exWitch Australia's Blog Spot

Jesus loves Osama, but not terror

2007-02-01T19:41:00.000+09:00

From: http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21151564-5005941,00.html

Jesus loves Osama, but not terror

February 01, 2007 12:00

"Jesus Loves Osama" ... a Sydney Baptist church has asked people to pray for the world's most wanted terrorist. The sign's caption reads: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." / News Limited newspapers

_________________________________

JESUS does indeed love Osama bin Laden - it is just that he does not approve of him or his line of work.

The head of the Anglican church in New South Wales has said "there is a truth" to a Baptist parish's billboard declaration that "Jesus loves Osama", but love does not necessarily translate to approval.

The Central Baptist Church on George St in Sydney's CBD yesterday defended the sign - outside its front doors and facing the street - and said it was designed to convey that Jesus Christ taught the importance of loving everyone.

The billboard also includes a quote from the Gospel Book of Matthew: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." It is reported that several other inner city churches have placed similar messages on their billboards.

Archbishop Peter Jensen, the head of the Anglican church, has said "there is a truth" in
the parish's message, but stressed that did not mean Jesus Christ approved of bin Laden or terrorist acts.

He has also said he would understand if people were offended by the billboard. "I'm hesitant about it frankly, it's a bit misleading," Dr Jensen has said on Southern Cross radio.

"If I were a relative of one of the victims of Osama's activities, I might take affront at this." Dr Jensen has said Jesus Christ did preach universal love, but there is a difference between love and approval. "There is a truth in it (the message of the billboard)," he said. "(But) what we've got to say is, Jesus doesn't approve of Osama. It makes it sounds like, 'Oh, Osama's doing the right thing'," he said.

Prime Minister John Howard has said churches displaying such a message might have their priorities askew. "I understand the Christian motivation of the Baptist church," Mr Howard has said. "But I hope they will understand that a lot of Australians, including many Australian Christians, will think that the prayer priority of the church on this occasion could have been elsewhere."

Compassion

Yesterday, a spokeswoman for the parish, Hy Lam, said the billboard was merely intended to spread a Biblical message of peace and compassion.

"Osama is the head of terrorism. We are saying that Jesus Christ loves everyone in the world, even this man," she said. "The Bible says God loves everyone – even Osama bin Laden is included in that. All we are doing is sharing the gospel."

Baptist Church spokeswoman Anne Cameron tried to distance herself from the sign, saying: "They are responsible for their own signage and it's usually not that controversial."
- The Daily Telegraph and AAP

Controversial? Perhaps to some... but Truth is often confronting to many...

CrossWalk Forums consider me "too radical..."

2007-01-28T23:57:00.000+09:00

I've been threatened with being booted from Crosswalk Forums for the following (and I quote) "lengthy list of offences"...

1) In a thread started by a practicing LaVeyan Satanist where he was being dumped on and accused of the whole 'goats and orgies' garbage (great way to reach out to someone involved in the occult and show the love of Christ guys - NOT!) I posted saying that I was sorry for the way he was being treated by some of the others at the Forum and that as an ex-practitioner of the Left Hand Path myself (tho' not a Satanist) I had some idea of where he was coming from and invited him to join "'The Son and the Moon Forums' - a Forum set up and maintained BY and FOR exWitches, exPagans and others who have come to Christ from an occult background"...

Just for the record, I have referred several people who had been abused by professing Christians at Crosswalk Forums for daring to seek honest answers to honest questions to a number of 'specialist' Christian Forums, dealing with subjects as varied as 'Survivors of Spiritual Abuse' within the Church to the above mentioned Forum for Christian exWitches and seekers, over the past 12 months... This had never previously earned the ire of the management at Crosswalk Forums

So what was the problem this time??? ... "advertizing another Forum in breach of our Terms of Service"... of course, no mention was made of the abuse heaped on a non-Christian who only asked honest questions of those there...

2) In a thread where someone was asking whether it was "permissable" for a married couple to enjoy sex or whether it was purely for procreation I said "God made orgasms for a reason" ... the offence? The use of the word "orgasm"...

3) In another thread I mentioned the site "GodHatesFags.com" as an example of what NOT to do... My offence? I said "Fags" not "gays" or "homosexuals"... Sorry guys but "GodHatesHomosexuals.com" is NOT the name of the site I was talking about...

Just glad I can say "Puritanical IDIOTS!!!!" here at my own blog without upsetting the Thought Police...

___________________________________________

UPDATE: It seems I am not alone in having run foul with the 'powers that be' at Crosswalk Forums. Many thanx to exWitch New Zealand for letting me know about 'The Badge of Honor' Website...

Rather than try and describe it myself I'll let them speak for themselves...

Are you a Christian? Do you visit so-called "Christian" websites and forums? ... Have you experienced blatantly inappropriate or unfair moderation, sanctions, or censorship at the hands of "authorities" on such sites?
There are sites from which, quite honestly, it's a badge of honor to be banned! Christians need to know about the un-Christ-like behavior of the people who run the sites they frequent. There is a time and place for removing people who can't abide by the rules. But when abiding by the rules applies to some but not to others, or the "authorities" make up the rules as they go along so as to target certain members of their communities, that's wrong. That's not how mature Christians are supposed to behave.

After even a quick read of the stories of others on the site it seems that Crosswalk Forums is not too good at making friends and influencing people... As they say in the classics - there is indeed something rotten in the state of Denmark...

When I say... "I am a Christian"...

2007-01-23T10:22:00.000+09:00

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not shouting "I'm clean living" I'm whispering "I was lost" Now I'm found and I'm forgiven.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need CHRIST to be my guide.

When I say.... "I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need HIS strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say.... "I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I"m not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow.

Author Unknown

Charis-Magick???

2007-01-08T16:30:00.000+09:00

G'Day...

Here's a Teaser from a new Article at exWitch Australia entitled CHARISMATIC AND EVANGELICAL OCCULTISM... I am sure it will ruffle more than a few feathers... but *shrugs* that's never stopped me in the past... ;-D

When His disciples asked Jesus what the signs would be of the nearness of His return and the end of the world, the first sign He gave them was religious deception: "Don't let anyone mislead you" - Matthew 24:4 His reply came as a warning. He went on to explain the nature of the deception, repeating this first and most important sign three times:

"Many will come in my name, saying, `I am the Messiah.' They will lead many astray... And many false prophets will appear and will lead many people astray... For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great miraculous signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God's chosen ones. See, I have warned you." - Matthew 24:5, 11, 24-25 (emphasis added).

Obviously, Christ's warning is not about atheists or rank unbelievers or leaders of some opposing non-Christian religion. There is no deceit involved in such frontal assaults. Christ's warning is about a deception which is all the more subtle because it comes from within the church - and in His name! more > >

PLEASE NOTE: Due to its sheer size, this article has been broken down into three sections, each of which can be read as a separate article in their own right. However, it is strongly recommended that all three sections be taken together as a whole and read in their entirety.

CHARISMATIC AND EVANGELICAL OCCULTISM - Part I
CHARISMATIC AND EVANGELICAL OCCULTISM - Part II
CHARISMATIC AND EVANGELICAL OCCULTISM - Part III

N'joy... 8-D

"The Prayer of a Righteous Man Availeth Much" (James 5:16)

2006-12-26T12:19:00.000+09:00

Want proof that God answers prayers????

Well here it is...

Visitors to The Son and the Moon Forums will remember how I asked for prayers for those affected by the bushfires raging thru Australia... See - http://sonandthemoon.10.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=1609

Well here's God's answer....

from:

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,20974869-948,00.html

White Christmas douses fires
Richard Kerbaj and John Stapleton
December 26, 2006 07:02am

At least nine inches of snow fell at Victoria's Lake Mountain yesterday, much to the delight of Melburnians Derek Chan, Derby Chan and Samuel Wong. / News Limited picture

Mt Buller firefighters Andy Kelly and Carly Reudavey celebrated the bushfire-ending snowfall with a snowball fight. / News Limited picture

CHRISTMAS JOY: Mt Buller CFA Captain Andrew Kelly, Carly Reudavey and Luke Corbett revel in the Christmas snow
WHILE Perth residents took to the beach in 34C (93F) heat yesterday, Victorians enjoyed a white Christmas as snow doused bushfires.
Heavy snow transformed the fire-blackened landscape in Victoria's east into a brilliant white as Melburnians, shrouded by smoke for the past fortnight, had their coldest-ever Christmas Day and were pelted with hail and chilled by biting winds.
Just days after fearing deadly fires would destroy their mountain, residents atop Mt Buller, northeast of Melbourne, were hurling snowballs at each other and shaking their heads in amazement. Likewise, in parts of Tasmania, and Thredbo, in the NSW snow territory, snowmen were the order of the day.
As much as 30mm of snow fell at Mt Baw Baw overnight.
"I've never seen snow fall before in my life, so I thought it would be worth it on Christmas Day just to go up there and have a look," 25-year-old Peter Tuffley said, gripping girlfriend Andrea Innes in the thick snow. "I loved it, it was great."
There is more on the way for Thredbo and Perisher in NSW. Adelaide shivered through its coldest Christmas Day in 13 years. And Hobart hasn't had a Christmas quite as cold in more than two decades. And the weather was amiss in Sydney, too, where the traditional backpacker pilgrimage to Bondi was subdued - only about 10,000 of the usual 40,000 plonked themselves down on the famous stretch - because of the cooler temperatures and the early-morning drizzle.
At Perth's Cottesloe Beach, Deb Webb and her group of family and friends were among 10,000 crammed on to the city beaches.
"Same beach, same time, same beer and champagne every year," she said yesterday.
The group gathers at the beach each Christmas morning for champagne and strawberries and nibblies in the sun before heading home for a full festive dinner.
But in Victoria, it was the coldest Christmas Day in 150 years that brought "significant" amounts of snow to Victoria's southern regions, including a 30mm drop at Mount Baw Baw, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
"I don't think I've seen Christmas spirits like this for a long time. Maybe because there's a sigh of relief because of the fire (threat) being dampened for a little bit longer ... everyone is elated," Mt Buller Chalet's Eric Siewart said.
Local Jacqui Whitby said she was "ecstatic" to see snow. "This is what we all live up here for - for the snow," she told The Australian. "So to have it on Christmas Day, given what we've faced in the last three weeks, is just unbelievable and there's a lot of happy faces around."
Country Fire Authority captain Andrew Kelly said the snow "settled" the fires in the region and gave crew members a rest ahead of more fires expected by the end of the week when temperatures begin to rise again.
"The snow's been unreal, really good for Christmas," he said.
Weatherwatch's Don White said the wet and cool conditions were caused by a low-pressure system in the Tasman pushing up winds from the south across the southeast corner of the country.
"And they're fast-moving, so consequently they don't have a chance to warm up a lot by the time they hit the Australian mainland," he said. "They bring the snow because there's temperatures low enough to produce snow."
While the cool and wet conditions had all but a few hundred firefighters home for Christmas Day, the longer term forecast is not promising.
The dominant weather patterns, which have created appalling bushfire conditions and made the lives of many farmers so miserable, will persist throughout summer and into early autumn. Mr White said there was not expected to be any major rainfall at least until March.
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Ward Rooney said southerly winds were expected to keep the temperatures down in the region until Thursday before a forecast warm change sweeps in and begins to build up into the weekend.

Let's see someone try and explain THAT away by saying it was 'Global WARMING' *winks*

"The Prayer of a Righteous Man Availeth Much" (James 5:16)

Thank you ALL for your prayers... from EVERYONE Down Under...

Attn: All Forum Owners - Beating the Spam Bots...

2006-12-17T12:03:00.000+09:00

G'Day all...

Quite by accident I stumbled across a veritable goldmine of info for Forum Owners, Admins and Moderators that may be - as we have been at The Son and the Moon Forums - on the recieving end of a large number of posts by Spam Bots...

One forum on colourblindness seems to have come up with a rather unique solution to the problem of Spam Bots... let them spam a specific folder (dunno HOW they get them to ONLY hit THAT folder tho') http://www.vischeck.com/bb2/viewforum.php?f=3

Anyway while it's NOT a solution I'd use it DOES provide a massive list of known spammers screen names that we've made use of at The Son and the Moon Forums and 'pillaged' the list and added all the posters screen names to our 'Disallowed Names' listings ...and... found quite a few useful 'keywords' and phrases to be blocked by our 'Word Censor' ...

Hope you guys out there can make use of it...

Tears of Angels Website and Forum

2006-11-06T05:58:00.000+08:00

A new Christian Website and Forum for those of an artistic bent created and maintained by Richard Marks.

The Tears of Angels exists to promote and encourage the artistic talents of it's community, and to provide helpful advice and critisism if and when asked for. We believe that all individuals have the right to express themselves through what ever artistic medium they so choose to express themselves in.

Hope to see you all there... 8-D

Christianity.net.au

2006-10-19T08:29:00.000+08:00

Saw an interesting piece on Channel 7's 'Sunrise' program about a new Australian Christian website created by the Sydney Diocese of the Anglican Church - http://www.christianity.net.au - and what an EXCELLENT resource it is!

I can not recommend this site highly enough!!!

My only negative comment - and it is a VERY small one - is that there is currently no 'Link to us' page with a downloadable banner that people can add to their own site to help promote it... yet! Hopefully that will change...

exWitch Australia Site Hacked...

2006-07-28T08:42:00.000+08:00

Well... it was bound to happen eventually... *sighs*

Like a number of other Websites by exWitches and exOccultists, the main exWitch Australia website was hacked earlier this week and all updates since January 2006 were lost...

The site is back up and running and I hope to have the 'lost' updates sorted and re-uploading during the next week or so...

Please bear with us while we get the situation sorted and the damage done repaired...

Thanx! 8-D

Repressed Memories and Satanic Ritual Abuse

2006-07-27T17:00:00.000+08:00

I recently recieved the following comment on an unrelated post on this blog and although I answered the comment there I feel it was an important enough issue to bring up on the main part of this blog...

I thought I would post a hello to you.I suppose I have some similar ground to you in that I used to be one of the most passionate atheists in North America, an Ayn Randian objectivist, who wanted to outdo her...and was writing books in the same style, but worse, to advocate earth bound materialism and atheist rationalism.I was also very into goth before I came back to Christ, and I kind of understand your Christian goth feelings...
I came to Christ in my mid twenties.Praise God you have come back to Christ. It is really amazing to here your story, and I am not a shallow observer. I have gone through a deep transformation myself.Concerning SRA, I would not make the mistake of discounting it completely, even if you are tired of people confusing it with consciously practiced witchcraft or wiccanism (which it is not.)
When I was 27, after 3 years of being Christian, I remembered SRA memories, in a traumatic unrepression of memories that took years.Generational dissociative idolatry may indeed be real, I feel now. In fact, Christians who really believe should indeed expect to find pagan idolatry in the modern world, among those who are only shallow believers or not believers in Christ.
It is almost inevitable, if you believe the second commandment at all.I hope my understanding of SRA may help you to grow your point of view. SRA is not wiccanism, or Anton Lavey, or kids drawing pentagrams. It is the real thing, terrifying idolatry hidden beneath the surface level of the modern family in the modern world. It is not an organized conspiracy, but instead a generational familial curse. ("I do not fail to punish those who practice idolatry for 4 generations." Exodus 20)
Keep an open mind about this, even if you don't believe in every recovered memory story you hear. People worshipped idols and sacrificed victims in the dark before Christ came. They didn't merely give it up when Europe was Christianized or when science grew in the modern world. Repressed idolatry is all around you, right now, or may be.
For me, it is not about SRA anyway, in the end. For me, my life is about obedience and faith to Christ.

As a Christian I have some MAJOR problems with so-called 'repressed memories' of alleged 'Satanic Ritual Abuse' because the very methodology of using hypnosis to 'bring up' these alleged 'memories' has itself a base in the occult... and is I believe therefore unreliable AT BEST...

Hypnosis is problematic for a Christian for several reasons:

1) The fruit of the Spirit is self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). As we follow the Spirit’s lead, He will give us the power to better control our own selves. Hypnosis involves the transfer of control, away from ourselves to another person...

2) We are to yield ourselves - body, soul, and spirit - to God. Romans 6:12-13 gives us the formula for overcoming sin: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God . . . and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” It’s about control—as Christians, we can let sin control us, or we can let God control us. (See also Romans 6:16-23; 1 Corinthians 6:9-12; and James 4:6-7.) The scriptural formula leaves no room for hypnosis (yielding ourselves to a fellow human being)

3) Hypnosis leads to an altered state of consciousness in which the mind is very susceptible to outside suggestion. That susceptibility is what the hypnotist needs in order to modify the behavior of his subject...

However, the very word susceptible should concern us. Scripture says to be watchful and “vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The hypnotist is not the only one who wants to modify our behaviour; Satan also wants to do some modifying, and we should be wary of giving him any opportunity to make his suggestions...

4) Hypnotism is often promoted as a simple way of “refocusing” ourselves and finding the answer within us. As believers in Christ, our focus is to be on our Saviour, not on ourselves or anything else (Hebrews 12:2). We know that the answers to not lie within us (Romans 7:18); the solution we need is found in Christ (Romans 8:2)

5) Many of the techniques used in hypnosis are shared by mystical, philosophical, and religious systems, including the occult...

The “father of hypnotism,” Franz Anton Mesmer, was himself a practitioner of the occult - his method of inducing a trance was very similar to the way a medium conducts a séance. Hypnotism, along with Yoga and Transcendental Meditation, has always been linked to spiritual darkness. The newfound respectability of these practices has not changed their underlying nature...

There's also some links that may be of value that concern (at least in part) hypnosis in the follwing thread at 'The Son and the Mon' Forums... http://sonandthemoon.10.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=497

Although that thread is about Satanic Ritual Abuse there are links in it that deal with problems with things like allegedly repressed memories that are retrieved via hynosis...

ALSO...

http://faculty.washington.edu/eloftus/

Elizabeth F. Loftus is professor of psychology at the University of Washington. She has written several books on understanding how human memory is shaped by perception and experience and there's several links to articles on supposedly repressed memories, false memory syndrome, dissociation, etc that are of interest at the site above... I haven't read all the articles that there are links to there but what I have seen so far explains why she is sought after as an "expert witness" in court cases dealing with evidence obtained thru repressed memories, etc... If this interests you too it's well worth a look at IMHO...

The following links may also be of interest...

INVESTIGATOR'S" GUIDE TO ALLEGATIONS OF RITUAL CHILD ABUSE
January 1992
Kenneth V. Lanning
Supervisory Special Agent
Behavioral Science Unit
National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime
Federal Bureau of Investigation
FBI Academy Quantico, Virginia 22135

SATANIC RITUAL ABUSE IN POPULAR CHRISTIAN LITERATURE: Why Christians Fall for a Lie Searching for the Truth
Bob and Gretchen Passantino - This article first appeared in the Journal of Psychology and Theology, 1992, Vol. 20, No. 3, 299-305

THE RECOVERED MEMORY AND SATANIC RITUAL ABUSE Cult Awareness & Information Centre (Australia)

Characteristics and Sources of Allegations of Ritualistic Child Abuse Grant No. 90CA1405 Final Report to the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect

The Myth of Satanic Ritual Abuse

Interview With Sherrill Mulhern By Jon Trott

Satan's" Sideshow: The True Lauren Stratford Story

Selling Satan: The Tragic History of Mike Warnke

Michelle Remembers: Fiction, not Fact

The Debunking of a Myth - Why the original "ritual abuse" victim may have suffered only from her childhood fantasies

Michelle Remembers - False "Survivor" Story of Satanic Abuse As someone said in a recent private message to me on a Christian Forum that Satanic Ritual Abuse MUST be true because there were books about it (presumably by the same logic there MUST also be little green men and flying saucers) here are some books worth checking out (and links to them) that are quite effective in debunking SRA claims:

Satan Wants You: The Cult of Devil Worship in America by Arthur Lyons (Mysterious Press, 1988).

In Pursuit of Satan: The Police and the Occult by Robert D. Hicks (Prometheus Books, 1991).

The Satanism Scare: Social Institutions and Social Change edited by James T. Richardson, Joel Best, and David Bromley (Aldine de Gruyter, 1991).

Out of Darkness: Exploring Satanism and Ritual Abuse edited by Sakheim and Devine (Lexington Books/ MacMillan, 1992).

Satanic Panic: The Creation of a Contemporary Legend by Jeffrey S. Victor (Open Court Press, 1993).

Satan's" Silence: Ritual Abuse and the Making of a Modern American Witch Hunt by Debbie Nathan, Michael Snedeker (Authors Choice Press, 2001)

Hope these are of interest/assistance to others...

TxParamedic and more flawed leadership at at exWitch Ministries (USA)

2006-07-26T22:32:00.000+08:00

Well...

After being banned from The Son and the Moon Forums for refusing to recant after promoting a stance that was clearly in contravention of Scripture (see LINK) - something that is against the rules of the Forum... TxParamedic - a Moderator and Staff Member (see LINK) of Kathi Sharpe's 'exWitch Ministries' (USA) snuck back in using another username to post an abusive message to me...

...the offensive post has since been moved to the Moderators' Folders and his IP and email addy blocked...

Well... If that is how the Moderators and Staff Members of Kathi Sharpe's 'exWitch Ministries' (USA) conduct themselves on other Forums then it is indeed a VERY flawed ministry....

Rotten from the top right on down...

...and we are much better off at The Son and Moon Forums and exWitch Australia having NOTHING to do with such people who only bring dishonour to Christ...

