subject (who chose to remain unnamed and unidentified) who claimed to be with “Prophet” Woody Ministries:

“As a part of the Woody Marin [sic] Ministries we’re officially notifying you that the pictures obtained from our web site and posted on your web page are without our consent and are illegal. The pictures are also copywrited [sic] by a professional photographer on the web site and have been used without his written permission as well. One thing about these ‘ministries’ that ‘fleece’ the people, we have lawyers. This is a friendly warning, next time you’ll hear from someone else.”

This threat-mail reposted above (verbatim and in its entirety) was in response to this previous post.

The pictures that were obtained from the “Prophet” Woody website posted for the public contained no copyright warnings and no disclaimers as to the terms of their use. In spite of that, I have chosen to do the right thing and honor the anonymous writer’s implied request to remove them.

I understand that my previous post could slightly disrupt their money making enterprise, but I have one burning question: Why in the world would a real prophet of God need lawyers? Seriously, wouldn’t speaking a curse over their critics be quicker and more efficient?