"Preach the Word,

A new Decalogue has been adopted by the neo-Christians of our day, the first word of which reads "Thou shalt not disagree;" and a new set of Beatitudes too, which begins "Blessed are they that tolerate everything, for they shall not be made accountable for anything." It is now the accepted thing to talk over religious differences in public with the understanding that no one will try to convert another or point out errors in his belief.

Imagine Moses agreeing to take part in a panel discussion with Israel over the golden calf; or Elijah engaging in a gentlemanly dialogue with the prophets of Baal. Or try to picture our Lord Jesus Christ seeking a meeting of the minds with the Pharisees to iron out differences.

The blessing of God is promised to the peacemaker, but the religious negotiator had better watch his step. Darkness and light can never be brought together by talk. Some things are not negotiable.

A.W. Tozer, Gems From Tozer, 47-48

“We have a clear choice between one of two diverging pathways, the road of
faith
or the road of human reason and unbelief. Do we begin with the Word of
God or do we begin with the word of men? This is the question and it has in the
first instance little to do with texts, but with the faithfulness of our God.

To decide these things we need only a believing heart and the ability to
read. Of course, textual scholars will deem all non-academics meddling in what
they regard as
their exclusive area of work unworthy to tie their bootlaces,
still less to steal their clothes! ... For it to be of any use, textual study
must be grounded upon what the Bible already says about itself.

If we do not begin with the Word of God, we shall never end with it!”

Christianity Today is the magazine of the Southern Baptist Convention. Read this article from The Berean Call:

In "A Life Formed in the Spirit," Christianity Today is once again celebrating Richard Foster's "legacy" -- which is one, unfortunately, of great heresy.

Failing to test the spirits, Foster followed his Quaker training in silence and meditation to reach an altered state of consciousness in which he believes to have met Jesus personally.

Sound bizarre? It should, but Foster taught this same meditative technique, step-by-step, in the first edition of "Celebration of Discipline," with the promise that if you visualize and focus on Jesus, it will be more than an exercise of the mind, and that Christ will literally, actually "come to you":

"[I]n your imagination allow your spiritual body, shining with light, to rise out of your physical body. Look back so that you can see yourself lying in the grass and reassure your body that you will return momentarily ... Go deeper and deeper into outer space until there is nothing except the warm presence of the eternal Creator. Rest in His presence."

In this same volume Foster boldly declared, "let us embrace the New Age with abandon" (paraphrase-need to confirm source). Both of these statements have been carefully excised in later editions in order to disarm objections to these anti-biblical references.

In spite of Foster's wholehearted embrace of shamanism and New Spirituality, he continues to be a celebrated "hero of the faith," championed by such publications as Christianity Today magazine, for which Foster serves as an "Advisory Editor."

What's interesting is that both Foster and Willard cut their teeth in the Quaker Friends Church, whose founder (George Fox) preached New Age Universalism -- and with which Foster and Willard have pollinated (polluted) the entire Body of Christ under the guise of "Spiritual Formation."

The "celebration" of this fact is proof positive of the Word of God, which prophesied, "in latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Tim 4:1).

Foster should not be celebrated, nor his writings, but soundly rebuked by CT, and rejected by all who fear God.

But tragically, Christianity Today is simply walking in the footsteps of its founder, who "had nothing but praise for his long-time friend John Paul II and in particular for 'his strong Catholic faith.' Furthermore, [Graham] declared that there were no essential disagreements between them theologically."*

John Paul II was personally acquainted with the Dali Lama and allowed this self-worshiping "god-man" to place a statue of Buddah on the Catholic altar to perform prayer rituals at the church of St. Peter at Assisi.*

If Billy Graham and Foster are really in the TRUE faith (once delivered unto the saints), why have they united with false religions and encouraged the church to follow after other gods?

Again, this is fulfillment of 1 Tim 4:1, indicating that deception and apostasy are in full bloom, just as our Lord warned would be the first and foremost sign of the times before his return (Matthew 24:3-27).

For more on this story see "Hello Dalia" by T. A. McMahon.