This is just another chapter in a long running dispute with Kathi Sharpe and her seriously flawed ministry... For further details see an earlier post at this blog entitled 'Why I do NOT support Kathi Sharpe and exWitch Ministries (USA)'

A Regular Prayer Point...

2006-06-13T11:05:00.000+08:00

G'Day all...

Just my regular reminder and a simple request to just stop for five minutes and pray for those in leadership not only at The Son and the Moon Forums and exWitch Australia but for those at...

exWitch Ministries and Forums (USA) - not to be confused with exWitch Australia which is a totally independent and seperate Ministry

Ancient Crossroads Forums

Circle and Cross Talk Forums

Pagan Christian Moot - a non-Christian group that provides a place where Christians and pagans can meet for meaningful dialogue...

Refuge Ministries

Hour of the Witch

WRNet Ministries

Please take a moment right now to bow your head in prayer for those in leadership at each of these groups and ministries - not just our own here - that they may be open and responsive to the will and calling of God in the performance of their ministries... and constantly strive to bring honour and glory to God...

Thanking you in advance...

PLEASE NOTE:

Unless listed in the 'RECOMMENDED LINKS' Navigation Bar on the right hand side of the entry page to this blog, this request for prayer DOES NOT constitute an endorsement of, or support for, the groups, ministries and forums mentioned... It is merely a request for prayer for those mentioned...

An exWitch's Thoughts on Harry Potter... (Updated)

2006-05-27T15:19:00.000+08:00

Seems everyone has passionately held views about young Harry...

OK seems like time to jump in with my 2c worth...

I certainly wouldn't try to 'prevent' anyone from reading HP books or watching the flicks... I think it would be just plain stupid and an infringement of another's right to choose their own entertainment (so long as it is not harming another)...

However... That said...

While I don't think that anyone and everyone who watches a HP flick is going to run off and become a demon worshipping psychopath - which *rolls eyes* I've heard some (who should know better) claim - I do see the potential that a small number of the total number of viewers/readers will be influenced into thinking that magick is all fluffy, harmless bumpf... any serious practitioner of Magick will tell you that there ARE dangers... *shrugs* Hey! I was a Pagan (on the Left Hand Path) myself... (you can read a bit more about that at the main exWitch Australia site)

Now that I am a Christian I feel that it is only right (and a responsibility to - for want of a better term) to warn people of the dangers in Magick (both those acknowledged by practitioners) and those defined in Scripture... the old analogy of "If someone was in a burning house would you warn them to get out?" comes in here... yeah I know it's not a 'perfect fit' but few analogies are but I think you see what I'm getting at...

It is quite true that Harry Potter makes no mention of the Wiccan Rede, the Sabbats etc etc... but Wicca is not the only form of Witchcraft nor is it even the only form of Neo-Pagan Witchcraft... My old Coven did not practice the Wiccan Rede and in fact 'The Rite of Vengence' was officially accepted into the Coven's 'Book of Shadows'. This was even reflected in the Coven's Motto: "Sic Gorgiamus Alius Subjectatus Nunc" ("We Gladly Devour All those Who Would Subdue Us")...

I personally think much more is made of Harry Potter than is neccessary - others will disagree - but as I said that's my personal view...

But as I said above and I say it again so there is no ambiguity here - and I say this as one who was the High Priest of a Neo-Pagan Coven before coming to Christ... Harry Potter is NOT a 'training manual' designed to intruduce kids to Witchcraft!!!! AND... Reading the books or watching the filns does NOT mean that your child will become a demon worshipping, blood drinking maniac (as I have herad some claim)...

That said...

It does have SOME impact however... in much the same way as TV shows and movies like Charmed, The Craft et al...

When I was High Priest of a Coven here in Western Australia out of every 100 enquiries re Coven membership only a handful were NOT from teenaged girls who wanted to be like Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Shannon Doherty from Charmed... Yes it is a false view of Wicca and Neo-Pagan Witchcraft and certainly not what my Coven was about... but that's what they were after and to a large extent the likes of $ilver Ravenwolf and Fiona Horne catered for them and lined their pockets with the proceeds...

So when Oberon Zell (founder of the Neo-Pagan 'Chucrch of All Worlds') is putting out stuff like this...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1564147118/qid=1114144249/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/103-8310467-2099831?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1564147118/002-2797232-8278442?v=glance&n=283155

http://www.greyschool.com/main.asp

To say Harry Potter has NO effect ... well... it kinda rings hollow now-a-days...

Especially when one read the following excerpts from the foreward of Oberon Zell's "Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard"...

'Foreword: The Grimoire and the Grey Council'
(full text at: http://www.witchvox.com/books/dt_bk.html?id=614 )

"A great number of us have been wanting - longing - to board the Hogwarts Express and to travel to an academy that teaches the really exciting things in life. Things such as magick, herbal lore, divination, conjuring, and so on. In a word, we have been wanting to learn WIZARDRY. It’s one thing to read about the experiences of someone else - even such a fascinating person as Harry Potter - but it’s quite another thing to be able to go through the whole magickal educational process yourself. To enter such a school and know that your teachers are the very finest Wizards and Witches in the world would be awe-inspiring. So, how to do this? How to find and attend such a Wizard’s academy?"

"You’ll be happy to know that you don’t have to wait for a special invitation to be delivered, be it by owl mail or otherwise. You don’t even have to be the child of a Wizard or Witch. In fact you can even be a regular Muggle child and still get into this school. (It has been rumored that even some grown-up Muggles have been so attracted to it that they, too, have slipped in!) Where is this school? It’s right here in your hands. The Course in Wizardry - at least the Apprentice Level of the course - is contained in this book. That’s like suddenly discovering that there’s a home study branch of Hogwarts Academy! Here may be found seven major courses, plus an appendix and bibliography, put together by the Grey Council of Wizards for you to study and learn."

"Members of the Grey Council are living, breathing, famous Wizards and Witches of the present day. They are not “made up, ” or in any way invented by an author. They are alive and real and have been practicing their various crafts for up to forty or fifty years. When Harry Potter was first taking the Hogwarts Express to Hogwarts Academy, he was shown the trading cards of Witches and Wizards that came in the Chocolate Frogs packs. Ron Weasley introduced him to these, showing such famous personalities as Merlin, Paracelsus, Morgana, Circe, Cliodna, Ptolemy, Dumbledore, and Hengist. These were actually a mixture of real Witches and Wizards and those of fiction and legend. But in this book there are only real ones...."

"Let this book take you on a journey. It opens on Wizardry - concerning Wizards, becoming a Wizard, foundations of magick, magickal skills, etc. It introduces you to ideas and concepts, then leads you along the secret path that wends its way through the sometimes fearsome appearing trees of the forest of ancient knowledge. Along the way you learn that all is not as it seems. What many people take as frightening, or scary, you will learn to be safe, inspiring, and power-enabling. The path through the woods goes on and on, but the deeper it goes, the more interesting you will find it. This is a little like venturing into the Forbidden Forest near Hogwarts. That is a place where “secrets are kept and mysteries can be unraveled.” There will be temptations along the way, yes. There will appear to be some short-cuts. But where do they really lead? The safest route is with your guides; with the Grey Council. You will not be led astray. Stay on the path and do what they suggest. Remember, Hagrid was not afraid of the forest, because he knew it and knew of its inhabitants. So with the Grey Council. We know the safest routes and will guide you safely."

...and by the author Oberon Zell himeslf...(full text at: http://www.witchvox.com/books/dt_bk.html?id=614 )

"Combining the concept of the original Boy Scout Handbook with a seven-year junior high- through high school curriculum such as “Hogwarts” would provide, I wrote, wove, and edited all this material into a single 384-page volume of courses, classes, lessons, and exercises. It is profusely illustrated with my own drawings and those of others both ancient and contemporary. Charts, tables, diagrams, glossaries, and appendices make it an essential reference for a lifetime of magickal work and studies.

"In short, this is the book I wish I’d gotten hold of when I began my journey as a youth, and had available all these years; and it’s the book I most want to have on my shelf right now. In my next incarnation, I expect to be given a copy upon my first Rite of Passage!

"This is the first true Grimoire of the 3rd Millennium, and, like its Medieval predecessors, it is itself an act of magick. We are tailoring it specifically for the “Harry Potter generation, ” where the soil has already been richly cultivated for the planting of these seeds. Through it, I (and the Grey Council) intend to release an entire new generation of Wizards into the world - not just a few, as in times past, but millions. And their impact on the world will be incalculable…"

Whether or not Harry Potter was intended as such (I personally think it was not) it is recognized by some at least in the Wiccan and Neo-Pagan communities as a powerful 'recruitment tool'... and dare I say it - is obviously and quite openly being "ca$hed in on" - quite literally by the looks of Oberon Zell's books and "School of Wizardry" website...

When I was High Priest of a Coven here in Western Australia out of every 100 enquiries re Coven membership only a handful were NOT from teenaged girls who wanted to be like Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Shannon Doherty from Charmed... Yes it is a false view of Wicca and Neo-Pagan Witchcraft and certainly not what my Coven was about... but that's what they were after and to a large extent the likes of $ilver Ravenwolf and Fiona Horne catered for them and lined their pockets with the proceeds...

I must admit that with Hogwart's being such an AGGRESSIVELY protected trademark (Harry Potter fan-sites are always being shut down for copyright breaches) old Oberon has been quite clever in his presentation of his Hogwarts 'clone' "School of Wizardry" and - dare I say specific - in his 'target audience'...

I dunno about anyone else, but it sure as eggs looks to me that Oberon Zell and the 'Church of All Worlds' (CAW) must be really miffed about all that lost income from potential CAW memberships that $ilver Ravenwolf and Fiona Horne nabbed by NOT larfing at those teen girls that liked The Craft and Charmed et al and wanted to be "just like Shannon Doherty"...

So when respected and recognized 'figureheads' within the Wiccan and Neo-Pagan community so openly recognize Harry Potter's influence I am left somewhat gob smacked when I find Christians who attempt to deny it...

Harry Potter books and films are full of stereotypical magic. Witchcraft and wizardry are central themes, and the lead roles are played by wizards, witches, and other magical creatures. Although the characters practice casting spells, reading crystal balls, etc., they do not communicate with spiritual (supernatural) forces. While this may be considered a positive by some, one definite negative in my opinion is that there is no higher power to answer to at all...

Unlike other fantasy children's stories that contain witches and the like, such as C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter does not have a positive biblical worldview...

The distinction between good and bad can become blurred as both the "good" and "evil" characters participate in different types witchcraft and magic. The Bible clearly condemns all kinds of witchcraft, sorcery and spiritism (Deuteronomy 18:10-11) Philippians 4:8 tells us to "fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honourable."

So does this mean that all Christians should avoid Harry Potter altogether?

For some families, the answer to this is yes.

In my view the Harry Potter series is not for young or spiritually immature children, as they may not have the ability to distinguish between reality and fantasy, right and wrong, or good and evil...

At best, they may be left confused about God's views about the occult, and at worst, they may become enchanted by the magical existence of Harry and his friends, becoming desensitized to occultic lifestyles...

In addition, there are issues such as violence and mildly foul language that each Christian family will be sensitive to at different levels...

Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians chapter 8 on a grey area of his time: whether or not Christians should eat meat that was sacrificed to idols.

He explained that some Christians have "knowledge" about the fact that there is only one God, and meat sacrificed to idols was not really sacrificed to anything. However, other Christians did not have this same "knowledge", and if they saw another Christian eating meat that was sacrificed to an idol, their conscience might be "...emboldened to eat those things offered to idols..."

To these, this would be a sin in their own minds because of their weaker understanding. Paul warns us of letting our liberty become a "stumbling block" to those who are weaker, or have less understanding.

He says in verses 11 and 12, "And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, YOU sin against Christ." (emphasis mine)

At the end of the chapter, Paul offers his solution to this problem. He says in verse 13, "Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble."

Same could be said of young Harry VERY easily... ;)

For my part... I personally don't think young Harry is half as bad as some make him out to be... but I won't 'partake' myself for the reasons given above...

Just a thought...

What's happening at SaM???

2006-05-19T09:57:00.000+08:00

Well, to explain last nights big blow up at 'The Son and the Moon Forums'...

Debby aka 'Star'/'amdnstr' was called out' by yours truly over the deletion of posts and users at the forum without any consultation with other Admin Staff...

Deb was given the option of curbing her behaviour or resigning as Admin...

Deb resigned as Admin last night Australian time...

For the record... Deb's reply to me was...

That is ok, this is the last you will hear from me. I quit!!

Deb was subsequently told NOT to continue deleting posts... and continued to do...

She therefore lost Moderator priveleges...

She continued to spit the dummy....

She lost private messages priveleges...

Deb continued on in the same vein with this...

You can delete me now. I have what I needed as well as I removed everyone of my teaching posts. I see now that you kicked me out so that you could put cindi in. I find that to be sad, that you would throw away a good friend for a new whore, but that is up to you. The entire board knows it now, in your words. I figured that if you could use my private posts against me, then I could do the same to you.

As a result...

Deb is now BANNED ...

In other news at SaM...

Cindi aka 'Countrygal' (of Wisconsin) is currently being trained as a Moderator...

...and we'd like to welcome 'Nightmare' back to the Forum... 8-D

Morning Star Forums Hacked

2006-04-10T07:05:00.000+08:00

Seems not everyone appreciates Free Speech on the Internet...

Morning Star Forums was hacked recently and all information lost... However, it is back at a new address (just click the link above)... Don't forget to update your bookmarks...

Hope to see you all there... 8-D

A NEW Forum for Christian exWitches

2006-03-23T09:36:00.000+08:00

Well... There's a new kid on the block... Another Forum established BY Christian exWitches FOR Christian exWitches! Morning Star Forums which is a totally seperate and independent seperate entity from the already existing The Son and the Moon Forums

There's certainly room for more than one Forum for exWitches and each will have a different 'flavour' because of the different 'mix' of different people on each one... so they'll suit different people, so, in many ways, the more the merrier - so long as they are soundly scripturally based...

Why I do NOT support Kathi Sharpe and exWitch Ministries (USA)

2006-03-14T15:28:00.003+08:00

I am constantly being asked "Why do you not provide links to Kathi Sharpe's US based 'exWitch Ministries'?" and "Is 'exWitch Australia' a part of 'exWitch Ministries (USA)?"

The answer is long and involved but I hope that by providing the following link to a discussion that turned into a rather heated argument with Mark Bishop one of the Administrators at Kathi Sharpe's above mentioned Ministry will explain why I will have NOTHING to do with someone I consider to be a "false prophet" as defined by Scripture and a Ministry whose Admnistration is corrupt and uses false representation (by claiming to have people on staff who have, like me, left the Ministry in protest and disgust over the methods used and doctrine espoused by the 'powers-that-be' there - I understand that the use of such false representations attempting to give creedence to Ms Sharpe without their permission is a felony crime (fraud) in the United States) and that routinely uses threats of legal action against fellow Christians in direct contravention of the clear teachings of Scripture (1 Cor. 6:7) to intimidate and silence any criticism of the above mentioned practices... (see the 'News and Updates' entry at my main site for September 11, 2005 here for but one example of this)

Here is the LINK in question...

You will note that I make no bones about the areas - and there were more than a few - where I was at fault in my dealings with Kathi Sharpe's US based exWitch Ministries - where I was a Moderator for a time and as such got to see what REALLY goes on "behind the scenes" - but getting a similar declaration or admission from the 'powers-that-be' at exWitch Ministries (USA) is like trying to get blood from a stone...

I hope that after reading the WHOLE of the thread that I have linked to above people will understand why, while I openly and happily acknowledge that there are a great number of people who truly love and follow our Lord there - that I have - to say the least - strong reservations about having ANYTHING to do with such a flawed and unScriptural group...

Once again... Here is the LINK in question...

...and compare it with what the 'powers-that-be' at exWitch Ministries (USA) are willing to tell the members of their own Fourum - LINK - Note particularly Kathi Sharpe's comments...

Just for the record... The last email I recieved from Ms Sharpe was another threat of legal action... which I have on record should she wish to challenge me on this... because - frankly - there comes a point where patience ends...

As they say in the "classics"... "Go ahead... Make my day!" ;-D

Jesus Himself threw the moneychangers out of the Temple and took on the Pharisees head to head and warned us that “false Christs and false prophets” will come and will attempt to deceive even God’s elect (Matthew 25:24-25; see also 2 Peter 3:3 and Jude 17-18)...

I, for one, will have NOTHING to do with them...

A Regular Prayer Request...

2006-03-14T13:25:00.001+08:00

Ancient Crossroads Forums

Circle and Cross Talk Forums

Pagan Christian Moot - a non-Christian group that provides a place where Christians and pagans can meet for meaningful dialogue...

Refuge Ministries

Hour of the Witch

WRNet Ministries

PLEASE NOTE:

Passing on the Baton

2006-03-03T12:32:00.000+08:00

This may come as a bit of a surprize - maybe even a shock - to some - but I have now formally resigned as both 'Moderator' and as a 'Founding Member' of 'The Son and the Moon Forums' and my access to certain folders has been 'cut' accordingly.

This does not mean that I have left SaM entirely, rather, merely my 'status' has changed - from that of 'head honcho' (for want of a better term) to that of a regular member.

My original intention, when setting up the Forum in the first place was to pass the reins on to others once the Forum was established and stable - this I have now done.

The Occult - An exWitch's View...

2006-02-21T17:20:00.002+08:00

I was somewhat taken aback recently when I was recently accused by another Christian of defending the Occult because I did not agree with her that tales of so-called 'Satanic Ritual Abuse' were all true...

So just for the record what follows is my stance on the Occult - as a Christian exWitch. (I will post at a later date my views - and the reasons for them - on so-called 'Satanic Ritual Abuse' which seemed to irk my sister in Christ so much)

My stance is that the occult usurps the rightful place of the Scripture in the life of the Christian. It attempts to give direction and guidance to the individual and ultimately deliver him into bondage.

The Bible is clear on the subject. Astrology, Divination, consulting or contacting the dead (Necromancy) and in fact the occult in general, is an abomination to God. Some would have us believe the Bible endorses certain occultic practices as an art that offers mankind an understanding of his true self, an opportunity to create his or her own reality to suit his or her personal spiritual goals.

The following Scriptures indicate otherwise.

"Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the Lord." - Leviticus 18:21
"Any Israelite or any alien living in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death... I will set my face against that man and I will cut him off from his people... I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them..." - Leviticus 20:1-6
"And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon, and the stars - all the heavenly array - do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven." - Deuteronomy 4:19
"If a man or woman living among you... is found doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God in violation of his covenant, and contrary to my command has worshiped other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or the moon or the stars of the sky, and this has been brought to your attention... take the man or woman who has done this evil deed to your city gate and stone that person to death." - Deuteronomy 17:2-5
'When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or Sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.' - Deuteronomy 18:9-11
"They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal." - 2 Kings 17:16
"He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal and made an Ashtoreth pole, as Ahab king of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, 'In Jerusalem I will put my Name.' In both courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to the starry hosts. He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced Sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking him to anger." - 2 Kings 21:3-6
"The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest... to remove from the temple of the Lord all the articles made for Baal and Ashtoreth and all the starry hosts. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron Valley and took the ashes to Bethel. He did away with the pagan priests appointed by the kings of Judah to burn incense... - those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations and to all the starry hosts." - 2 Kings 23:4-5
"Furthermore, Josiah got rid of the mediums and spiritists, the household gods, the idols and all the other detestable things seen in Judah and Jerusalem. This he did to fulfill the requirements of the law..." - 2 Kings 23:24
"You are wearied with your many counsels; Let now the astrologers, Those who prophesy by the stars, Those who predict by the moons, Stand up and save you from what will come upon you. Behold, they have become like stubble, Fire burns them; They cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame..." - Isaiah 47:13, 14
"The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes of bread for the Queen of Heaven [ISHTAR]. They pour drink offerings to other gods to provoke me to anger." - Jeremiah 7:18
"At that time, declares the Lord, the bones of the kings and officials of Judah, the bones of the priests and prophets, and the bones of the people of Jerusalem will be removed from their graves. They will be exposed to the sun and the moon and all the stars of the heavens, which they have loved and served and which they have followed and consulted and worshiped. They will not be gathered up and buried, but will be like refuse lying on the ground." - Jeremiah 8:1, 2
"The houses in Jerusalem and those of the kings of Judah will be defiled like this place, Topheth - all the houses where they burned incense on the roofs to all the starry hosts and poured out drink offerings to other gods." - Jeremiah 19:13
"I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal, the names of the pagan and the idolatrous priests - those who bow down on the housetops to worship the starry hosts, those who bow down and swear by the Lord and who also swear by Molech, those who turn back from following the Lord and neither seek the Lord nor inquire of him." - Zephaniah 1:4-6
"But God turned away and gave them over to the worship of the heavenly bodies." - Acts 7:42
"No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons." - 1 Corinthians 10:20

The above Scriptures clearly reject the use of occultic practices and all forms of divination by God's people. God not only cleanses his kingdom of all occultic influence, He outright condemns those who practice its arts. Scripture also calls each of us to place our faith in Jesus Christ rather than the created universe.

The book of Colossians reminds the individual to "see to it that no one takes you captive through vain philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of man, according to the elemental principles of the universe, rather than according to Christ" (Colossians 2:8).

We are to remain vigilant and guard our hearts, for from the heart flows the living water of life.

