THE CULT CHRONICLES: Does God Kill?

On our evangelistic outings to downtown Guadalajara we come across people from all walks of life, religions and beliefs. In the course of our conversations with such people many raise interesting questions and objections, especially those in cult groups. This new section of my blog will tackle some of these issues. May it be of blessing and edification.
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The above issue came up two Saturdays ago. After I open air preached, a "prosperity" pastor and his family, and some members of his congregation, came up to talk to us. Now, many things can be said about the Prosperity/Word of Faith movement...hopefully I will get to some of the main tenets of their false doctrine another day. But in the course of a discussion that I had with the pastor's wife and two other girls, one of the main problems that they seemed to have with what I believed, and with the message that I had just preached, was my absolute declaration that God not only kills, but sends people to hell. One of the girls displayed utter shock after I told them that God kills people. They told me that God is good, and therefore would never kill anyone. According to them, Satan is the only one who steals, kills and destroys. God only brings good things, and only desires to bless His people. Death is simply a "curse" that we brought upon ourselves, God had nothing to do with that. Sickness, suffering, and short life-spans are a result of our "negative affirmations"; and as far as future punishment goes, we send ourselves to hell by choosing to reject Christ.

Well, what saith the Scriptures? Is God so loving that He would never kill anyone? Do we send ourselves to hell, or does God? Let's let the Lord speak through His Word:

"See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand."
Deuteronomy 32:29

"I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear Him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!"
Luke 12:4-5

The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
1 Samuel 2:6

In addition to the above clear verses, there are many other passages, including:

-The parable in Luke 12:16-21, where God kills a rich man;

-Acts 5:1-11, where Ananias and Sapphira are struck down dead by the Lord for having lied;

-2 Thessalonians 1:7-8, which says that Christ will return "in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel";

-And, of course, the book of Revelation which from beginning to end is filled with descriptions of the Lord pouring His terrible judgments over the earth and casting sinners into eternal hellfire (see Rev. 2:16, 22-23; 19:11-16; 14:9-11; 15:7; 20:11-15; 21:8, etc.). 

The god of the Prosperity Movement is appealing to fallen man because he is presented as a well-meaning Santa Clause figure who leaves salvation, prosperity, sickness, and death in our hands. Apart from our cooperation and positive declarations, he can do nothing--not even counter the works of the devil.  Theirs is an impotent god, and the human creature is the sovereign. What depraved sinner wouldn't want that?

No, the reality is that the God of the Scriptures, as we have seen, is an omnipotent and righteous judge who has the authority and power to give life and to take it. And because He is holy and just and good, He must give guilty sinners what they deserve: an eternity of His wrath in hell. He therefore commands all men everywhere to repent and turn to Christ, the only one who has the power to save us from our sins and from His wrath.

CUT OFF GOLIATH'S HEAD!

The Real John Wesley: Part 2

On the last post about Wesley, we examined the life of this fallible, human preacher, and especially the details of his life pertaining to his separation from George Whitefield. A chapter from the book, George Whitefield: God's Anointed Servant in the Great Revival of the Eighteenth Century, revealed John Wesley's insistence on contention with Whitefield, his predisposition to, and desire for, the preeminent role among his brethren, his slight exaggerations in describing the actions and beliefs of those with whom he was in disagreement, his misunderstanding of the Calvinistic viewpoint of the doctrine of Predestination, and the propagation of his newly formed, and often inconsistent, doctrine of sinless perfection.

Again, the purpose of this series of posts is not to attack and defame, but to present a balanced image of the 18th Century preacher, and remove Wesley from the pedestal that we as human beings are so often prone to placing godly men of the past on.

That being said, the following excerpt further reveals the grieving details of Wesley's division and contention with George Whitefield, and consequently also reveals the humility of Whitefield, and the great love and forgiveness that he had for his two dear friends, John and Charles Wesley.
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Chapter 10: Whitefield’s Darkest Hour

We have seen that there already were doctrinal differences between Wesley and Whitefield. When Whitefield returned to England, these differences brought about a separation between them. The truth of this matter is often distorted, for although professed reports of it have frequently been published, almost all are so strongly biased in Wesley’s favor that both his and Whitefield’s actions are very falsely presented.