I encourage you to read this other blog first that very elegantly shares the viewpoint of the preciousness of God's Word. Starting there gives you a reference for my continuing thoughts here.

I was reading the Scripture ["And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision." (1 Samuel 3:1)] used in another blog. As so often happens when reading and studying God's Word, I felt there was more to be said.

Another consideration of this passage that the blog author dealt with as to "why the Word was so precious in Samuel's days" is found in the verse more specifically in that phrase "there was no open vision." The vision or word of God (i.e. "thus saith the Lord") was to come from the Man (men) of God...prophets and priests. Eli and his sons failed the people because they had no communication...no vision from God. In fact Eli's sons turned the people against the worship of God (I Sam. 2:12-17, 22). Obviously we know that they did have religious rituals and temple functions but no communication...no real relationship with God. Hmmm...seems very similar to modern times doesn't it!? Sad!

So what did Solomon mean when he said in Proverbs 29:18, "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." Is this judgement from a lack-of-vision to be applied towards witnessing or growth in a ministry, as so many pastors imply? I say no it is to be applied to our acceptance and reliance upon the very vision or words from God, the Scriptures. In times past the vision came through a prophet or priest and this was how God spoke to His people but Hebrews 1:1-2 clearly tells us that God now speaks to us through His Son. And I would confidently say that the Apostle John describes the Son of God as synomynous with the Word (John 1:1-3; I John 1:1-5). So Jesus is the Word. He is the Truth. So the Bible is the Supernatually inspired and preserved words from God and I would say it is the Word of God...Jesus no long in human flesh walking the earth but in written evidence of the Bible. The truth exists even today in the Scriptures and this is the way that God speaks to His children.

I firmly believe that pastors are to completely and boldly teach/preach the Word, or as 2 Timothy 4:2 clearly tells us, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. " Too many pastors make light of the Word, the commuication with God and vision from God, and so it should be no surprise when the congregation fails to see the importance...the preciousness of God's Word. Oh, I pray that this will never be thought of me, in my service as a Christian or in my minsitry as a pastor.

What is often overlooked today is that the children of God, both the Israelites of old and the Christians since the days of Christ, are supposed to take personal responsibility for their own spiritual growth, but I believe that the prophets/priests (of old) and pastors (of today) were/are to mind the camp and keep the Lord at the forefront of the people's lives.


So my goal as a Christian is to be learning as much about God's instructions for me and my life. My purpose as a pastor is to tell the people that God has entrusted me with to "stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God." (1 Samuel 9:27b). My desire is to make the Word of God precious and relevant in all aspects of their life.

Christ's call is to save the lost, not the stiff-necked; He came not to call scoffers but sinners to repentance; not to build and furnish comfortable chapels, churches, and cathedrals at home in which to rock Christian professors to sleep by means of clever essays, stereotyped prayers, and artistic musical performances, but to capture men from the devil's clutches and the very jaws of Hell. This can be accomplished only by a red-hot, unconventional, unfettered devotion, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to the Lord Jesus Christ.

--C.T. Studd (1860-1931. Missionary to China)

Pastor Mark J. Smith, Director of Bible Tracts, Inc wrote:

There is a scandal attached to the cross. Many of those urging sinners to be saved are calling them to religious activities and emotional choruses, but not to the cross. To preach the Biblical cross would cause sinners to see thier real condition before God, who is holy.

"Cursed" is the word the Bible uses. You see, only the vilest people were scandalized by experiencing cross death. Many who like the forgiveness of the cross refuse to come any closer when they see what owning the cross says about them personally. It makes them stumble.

Without the scandal of the cross...
- our baptisms become mere rituals,
- communion becomes an add-on to already full services,
- the true ugliness and deception of our sins are not seen,
- the power of sin that makes men enemies of God is not grasped,
- the beauty of God's love and grace is not adequately displayed,
- the power to transform our lives is lost, and
- the greatness of God's power to overcome the egos of organizational church structures or the fetters of religious tradition will not be seen.

Thank God for the shame and suffering of Jesus on the cross that I claimed as a 9 year old boy for a covering for my sin debt...for my salvation.