The Occult offers us every opportunity to turn away from our Creator. We are seduced by other gods that come to us from the heavenlies as we seek to divine our future. The Occult claims to offer us hope, but it can only deliver our souls to be burned. It claims to decode the mysteries of the cosmos, yet the Creator has done so in his Word.

The occult utilizes various methods and devices to inform the novice; the Lord offers the believer the Scriptures for instruction and a relationship to cement his future. The occult attempts to displace the true God of the universe with the false gods of the ancients. The Christian stands as the only sentinel to call forth the deception of the occult in another's life.

We must stand and rightly speak God's truth into each soul and thereby become a missionary of hope, rather than a deceiver of demonic spirits.

HOWEVER...

Unfortuneately there are MANY falsehoods, deceptions and outright lies spread within the Church concerning the occult that are preached as fact, and which cause suspicion, confusion and fear not only among Christians, but in the wider community at large, and which only serve to harm the innocent, negatively impact upon the effective witness of those who minister to those still involved in the occult and which - most seriously of all - brings dishonour upon Christ...

"All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (II Timothy 3:16-17)

Such was the attitude of the Apostle Paul. Yet today, many who claim to revere the Bible as the inspired Word of God seem to trust the word of a friend, colleague, Pastor, Priest or even a favourite author as being 'Gospel', so that the need for confirmation from Scripture is considered marginal at best. Indeed, many Christians seem to be ready to believe ANY book rather than THE Book that they claim to hold most dear!

Local churches are commanded to appoint Elders able to pass judgement on what those who claim to speak in the name of God teach (I Corinthians 14:29). Luke, the writer of the New Testament book, 'Acts of the Apostles' praised the Bereans for testing what the Apostle Paul taught them:

"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and EXAMINED THE SCRIPTURES EVERYDAY, TO SEE IF WHAT PAUL TAUGHT WAS TRUE." - Acts 17:11

The risen Christ commended the Church at Ephesus for testing those who claimed to have Divine Authority: "I know that you have tested those who claim to be Apostles, but are not, and have found them false... " (Revelation 2:2)

If one truly believes the Bible to be the Word of God, then it is obvious how vital it is to use it to judge every doctrine and experience. Each Christian is responsible to search the Scriptures themselves and to test what is being taught (I John 2:26-27).

One can not abdicate responsibility in this area by claiming that, "those who teach will be judged more strictly." (James 3:1) For each Christian is commanded to "test EVERYTHING, and hold onto the good."(I Thessalonians 5:21) and to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once and for all delivered to the saints." - Jude 3

THAT is my stance on the Occult...

More Thoughts on Harry Potter (continued)

2006-02-15T18:40:00.000+08:00

This is a continuation of my previous blog entry An exWitch's thoughts on Harry Potter...

When Did You Last Have a Rousing Debate over Eating Meat Sacrificed to Idols?

Contemporary Christians in western culture haven’t had to struggle much over whether or not it’s a sin to eat meat sacrificed to idols. However, that was a hotly debated topic that the first century church had to grapple with. That controversy, which is taken up in 1 Corinthians chapters 8-10 has principles that apply directly to the debate over Harry Potter we are engaged in today.

The Christian faith was birthed out of Judaism, with its a long history of Jewish culture preceding it. The Jews were commanded to remain separate from the Gentiles (non-Jewish peoples) as a crucial part of their devotion to God. Much of their concept of holiness had to do with not being contaminated by other non-Jewish cultures and customs. They were not to intermarry with Gentiles, nor were they to eat certain forbidden foods, nor were they to worship idols.

That was clear as far back as the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. The first command God spoke to Moses and wrote on the holy tablets was "You shall have no other gods before me." "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” While the Jews were forbidden to worship idols, Gentile culture was full of idol worship (which historically became a snare for the Jewish people from the start, even before Moses got down the mountain with the commandments written in stone!).

Then, after Jesus ascended back to the Father, God revealed a great mystery: salvation was not only for the Jews, but for all who would put their faith in Jesus Christ! This was truly good news to the Gentiles. Jesus himself intimated what was to come when he gave his followers (who were originally all Jews) the Great Commission. “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned’.” [Mark 16:15-16 NIV]

The apostle Paul, raised as a strict Jew but in a Hellenistic culture, was appointed by God to take the good news of salvation to the Gentiles.[See 1 Timothy 2:7]

When preaching the Gospel, it took one approach to convince Jews, trained in the law of Moses and looking for the fulfillment of Old Testament messianic prophecies. You can see this displayed in the Gospel of Matthew which quotes the Old Testament over sixty times and stresses the phrase, “Just as it was written...” to prove the case that Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecies written in the Old Testament.

However, preaching the gospel to Gentiles took an entirely different approach. They were raised in a pagan world, in a culture immersed in idolatry, pagan rituals, and worship of many (so-called) gods. When Paul preached to Gentiles he accommodated himself to their culture, using metaphors they could relate to, eating their foods that were previously not sanctioned under Jewish dietary laws established in the Hebrew scriptures. During his missionary journeys, Paul converted many Gentile populations in metropolitan cities far from the influence of Jewish customs. There, new converts to Jesus Christ had challenging cultural questions dealing with how to live out their faith in the midst of a pagan culture.

Christian converts living in Corinth found themselves facing a controversy which caused division, arguments, and confusion among the body of Christ in that city. Corinth was full of idolatry. Those who became Christians in Corinth had grown-up in a culture immersed in idol worship, and chose to turn their devotion away from idols to Jesus Christ. However, they had to apply their new faith in a city where idol worship still permeated every facet of daily life. “Temples for the worship of Apollo, Asclepius, Demeter, Aphrodite and other pagan gods and goddesses were seen daily by the Corinthians as they engaged in the activities of everyday life. The worship of Aphrodite, with its many sacred prostitutes, was a particularly strong temptation.” [Bible Source, NIV Study Bible Notes for 1 Cor. 10:14]

Not only did they have to overcome the obvious temptation presented by the temple prostitutes, whose services were offered as part of pagan worship to this goddess of fertility; they had to deal with the question of whether or not they could eat meat that had been sacrificed to an idol.

The local temples provided a service of butchering and preparing meat for the city. The people would bring the animals to the temple, it would be sacrificed on an altar to an idol. Some of the meat went to the temple priests, some was burnt up, and some was given to the idol worshiper. This meat that had been sacrificed to an idol in the butchering process might be prepared and eaten in a feasting hall there at the temple, or the idol worshiper could take it home to prepare there. Some that was apportioned to the idolatrous priests made its way to the local meat market where it was sold to the public.

So a heated debate arose over whether or not it was a sin for Christians to eat meat sacrificed to an idol. The Corinthian Christians finally wrote to the Apostle Paul, asking him to settle the question. He did not respond with a clear-cut: Yes or No. Instead, he gave an answer in the category of: Well, it depends... His thorough answer is found in 1 Corinthians Ch 8 & 10.

Let's touch on the points Paul raised and see how this relates to our debate over Harry Potter:

1. What’s the real question? Their question was not “Is it wrong to practice idolatry?” It was a question of whether Christians were free to do something closely associated with practicing idolatry.

Those who struggle on both sides of the Harry Potter debate are not quibbling over whether Christians should practice witchcraft and do spells, charms, and so on. The Bible is clear that practicing witchcraft and doing magic in our world is WRONG. So we are not asking “Can a Christian practice witchcraft?” We are asking, whether or not Christians are free to read stories that are closely associated with such practices and treat them positively.

2. The Question of Opening Up to Unseen Demonic Forces: Idolatry was popular in that pagan world, and people who practiced it did not believe there was anything wrong with it. They in no way associated their religious rituals and worship of their gods and goddesses with demons. However, those who believed God’s word knew that God declared the real power behind all idols comes from unseen demons. (See Deuteronomy 32:16-17, Psalm 106:36-37) Paul clearly stated, “No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.”[1 Corinthians 10:20 NIV] So they wondered if eating meat sacrificed to an idol could open Christians up to the demonic forces at work behind the scenes.

Similarly, those who are not guided by Scripture may look at all the “magic” in the Harry Potter books and say “It’s just fantasy. None of this is real.” They don’t even believe that there are real demonic forces behind witchcraft and occult practices in our world, much less in the fantasy world of Harry Potter. However, those of us who believe the Bible know that, mixed in with all the fun imaginative words, mythology, fables, legend, folklore, and fairy tale imagery, are some terms that correspond to real occult witchcraft practiced in our world today and forbidden by God.

Knowing that the author of Harry Potter says she does not believe in magic, doesn’t negate the truth in Ephesians 6: 12, where it says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." So we may wonder if reading the Harry Potter books could open someone up to the demonic forces at work behind the scenes - even, perhaps especially if they do not believe such forces exist.

3. How Might This Look to Others Who See It? Christians in Corinth had been baptized, publicly displaying their new allegiance to Christ and denunciation of idol worship. Those who were against eating meat sacrificed to idols thought people who saw a Christian eating meat sacrificed to idols might think he condoned or was promoting idolatry. Onlookers might be led astray, thinking that one could be a Christian and still be involved in idol worship.

Today Christians have raised the question of whether reading the Harry Potter books, might give the impression that they allow, condone, promote, or are unconcerned about real occult witchcraft. They worry that kids who read or view Harry Potter might be misled into thinking that real witchcraft is okay because they even see and hear Christians who are into it. There is evidence that this is an important consideration. Marketers of books and other products are eagerly following after the Harry Potter crowd with offerings like: “Teen Witchcraft Kits”, “A Spell-A-Day Tear-off Calendar”, etc that features real spells to cast, and other products that cross the line into occult involvement in our world being presented in the wake of Harry Potter’s popularity.

4. Issues of Freedom in Christ and Conscience: First century Christians were just learning what it meant to be “free in Christ.” Some of the Corinthians asserted that they were free in Christ, that the idol was nothing to them because there is only one true God, so eating meat sacrificed to idols wasn’t an issue. They had no pangs of conscience about it. Others were not sure, some were still so used to thinking in terms of there really being idols that were in competition with God, that their consciences were very troubled by the thought of eating meat that had been sacrificed to an idol. They associated the eating of that meat directly with the practice of idolatry so that one was an extension of the other. For them, to eat meat sacrificed to idols was tantamount to worshiping that idol.

With Harry Potter, some Christians say, “The magic in Harry Potter is not occult. It makes no contact with spiritual forces of darkness in our world It is the same kind of literary magic I have allowed my kids to see in Sword in the Stone or Sleeping Beauty", so they feel complete freedom to read the books, and don’t feel any pang of conscience. Others - especially those who have had experience with occult practices of the same name as those mentioned in Harry Potter - are adamant that there is a direct association between the literary magic of Hogwarts and the practice of real witchcraft, so that to them one is an extension of the other. Therefore, their consciences are very troubled by all that is associated with Harry Potter; for them, to be involved in any way is tantamount to dabbling in real witchcraft or condoning it.

Paul settled their dispute with principles they could apply conscientiously:

(My paraphrased application follows. Look in your Bible to read the whole answer)

1. Don’t be a know-it-all. (1 Cor. 8:1)

2. An idol is nothing to the person who serves the one true God. (1 Cor. 8:4-6)

3. It depends on how someone thinks of it. Those who associate eating that meat with worshiping an idol, violate their conscience. It’s not the act of eating, but what that means to the person that matters. No better or worse for eating. (1 Cor. 8:7-8 )

4. We are free in Christ. However, our freedom is to be limited by our sensitivity to other Christians and that which violates their conscience.

Those who have no pangs of conscience, were to be aware that others who did might see them eating meat sacrificed to an idol and be emboldened to do likewise - even though the Christian whose conscience is troubled by the act would be violating their conscience to do so.

In this way, the Christian who was exercising his freedom in Christ did not sin by eating, but did sin by causing his fellow believer to do something he believed to be wrong. (1 Corinthians 8:9-13)

5. We have many freedoms and rights as Christians that we may waive out of love for others. Love for others and sensitivity over how exerting our rights might stumble them should guide us as to how and where we will claim our rights. (Paul used his life as an example of how he gave up many rights out of love and consideration for the people to whom he sought to minister.)

6. We are to accommodate ourselves to the cultural sensitivities of those with whom we have relationship, being careful that the exercise of our freedoms does not cause them to do anything that they believe to be wrong because of their cultural context. (1 Cor. 9:19-22)

7. A clear command not to participate in idolatry or the sexual immorality that went along with it. (Here Paul showed his cultural sensitivity by not to just pointing the finger at pagan idolatry in a pagan culture, but reminded them of how the Jews committed idolatry with the Golden Calf. 1 Cor. 10:6-10.)

8. A clear command to flee idolatry. 1 Cor. 10:14

9. Don’t eat at McIdol’s: After explaining that those who eat at the Lord’s table (take communion) commune with the Lord, those who ate sacrifices offered on the Lord’s altar as part of religious ritual took were connected to the Lord, Therefore, those who ate at feasts in the idol’s temple, and ate meat sacrificed to idols in that context became part of their religious ritual and were sitting down to dinner with demons! “God's people are warned that if they do eat meat sacrificed to idols, they should not eat it with pagans in their temple feasts, for to do so is to become "participants with demons."[Bible Source, NIV Study Bible Notes for 1 Cor. 10:20]

10. "Everything is permissible - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible" - but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others."

Christians should not only ask: “Do I have the right to do this?” but also ask, “How will what I do impact others? Will this work out for their good?”

Paul made it clear that we do have great freedom in Christ; but love will cause us to temper our freedom with concern over how our conduct will impact others. Aim not only to be right but also to be beneficial to others and constructive in building up the body of Christ.

Then Paul made some specific applications:

“Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."

If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if anyone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake - the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God - even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.”[1 Corinthians 10:25-33 NIV]

We must make personal decisions in disputable matters on the basis of

any commands of Scripture that has legitimate bearing,
applying the scriptural principles and precepts that relate,
the leading of the Holy Spirit,
keeping a clean conscience, and
operating under the guidance of appropriate God-given authorities in our lives.

How do these principles about meat sacrificed to idols apply to Harry Potter?

Unabated Controversy and Division: Both sides arguing over whether or not to eat meat sacrificed to idols could site Scripture and experience to back up their positions. Both sides were sure they were right (on the basis of their convictions), and - judging from the emphasis Paul put on this point in his reply - both sides resorted to judging those of a different opinion as deficient Christians. There was no way for the entire community of faith to come to a conclusion one way or the other. Therefore, God provided guidelines for how we are to treat each other with love and respect while we agree to disagree.

Could these books really be right for one Christian and absolutely wrong for another? Yes!

Just as one Christian may be allowed to take a drink of wine or even sell it as part of their business, another Christian may be convicted that he should never take a sip - if the Holy Spirit and his own conscience convicts him that to do so is a snare for him. Those Christians who associate the Harry Potter stories with the real occult would have doubts about reading them; therefore it would be sin for them according to Romans 14:23. Those who make no such association, who approve of the Harry Potter books without any pang of conscience, can happily do so according to Romans 14:22 without being in sin. I see here scriptural grounds for both positions.

So, if you are not convicted about reading Harry Potter, go ahead and enjoy them. If you are convicted, do not read them. BUT... and it is a very important "but"... Paul explained that some Christians have "knowledge" about the fact that there is only one God, and meat sacrificed to idols was not really sacrificed to anything. However, other Christians did not have this same "knowledge", and if they saw another Christian eating meat that was sacrificed to an idol, their conscience might be "...emboldened to eat those things offered to idols..."

To these, this would be a sin in their own minds because of their weaker understanding. Paul warns us of letting our liberty become a "stumbling block" to those who are weaker, or have less understanding. He says in verses 11 and 12, "And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, YOU sin against Christ." (emphasis mine)

At the end of the chapter, Paul offers his solution to this problem. He says in verse 13, "Therefore, if Harry Potter makes my brother stumble, I will never again read the books or watch the films, lest I make my brother stumble." (slightly paraphrased by me)

For my part... I personally don't think young Harry is half as bad as some make him out to be... but I won't 'partake of' or 'indulge in' them myself for the reasons given above...

Just a thought...

An exWitch's thoughts on Harry Potter...

2006-02-12T19:33:00.000+08:00

Seems everyone has passionately held views about young Harry...

OK seems like it's time to jump in with my 2c worth...

I certainly wouldn't try to 'prevent' anyone from reading HP books or watching the flicks... I think it would be just plain stupid and an infringement of another's right to choose their own entertainment (so long as it is not harming another)

However... That said.

While I don't think that anyone and everyone who watches a HP flick is going to run off and become a demon worshipping psychopath - which *rolls eyes* I've heard some (who should know better) claim - I do see the potential that a small number of the total number of viewers/readers will be influenced into thinking that magick is all fluffy, harmless bumpf... any serious practitioner of Magick will tell you that there ARE dangers... *shrugs* Hey! I was a pagan (on the Left Hand Path) myself... (you can read a bit more about that HERE)

But now that I am a Christian I feel that it is only right (and a responsibility to - for want of a better term) to warn people of the dangers in Magick (both those acknowledged by practitioners) and those defined in Scripture. The old analogy of "If someone was in a burning house would you warn them to get out?" comes in here. Yes - I know it's not a 'perfect fit' but few analogies are but I think you see what I'm getting at.

As is often pointed out by Wiccan and neo-Pagan apologists, Harry Potter makes no mention of the Wiccan Rede, the Sabbats etc etc... but Wicca is not the only form of Witchcraft nor is it even the only form of Neo-Pagan Witchcraft... My old Coven did not practice the Wiccan Rede and in fact 'The Rite of Vengence' was officially accepted into the Coven's 'Book of Shadows'. This was even reflected in the Coven's Motto: "Sic Gorgiamus Alius Subjectatus Nunc" ("We Gladly Devour All those Who Would Subdue Us")

I personally think much more is made of Harry Potter than is neccessary - others will disagree - but as I said that's my personal view.

But as I said above and I say it again so there is no ambiguity here - and I say this as one who was the High Priest of a Neo-Pagan Coven before coming to Christ... Harry Potter is NOT a 'training manual' designed to intruduce kids to Witchcraft!!!! AND... Reading the books or watching the filns does NOT mean that your child will become a demon worshipping, blood drinking maniac (as I have herad some claim).

That said...

It does have SOME impact however... in much the same way as TV shows and movies like Charmed, The Craft et al.

When I was High Priest of a Coven here in Western Australia out of every 100 enquiries re Coven membership only a handful were NOT from teenaged girls who wanted to be like Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Shannon Doherty from Charmed... Yes it is a false view of Wicca and Neo-Pagan Witchcraft and certainly not what my Coven was about... but that's what they were after and to a large extent the likes of $ilver Ravenwolf and Fiona Horne catered for them and lined their pockets with the proceeds.

So when Oberon Zell (founder of the Neo-Pagan 'Church of All Worlds') is putting out stuff like this...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1564147118/qid=1114144249/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/103-8310467-2099831?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

...and...

http://www.greyschool.com/main.asp

...to say that Harry Potter has NO effect or inflience ... Well... such claims just ring hollow now-a-days!

Whether or not Harry Potter was intended as such (I personally think it was not) it is recognized by some at least in the Wiccan and Neo-Pagan communities as a powerful 'recruitment tool'... and dare I say it - is obviously and quite openly being "ca$hed in on" - quite literally by the looks of Oberon Zell's books and "School of Wizardry" website.

I must admit that with Hogwart's being such an AGGRESSIVELY protected trademark (Harry Potter fan-sites are always being shut down for copyright breaches) old Oberon has been quite clever in his presentation of his Hogwarts 'clone' "School of Wizardry" and - dare I say specific - in his 'target audience'.

I don't know about anyone else, but it sure as eggs looks to me that Oberon Zell and the 'Church of All Worlds' (CAW) must be really miffed about all that lost income from potential CAW memberships that $ilver Ravenwolf and Fiona Horne nabbed by NOT larfing at those teen girls that liked The Craft and Charmed et al and wanted to be "just like Shannon Doherty".

So when respected and recognized 'figureheads' within the Wiccan and Neo-Pagan community so openly recognize HP's influence I am left somewhat gob smacked when I find Christians who attempt to deny it.

So what should a Christian's response be to Harry Potter?

Harry Potter books and films are full of stereotypical magic. Witchcraft and wizardry are central themes, and the lead roles are played by wizards, witches, and other magical creatures. Although the characters practice casting spells, reading crystal balls, etc., they do not communicate with spiritual (supernatural) forces. While this may be considered a positive by some, one definite negative - in my opinion - is that there is no higher power to answer to at all!

Unlike other fantasy children's stories that contain witches and the like, such as C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter does not have a positive biblical worldview.

The distinction between good and bad can become blurred as both the "good" and "evil" characters participate in different types witchcraft and magic. The Bible clearly condemns all kinds of witchcraft, sorcery and spiritism (Deuteronomy 18:10-11) Philippians 4:8 tells us to "fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honourable."

So does this mean that all Christians should avoid Harry Potter altogether?

For some families, the answer to this is "Yes!"

In my view the Harry Potter series is not for young or spiritually immature children, as they may not have the ability to distinguish between reality and fantasy, right and wrong, or good and evil.

At best, they may be left confused about God's views about the occult, and at worst, they may become enchanted by the magical existence of Harry and his friends, becoming desensitized to occultic lifestyles.

In addition, there are issues such as violence and mildly foul language that each Christian family will be sensitive to at different levels.

Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians chapter 8 on a somewhat similar grey area of his time: whether or not Christians should eat meat that was sacrificed to idols.

