The Public Rebuke of False Teachers

James MacDonald has an excellent post on this topic over at Staight Up. In peticular, he defends his critique of Brian McLaren. Here is a little taste of the post:

"I do not view Brian as an ‘erring weaker brother,’ worthy of sympathy or olive branches, but rather as a dangerous false teacher who repackages mainline liberal theology. (Have the past 50 years not been adequate to see how liberal theology empties churches and damns souls?)

More dangerous still is that McLaren packages his false teaching and denials of Scripture as solutions to some of the excesses currently plaguing evangelicalism—the danger being his winning over of young people who have legitimate complaints about the current church, but who lack the discernment to see that his solutions are often unbiblical even when his critiques are fair."

What is encouraging is that MacDonald points to the example of Jesus, Paul, Peter, and John - the scriptures themselves - as the authority we are all bound too. Check out the rest!

Love in the Truth.

John Gill's Collected Writings - Up For Grabs!

For the Cause of God and Truth is giving away a copy of John Gill's collected writings on CD-rom. To enter just follow the link back!!

Love in the Truth.

How Children Come to Faith in Christ

There is a great resource available on a topic that is so vital to the Church today. As parents our greatest responsibility is to take the lead in the evangelism and discipleship of our children. Family Life Today has some radio interviews with Jim Elliff that are excellent. The entire series can be purchased, but there are six sessions available online. They are:

1. Genuine Salvation: More Than a Prayer
2. How Children Come to Faith in Christ
3. Taking Our Children to Church: Is That Enough?
4. How to Deal With Doubt
5. Observing Salvation in Your Child: Wha Does it Look Like?
6. The Family: No Better Place to Come to Know Christ!

There are transcripts available at the bottom of each page for each session. As a parent and a pastor, I cannot overstate the importance of this series of messages. There is nothing more important for us as parents to do; we will stand before the Lord and give an account of the stewardship of our children. Find us faithful, Lord.

Love in the Truth.

HT/ JT & Z

Christ the ONLY Way!

Love in the Truth.

Some People

News about Greg Gutfeld and friends comments about the Canadian military, the RCMP, and well Canada in general are making the rounds. Some things just are not funny, and some people just don't get it. Some people...well no need to digress. The "some people" I want to focus on are the ones that make you step back and go; "I want to be more like that person". Have you ever met any of those people? I have.

As some of you may know, I have accepted a call to pastor Faith Baptist Church in Echo Bay, Ontario. A small community just outside Sault Ste. Marie. Well, this past week the family and I went up to the "SOO" to look for a house. Now buying a house is stressful enough on its own, but trying to find one in three days that you can both afford and be happy in is...I'm not sure there is a word for that amount of stress!

This is where "some people" just make everything easier. The some person I want to talk about is Jonathan Stewart. He is a real estate agent from the area. And, no, this is not an advertisement for real estate agents - although they are helpful. Jonathan is not really all that special. I added him on my facebook and I had to search through over 230 other Jonathan Stewarts before I found him!

So what makes Jonathan the good kind of "some people"? First his love for the Lord is clearly evident. How so? My family and I felt loved by him; it was genuine. And more than that it was Christ-like. Thanks Jonathan, you're awesome! Some People!

Love in the Truth.

Free Music!

I love free stuff! Especially good free stuff. I love music! Especially good music, and especially good free music! I wonder how many times I can use the word especially in one post. Anyway, here is a link to a free download for an album of hymns, and after a quick listen, it is excellent. Plus, as I have mentioned - IT'S FREE!! So enjoy!

Love in the Truth.

Sorrowful yet Always Rejoicing!

Yesterday during one of the morning services at First Baptist Church in Maryville, IL. pastor Fred Winters was shot and killed. I have to say that although shocked, I am not surprised by this event. With school shootings, mall shootings, anywhere and everywhere shootings, it was only a matter of time. In fact, if I did a little digging, I'm sure that I would find that this was not the first time something like this has happened, and it most likely will not be the last.

So, today, we mourn with the Winters family - Pastor Fred leaves behind a wife and two beautiful daughters - may the God of all comfort grant you grace. We mourn with the church family at First Baptist in Maryville and with the community as well. Pastor Fred was well liked and well respected, and he will be greatly missed. We mourn, but not as those who have no hope.

Yet, we also rejoice! We rejoice for our brother who now stands in the presence of the Saviour; he would not want to come back. Like Paul, we are sorrowful yet always rejoicing, because we know that it is not death to die. Even through tragedy, Christ is glorified.

Soli Deo Gloria - now and forever!

Love in the Truth.

Church or Club?

I have just finished reading "Stop Dating the Church" by Joshua Harris. Little book; big truth! I think it should be required reading for every church member. Far too often we approach church as "what does this place have to offer me" rather than the correct biblical approach of "what do I have to offer the church". Contrary to popular opinion, that idea did not start with JFK. Anyway, I came across this little clip by John Piper that kind of touches on it. So enjoy!

Love in the Truth.

Way of the Master - Season 3

So my season 3 of "Way of the Master" FINALLY arrived the other day (They were sold out, so I had to wait longer...poor me!) and I can say that it was worth the wait. Season 3 offers a few more bells and whistles as far as production goes, but continues unashamedly with the gospel truth of repentance toward God and faith in Christ. So far, I have only watched the first four episodes - nine more to go! At this point, episode 4, "Caught in a Lie", has been my favourite.

If you have never seen or heard of "Way of the Master", I encourage you to check it out or check this out or check this out that should give you a good idea of who they are and what they do. And, it should remind (and by remind, I mean convict) you of what you should be doing as well. It is a command, not a suggestion!

Love in the Truth.

Failed Gospel Tract

I'm sure we have all heard the "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life" gospel being promoted as truth at some point. Is it true? I have heard that on average, 982 Christians die for their faith every day. For the genuine believer, this is indeed part of God's wonderful plan. Is that the "wonderful plan" or "the best life now" that most mean when they say "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life"? I seriously doubt it, but just to show that I'm not passing judgement too quickly I came across this great little tract to hand out. I'm sure those who use "the line" would be happy to use it...

Love in the Truth.

HT/Contemporary Calvinist