Accordingly, as much as both writer and reader may find the subject distasteful, if we are not to let falsehoods continue to cloud a most noble portion of Whitefield’s life, we have no choice but to look into this matter. We do so, however, very briefly, noticing merely the chief facts.

OUR FIRST BAPTISM!

Madison is a new believer and wanted to be baptized. On Thursday we went to a small river on the outskirts of the city to perform this blessed ordinance. Praise the Lord!

The Real John Wesley Part 1

I picked up this book a while ago and greatly recommend it. It's a biography about one of the greatest evangelists that has ever lived, George Whitefield. His life and achievements in the Lord, however, are little known, and  are seemingly overshadowed by the reputation and accomplishments of John Wesley. But, as the author if this book clearly demonstrates, historians and biographers can be very selective and biased at times, favoring and focusing upon one individual of their liking, while completely ignoring another--and sometimes even  going so far as to slander the reputation of the other with false information (whether this is intentional or not is for the Lord to judge). Such has been the case with the man of God, George Whitefield. Throughout the past two centuries or so, there have been myriads of John Wesley books published, mainly written by Arminian biographers. Some of these books extol Wesley to a very unhealthy degree (I even remember one that stated on the back cover that "God needed a man like Wesley"!!!). Their bias and favoritism is evident, especially with the secondary role they give to Whitefield in the 18th Century awakenings in England and America. Not so with this book, however. It reveals the documented truth about this forgotten hero of the faith, and in so doing unavoidably lifts the proverbial rug, exposing the many inconsistencies of his much revered friend, John Wesley--faults and failings often overlooked by many a biographer.

Hence, I have decided to post some excerpts of the book here to 1) bring a little balance to the spotless, golden image of Wesley that we're often presented with, and  2) to make known the true humility and servanthood of the man, George Whitefield, who by the grace of God alone "labored even more than all of them". May the Lord Jesus Christ receive glory through this.

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Chapter 6: Doctrinal Differences and Sad Divisions(from George Whitefield: God's Anointed Servant in the Great Revival of the Eighteenth Century)

It has long been recognized that there were doctrinal differences between John Wesley and George Whitefield, and the point we have now reached in our narrative is that at which a separation came about between the two men. Since this affair played a highly important part in their lives, we have no choice but to look into it. It has, however, generally been reported in a manner strongly biased in Wesley’s favor, and therefore we must attempt to rectify matters to some extent.

La Serpiente en el Desierto ("The Serpent in the Wilderness")

Preaching the Gospel in Centro (SPANISH ONLY).

HIMSELF!

Himself, by A.B. Simpson. This is one of my favorite hymns. Oh how we desperately need more of Christ!

Once it was the blessing,
Now it is the Lord;
Once it was the feeling,
Now it is His Word;
Once His gift I wanted,
Now, the Giver own;
Once I sought for healing,
Now Himself alone.

Refrain

All in all forever,
Jesus will I sing;
Everything in Jesus,
And Jesus everything.

Once ’twas painful trying,
Now ’tis perfect trust;
Once a half salvation,
Now the uttermost;
Once ’twas ceaseless holding,
Now He holds me fast;
Once ’twas constant drifting,
Now my anchor’s cast.

Refrain

Once ’twas busy planning,
Now ’tis trustful prayer;
Once ’twas anxious caring,
Now He has the care;
Once ’twas what I wanted,
Now what Jesus says;
Once ’twas constant asking,
Now ’tis ceaseless praise.

Refrain

Once it was my working,
His it hence shall be;
Once I tried to use Him,
Now He uses me;
Once the pow’r I wanted,
Now the Mighty One;
Once for self I labored,
Now for Him alone.

Refrain

Once I hoped in Jesus,
Now I know He’s mine;
Once my lamps were dying,
Now they brightly shine;
Once for death I waited,
Now His coming hail;
And my hopes are anchored
Safe within the veil.

Refrain

http://nethymnal.org/htm/h/i/m/himself.htm

A MUST HEAR for Street Preachers!

This is a great sermon by Pat Necerato from the "Go Stand Speak" Conference. It's about open air preaching idolatry. To listen, click on the link below and listen to Session 7 of the first day.

http://gostandspeak.com/blog/?page_id=560