He explained that some Christians have "knowledge" about the fact that there is only one God, and meat sacrificed to idols was not really sacrificed to anything. However, other Christians did not have this same "knowledge", and if they saw another Christian eating meat that was sacrificed to an idol, their conscience might be "...emboldened to eat those things offered to idols..."

To these, this would be a sin in their own minds because of their weaker understanding. Paul warns us of letting our liberty become a "stumbling block" to those who are weaker, or have less understanding. He says in verses 11 and 12, "And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, YOU sin against Christ." (emphasis added)

At the end of the chapter, Paul offers his solution to this problem. He says in verse 13, "Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble."

Same could be said of young Harry VERY easily... ;)

For my part... I personally don't think young Harry is half as bad as some make him out to be...

...but I won't 'partake of' or 'indulge' myself for the reasons just given above...

Just a thought... ;)

Thoughts on being a Christian exWitch...

2006-02-09T20:54:00.000+08:00

It is an unfortuneate reality that there are a great many falsehoods, deceptions and outright lies concerning Witchcraft, Wicca, Neo-Paganism and the occult that are passed on as fact within the Church, and which cause suspicion, confusion and fear not only among Christians, but in the wider community at large, and which only serve to harm the innocent, negatively impact on the effective witnessing to those in the occult and which also brings dishonour upon Christ...

Sadly, many Christians are fearful of and fascinated by the occult and fish for salacious details of past practices and beliefs, for example with the myths of Satanic Ritual Abuse/killings and magickal workings against Christians, and I know from personal experience that this can be extremely offensive and alienating...

Which in a round-about way brings up what has become a bit of a private 'hobby horse' with me of late...

ExWitches and ex-Pagans can often feel that they are considered as 'trophy Christians' when they convert and are at times paraded round by others like a scalp, without a real loving commitment to stand by them as genuine brothers and sisters. We are not circus freaks or 'token' or 'trophy' Christians to be gawped at by those who haven't shared their experiences...

Be prepared to help protect those who come to Christ from Witchcraft and the occult from intrusions if necessary, from those they have left behind... AND from fellow Christians....

Never forget that these are people who need time to get established in Christ; they will frequently have had spiritual experiences which are damaging and may have left 'baggage', as well as the usual life experiences. Don't expect perfection in a day, and don't overwhelm them with publicity on the 'Christian circuit'...

Many exWitches are intensely private people - often through necessity - because they have been hurt in the past by Christians (My own Testimony is but one example), and should be allowed to grow and not made to fit someone else's agenda....

They start as babes in Christ, as we all do, and sometimes their 'baggage' can be very complicated if they're not treated with love and consideration for what they've been through. Respect their boundaries and ALWAYS be led by the Holy Spirit. Love them as Christ loves the church; have their well being on your heart...

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 6:2

This makes an exWitch like me sick to the stomach...

2006-02-05T14:37:00.000+08:00

Pastor arrested in London over witchcraft claims
London, United Kingdom
12 January 2006

An African pastor was arrested in Britain on Thursday about allegations that he identified children as witches and encouraged their parents to beat them.

The unnamed churchman was detained at an address in south London on Thursday morning, hours after the allegations were made on BBC radio's flagship Today programme.
In one case, a nine-year-old boy was said to have been burned with a steam iron and had chilli pepper rubbed in his eyes and mouth by his father after the pastor said he was possessed by evil spirits.
One man, an asylum seeker from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was said to have killed himself after his wife and child were branded witches, the report said.
A Metropolitan police spokesperson said in a statement: "Officers from the Met's Child Abuse Investigation Command have arrested a 40-year-old man on suspicion of inciting child cruelty.
"His arrest at 11:55 this morning (11.55am GMT) at an address in south London followed information passed to us by the BBC.... He is in police custody and enquiries are ongoing."
Officers are liaising with colleagues at social services, the Immigration Service, and health and education authorities, he added.
No details were released about where the pastor practised nor which country he came from, although there is understood to be a link to the DRC.
In the last five years, police in London have identified more than 30 cases of children being identified as witches and they fear that belief in "ndoki", or African black magic, is becoming more widespread.In a high-profile court case in London in July last year, three people were jailed for between four and 10 years for torturing an eight-year-old girl after she was branded a witch. The child survived.
But in another case, also in the British capital, eight-year-old Victoria Climbie was tortured and killed in 2000 by her great-aunt and her boyfriend.
The pair, who were jailed for life the following year, had been told the youngster was possessed by evil spirits.
Officers in the capital were also alerted after the torso of a young African boy was found in the River Thames in 2001 following what experts believe was a ritualistic killing. - AFP

I myself have borne the brunt of ignorance and misinformation about the occult and copped abuse and been threatened in the past by Christians when I was still a practicing Witch (see MY TESTIMONY 2.0) but it was NOTHING compared to this insanity!!!!

How can ANYONE be so decieved as to believe that they were doing God's will here?

Satan certainly WAS at work here... but NOT in these children... Rather, it seems to me at least, Satan was at work decieving their parents and families into these brutal and barbaric acts against those they should have been willing to down their own lives for to protect from harm...

Sadly, there are many falsehoods, deceptions and outright lies passed around within the Church about Wicca, Neo-Paganism and other forms of the occult, that only causes suspicion, confusion and fear not only among Christians, but in the wider community at large, and which only serve to harm the innocent and bring dishonour upon Christ...

...and people sometimes wonder why I get so passionate about "testing EVERYTHING" against Scripture...

Test Everything...

2006-02-01T00:12:00.000+08:00

"All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (II Timothy 3:16-17)

Such was the attitude of the Apostle Paul. Yet today, many who claim to revere the Bible as the inspired Word of God seem to trust the word of a friend, colleague, Pastor, Priest or even a favourite author as being 'Gospel', so that the need for confirmation from Scripture is considered marginal at best. Indeed, many Christians seem to be ready to believe any book rather than the Book that they claim to hold most dear!

"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and EXAMINED THE SCRIPTURES EVERYDAY, TO SEE IF WHAT PAUL TAUGHT WAS TRUE." - Acts 17:11

The risen Christ commended the Church at Ephesus for testing those who claimed to have Divine Authority: "I know that you have tested those who claim to be Apostles, but are not, and have found them false... " (Revelation 2:2)

If one truly believes the Bible to be the Word of God, then it is obvious how vital it is to use it to judge every doctrine and experience. Each Christian is responsible to search the Scriptures themselves and to test what is being taught (I John 2:26-27).

One can not abdicate responsibility in this area by claiming that, "those who teach will be judged more strictly." (James 3:1) For each Christian is commanded to "test EVERYTHING, and hold onto the good."(I Thessalonians 5:21) and to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once and for all delivered to the saints." - Jude 3

How then, are the faithful to "test everything" with Scripture? First one. must know how to interpret, and thereby understand, the Bible.

Christian Fundamentalists of all denominations agree that one must first find the meaning of a passage before applying it, not start with your conclusion and then find a 'proof text' to support it...

The two basic methods used for finding the meaning of any given passage of Scripture are:

EXEGESIS - This method draws the meaning from the text itself. Its goal is to let the normal meaning of the words, grammar and context speak for itself.

EISEGESIS - This is to read a meaning into the text that is foreign to the normal sense of the words, grammar and context. In other words, reading an allegorical or symbolic meaning into the text that is different from the natural reading of the passage.

For the Christian, the single most important principle in determining the truth of any doctrine or alleged 'New Revelation' is that one must start with the clear statements in Scripture that apply to it then use those to interpret the parables, allegories and more obscure verses. In this way Scripture is used to interpret Scripture. Many quite strange beliefs have been bullt upon the exact opposite! By this I mean that, obscure verses, parables and allegories are used to reinterpret what would otherwise be clearly understood passages.

The Second most important principle in interpretating Scripture is to consistently use the 'literal, grammatical, contextual' method. This means:

Each word should be understood in its normal, ordinary usage that was accepted at the time of writing.
Each sentence should be understood according to the rules of grammar normally accepted at the time of writing.
Each passage should be understood in the light of its immediate context and that of related passages.

Dr Henry M. Morris puts this in a nutshell, "The Bible is written to be understood...it should normally be TAKEN LITERALLY - unless the context both indicates a non-literal meaning AND makes it clear what the true meaning is." - Dr Henry M Morris, 'The Genesis Record', [Baker Book House, 1981] p 109

The issue is to let the text dictate when to interpret allegorically instead of one's own theological presuppositions. Biblical Fundamentalism contends that one can not allegorize a portion of Scripture that is intended by the Divine Author to be taken literally simply because it does fit one's already established doctrinal system and/or personal beliefs.

Further, when the Bible uses an allegory or a figure of speech it is usually fairly obvious, but, when one arbitrarily takes a passage that is intended to be taken literally, and treats it allegorically they are twisting Scripture and perverting the Word of God and risks falling into heresy!

I hope this helps/is of interest

exWitch Australia Update

2006-01-31T20:42:00.000+08:00

Well, I've finally updated my testimony at the exWitch Australia site...

For convenience sake I now have two 'versions' (for want of a better term) of my Testimony available there now. The longer of the two is the 'original version' that was posted on the exWitch Australia site with some minor alterations to bring it up to date. The new 'short version' was produced to go in a national Christian magazine here in Australia, and concentrates on one aspect of my conversion story rather than going into the whole 'process' that brought me to that point...

1100 WORD VERSION - 7000 WORD VERSION

A Regular Prayer Point...

2006-01-29T16:58:00.000+08:00

Ancient Crossroads Forums

Circle and Cross Talk Forums

Pagan Christian Moot - a non-Christian group that provides a place where Christians and pagans can meet for meaningful dialogue...

Refuge Ministries

Hour of the Witch

WRNet Ministries

PLEASE NOTE:

Proverbs 14:16

2006-01-29T00:35:00.000+08:00

"A wise man fears the Lord, and departs from evil--but the fool rages, and is confident." - Proverbs 14:16

I believe no true Christian can be satisfied with a notional religion - though a miserable backslider, and driven into the fields to feed swine, he cannot feed on their husks, but sighs after the bread of his Father's house. The eyes being enlightened to see the nature of sin, the justice and holiness of God, and the miserable filthiness of self, the quickened soul can find no rest in anything short of a precious discovery of the Lamb of God; and the more that the soul is exercised with trials, difficulties, temptations, doubts, and besetments of various kinds, the more does it feel its need of that blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

What is a Christian worth without inward trials and afflictions? How dead and lifeless are our prayers; how cold and formal when the soul is not kept alive by inward exercises! Where are the sighs, cries, groanings, wrestlings, and breathings of a soul that is at ease in Zion? The world is everything and Christ nothing, when we become settled on our lees, and are not emptied from vessel to vessel; but inward exercises, fears, straits, and temptations stir up the soul to cry, and pray, and beg for mercy. The certainty, the power, the reality of eternal things are then felt - when guilt, and wrath, and fear, and disquietude lay hold of the soul.

Mere notions alone of Christ, false hope, a dead faith, a presumptuous confidence, a rotten assurance, are all swept away as so many refuges of lies, when the soul is made to feel its nakedness and nothingness, its guilt and helplessness before God. And thus all these inward exercises pave the way for discoveries of Christ - those views of his blood and righteousness, that experimental acquaintance with his Person, love, grace, and work, which is life and peace.

exWitch Australia Update

2006-01-28T11:59:00.000+08:00

G'Day again...

Well... Just a quick entry today...

There's a new item on the FAQ pages of the main exWitch Australia Site in answer to a recurring question that keeps popping up from time to time based on some misunderstandings and misconceptions some hold concerning Wicca, Neo-Paganism, Witchcraft and Satanism... CAN YOU SELL YOUR SOUL TO SATAN?..

There are also a few new and updated entries in the Glossary Section under "P" and ""C".

More to come...

Jean-Luc deVere

Be Ye Angry And Sin Not

2006-01-23T13:40:00.000+08:00

Leonard Ravenhill

from http://www.lastdaysministries.org/articles/beyeangryandsinnot.html

If you attend church at all, you will undoubtedly hear a thousand sermons on "Be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18) for every one sermon you hear preached on "Be ye angry, and sin not" (Eph. 4:26). This is a command! It is not a defense for a bad temper. It is not an excuse for an explosion of bitterness from your bruised ego for personal rejection. I am talking here of Holy Anger. God gets angry. "The anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses" (Exodus 4:14), "God is angry with the wicked every day" (Psalm 7:11). (If you must have a bumper sticker, try this last statement for a while - but be sure that you increase your insurance before you do so.)

The blessed preacher St. Paul walked down Main Street Athens, the intellectual capital of the world of his day. Acts 17:16 says in the sleepy Elizabethan English of the King James version, "His spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry." The Amplified says it this way, "Now while Paul was awaiting them at Athens, his spirit was grieved and roused to anger as he saw that the city was full of idols."1 Such anger needs to come back to us today. I admit right here that I am downright angry. I am angry that Christ is wounded in the house of His friends.

Here Is An Example

Our home is less than 100 miles from Dallas - the "Athens" of the theologians. Therefore we are vulnerable to the students who come from the seminaries there, distressed, disgusted, and despondent over the low state of spirituality in their particular classes. A professor in one such seminary tells the preacher - boys, "Remember that preaching is now a profession, and not to be viewed or represented by a sweating evangelist in a sawdust-carpeted tent. Now the preacher has status like a doctor or a seasoned lawyer." Be gone such idiocy! Preaching is not a profession - it is a passion! Paul sets the standard, "Woe unto me if I preach not the Gospel!" I am angry that these professors want the world's smile on our holy calling. But no man called to the ministry needs a status symbol. He is, by the very nature of his calling, in the highest calling.

I am further angered by a statement by Bruce Cook - the former advertising agent for Coca Cola, who engineered the "I Found It" campaign. Here is his horrible comment, and it angers me: "Back in Jerusalem when the Church started, God performed a miracle there on the Day of Pentecost. They didn't have the benefit of buttons and media, so God had to do a little supernatural work there. But today, with our technology, we have available to us the opportunity to create the same kind of interest in a secular society."2 This wretched interpretation makes me bristle. So buttons and modern media are as likely to start a Heaven-Born Holy Ghost Revival as was the Upper Room invasion from heaven? What is this but "Christian humanism"? WE are capable of producing the same thing as the Blessed Holy Spirit?

Homosexual "Christians"

I am angry when I read a letter from my friend and neighbor David Wilkerson announcing this near unbelievable perversion.

"Homosexuals now claim more than 50,000 members in their 'all homosexual' churches. The Metropolitan Community Church is one of many homosexual denominations springing up across the nation. I sent an observer to one of their annual 'Holy Ghost' conventions in Dallas, Texas. What unbelievable blasphemy!

"Each delegate, as they registered, was given a packet which included, among other things, two 'boy' magazines of all nude men and a list of all the gay bars in Dallas - so that delegates could leave the evening service, go to their selected bar, and connect with a lover for the night. And those delegates call themselves 'ministers.' How they did sing! They praised the Lord with enthusiasm; but their evangelist corrupted the Gospel beyond comprehension. He said, 'Sure, Paul condemned men who changed the natural use and burned one toward another. But that's not us. We didn't change anything. We were born this way. So, come out of your closets. Be filled with the Holy Ghost, and enjoy your homosexuality!'"3

My anger over this is intensified when I read that the cutback in federal spending will cause some old folks to miss meals. Yet the same federal folks on the 5th of May, 1981, gave the Metropolitan Community (homosexual) Church $380,000 of our tax money to operate four resettlement centers for Cuban refugee homosexuals.4 (Just let the true Church of Jesus try to get the government to give us a dime to rescue men from an eternal hell!)

Clean Up America?

I am angry also when I hear preachers crying with great emotion, "Help me clean up America," when they dare not try to clean up the Church - riddled as it is with carnality and sensuality. I am angry and grieved when preachers weep over the TV that their income is decreasing, though I've never seen them weep on TV over the millions of lost souls they address every week. The God on TV is an inoffensive, undemanding God, wanting to give but requiring nothing in exchange. There is no need to take up your cross and follow Him.

The "Mush God"

Nicholas Van Hoffman has a penetrating column on the "Mush God" of today. Read it friend, read it twice and maybe you will weep as he speaks of the gross representation of the Holy Deity. Here is Van Hoffman:

"The Mush God has been known to appear to millionaires on golf courses. He appears to politicians at ribbon-cutting ceremonies and to clergymen speaking the invocation on national TV at either Democratic or Republican conventions. The Mush God's presence is felt during Brotherhood Week and when Rotarians come together. He is the lifeless deity President Carter was referring to when suggesting peace might come to the Middle East because the Egyptian president and Israeli prime minister both worshipped the Great Mushy One.

"The Mush God has no theology to speak of being a Cream of Wheat divinity. The Mush God has no particular credo, no tenets of faith, nothing that would make it difficult for believer and non-believer alike to lower one's head when the temporary chairman tells us the Reverend, Rabbi, Father, Mufti, or So-and-So will lead us in an innocuous, harmless prayer, for this god of public occasions is not a jealous god. You can even invoke him to start a hookers' convention and he/she or it won't be offended.

"God of the Rotary, God of the Optimists Club, Protector of the Buddy System, the Mush God is the Lord of secular ritual, of the necessary but hypocritical forms and formalities that hush the divisive and the derisive. The Mush God is a serviceable god whose laws are not chiseled on tablets but written on sand, open to amendment, qualification, and erasure. This is a god that will compromise with you, make allowances and declare all wars holy, all peaces hallowed."5

More Anger

My Holy Anger and burning indignation is fueled by articles like this from the pen of a "Wiseman" from the East - the Bhagwan Shree Ragneesh, writing from the Meditation Center that bears his name.6

"SEX - never repress it. Never be against it - rather, go deep into it with great clarity, with great love. Go like an explorer. Search all the nooks and corners of your sexuality and you will be surprised and enriched and benefited. Knowing your sexuality, one day you will stumble upon your spirituality [or get V.D.-LR] then you will become free. The future will have a totally different vision of sex. It will be more fun, more joy, more friendship, more a play than a serious affair, as it has been in the past. [The "serious affair" mentioned here must mean marriage-LR] Sex is just the beginning, not the end. But if you miss the beginning, you will miss the end also."

What logic and what warning! Why not miss the end which is torment here and hereafter? I wonder what folks who have tried this teacher's methods think about it. Does he have "revival crusades" with living, bright-faced "witnesses" telling of their rapturous emancipation from the "bondage of purity and a good conscience"?

Save Whose Children?

I am not angered that the Moral Majority boys campaign against abortion. I am angry when the same men who say, "Save OUR children" bellow "Build more and bigger bombers." That's right! Blast the children in other nations into eternity, or limbless misery as they lay crippled from "OUR" bombers! This does not jell.

I am angry that the pulpiteers can roar from their pulpits against political injustices, yet whisper about the wrong doings in their own fellowship - also that sin is called by other names. God has no mild views of sin, so let's get back to biblical language. The soothsayers in the world are dangerous, but the "smooth-sayers" in the pulpit are equally dangerous. We now call iniquity, infirmity. Wickedness is just weakness. Adultery and fornication, just "having an affair." Lust is called love. Sodomy is now being "GAY." The Harlot is not called a harlot anymore, she is inoffensively named a "Call Girl." These are not terms for every sermon, but they have some kind of intimidation and disgrace attached to them, which makes the preachers afraid to use them (and sinners afraid to hear them). But the Bible uses them!

I am angry when I hear preachers saying, "We had our best concert ever last week when the 'ZYX Singers' came to our church. The main auditorium was jammed with extra seats and we had to run extensions into the church hall for the overflow!" Yet, that same popular, prosperous church can comfortably seat its prayer meeting in just about the smallest room in the facility. What a slap in the face for a prayer-answering God! What a public declaration that the offering from the concert patrons is more important than prayer!

I am angry with people who withhold their own money from the Lord, but then turn His House into a Flea Market to raise church funds. And believe me, I am stirred, sick, and angry when I try to realize that 90% of Gospel preaching is to only 10% of the world's population.

Mormen's Get "More Men"

"Newsweek" for April 27, 1981, states:

"This year the Mormons will field more missionaries - about 30,000 in all - than any other church in the United States... their single purpose is to labor 16 hours a day,6 days a week, spreading the Gospel according to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. [Now notice the discipline attached to this effort.] The discipline imposed on Mormon missionaries is as unique as their message: no movies, television, or popular music; no phone calls to parents or girlfriends; no dates - and no going anywhere alone. Under this quasi-military regimen the L.D.S. missionaries have carried the faith across the U.S. into six continents."

I am angry at this false zeal, disturbed and deeply troubled that we have to make so many Christian Youth Camps a miniature Olympics to entice kids to so-called Bible study. Dare we try to get kids away from TV, sports, etc., for a week of solid concentration on eternal things? It seems more correct with the emphasis on sports and church programs, and church leagues of bowling, baseball, etc., that we should be singing: "Onward Christian Sportsmen - forget about the war - look at all the prizes - you're contending for!"7

I am angry when I think that the government will subsidize a science effort to find out where man came from, but will not give a dime to tell men where they are going. God! Baptize us with a Holy Anger that will set us on a course of hell disturbing, heaven-enriching intercession!

All these sad events I have mentioned would be taken care of by a heaven-born, sin-convicting visitation of the Spirit.

I am angry at the devil's monopoly of this age.

I am angry that the Church sleeps on.

I am angry that the Church, in many (and maybe most) cases, is an entertainment center. Lord have mercy! "Wilt Thou not revive us again, that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?" (Psalm 85:6)

2) From "The Total Image", 1980, by Virginia Owens, Eerdmans Publishing Company.

3) "The Coming Purge", David Wilkerson Crusade.

4) "Your Newsletter", First Church Of God, Fort Smith, AR.

5) From "Sources And Resources"

6) "Time Magazine", July 20, 1981

7) Sung to the tune of "Onward Christian Soldiers."

The Failure of the Christian Church

2006-01-22T11:46:00.000+08:00

Christianity is supposed to be the representative of Jesus who taught love, forgiveness, sacrifice, unity, and humility. Though that may be true to a large extent, Christianity has demonstrated an ability to overlook many of its professed virtues and allow denominational fragmentation to weaken it. Unfortunately, because of doctrinal "refining" on the non-essentials, a desire to be comfortable, and apathy, the Church has, in many respects, become castrated. It spends too much time splitting doctrinal hairs, separating, and then hiding in churches designed to keep its members comfortable and safe. On the outside, the world is going to hell while on the inside, we are playing the "religion game."

I am not saying that doctrinal purity is unimportant. It most certainly is. Without proper understanding of who God is, what He has done, and what we must do, we would all be surely damned. Our salvation depends on who Jesus is and what He did. We need to know its truth.

Therefore, as Christians, we should separate ourselves from the false doctrines that make powerless the saving truth of Christ's sacrifice. But the motive to divide should be reserved for our dealings with heretics. We should separate ourselves from false teachers and false doctrines, not from each other. In the non-essentials we need to remain united as much as possible.

I recognize that denominations, to a degree, are necessary and will never go away. But comfort and "doctrinal purity" have robbed the Church of much of its power. Where the early Christians had to rely on God for their every need, today creature-comforts and drive-through churches have made us complacent and sluggish to the call of God to make disciples of every nation. We are comfortable in America where we have the best of everything and only need to put on credit what our whims demand and thereby avoid the dependence upon God for our needs; this makes faith in God less of a pressing need. We have become distracted and the church is showing signs of spiritual apathy. We have our DVD’s, air-conditioning, remote controls, and fast food. We have churches with central air, great sound systems, well educated preachers, plush pews, and fine-tuned choirs, pianos, and organs. We are blessed with committees, plans, and money. In fact, we have so many churches we are guaranteed we can find one to suit any whim or preference. And all too often, the messages are pleasant and don’t make our hearts ache for the lost or our Lord.

Doctrinal purity is a plague when it unnecessarily divides that which has been made Holy by Christ’s blood. It may already be that doctrinal idols have invaded our churches after all, we too often sacrifice people on the altar of doctrinal purity. Then we politely and lovingly expel fellow believers from our churches and bless them on the way out because they baptize by immersion or don't, or speak in tongues or don't, or believe in pre-trib or don't, etc. Hurt and confused, some wander the spiritual landscape looking for a safe haven only to fall prey to false teachers or the seductive call of the world. Yes, we need doctrinal purity and we may even need to die for it one day, but doctrinal purity is not our God. Confessions and creeds are not our bread and wine.

We should not sacrifice the blessing of unity for the minutia of purity. But some will say, "These doctrines are important and our church has the truth." Perhaps. But Jesus said the world would know we were His disciples by the love we have for one another, not the 'purity' of our doctrine. True, certain doctrines are what defines us as Christians... and to stray from them means to stray from Christ... but far too much time is often spent on what divides us on issues that are clearly not 'salvation issues'.

And what does the world see in all this? Does it see a visible church full of sacrifice, full of love, or full of people who consider others more important than themselves? No. It sees polished televangelists with perfect hair and smiles pulling the wool over the eyes of countless thousands of gullible people as they ask for money. It sees the hypocrisy of moral uprightness proclaimed proudly in word and contradicted in deed. It sees a denominationally fragmented church that can’t even clean its own house.

And what’s more, the church has all but stopped its public proclamation against sin. It has begun to believe the lie that the church is weak and powerless to stop the momentum of social decay. It flounders when faced with immorality and balks at standing strong against sin!

What are the consequences of this?

We see the effects in the rise of the cults like Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses who have millions of followers going door to door faithfully and consistently spreading their damning doctrines. Where are the Christians who oppose them? Where is the church? Is it supporting the efforts to stop this spread of lies? Is it uniting behind a common cause?

No! It leaves the work to the weary and small who have a burden and who spend their efforts in a constant and mostly frustrating battle for the truth. The church pats them on the back and says, "God bless. Go in peace" but leaves the depleted warriors to fend for themselves.

We see consequences in the educational system with the rise of humanistic philosophy. Purely secular agendas are being taught on moral, political, and social levels in schools. Relativism, values clarification, and "ethical cleansing" are wiping the minds of the youth clear of Christian values. The children sit and listen while we go to church and talk about hymnals, the organ, and the colour of carpet.

May God have mercy on us!!!

Society needs not concern itself with the musings of our people because its conscience can not be pricked when so many of the bickering failures of Christianity speak louder than our words.

Society is little affected by the gospel. The secularist does not need to be wary of the church that sits idly by and pampers its members and does not encourage them to take risks for the gospel. The secular world is free to mock the truth, chip away at our freedoms, and claim more and more converts for itself. It is safe from Christianity. But is Christianity safe from it?

What Should We Do?

First of all, we need to confess our sins to our Lord and Saviour and repent from them. We need to recognize our sinfulness of apathy, pride and gossip. We need to forsake them, and drop to our knees, pray, confess, forgive, and go on. We need to recognize that we must be united to be strong. But we must do this without compromising the gospel of truth (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Rom. 5:1).

Second, we need to recognize the Great Commission as something more than a recommendation from Jesus. It is not an option. It is a command. Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations... " (Matt. 28:18). Are we being fishers of men or keepers of the aquarium? Are we being obedient or comfortable?

Third, we need to work together as much as possible to bring the Gospel of Truth to the lost.

This will require sacrifice, prayer, humility, and risk. We cannot easily undo the great fragmentation of the body of Christ, but we can cross the denominational boundaries by focusing on that which unites us in the faith: Jesus is God in flesh (Trinity), salvation by grace through faith alone, the atonement, and forgiveness of sins in Jesus' shed blood. We need to look at the essentials and let the gospel of God change the hearts of people.

Fourth, we need to use whatever gifts the Lord has given us for the increase of His kingdom. Whether it is praying for the lost and for the workers in Christ, or helping support financially, teaching the body, doing works of administration, or whatever gift you have, use it for the glory of God. Give it to Him and ask Him to bless you by letting you use your gifts – and then do it!

And don't be afraid to fail.

Conclusion

God is a God of forgiveness, love, and power. He has forgiven us of our sins and continues to do that by His awesome Grace (1 John 1:9). He loves us deeply and wants to commune with us and enjoy our presence through Jesus (1 Cor. 1:9). And, His gospel is powerful, able to save the lost from their sins (Rom. 1:16) and change this world. Pray for the work of God in your life and in the lives of others. Make a strong effort to support and spread the gospel. Intercede prayerfully to the Father on behalf of the church that preaches, and the lost that need to hear. Humble yourselves before God and men.

Don’t remain comfortable. Take a risk. Trust God and go!

Gossip!

2006-01-21T14:43:00.000+08:00

By Melody Green

from http://www.lastdaysministries.org/articles/gossip.html

I think the main reason that God is letting me share a little bit with you about the problem of gossip is because I'm no stranger to it. I have not only listened to gossip... I've also spread it and been the victim of it . . . and let me say it's all equally as painful to the Lord.

When I told people things I shouldn't have, I usually justified it by saying, "We really need to pray for so and so, they're having this terrible problem. But we usually didn't pray, we just "talked it through." Then, of course, it was great fun to listen to the latest tale about someone or some ministry. I again justified it by thinking, "Well, it's important to keep up with what's happening. Besides, I need to know how to pray . . ." which again, I hardly ever did. (In fact, if I had spent as much time on my knees talking to God as I did on my couch talking to friends, I would really be quite the woman of God by now.)

My awareness of the problem started early in our ministry when we first began our community. I realized that with so many close relationships forming, we had become a real breeding ground for gossip to grow and spread... infecting all who participated. I became very concerned about it, looked up a lot of Scriptures, and gave a few very convicting Bible studies for the girls. But God didn't really open my eyes until I found myself and our ministry on the receiving end of some rumors and exaggerations that wounded me deeply. I was so stumbled! I started becoming very bitter, and wondered how people could say such things. But I think I was even more hurt over those who listened and just accepted the information as confirmed fact. I begged God to please make them stop! Well, it didn't take long for Jesus to take action, and boy, did He show me sin - but guess whose it was? Mine! He reminded me of all the times I had received and then spread rumors, not only about people I knew, but about many I'd never even met. Jesus showed me how I had planted poison in the body of Christ and done real damage to many reputations. At the time I didn't think I was hurting anyone... but now I knew differently. Jesus allowed me to see how it felt, and it was just awful. He also showed me that He was more grieved than anyone when His people were so unloving to each other. To say that I have totally conquered this sin through this experience would not be true. I am still tested almost daily, and sometimes I fail; but I can honestly say that there is a day-and-night difference in my life, and that I know Jesus is faithful to complete the work He started in me.

What Is Gossip?

When we become Christians, we give up the "biggies" like lying, stealing, drinking, cheating, drugs, and fornication. We start spending time with our new-found friends, talking about the Lord, our lives, and what's going on around us in general. Harmless stuff ... or so we think. But let's take a closer look. Many times these conversations are full of judgments, rumors, and hearsay ... all tucked neatly away behind a concerned Christian smile.

Did you know the Bible talks a lot about gossip? It's not just a "little sin" as some of us like to rationalize. It says, "The Lord hates a froward (or perverted) mouth" (Proverbs8:13)... and He commands us, "You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people." (Lev. 19:16) God also says, "They go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention" (I Tim. 5:13), and in Psalm 101:5 He says, "Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy." God also has the notion that those who gossip do not acknowledge Him and are given over to a depraved mind. He lists gossips together with those who are untrustworthy, unloving, unrighteous, full of envy, strife and deceit, murderers and haters of God. Then He says those who practice such things know they are worthy of death, but it doesn't stop them from participating or encouraging others to do the same. (Rom. 1:28-32) These are pretty heavy Scriptures, and I cringe to think of their implications.

By the way, something doesn't have to be a lie to make it gossip. Many of us think, "Well, it's true ... so I can tell anyone I want to." Not so! Telling the truth for the wrong motive can be even more destructive than telling a lie. In fact, here's a definition of gossip that's quite revealing: Sharing anything about some one, when the act of sharing it is not part of the solution to that person's problem.

Matthew 18

"And if your brother sins, go and reprove him in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. " (Matt. 18:15) I think the reason God put this in the Bible is because He knows how weak we are, and He knew we needed some real solid guidelines.

If we are offended or see someone in sin, we are to go to that person and no one else! Let me give you a few examples: If someone is in sin, what good does it do to go and tell someone else? What can they do about it? If we start running around talking about this "awful thing" we see in someone's life, and asking others if "they see it too," then we are causing them to form judgments and ultimately to be stumbled. Instead, let's restore that brother or sister to fellowship with God. You may be showing them a real blind spot that the Lord wants desperately to deal with. If he does not listen, then there are further steps to take. Be prepared for this, although it usually doesn't get to that point. Believe me, I have done my greatest growing when someone has come to me in genuine love and concern over an inconsistency they see in my life. I am thankful that they love me enough to confront me with it and give me a chance to change. "Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourselves, lest you too be tempted." (Gal. 6:1)

"Taking Up An Offense"

Sharing our hurts and bitterness, and listening to others share theirs, is another area where we need to be very careful. If someone is rude to your best friend, and your friend shares their hurt with you, then you're probably going to "take up the offense." This means you get hurt too, maybe even angry at the person who caused your friend pain. Later, they might make up and all may be forgiven and forgotten. But there's only one problem ... you're still bitter! And the next time you see the person who hurt your friend, you realize that you haven't forgiven him. Unless you go right away and clear things up, you may carry around a subtle bitterness that comes to remembrance every time you see him or hear his name. Why? Because God did not give you the same amount of grace to forgive as He gave your friend. You were not the one offended. God gives grace to the humble and the afflicted (James 4:6), and you were neither. You just "happened" to become involved in something you shouldn't have been told about in the first place. The strife that one small incident can cause can be far-reaching and long-lasting, depending on how many people hear about it. So you see, it is totally irresponsible to involve others in your hurts and judgments. As far as I can see, we have no right to go to anyone except God and the offender, unless we are really at a loss as to what we should do. And then we need to go for counseling, not to our "most favorite person to talk to."

The Difference Between Counseling and Gossip

Much gossip and slander goes on under the guise of "getting counseling." There is nothing wrong with counseling if you are indeed talking to a counselor. A counselor is someone who is mature in the Lord, exhorts you to godliness and reconciliation, points out your sin in the situation, will not repeat the matter or be stumbled by it, and is seeking God's will first and foremost - not yours. (A person like this is usually in a leadership position in a church or fellowship.) I'm afraid this leaves out 95 percent of the people we usually run to with the latest problem. If we really need counseling, we should get it. But most of the time when we share with someone, we are not really seeking a solution. We just want a sympathetic ear to agree with our point of view.

It seems we don't care how much division we bring, as long as we get people on "our side." We are too selfish to worry about the damage we are causing those we tell or those we tell on . "There are six things that the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers. "(Proverbs 6:16-19)

Just Listening

Many of us like to believe that "just listening" to gossip is not really as bad as spreading it. This is not so. God says, "An evildoer listens to wicked lips and a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue." (Proverbs 17:4) In I Samuel 24:9, David exhorts Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men saying, 'Behold, David seeks to harm you '?" Well, why do we listen? Why are we so ready to believe the worst? The Bible says, "Love hopes all things." (I Cor. 13:7) Why don't we gently but firmly say, "I'm sorry, but you're telling me something I really don't think I should be listening to. You need to take this to the Lord, and those involved... not me." A few exhortations like that will stop most gossips in their tracks. At least it will stop them from coming to you with their treachery, and maybe give them something else to think about besides other people's business. The Bible warns us not to associate with gossips. "He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, therefore do not associate with a gossip." (Proverbs 20:19)

"A Mark Of Maturity"

"And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment." (Matt. 12:36)

With every word we speak we are making a choice. We are either choosing to bless God or grieve Him by rebelling against His Word. "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear." (Eph. 4:29) Again, sometimes we do not take seriously enough God's command for us to have control over our tongue. This is one of the true marks of a mature man or woman of God. James says, "If any one thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless." (James 1:26) We all know that the heart is deceitful above all things (Jer. 17:9), and so it may seem easy to rationalize our behavior... but look how high the price is. I get convicted just writing this! I certainly don't want my walk with the Lord to become worthless because I'm not mature enough to control the words that come out of my own mouth.

One Final Thought

Gossip and slander are Satan's tools. He knows that if he can get us to divide and fight each other, we'll be far too busy to unite and fight him! We need to stop and think before we speak, and purpose in our hearts to never receive or repeat gossip again. We can do it by the grace of God and a determination to make the right choices. You pray about it. There may be people you need to repent to and bitternesses that need to be confessed and healed. Go to God first and get your heart right. He will give you the power to do the rest. "Let us rejoice and be glad, and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." (Rev. 19:7) It may seem like a monumental task... but God is calling a holy bride and we need to do everything we possibly can to "make ourselves ready"!

Biblical Interpretation

2006-01-19T09:55:00.000+08:00

Author Unknown

The Bible is God’s Word. But some of the interpretations derived from it are not. There are many cults and Christian groups that use the Bible claiming their interpretations are correct. Too often, however, the interpretations not only differ dramatically but are clearly contradictory. This does not mean that the Bible is a confusing document. Rather, the problem lies in those who interpret and the methods they use.

Because we are sinners, we are incapable of interpreting God’s word perfectly all of the time. The body, mind, will, and emotions are affected by sin and make 100% interpretive accuracy impossible. This does not mean that accurate understanding of God’s Word is impossible.

But it does mean that we need to approach His word with care, humility, and reason.

Additionally, we need, as best as can be had, the guidance of the Holy Spirit in interpreting God’s Word. After all, the Bible is inspired by God and is addressed to His people. The Holy Spirit helps us to understand what God’s word means and how to apply it.

On the human level, to lessen the errors that come in our interpretations, we need to look at some basic biblical interpretive methods. I’ll list some of the principles in the form of questions and then apply them one at a time to a passage of scripture. I offer the following principles as guidelines for examining a passage. They are not exhaustive nor are they set in concrete.

Who wrote/spoke the passage and to whom was it addressed?

What does the passage say?

Are there any words or phrases in the passage that need to be examined?

What is the immediate context?

What is the broader context in the chapter and book?

What are the related verses to the passage’s subject and how do they affect the understanding of this passage?

What is the historical and cultural background?

What do I conclude about the passage?

Do my conclusions agree or disagree with related areas of scripture and others who have studied the passage?

What have I learned and what must I apply to my life?

In order to teach you how these questions can affect your interpretation of a passage, I have chosen one which, when examined closely, may lead you into a very different interpretation than what is commonly held. I leave it to you to determine if my interpretation is accurate.
The passage that I am going to use is Matt. 24:40, "Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left" (NIV).

1. Who wrote/spoke the passage and who was it addressed to?

Jesus spoke the words and they were recorded by Matthew.

Jesus spoke them to His disciples in response to a question, which we will get to later.

2. What does the passage say?

The passage simply says that one out of two men in a field will be taken. It doesn’t say where, why, when, or how. It just says one will be taken. It doesn’t define the field as belonging to someone or in a particular place.

3. Are there any words in the passage that need to be examined?

No particular word in this verse really stands out as needing to be examined, but to follow this exercise, I will use the word "taken." By using a Strong Concordance and a dictionary of New Testament words (Vine’s, for example), I can check the Greek word and learn about it.
The word in Greek is paralambano. It means:

to take to, to take with one's self, to join to one's self,
to receive something transmitted.

A point worth mentioning about word studies is that a word means what it means in context. However, by examining how a word is used in multiple contexts, the meaning of the word can take on a new dimension. For example, the word for "love" in Greek is "agapao." It is generally believed to mean "divine love." This seems obvious since it is used in John 3:16 in that way.

However, the same word is used in Luke 11:43. Jesus says, "Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces." (NIV). The word used there is "agapao."

It would seem then that the meaning of the word might mean something more along the lines of "total commitment to."

However, we must be careful not to insert a meaning of a word from one context into that of another. For example:

1) That new cadet is green.

2) That tree is green.

The first green means "new and inexperienced." The second one means the color green. Would we want to impose the contextual meaning of one into the other? It wouldn’t be a good idea.

4. What is the immediate context?

This is where this particular verse will come alive. The immediate context is as follows, Matt. 24:37-42, "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come" (NIV).

Immediately we can see that the person taken in verse 40 is paralleled by people being taken in verse 39. That is, the "being taken" are of the same kind.

A further question needs to be asked. Who was taken in verse 39? Was it Noah and his family or was it the people who were eating and drinking? The answer to that question might help us understand the original passage better. Therefore, the next interpretive step will help us greatly.

5. What is the broader context in the chapter and book?

A passage should always be looked at in context, not only in its immediate context of the verses directly before and after it, but also in the context of the chapter it is in and the book in which it is written.

Jesus’ discourse from which our verse was taken began with a question. Jesus had just left the temple and in verse 2 told His disciples that "...not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."

Then in verse 3 the disciples asked Jesus, "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (NIV).

Jesus then goes on to prophesy about things to come at the end of the age. He speaks of false Christs, of tribulation, of the sun being darkened, of His return, and of two men in a field where one will be taken and the other left.

The context then is eschatological. That means that it deals with the last things, or the time shortly before Jesus’ return. Many people think that this verse in Matt. 24:40 refers to the rapture spoken of in 1 Thess. 4:16-17. It may. But it is interesting to note that the context of the verse seems to suggest that the wicked are taken, not the good.

Now, about this time you might be thinking that this method of interpreting passages isn’t that good. After all, the "one taken, one left" verse is obviously about the rapture. Right? Well, maybe. You see, we all come to the Bible with preconceived ideas. Sometimes they are right, sometimes wrong. We should always be ready to have our understanding of the Bible challenged by what it says. If we are not willing, then we are prideful.
And God is distant from the proud (Psalm 138:6).

6. What are the related verses to the passage’s subject and how do they affect the understanding of this passage?

It just so happens that there are related verses, in fact, a parallel passage found in Luke 17:26-27. "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all" (NIV).

Immediately we discover that related verses do indeed affect how we understand our initial verse. It is clear from this passage in Luke that the ones taken by the flood are those who were eating and drinking and being given in marriage. In other words, it wasn’t the godly people who were taken, it was the wicked.

As you can see, this has a profound impact on how we understand our passage in Matt. 24:40. Does the context suggest that the one in the field who is taken is the one who is wicked? Also, how does this context affect my preconceived ideas about this verse? Let’s read the verse again in context. Matt. 24:37-42, "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come" (NIV).

What do you think now? Is the one taken the good or the bad? Also, does this verse refer to the rapture or not?

Just asking.

Of related interest is a passage in Matt. 13:24-30 where Jesus gives the parable of the sower who sows good seed in his field and someone sows tares. The servants asked if they should go immediately and gather up the wheat. But, in verse 30, Jesus says, "Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn."

The point worth noting here is that the first ones gathered are the weeds, not the wheat. This is most interesting since Jesus explains the parable in Matt. 13:36-43 and states that they will be cast into the furnace.

Additionally, when we turn to Luke 17:1, which is the parallel passage of Matt. 24, we discover that the disciples ask Jesus a question in response to Jesus’ statement that "two will be in the field and one will be taken." In verse 37 they ask, "Where, Lord?" they asked.

He [Jesus] replied, "Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather."

They are taken to a place of death.

7. What is the historical and cultural background?

This is a more difficult question to answer. It requires a bit more research. A commentary is worth examining here since they usually provide the historic and cultural backgrounds that help to unravel the text.

In this context, Israel was under Roman rule. They had been denied the right of capital punishment, of self-rule, and the ability to wage war. Rome had dominated the small nation. Judaism was tolerated among the Roman leadership. After all, Israel was a small far-away country with a people that were fanatical about their religion. So, Rome allowed Israel to be ruled by Jewish political puppets.

The Temple was the place of worship for the Israelite community. It was there that the blood sacrifices were made by the high priest for the atonement of the nation.

It had taken 46 years to build (John 2:20). Jesus said the temple would be destroyed which prompted the question which lead to His discourse which contains the passage we are examining.

Culturally, the Jewish people were dedicated to the Old Testament. Within those pages were prophecies of the Messiah, of the end of the age, and of the delivery from bondage. The Jewish people knew that and were in a state of expectation. Along comes Jesus with miracles and words of great power. Naturally, they would look to him as a possible deliverer.

8. What do I conclude about the passage?

Since the context of the passage suggests that it is the wicked that are taken, I am going to conclude that the one taken in the field is not the good, but the bad. I also am tempted to conclude that the wicked are taken to a place of judgment.

9. Do my conclusions agree or disagree with related areas of scripture and others who have studied the passage?

I’ve already presented other verses which seem to agree with my conclusion. However, it is not in agreement with all of the commentaries I’ve read on this verse. At this point I would need to present my conclusion to others to see what they think. Just because I studied the Word and arrived at a conclusion does not mean that it is correct. But it doesn’t mean it is wrong either.

By consulting with others, by examining the word again, and by seeking God and his illumination, I can only hope to arrive at the best possible conclusion about a passage.

10. What have I learned and what must I apply to my life?

Interpretation of scripture is for a purpose: To understand God’s word more accurately. With a better understanding of His word, we can then more accurately apply it to the area that it addresses. In this case, the passage deals with an area of the future, and area of judgment. It is information that Jesus has revealed and that He wants us to know about. The application then would be that God will execute judgment upon the unrighteous at the end of the age.

Concluding remarks:

This article is only an illustration. It is basic and does not cover all the points of biblical interpretation. But it does give a direction and an example for you to apply. As I said before, pray. Read His word. Look into the scriptures as best you can with as much understanding and skill as is possible. Be humble in your approach and test everything by the Bible.

One last thing: did you agree with my conclusion?

Finding God When You've Failed

2006-01-16T13:32:00.000+08:00

by Jack Hayford

http://www.lastdaysministries.org/articles/findinggodwhenyouvefailed.html

Honesty is indeed a prerequisite to effective prayer. But it can also be cleverly guided on a boomerang path by our arch opponent.

"How can I pray when I know I've failed God?" I may ask myself. The awareness of recent sin or even a remote memory can haunt the mind and cripple all confidence in prayer. Further, I will never feel guilt but that Satan, whom God's Word labels as the accuser as well as the adversary, will hound my mind with added evidence of my unworthiness and, therefore, of my hopelessness if I do pray. "You've botched it up so badly, how can you seriously expect a hearing from God? You don't deserve anything. You know it, and He knows it! Forget it!"

Some of us will even press beyond that lying attack to the point of praying something, somehow, but the words - when the mind is bombarded by guilt and condemnation - have a way of falling to the floor. Absent is that sense of the creative power when we speak boldly in simple trust to the God of all the heavens. We feel instead like someone who seeks an audience with the head of state of a nation whose flag we have just trampled.

Fat chance of a favour! Thin hope of a hearing! The devil's right. Forget it. But wait a minute.
Think clearly for a moment. What suddenly changed Satan's nature that he would defend God's glory by urging you to keep your dirty distance?

Nothing.

He's consistently opposed to my union and yours with the Father.

When the devil contests a believer on seemingly righteous grounds you can count on it that there's a trap in the system somewhere. Truth starts to surface. The God of all glory is also the God of all grace.

We need to learn how to handle our biggest obstacle to effective prayer: guilt - the sense of having failed and thereby being disqualified for bold approach. How can I handle my dirty linen when I want to come to the throne room of the Almighty?

Any correct teaching of God's infinite mercy has a way of sounding to the presumptuous like a license for sin. But we don't enter God's presence by presenting an admission card certifying our sinlessness. Nor does one stamp into the throne room with muddy feet and a glib, "Sorry about that."

A proper balance of humility and boldness is needed. Sin, by whatever description, cannot be skirted. Neither should sin be honored by allowing it to inhibit our praying.
Here's how to handle the problem:

First, understand God's posture. He's on the side of sinners. Jesus' critics puzzled that He was so frequently in the company of people who lacked religious pedigree and moral status: "This man companies with publicans and sinners!" The amazing thing was not only that He was willing to move among the sinful, but that He affected them and not the other way around. God never condemns sinners, and He never condones sin. "My little children," John begins, "I am writing these things to you that you sin not." (1 John 2:1). The message registers, and could produce a guilt feeling just by casual reading…except for the next sentence:

"But if any man sin, we have one pleading our case before the Father - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is our sin-covering." (vs.1-2). In other words, the Word of God says:

"Absolutely, do not sin," then turns right around and says, "But when you do..." Although the heavenly Father does not hold a casual attitude toward sin, He is not shocked by it either. He has made provision for it, not as an invitation to sin, but to receive His freedom from its guilt.

Second, we make a serious mistake if we think God's mercy is the result of some "smile-and-forget-it" bent in His nature. Humanistic theology features the Father as a somewhat doddering, near senile, harmless old man who forgives because He couldn't do much else in His defense anyway. Or it says that God forgives whenever He is asked "simply because it's right and He ought to." It's a part of a gentlemen's agreement: We'll forgive God for letting the world go on in the generally messed-up condition it is, if He will be fair about it and forgive us for those times we've contributed to the mess.

Most people never express such ideas or, for that matter, bother to discover what they do think about forgiveness. But to experience the full peace of forgiveness we must understand the key to its power. God's forgiveness is available and adequate because it cost an infinite price: the blood of Jesus.

Blood is the only price adequate to cover payment for sin. (Heb. 9:22)

Jesus knew and announced that His death on the cross was that instrument of payment. (Matt. 26:28)

It was the Father's plan and the Son's agreement to this redeeming event that produced Calvary. (Acts 2:23; Matt. 26:39)

This message was foretold by the Old Testament prophets and confirmed by the preaching of the New Testament apostles. (Is. 53:4-6; Jn. 1:29; 1 Cor. 15:3, 1 Pet. 1:18,19)

Both justification (acquittal for our sins) in the present and eternal blessing in the future are granted through the blood. (Rom. 5:9)

Therefore, peace of mind and a clear conscience before God are available through the blood. (Eph. 2:13,14; Heb. 9:14)

Forgiveness is abundant, but it isn't the splash of a supermarket display. It's the overflow of the cornucopia of His love designed to prompt our praise and thanksgiving...and our bold approach to His throne, even when we have sinned.

That's the third point:

Handling dirty linen in the throne room is not accomplished by attempting to hide it, but by openly spreading it before God. That's what confession means: acknowledging exactly what we know to be so.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John. 1:9)

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. " (Heb. 4:16)

"In time of need." That's the rime we are most encouraged to come. But when need arises - and is compounded by our own sense of sin and failure - that is the time we're least inclined to come boldly. But it's the time we're most invited!

Has your desire to pray been blocked by a sense of guilt?

Be done with that blockade!

Let the truth about the blood of Jesus, the truth about the Father's mercy, set you free!
I can come and be cleansed by the miracle of His creative working through the blood:

"Purge me... and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Create in me a clean heart, 0 God; and renew a right spirit within me." (Ps.51:7,10)

Welcome to the throne room of heaven, sinner.

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2006-01-16T13:28:00.000+08:00

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Restoration Through Forgiveness

2006-01-06T00:04:00.000+08:00

By Doug Easterday

from http://www.lastdaysministries.org/articles/restoration.html

We all have a past - a storehouse of good and bad memories that can still affect the way we live today. Even though I grew up in a godly home and had great parents, some painful things happened to me during my childhood years. I would like to snap my fingers and - poof! - all the painful memories would he gone. But I can't do that! Paul says in Philippians 3:13-14, "Forgetting what lies behind... I press on toward the goal...." Well, I wholeheartedly agree with Paul! We need to press on... but we also need to be able to forget what is behind! And I think most of us have a difficult time knowing how to do that.

No matter what has happened to you in the past, God's goal is to bring you to a condition where the negative issues of the past no longer affect your present and future life in Him. In His Word, the Lord promises to restore the fullness of our lives. In Joel 2:25 (KJV) He says, "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the cater-pillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you." Now why did this scripture happen to list those four particular insects?

Because if we were to take these insects and release them on a plant, all four working together would eat the leaves, the branches, the main stalk, and finally the root. Now what would be left? Absolutely nothing. The plant would be destroyed.

But God says that He will restore to you the years that have been nibbled and eaten away... no matter what has happened to you! Even if you feel like you've been totally destroyed, God intends for you to be restored.

The First Step To Godly Restoration

I want to tell you about the first and most important step to godly restoration. It is the first step to freedom within ourselves and freedom in our relationships with other people. Real hurts don't come out of the ground or out of the bushes... deep hurts come from other people. And deep hurts don't heal except through the process of forgiveness.

For us to really be free from the problems and hurts of our past and to be free from the consequences that continue to plague us... we must forgive. This is a godly absolute, and God absolutely will not change His stand on this!

There is a portion of scripture from Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew 6:14-15 that packs one of the biggest "wallops" in the entire Bible. Every time I read these verses my knees get weak, because they contain an incredibly important message from the heart of God!

The "Sermon on the Mount" begins with: "And when He saw the multitudes, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. And opening His mouth He began to teach them, saying (Matt. 5:1-2)

To whom was Jesus speaking this crucial message? His disciples! Or to put it in modern terms - this sermon was spoken to believers! To people who knew the Lord Jesus. This is not a message to the unsaved. We need to understand that fact in order to fully understand Matthew 6:14: "For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."

What a wonderful promise! If we forgive, God will forgive us. But now verse 15 follows: "But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." I don't know about you, but I want to be forgiven by God! I make mistakes! I do things that are wrong, and sometimes my attitude is just not what God wants it to be. I want to receive forgiveness at these times in my life, but God tells me that if I don't forgive... I'm going to be stuck with the consequences of my sin. And I certainly don't want that!

As I travel throughout the Body of Christ, I hear people saying, "Oh, I've forgiven - it's not a big issue for me anymore!" They want to pass forgiveness off as "no big deal," but they're not really understanding the seriousness the Word of God gives to the issue of forgiveness. To God - it's a very big deal!

First I want to talk about what forgiveness is not:

Forgiveness is not a feeling. If you're waiting for some lovey-dovey sensation to come over you, you're going to have a long wait - maybe forever! In all my years of counseling, I have never come across someone who really "feels" like forgiving. Pushing your hurt far back into the recesses of your mind doesn't mean you've forgiven the person who hurt you. As time passes, our memory will fade and the hurt will become more distant, but time alone cannot heal the wounds. Only God Himself can heal the heart.

Forgiveness is not pretending you weren't hurt. Don't shove the incident under the carpet! Don't rationalize and pretend that what happened to you didn't really hurt you - that it isn't a real issue in your heart. Pretending and forgiveness are certainly not the same thing.

Forgiveness is not saying what the person did wasn't wrong. Sometimes we feel that if we forgive, we're actually declaring that what the other person did "wasn't so bad." That's like trying to say, "It really wasn't all that wrong. It must have been my fault. I must have been standing in the wrong place when that car hit me!"

If I walked up to you and punched you in the nose, then later came to you and said, "I'm really sorry," what would you say? Would you respond back and say, "That's okay"? If you say this, do you know what you've just told me? You've just given me permission to do it again! You've said, "That's okay!"

What was okay? Was it okay to hit you? No! It was not okay! When' someone comes to you saying, "I'm sorry - I was wrong," and you respond back with "It's okay" - then I believe you're giving them permission to hurt you, and that's really giving them permission to sin.

I don't think we have a right to tell another person that it's okay to sin. Our proper response should be to simply say, "I forgive you."

Forgiveness does not mean you have to trust that person again. A young girl came to counsel with me awhile ago. She was very, very nervous, and it took 20 minutes for her to feel free enough even to begin talking about herself. Finally she told me something she had never told another human being - that her father had raped her almost every day for the past four years.

Now do you think that I should have encouraged her to forgive her father and then go back and trust him again? No! At that point, her father did not deserve to be trusted.

I am not saying that she shouldn't ever trust her father again - as Christian's, we need to allow those who have hurt us the chance to prove themselves trustworthy in the future. But forgiveness is a separate issue from trust. I believe that we can completely forgive a person, but still not have the ability to trust that individual.

Trusting comes only as we get to know someone and believe in that person's character. That's why I can trust God - because I am confident in His character! We develop trust for human beings only as they have proved themselves trustworthy.

When someone really lashes into you, your natural response will probably be anger, hurt, and a lack of trust. If forgiveness means you have to make yourself totally vulnerable to that person and leave yourself open for another emotional or verbal assault, you'll probably choose not to forgive.

But if you can fully understand that "forgiveness" and "trust" are two separate issues, you'll see that forgiveness is not totally beyond your grasp.

Forgiveness is not relieving other people of their responsibility. Our thoughts usually follow this kind of logic: "They really hurt me! If I forgive them, they're gonna walk away scot-free. They're not going to have to face up to what they did, and they're not going to have to answer for their wrong actions!"

We think that forgiveness is somehow letting people "off the hook" so they don't have to answer for their wrong actions. But God is completely capable of making sure a person is held accountable. You can't relieve anyone of their responsibility -you don't have that ability! None of us does, because we're just human beings. Only God can cleanse us by His grace.

As you accept responsibility for your wrong attitude and the unforgiveness in your own heart, you release God to work in a greater way than ever before in the heart of the person you've struggled to forgive. I'm not suggesting that God hasn't been' working all along, but forgiveness will release God as never before to do His restoring work in this person's life.

What Forgiveness Is

Well, what is forgiveness then? I want to give you a definition that you won't find anywhere else. I have probably spent more time studying the word "forgiveness" than any other word in the English language.

Forgiveness is a decision I make to obey God and to walk, as a life-style, in a higher realm by not allowing someone else's actions or attitudes to dictate my actions or attitudes.

First of all, forgiveness is a decision. Even though some decisions can be very difficult, God has given us the ability to make them. Even if our emotions are screaming "No! No!" we're still capable of making a choice to forgive. It's not really accurate to say "I can't forgive." That's not true. What you're actually saying is "I won't forgive."

It's a choice. A difficult one, you bet! One you don't feel like making - sure! But possible? Yes! It is possible to forgive even though there is nothing within us that feels like forgiving. It's an act of our will - not our emotions!

Forgiveness is a decision I make. Who makes it? I do. Even God Himself cannot make that decision for you. Only you can decide to forgive with your heart. If you don't forgive, you will have to live with the crippling consequences of your unforgiveness.

Forgiveness is a decision I make to obey God. Forgiveness is not a suggestion - it's a commandment. God doesn't say, "It would really be a good idea if you could find it in your heart to do some forgiving." No! He says, "You must forgive"! Forgiveness is a choice of obedience to God and it's something that can take place in the privacy of your own heart.

Even if you are angry or bitter towards someone who has already died, forgiveness is still possible for you. Because forgiveness is an issue of the heart. And as you forgive, you are going to know God's freedom and liberty in your life.

Forgiveness is getting your own heart right before God. That's where it must begin - between you and the Lord. I don't believe we should go and talk to someone until we first have our heart right before God. Then, as the Lord specifically directs, you can communicate forgiveness, restitution, and reconciliation to the other person.

Obedience...Or Disobedience?

The real issue is obedience to God. What's the opposite of obedience? Disobedience. So if you don't forgive, what are you doing? Disobeying. And what is disobedience? Sin. That's pretty plain, isn't it? If we choose not to forgive, we choose to sin. The Bible says in Psalms 66:18 that "If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear..." Do you want the Lord to hear you? Then I believe you need to forgive.

My father, who had been a minister for 45 years, shared a valuable truth with me just before he died. He said, "Doug, I'm convinced that many Christians who stop growing in the Lord, that go through the same problems over and over again, these are people holding on to unforgiveness."

I consider that to be a classic statement from a gentleman with great experience in dealing with people who never found freedom and liberty in God. And I have seen, from my own experience as a counselor, that unforgiveness will bring your spiritual life to a halt.

But forgiveness is the greatest weight loss program known to man! Want to lose some (spiritual) weight? If you forgive, you will immediately sense the heavy weight of unforgiveness lifting.

A Lifestyle Of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a lifestyle. Forgiveness is not a one-time act, but rather a lifestyle that has to be maintained. The opposite of forgiveness is unforgiveness, and unforgiveness has two cousins. The first one is resentment. The second cousin is bitterness.

Resentment begins with the prefix "re." Re-sent. So resentment is something that happens to me, and I say, "Well, if you're going to do that to me, I'll send it right back!" That's resentment. It's an exchange.

"They never call me, so I won't call them! They never write me, so I won't write them!" So you have this stalemate. It's called resentment. If someone walks in the door, and just that person's very presence causes your blood pressure to rise, then there's an issue of resentment.

If someone mentions a name, and you get a "check" in your spirit because it reminds you of another person by the same name... that's evidence that something's still wrong. Any person or memory that makes your blood pressure rise should give you an indication of something in your past that's not resolved. The Lord may be trying to show you that you haven't forgiven.

We're not usually aware of unforgiveness in our hearts towards someone unless we're doing daily battle with negative emotions. But the issue really isn't how often you think about that person - but rather what happens when you do think about them.

What happens when you recall a certain situation? What goes on internally? It might be something you only remember once a year, but when you do remember - your blood starts to boil! Then there's bitterness in your heart. And bitterness will kill you -spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

So we can't just forgive one time and say, "That's over with!" It's something that has to be maintained. I can't guarantee that after you've forgiven you won't be hurt again. In fact, I can almost guarantee that you will be! Forgiveness isn't saying, "I'll forgive... but just this once!" That's not forgiveness.

Forgiveness is a lifestyle of taking our rightful place in God and saying to the person who continues to hurt us, "I'm sorry you feel the way you do about me, but I'm not going to respond back to you in the same way." Taking this stand puts my emotional health and destiny in the Lord's hands, instead of letting the person who's giving me the problem rule my emotional life.

This is hard to do, but it is possible. And it's the only way we're going to really rise above the constant conflicts we have to deal with in human relationships. Forgiveness says, "No! In the name of Jesus, I am going to rise above that and not let your problem become my problem."

Because a wrong reaction is just as bad as a wrong action. If someone hurts you, and you react to it in a sinful, wrong way, then you are just as wrong as the one who hurt you.

The bottom line is this: If you refuse to forgive (or say you can't) what you're really saying is that holding on to your hurt is more important to you than going on with God. It's that simple. I believe the Word of God says that if you don't forgive, your spiritual life will stay where it is until you are able to forgive.

How To Know If You've Forgiven

Many people have asked me how they can know for sure if they have really forgiven someone. The Lord has impressed upon me that forgiveness is complete if you will allow Him to use you as an unrestricted channel of His love for that person. If you are willing to obey the promptings of the Lord to bless that person in whatever way He chooses, if you will let His love flow through you to them - then you will know that you have forgiven.

I want to encourage you right now to ask the Lord to reveal any unforgiveness that might still be lurking in your heart. I never thought I had a problem in this area because I was "spiritual." And spiritual people don't have problems with unforgiveness, right? But God began to bring things to the surface and convict my heart about unresolved issues in my past.

The Lord will do the same for you if you'll just allow Him to show you specific individuals that you might need to forgive. I have learned in my 20 years as a counselor that there is no substitute for forgiveness. Forgiveness will free God to move on your behalf, and it will free the other person from the bondage your bitterness or resentment has placed them in.

Best of all, forgiveness will free you to continue growing in the Lord and to become the man or woman of God the Lord intends you to be.

The Dangers Of Drifting From God

2006-01-05T19:34:00.000+08:00

Author Unknown

“For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” -Hebrews 2:1

Drifting off course is one of those great evil influences which affects the believer as much as the unbeliever. The Christian life has its own defense mechanisms ready against open attack. It's armed at all points against the obvious temptations - but it's relatively open to the subtle and deceitful influence of drifting. “For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away.” Those words from Hebrews, given to a Christian Church, are a solemn reminder to all Christians of the danger we're exposed to.

First of all, look at how silent and unnoticed the pull of drift is. If it disturbed us, if it jarred or jolted us, if it drew attention to itself, this might be enough to put us on our guard. But, look! no such warning signal is ever given. No alarm bell is ever sounded. We drift away softly and silently, like a ship floating down the tide.

This process is so unconscious because we're floating on such great currents. The currents are both within us and around us. The currents within are the drives of our natural desires - our love of ease and comfort, our fleshly appetites, and our worldliness of spirit. Around us are other tides set in the same direction - great drifts in life itself, the spirit of the age, social customs and habits, materialistic attitudes in business, literature, and entertainment. All these roll around us ceaselessly, touching us, nestling close to us, acting on us, and finding allies in the soul to which they are kin. They capture the tower almost without our being aware of what has happened.

The Path Of Least Resistance

The life of drift is a pathetically easy course to follow. It takes no output of energy to float down a stream, or to be carried forward on the crest of a running tide. All that's necessary for a life of drift is to relax, to do nothing, to let go, to cease struggling, to submit to the worldly influences within us and around us. “The gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction.” (Matt. 7:13)

No man by chance ever drifts towards Christ. That needs energy and force of character. But to drift away from Christ needs neither. We only have to surrender ourselves to the force of our natural instincts. It's as easy as that.

It's because the life of drift is so seductively easy to follow that every person who has followed Christ for some time feels the necessity to encourage himself to stand up to and firmly resist life's drifts. Who can fail to see that simple challenge in the teachings of Jesus?

Coming Against The Tide

Christ is always urging men to develop personal initiative and determination, and to cease being tossed to and fro like leaves on the stream of life. His condemnation of the men who lived in the days of Noah was not that they were men of violence - but that they lived unexamined lives, drifting on the surface of things, weakly to the infection of social influences, eating and drinking in a day of God's visitation. (See Matt. 24:37-39)

His praise for John the Baptist, on the other hand, was that he was a man of inflexible moral purpose, not “a reed shaken by the wind,” tossed about by every passing breeze of opinion, but one who took his own line and held to it, in spite of the consequences.

So high was Jesus' value of a directed life, and His sense of the worthlessness of a drifting life that, to secure the one and avoid the other, He judged that the most drastic efforts were to be taken. “Pluck out your eyes rather than miss life,” He said. “Cut off your hands, your feet. Strive to enter by the narrow door.” (Matt. 18:8-9; Luke 13:24) To be saved demands effort, thoughtfulness, and self-discipline. To be lost makes no such demands. All that's needed is merely to follow the drift. What could be easier?

Seemingly Innocent Steps

Again, let everyone understand how serious and tragic the final consequences of a drifting life are. In its early stages the gravity of drift is rarely ever seen. It's only when it has run its full course that we see the disastrous result. Then we realize it's as deadly as the most blatant sin.

A ship can be just as effectively wrecked by drifting as by running into an obstacle on its charted course. For the masses of people who make moral shipwreck of their lives by “dragging sin to themselves with cart ropes” (see Isaiah 5:18), there are many more who reach the same tragic goal by simply letting their ropes loosely slip off the dock.

There's a great story in the Old Testament which powerfully demonstrates this point. When Lot selected the lush pasture lands of the Jordan for himself, he was well aware of the evil reputation of the cities of the plain. Even in his wildest dreams he never thought of making Sodom his home. Yet that was the end he finally reached by gradual and seemingly innocent steps.

In five grim sentences the story of his moral drifting is summed up. “He chose the valley of the Jordan” (the location of Sodom); “he moved his tent as far as Sodom”; “he lived in Sodom”; “he sat in the gate of Sodom” (that is, he became one of its most influential citizens). And when the insistent angels urged him to leave this den of corruption, he had become so callous that we read, “He lingered in Sodom.” In Lot's ruined home and blasted soul we see the end of drift. (Genesis 13:10, 13:12, 14:12, 19:1, 19:16)

Slowly Paralyzed

What should concern us more than anything is the power of drift to numb our sense of danger. Few men seriously believe that they can drift into the open jaws of Hell. Even when we are conscious that we're drifting from our charted course and that our spiritual senses are becoming duller, there's always a false hope in our minds that a little energy and effort on our part can at any time turn the whole situation around. We underestimate the paralyzing influence of drift.

One winter a bird was seen on a piece of wood floating down the river towards Niagara Falls. It was evidently enjoying the movement of the swiftly gliding stream. It had no sense of danger. Why should it be afraid? Didn't it have wings? Couldn't it just fly off when the point of danger was reached? So it thought, as it rested free from care on the piece of wood which carried it down near the dizzy edge.

When it reached the point of danger it tried to soar, but alas! it could not. The river's mist had frozen upon its wings, and so it miserably perished as the waters plunged over. Isn't there a serious danger that our habits fix us so immovably to the drift of our circumstances that we cannot free ourselves, even when we want to?

The Anchor Of The Soul

What can we do to end the terrible consequences of drifting, and stop the influence of these currents in life that threaten to destroy us? The author of Hebrews gives this practical exhortation, “We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.” (Heb. 2:1) The translators questionably insert the phrase “from it,” which is not in the Original Greek. The insertion of these words lessens rather than increases the gravity of the moral issue.

The writer's meaning is that, if we become indifferent to what God has spoken, not only do we miss the encouragement of His teaching, but our lives cease to have stability, and become carried along by chance and circumstance. We drift away to any tragic goal.

“What we have heard” are just the great Gospel facts, truths, values, and warnings, which make and keep us morally and spiritually healthy. These Gospel truths, if seriously followed, have the power to give direction and stability to our character.

And in support of this point, this writer never gets tired of counseling his readers to “consider Christ,” in whom all Gospel truth is incarnated. Read again the story of Christ's life and reflect on the significance of His Cross which shows His militant protest against a life of drifting. Let the strong resistance of our Lord to all the drifts of His time lay hold upon our minds and saturate our innermost being, until it steels our wills to a similar endurance.

Above all, let us align our lives to the power of His risen life, and we will be able to hold our ground and stand firm and immovable. It is written that He is able to keep us from falling (Jude 24), and again, “May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.” (II Thess. 2:16-17) Let us pay close attention to these facts. Let them be the directing, stabilizing forces in our lives.

Let us anchor our souls to them and above all to Him, the ever-living One, who supports and guarantees all these things. There is only one absolute refuge from drifting, and that is to be safely anchored. A ship securely anchored never drifts. And a life anchored to Christ by the four cables of faith, hope, love, and service, consciously made and continuously tested, will never drift.

“... we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast.” (Heb.6:18-19)

Forgiveness - Forgive Or Forget It

2006-01-04T10:21:00.000+08:00

By Keith Green

From http://www.lastdaysministries.org/articles/forgiveness.html

There I was, seated in row 17, flying from Dallas to Los Angeles. I began to day-dream, thinking about a friend of mine who had once treated me (what I thought was) unfairly in a financial dealing we'd had. As I turned the whole incident over in my mind, I remembered how I had originally consoled my bruised feelings by thinking to myself, "Well, that's okay, it's God's money anyway - God'll deal with him."

But flying on that jet through the night, I started to get an uneasy feeling inside, almost like vengeance. All of a sudden, it wasn't enough to put the whole thing in God's hands. I found myself thinking, "I sure hope the Lord brings that whole thing up when so-and-so stands before Him on the day of judgment."

And then, immediately, the Lord broke into my thoughts and said to me, "I'll be glad to bring it up - as long as you don't mind Me bringing up all the stupid things you've done!"

I burst out laughing, right there in row 17. All at once I saw the sad hilarity of it all. I had never really forgiven him at all! Even with all my spiritualizing about the Judgment Seat, what I was really saying in my heart was, "He'll get his!" With one sentence, the Holy Spirit showed me gross unforgiveness in my heart - not only toward this brother, but toward many others who had hurt or offended me.

In an instant, I completely understood Jesus' words, "If you do not forgive men, then your[heavenly] Father will not forgive your transgressions." (Matt. 6:15)

The Unmerciful Slave

In the 18th chapter of Matthew (vs. 23-35), there's an incredible tale about this guy who owed the king a whole lot of money. "And... there was brought to him one who owed him 10,000 talents" (worth more than ten million dollars today). "But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made.

"The slave therefore falling down, prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay you everything.' And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt."

I think the most beautiful part of this story is the fact that the king forgave him the debt... over ten million dollars worth!! The main reason he canceled it was that even though the slave promised to eventually repay it, it was obviously an impossible amount of debt to ever work off in one's lifetime. Therefore, in his compassion, showing that when the king released him from it forever... or did he? Let's read on...

It says immediately in the very next verse (vs. 28), "But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denanii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.' So his fellow slave fell down and began to entreat him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you.' He was unwilling, however, (to forgive him) but went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed."

Can you imagine the nerve? You've just been forgiven ten million dollars, and instead of going out and celebrating, you go and find some poor Joe who owes you 18 bucks! He's probably heard about your good fortune through the grapevine and thinks you're gonna invite him to the party, when all of a sudden you start strangling the daylights out of him. And when he asks you to be patient and give him a few days to repay you, you refuse and throw him in jail.

It might not sound like something you'd do, but I bet you've done it before. You see, if your sins have been forgiven by Jesus, you've had an incredible debt erased. Any bitterness or unforgiveness in your heart, after the total amnesty you've received, makes you as bad as the unmerciful slave. His unforgiveness was not only stupid, it also blew the whole deal with the king!

"When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord... Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you entreated me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, even as I had mercy on you?'

'And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him." Then Jesus adds the stinger... "So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."

Jesus certainly couldn't have made Himself any clearer about how upset our Father in heaven gets when, after forgiving us for an eternal debt of sin, we hold some little five-and-dime grudge against someone else "for whom Christ died."

I think it's also important to note that the debt the king had originally called off was now on again - and in full! This has many theological implications; but, since I'm no theologian (and the implicated subjects are perhaps some of the stickiest and most heavily debated in the Church today), I will safely say, "Whoever has ears, let him hear."

"If You Have Anything Against Your Brother..."

At any rate, all this goes to warn us that if we have anything in our hearts against anyone, we should go to that person quickly and get the whole thing totally cleared up. It might be our parents, or an employer, a teacher, or even a husband or wife. But in the light of this parable, we can see that however much anyone has hurt us, it doesn't even compare to the free gift of God's pardon for our sins. We must not put that forgiveness in danger of being made void by our refusal to "go and do likewise." For the Word of God says, "If possible. ..be at peace with all men... [for] these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." (Rom. 12:18; II Cor. 5:18)

Colossians 3:1

2006-01-03T21:06:00.000+08:00

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God." – Colossians 3:1

How many there are even of those who desire to fear God who are kept down by the world, and to whom it has not lost its attractive power; who are held fast, at least for a time, by worldly business, or entangled by worldly people or worldly engagements. Their partners in business or their partners in life; their carnal relatives or their worldly children; their numerous connections or their social habits; their strong passions or their deep-rooted prejudices, all bind and fetter them down to earth. There they grovel and lie amid, what Milton terms, "The smoke and stir of this dim spot which men call earth;" and so bound are they with the cords of their sins that they scarcely seek deliverance from them, or ever desire to rise beyond the mists and fogs of this dim spot into a purer air, so as to breathe a heavenly atmosphere, and rise up with Jesus from the grave of their corruptions. But if, as members of his mystical body, they are already risen with Christ, as it was not possible for the Head to be held by death when God loosed the pains thereof (Acts 2:24), so neither shall they ever be buried in the grave of carnality and worldliness. They must rise spiritually if they rose mystically. If interested in the reality of Christ's resurrection, they must know the power of Christ's resurrection.

A Regular Reminder...

2006-01-01T19:01:00.000+08:00

Ancient Crossroads Forums

Circle and Cross Talk Forums

Pagan Christian Moot - a non-Christian group that provides a place where Christians and pagans can meet for meaningful dialogue...

Refuge Ministries

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PLEASE NOTE:

Psalm 90:12

2006-01-01T14:21:00.000+08:00

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." - Psalm 90:12

Casting our eyes back upon the year now past and gone, are there no mercies which claim a note of thankful praise? It is sweet to see the Lord's kind hand in providence, but sweeter far to view his outstretched hand in grace. Are we then so unwatchful or so unmindful of the Lord's gracious hand in His various dealings with our soul as to view the whole past twelve months as a dead blank in which we have never seen His face, nor heard His voice, nor felt His power? "Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness?" (Jer 2:31,) the Lord tenderly asks. Has he been such to us also for twelve long and weary months?

What! No help by the way, no tokens for good, no liftings-up of the light of His countenance, no visitations of his presence and power, no breakings-in of His goodness for all that long and dreary time - for dreary it must indeed have been for a living soul to have been left and abandoned of the Lord so long! If not blessed with any peculiar manifestations of Christ, with any signal revelations of His Person and work, blood and love, grace and glory, for such special seasons are not of frequent, occurrence, have we not still found Him the Way, the Truth, and the Life? If we have indeed a personal and spiritual union with the Son of God, as our living Head, there will be communications out of his fullness, a supplying of all our needs - a drawing forth of faith, hope, and love - a support under trials, a deliverance from temptations, a deepening of His fear in the heart, and that continued work of grace whereby we are enabled to live a life of faith on the Son of God.

New Year's Resolutions...

2005-12-31T09:18:00.000+08:00

The practice of making a New Year’s Resolution goes back over 3000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a New Year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31st and January 1st. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31st. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of a New Year’s Resolution. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year’s Resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?

Common New Year’s Resolutions are: to quit smoking, to quit drinking, to manage money better, and spend more time with family. By far the most common New Year’s Resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating healthier. These are all good goals to set. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” The vast majority of New Year’s Resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.

Many Christians make New Year’s Resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, to attend church more regularly, etc., etc. These are fantastic goals! However, these New Year’s Resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions. Why? Because there is no power in a New Year’s Resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honour God and grow spiritually or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?

Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” John 15:5 declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If God is the center of your New Year’s Resolution, it has chance for success – depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honouring and/or is not in agreement in God’s Word – we will not receive God’s help in fulfilling the resolution.

So, what sort of New Year’s Resolution should a Christian make? I cannot answer that question for you. My advice to you is this:

Pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make;
Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you;
Rely on God’s strength to help you;
Find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you;
Don’t become discouraged with occasional failures, instead allow them to motivate you further;
Don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-6, “Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”

Ecclesiastes 7:8

2005-12-30T20:22:00.000+08:00

"Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof." Ecclesiastes 7:8

Thus says the wise man, and it is often true in natural things, but invariably so in divine. Rarely at first can we foresee what will be the outcome of any matter which we take in hand. We may begin it with much hope, and find in the end those hopes sadly disappointed. We may begin it with much fear, and find from the event those fears utterly groundless. Whatever we take in hand it is very rare that our expectations are fully carried out, for we have again and again to learn that "man's heart devises his way, but the Lord directs his steps," and that there are many devices in a man's heart, nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that and that only, shall stand.

But so far as we are among the family of God, and as such are under especial guidance and divine teaching and leading, whether our first expectations are accomplished or not, the end stamps wisdom and goodness upon all the dealings of God with us both in providence and in grace. However chequered his path has been; however, as Job speaks, his purposes have been broken off, even the thoughts of his heart; however when he looked for good, then evil came unto him, and when he waited for light there came darkness; whatever bitter things God seemed to write against him when he made him to possess the sins of his youth, yet sooner or later every child of God will be able to say, "O how great is your goodness which you have laid up for those who fear you!" and this will embolden him to add, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, as they have already followed me, all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

The Son and the Moon Forums

2005-12-29T01:46:00.000+08:00

After a month or so of setting up and sorting out 'The Son and Moon Forums' is now 'officially' open...

The Primary Function and Purpose of the Forum is to provide a place of help, healing and support for those who have come to Christ from a Neo-Pagan or Occult background.

As such evangelism and outreach is NOT the Forum's primary function. While it does not shy away from evangelism and members will avail themselves of opportunities as and when they arise, the Forum's primary aim is, and must be, the discipleship (Matthew 28:19) of those who have come to Christ from a Neo-Pagan or Occult background rather than simply creating a 'head count' of new 'converts' who are then quickly forgotten or ignored as is often the case in the Church today...

In short, "Don't Shoot the Wounded..."

Thank God they aren't Goths?

2005-12-27T10:18:00.000+08:00

For those who were - like me - frankly amazed at Pastor David Hoad's comments about Christian Goths being "of the devil" (see What's Wrong with Word of Faith Teaching) will be doubly dumb-founded when they hear the following...

When not calling other Christians "hypocrites" and saying that they are "of the devil" because they choose to dress differently to others, Pastor Hoad keeps himself busy as the webmaster of Tribe of Judah Motorcycle Ministries...

Soooooo according to him Christian Goths are "of the devil" but patch-wearing Christian Bikers are A-OK...

Confused? He sure seems to be...

Frankly I can't see the difference... Both groups are taking the Gospel of Christ to sub-cultures in today's increasingly fragmented society that otherwise may not have the opportunity to come to Christ...

But then again 'consistency' is not really a strong point amongst those who teach in the Word of Faith Movement...

Thank God they're not Goths... ;-)

What's Wrong with Word of Faith Teaching...

2005-12-26T14:13:00.000+08:00

I just recieved a blast from Pr David Hoad of ChristianEvents.com.au - a website that promotes Word of Faith teachings... You know... the whole "God wants you rich... If you are sick it is YOUR fault - you lack faith..." type of teaching...

Apparanently he takes exception to comparing the teachings of Brian Houston of Hillsong fame with the Bible to see whether or not they square up that is at my main website LINK ... and he apparently has no great love for Christian Goths either for he says:

You are a hypocrite , on one hand you pull down Christians (Hill Song) and on the other you lift up the devil with your support of Christian Gothic sites which are of the devil. You need to pray about which side you are on. Are you truly saved as you say. If you are you would not pull down brothers in Christ (Psalms 133)

Pastor David Hoad

Well, there are links to the article in question above and my reply to him is bellow... And I invite readers to make up their own minds...

******************************************************

In the Word Faith Movement, the believer is told to use God, whereas the truth of biblical Christianity is just the opposite, God uses the believer. Word Faith or prosperity theology sees the Holy Spirit as a power to put to use for whatever the believer wills. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is a Person who enables the believer to do God's will. The movement closely resembles some of the destructive greed sects that infiltrated the early church. Paul and the other apostles were not accommodating to or conciliatory with the false teachers who propagated such heresy. They identified them as dangerous false teachers and urged Christians to avoid them.

Paul warned Timothy about "constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.... But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness." (1 Timothy 6:5, 9-11.).

Paul said covetousness is idolatry (Ephesians 5:5) and forbade the Ephesians to be partakers with anyone who brought a message of immorality or covetousness (Ephesians 5:6-7). .

Prosperity teaching prohibits God from working on His own, meaning that God is not Lord of all because He cannot work until we release Him to do so. Faith, according to the Word of Faith doctrine, is not submissive trust in God; faith is a formula by which we manipulate the spiritual laws prosperity teachers believe govern the universe. As in the name "Word of Faith" implies, this movement teaches that faith is a matter of what we say more than whom we trust or what truths we embrace and affirm in our hearts.

A favorite term in the Word of Faith movement is "positive confession." It refers to the Word of Faith teaching that words have creative power. What you say, Word of Faith teachers claim, determines everything that happens to you. Your confessions, especially the favors you demand of God, must all be stated positively and without wavering. Then God is required to answer. Thus God's ability to bless us supposedly hangs on our faith. James 4:13-16 clearly contradicts this teaching, "Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit. Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that. But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil."

Far from stressing the importance of wealth, the Bible warns against pursuing it. Believers, especially leaders in the church (1 Timothy 3:3), are to be free from the love of money (Hebrews 13:5). Love of money leads to all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Jesus warned, "Beware and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions" (Luke 12:15). In sharp contrast to the Word Faith's gospel's emphasis on gaining money and possessions in this life, Jesus said "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19). The irreconcilable contradiction between prosperity teaching gospel and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is best summed up in the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:24, "You cannot serve God and riches."

Make no mistake... Word of Faith teaching is decidedly unbiblical. It is not a denomination, and does not have a formal organization or hierarchy. Instead, it is a movement that is heavily influenced by a number of high-profile pastors and teachers such as Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Paul and Jan Crouch, and Fred Price.

The Word of Faith movement grew out of the Pentecostal movement in the latter 20th century. Its founder was E. W. Kenyon, who studied the metaphysical New Thought teachings of Phineas Quimby. Mind science (where "name it claim it" originated) fit well with the emerging Pentecostal movement and its emphasis on the supernatural, so he combined them and created a peculiar mix of orthodox Christianity and mysticism. Kenneth Hagin in turn studied under E. W. Kenyon and made the Word of Faith movement what it is today. Although individual teachings range from completely heretical to completely ridiculous, what follows is the basic theology most Word of Faith teachers align themselves with.

At the heart of the Word of Faith movement is the belief in the "force of faith." It is believed words can be used to manipulate the faith-force, and thus actually create what they believe Scripture promises (health and wealth). Laws supposedly governing the faith-force are said to operate independently of God's sovereign will and that God Himself is subject to these laws.

From here, its theology just strays further and further from Scripture: It claims that God created human beings in His literal, physical image as little gods. Before the fall, humans had the potential to call things into existence by using the faith-force. After the fall humans took on Satan's nature and lost the ability to call things into existence. In order to correct this situation, Jesus Christ gave up His divinity and became a man, died spiritually, took Satan's nature upon Himself, went to hell, was born-again, and rose from the dead with God's nature. After this, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to replicate the Incarnation in believers so they could become little gods as God had originally intended.

Following the natural progression of these teachings, as little gods we again have the ability to manipulate the faith-force and become prosperous in all areas of life. Illness, sin, and failure are the result of a lack of faith, and are remedied by confession--claiming God's promises for oneself into existence. Simply put, the Word of Faith movement exalts man to god-status and reduces God to man-status. Needless to say, this is a false representation of what Christianity is all about. Obviously, Word of Faith teaching does not take into account what is found in Scripture. Personal revelation is highly relied upon in order to come up with such absurd beliefs, which is just one more thing counted unbiblical.

Countering Word of Faith teaching is a simple matter of reading the Bible. God alone is the Sovereign Creator of the Universe (Genesis 1:3; 1 Timothy 6:15), and does not need faith--He is the object of faith (Mark 11:22; Hebrews 11:3). God is spirit, and does not have a physical body (John 4:24). Man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26, 27; 9:6), but this does not make him a little god nor divine. Only God has a divine nature (Galatians 4:8; Isaiah 1:6-11, 43:10, 44:6; Ezekiel 28:2; Psalms 8:6-8). Christ is Eternal, the Only Begotten Son, and the only incarnation of God (John 1:1, 2, 15; 1:14, 18; 3:16; 1 John 4:1). In Him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). By becoming a man Jesus gave up the glory of heaven but not His divinity (Philippians 2:6-7) though He did choose to withhold His power while walking the earth as man.

The Word of Faith movement is deceiving countless people, causing them to grasp after a way of life and faith that is not biblical. Our hope is in the Lord, not in our own words, not even in our own faith (Psalm 33:20-22). Our faith comes from God in the first place (2 Peter 1:1), and is not something we create for ourselves. So, be wary of the Word of Faith movement, and any church that aligns itself with Word of Faith teachings.

1 Timothy 3:16

2005-12-25T02:56:00.000+08:00

"Great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh." 1 Timothy 3:16

A mystery indeed it is, a great, a deep, an unfathomable mystery; for who can rightly understand how the divine Word, the eternal Son of God, was made flesh, and dwelt among us? "Who shall declare His generation?" (Isa. 53:8;) either that eternal generation whereby He is the only-begotten Son of God, or the generation of His sacred humanity in the womb of the Virgin, when the Holy Spirit came upon her, and the power of the Highest overshadowed her? These are the things "which the angels desire to look into;" which they cannot understand, but reverently adore. And well may we imitate their adoring admiration, not attempting to understand, but believe, love, and revere; for well has it been said, "Where reason fails, with all her power - there faith believes, and love adores."

Nor, if rightly taught and spiritually led, shall we find this a barren, dry, or unprofitable subject. It is "the great mystery of godliness;" therefore all godliness is contained in it, and flows out of it. The whole of God's grace, mercy, and truth is laid up in, is revealed through, is manifested by, the Son of His love; for "it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell;" and this as Immanuel, God with us. Thus His sacred humanity, in union with His divine Person, is the channel of communication through which all the love and mercy of God flow down to poor guilty, miserable sinners, who believe in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.

If blessed, then, with faith in living exercise, we may draw near and behold the great mystery of godliness. To tread by faith upon this holy ground is to come "unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, who are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel" (Heb. 12:22-24); for every blessing of the new covenant, if we are but favored with a living faith in an incarnate God, is then experimentally as well as eternally ours.

My Testimony 2.0

2005-12-22T08:30:00.000+08:00

As some may be aware I was recently asked by a Christian magazine here in Australia to write up a 1000 odd word 'version' of my Testimony (the one on the exWitch Australia site is nearly 7000 words).

Well, after a lot of prayer and reams of screwed up paper I finally finished it and here's a 'sneak preview' of what will be appearing in print...

As soon as I have a publication date and further details I'll add a link here on the blog..

Anyway... here's what I put to paper...

******************************************

I was a Christian and had been for a number of years - but I was a broken man. I had lost everyone and everything that was dear to me. I had lost my wife, my self respect and most telling of all , I had lost my faith... I still believed, but I had no faith! And so I began to wander through life fairly aimlessly - disillusioned with the Church, with God, with myself and with life in general - looking for answers but finding none.

I became intrigued with the occult. I read copiously and found a power that I felt I lacked, and most importantly, I found something that I sorely needed... a place to belong.

I began to practice daily rituals, relied on divination before making decisions and made contacts within the Pagan community, joining the Pagan Alliance and traveling to attend major gatherings, though I was still, at this time, what is known as a 'Solitaire', one who practiced alone rather than in a Coven.

Cutting a long story short, I eventually found myself in regional Western Australia, and traveling the 200kms to Perth every week for a year or so, to train with the Coven that I was originally Initiated into.

I met other Pagans in my own area and a "study circle" formed consisting of a number of Seekers as well as 1st and 2nd Degree Wiccan Initiates. The 'powers-that-be' in Perth decided to give the group 'official' recognition and I was installed as the High Priest - and so the 'Circle of the Mystic Moon' was formed.

Coming from a Christian background to Paganism I had a much stronger evangelistic bent than Pagans normally do, and the new Coven ran ads in the local press announcing our first formal 'Outer Court' training session. All concerned - in what some considered to be the 'buckle of the Bible belt' - realized that there was bound to be a response from local Christians, but no-one could have anticipated quite the reaction it received!

A number of Christians wrote venomous letters to the paper denouncing the 'Satanists in our midst', making all the usual accusations about blood sacrifices, orgies and the worship of a devil that no-one in the group believed in. Even the 'Christian Democratic Party' jumped into the fray with the local candidate publicly calling for us to be 'run out of town'!

Coven members cars were vandalised, female Coveners were verbally abused in the street, and dead cats were thrown on the front porch of our Covenstead. Any thoughts of somehow 'going back to God' were shattered as a result of these shining examples of 'Christian love', which culminated in the physical assault of our High Priestess in the car park of a local shopping centre.

And as a result the Coven progressively moved away from it's Wiccan origins, and members, bit by bit, begun to perform 'darker' workings. The 'Wiccan Rede' ('Do as thou wilt, an' it harm none') was abandoned and what became known as 'The Rite of Vengence' was accepted into the Coven's 'Book of Shadows'. This was even reflected in the Coven's Motto: "Sic Gorgiamus Alius Subjectatus Nunc" ("We Gladly Devour All those Who Would Subdue Us").

Undeterred by the 'opposition' we began producing our own magazine, and the group became a visible presence at events such as 'Balingyup Medieval Fayre' and hosted officially sanctioned Halloween and Yule Rituals as part of the the town's Year 2000 celebrations!

But personally, I was a mess inside - worse than I had ever been! I knew that what I was involved in was against God - I guess I had known it from day one, but had been too angry about the attacks against Coven members by professing Christians to pay these doubts any heed. But as the voices against us were shamed into silence I had time to look at myself - and I did not like what I saw! I so much wanted to experience God's forgiveness for all that I had done, but was convinced that I had 'blasphemed against the Holy Spirit', the one sin the Bible says can never be forgiven (Mark 3:28-29)!

Convinced that no matter what I did I was merely "storing up wrath for [myself] in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God" (Romans 2:5) I stood down as High Priest, saying I was taking a 'temporary leave of absence' due to the stress of leading the Coven for the past few years when the persecution had been at its peak, and passed full control of the Coven into the hands of my High Priestess.

Burdened with guilt and fear for the future I fell apart. I was truly beginning to reap what I had sown and lost everything that I held most dear - even my partner. After six years together we split up and I was left totally alone, living in the garage of a friend who had taken pity on me.

Too depressed to want to live, but in too much fear of God's judgement to hasten it by committing suicide I was truly going mad, and on a Disability Pension, when one day I was driving past a small suburban Church. For some reason I was thinking about my ex-wife, the girl I had married when I was first a Christian all those years ago.

I guess God can even use madness, because my thoughts ran like this... I remembered that when I was about to get get married, the pastor slapped me on the back and said "Welcome to the sufferings of Christ"! Now the Church is referred to in the Bible as the 'Bride of Christ' (Revelation 21:9) and the passages in the Books of Hebrews and Colossians concerning the difference between the Old Covenant of the Law of Moses and the New Covenant of Grace through Jesus Christ ran through my head (Hebrews 8-10; Colossians 2), when it occurred to me that each Covenant was like a Marriage Contract, and that the New Convenant could not be entered into without the 'death' of the Old Covenant. God didn't just 'divorce' Himself from the Old Covenant - it had to be "nailed to the cross" (Colossian 2:14) and die!

"Oh great!" I thought "That means because I divorced my wife and she hasn't died that every relationship I have been in since has been adulterous! Well at least adultery can be forgiven even if blasphemy against the Holy Spirit can't..." Just then an image filled my mind of the Pagan altars the Israelites had worshipped at in the time of Jeremiah and how God did not turn his back on them but invited them to repent (Jeremiah 3:6-14)

And it dawned on me, I had not yet committed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, but 'spiritual adultery'! And that - as bad as it was - could be forgiven! And for the first time in years this passage came to mind...

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17)

Now all this happened in the time it took to drive past a small suburban church! It's a bit hard to fall on knees while you're driving, but I knew that if God wanted me back, I wanted to be back with Him!

It hasn't been easy being an exWitch. In fact, at times it's been pretty miserable, but I know that whatever I go through in this life, whether good or bad, is nothing compared to the reward of being with Christ rather than being eternally separated from Him!

I avoided 'giving my testimony' for the first 18 months - only my Pastor and one of the Elders was privy to the details of my past. In fact it was only recently that I discovered that people from that very Church I was driving past when God grabbed me by the scruff of the neck - the Church I attend today - while others had hurled abuse at me and had threatened me with violence in God's name for being a Witch - had prayed FOR me... that I might come to Christ, that I might be saved!

One thought I would like to sign off on is this... "Rebellion [against God] is as the sin of Witchcraft..." (1 Samuel 15:33 - KJV) While we as humans often 'rank' sins as being somehow 'better' or 'worse' than others ALL sin is rebellion against God and He sees ALL sin in the same light as what many consider the WORST of all sins...."...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." but "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17)

Yes... even Witches...

1 Peter 1:8

2005-12-21T09:31:00.000+08:00

"Whom having not seen, you love." 1 Peter 1:8

How this speaks to our hearts; and cannot some, if not many of us say too, "Whom having not seen, we love?" Do we not love Him? Is not His name precious to us as the ointment poured forth? But we have not seen Him. No, not by the eye of sense and nature; but we have seen Him by the eye of faith; for He has manifested Himself to us, or to some of us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. It is, then, by faith that we see Jesus.

We read of Moses that, "by faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible." So by faith we see Jesus who is invisible; for as faith is "the substance of things hoped for," so is it "the evidence of things not seen." Thus we see that it is by Jesus coming to the soul and manifesting Himself unto it that we see Him. And as He always comes with His love, and in manifesting Himself manifests Himself in His love, that manifested love kindles, raises, and draws up a corresponding love in the believer's heart.

It is the express, the special work of the Holy Spirit to testify of Christ, to glorify Him, to receive of the things which are Christ's and to show them unto the soul; and thus in the light of Christ's own manifestations of Himself and the blessed Spirit's work and witness of Him, what faith believes of the Person and work of Christ love embraces and enjoys.

Hosea 2:15

2005-12-20T00:15:00.000+08:00

"There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the 'Valley of Achor' a 'door of hope'. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt." Hosea 2:15

Now the "valley of Achor" signifies the "valley of trouble." It was the valley in which Achan was stoned. And why stoned? Because he had taken the accursed thing; because his eye had been captivated by the Babylonian garment and golden wedge, and he had buried them in the tent. This may throw a light on what the "valley of Achor" is spiritually. Perhaps you have been guilty of Achan's sin; you have been taking the accursed thing; have been too deeply connected with the world; have done things which God's displeasure is against. Let conscience speak in the bosom of each. The consequence has been, that you have got into the "valley of Achor!" Trouble, sorrow, and confusion are your lot, and you do not know whether the lot of Achan may not await you there.

Now it is in this "valley of Achor," or sorrow, confusion, and fear, that the "door of hope" is opened. But why "in the valley of Achor?" That we may cease to hope in self; that a sound and true gospel hope may enter within the veil as an anchor sure and steadfast, and there be no hope but in the precious blood of the Lamb, and in a sweet manifestation of that blood to the conscience. This is the "door of hope" through which the soul looks into the very presence of God; sees Jesus on the throne of grace, the sprinkled mercy-seat, and the great High Priest "able and willing to save to the uttermost."

Through this "door of hope," by which Christ is seen, the soul goes forth in desires, breathings, hungerings, and thirstings after Him; and through this "door of hope" descend visits, smiles, tokens, testimonies, mercies, and favours. And thus, there is "a door of hope," no longer barred, closed, and shut back, but thrown wide open in the bleeding side of an incarnate God. Here is a renewing of visits almost despaired of; of joys that seemed never to return; of hopes almost extinct; of consolations remembered, but remembered almost with fear, lest they should have been delusive. "There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt."

1 Corinthians 2:15

2005-12-19T04:51:00.000+08:00

"That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." 1 Corinthians 2:15

It is true that real grace can suffer neither loss nor diminishing, but its manifestations and its actings may. Who that possesses faith is not conscious that it ebbs and flows, rises and sinks, is strong and weak, and varies from day to day and from hour to hour? Thus when a sharp trial comes, its immediate effect is to depress faith. It falls upon it like a weight, and bends it down to the ground. Faith may be compared to the mercury in a thermometer. The quantity of mercury in the bulb never varies; but it rises or falls in the tube, according to the heat of the day. Thus faith, though it abides in the heart without loss or diminishing, yet rises or sinks in the feelings, as the weather is fair or foul, or as the sun shows or hides himself.

Did Job's faith, for instance, mount equally high when "in the days of his youth" - the spring of his soul - "the secret of God was upon his tabernacle," and when "he cursed his day," and cried, "O that I knew where I might find Him?" Was Peter's faith as strong when he quailed before a servant girl as when he was ready to go to prison and to death? Or Abraham's when he denied Sarah to be his wife, and when with but three hundred and eighteen men he pursued and smote the army of four mighty kings?

If faith never fluctuates, never sinks and never rises, then we have at once the dead assurance of a professor; then faith is in our own keeping; then it does not hang on the smile or frown of God; then we are no more beggars and bankrupts, living on supplies given or withheld, but independent and self-sufficient; then we "have no changes, and so fear not God."

But if faith ebbs and flows, what is the cause? Is it in self? Can we add to its stature one cubit, or make one hair of it black or white? If not, then must its ebbings and flowings come from God.

A Reminder...

2005-12-18T04:14:00.000+08:00

Ancient Crossroads Forums

Circle and Cross Talk Forums

Pagan Christian Moot - a non-Christian group that provides a place where Christians and pagans can meet for meaningful dialogue...

Refuge Ministries

Hour of the Witch

WRNet Ministries

PLEASE NOTE:

Philippians 3:9

2005-12-18T01:06:00.000+08:00

"That I may be found in Him." Philippians 3:9

The Apostle knew a time was coming when God would search Jerusalem as with candles. He knew a day was hastening on when the secrets of all hearts would be revealed. He knew an hour was approaching when the eyes of the Lord would test, and the eyelids of the righteous judge would weigh the words and actions of men. And he knew in his own soul's experience, that all who, in that dreadful day, were not found in Christ, would be consigned to the eternal pit of fire.

He knew that when the judge took His seat upon the Great White Throne, and heaven and earth fled away from His presence, no one could stand before his look of infinite justice and eternal purity, but those who had a vital standing in the Son of God. And therefore, looking to that dreadful time, and the solemnities of that Day of Judgment, that day of wonders, this was the desire of his soul - and towards that he pressed forward, as an active runner presses towards the goal - "that he might be found in Him;" that when the Lord comes a second time to judgment, and his eyes run over the assembled myriads, he might be found in He who is "a refuge from the storm, and the shadow of a great rock in a weary land," the only Saviour from the wrath to come, which will one day burst upon the world.

Self-Will

2005-12-16T19:15:00.000+08:00

Only one will can rule, only one will can make the final decision. Either the will of our Creator, the Lord of heaven and earth, which is also revealed to us through the will of our neighbour, or our will. There is no greater example of presumptuousness than when a person, who himself is but a mere creature, seeks to assert his will against the will of his Creator. It is also presumptuousness, when we think that our will, our decisions, our views, our taste are better than those of our fellow men. We are indeed greatly presumptuous, if we insist upon having everything done the way we think it ought to be done. Thus we tell everyone around us that we are the ones to decide everything. Self-will is the expression of great pride, the opposite of humility, which lets us yield our wills to someone else's.

Self-willed people are hard to live with; they ruin community life. On the other hand, people whose wills are at one with God and man are bringers of peace and joy. Self-willed people idolize their own will. They rebel against the will of God and thereby are guilty of witchcraft for "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft" (1 Sam. 15: 23). We cannot take the sin of self-will too seriously. Not only does it continually make us sin against our fellow-men, whom we torment when we insist upon having our own way, but it also separates us from God. When we act according to our self-will, we act against the will of God, including the instances where the will of God comes to us through other people.

The Holy Scriptures say that the self-willed are among the cursed children of the Last Days who will come under God's judgment (2 Pet. 2: 10). That is why we have to get rid of this sin no matter how high the price. There is one small word that will help us fight against this spreading cancer of self-will, which causes so much strife and discord and even ruins many a peaceful fellowship. This one small word is "Yes"; Yes to the will of God. This word has wonderful power. Jesus said it in Gethsemane, at the time when it probably cost Him more than ever before to surrender His will to the Father's. He overcame the trial with just a few words, "My Father, not as I will but as thou wilt" (Matt. 26: 39). Jesus said Yes to God's will ,when it was so incomprehensible to Him. Thus He redeemed us to say Yes to the will of God. This we may claim in faith.Let us keep the picture of Jesus always in our hearts - Jesus, who yielded like a lamb to the will of the Father.

Let the beauty of a will completely yielded to God captivate our hearts and let our prayers become serious, "Thy likeness print on me, Jesus, my Master." The Lord will answer our pleas more and more. Jesus not only surrendered to the will of His Father, but He also let Himself be bound to our malicious wills. Thus He can free us from the bonds of our self-will. Because He let Himself be bound, and surrendered His life on the cross, our chains have to be broken. Day by day lay hold of the promises of God in prayer: "He shatters the doors of bronze, and cuts in two the bars of iron" (Ps. 107: 16). If our self-will is also like iron and we think we will never be able to overcome it, we must continue to count upon this fact: When Jesus surrendered His will, He redeemed us so that we can do the same. We must not give up, but keep fighting the battle of faith. It will end in victory.

We should surrender our wills many times a day to God, beginning every morning by expecting God to let things go against our wills during the course of the day.

We must ask Him to grant us the grace to say "Yes" - unless someone demands something against our consciences. By voluntarily deciding to obey someone whom we live or work with, we will learn to break our self-will through his instructions. If we give thanks for all the opportunities we have to let our wills be broken through conditions and situations, we shall make the most of them by always humbling ourselves and asking for forgiveness when our first reaction was displeasure or rebellion. If we admit our sin of self-will to people and humble ourselves, our pride will be broken. If we learn how to join the Lamb of God in saying "Yes, Father, I love Your will", our self-will will no longer receive any nourishment, and will starve to death. In this way our wills will be at one with God's will and this unity will bring us deep joy.

The battle against sin is a necessity, because we have an enemy who incites us to sin. The battle of faith, calling upon the name of Jesus and His blood, frees us from the power of this enemy.

Isaiah 45:24

2005-12-15T03:03:00.000+08:00

"In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength." Isaiah 45:24

The same blessed Spirit who shines as with a ray of light and life into the conscience, to make it feel the guilt of sin, the curse of the Law, and its own miserable state as a transgressor, leads it also into this secret, that it has no strength. Have you never felt that you were utterly powerless - that you would believe, but could not; would hope, but could not; would love, but could not; would keep God's Word, but could not; would obey His commandments, but were not able? Has a sense of your own miserable impotency and thorough helplessness never pressed you down almost to despair?

You felt sure that there was a faith, a hope, a love, a blessing, and a blessedness in the Truth of God; a pardon, a peace, a heavenly joy; an assurance of salvation, a union and communion with the Lord Jesus, which you saw, but could not reach. You felt that if you could believe, all would be well, but believe you could not. Thus you learned you had no strength, and as we learn our weakness in this way, we begin to learn also in whom is our strength; and as we get access to Christ by a living faith, we receive strength out of Him for a supply of our spiritual necessities.

Despairing of all strength in self, we look to the Lord Jesus Christ, at the right hand of the Father, to give us His; we lift up our prayers and supplications to the great High Priest over the house of God, to strengthen us with strength in our soul; and when He is pleased, in answer to prayer, to send down his Spirit and grace, we are "strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power unto all patience and patience with joyfulness."

This is being "strong in the Lord and in the power of His might;" and a being "strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man."

Curses? Foiled again...

2005-12-14T00:23:00.000+08:00

As I'm sure you can all well imagine I get all manner of emails from people that visit the exWitch Australia main Site ... some are short and simple... some are long and detailed... some are from Christians... some are from Pagans... some love the site... some hate it...

...all of which I try to answer personally...

...but every so often someone sends me a 'gem' like this that just leaves me lost for words and all I can say is 'Thanx!'

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I recently had a good look over your website and was particularly interested in what you said about curses in the glossary/dictionary of your site.

I trust the following may be of help to you and your ministry.

First of all, the believer needs to realize that we live in a cursed world. There are people who are cursed all around us. Many of these people curse others. But God's provision for his people is great! We should be focusing on our God who is our source of strength, provisions and protection and not fear the enemy's might as Israel did in the wilderness.

Believers should be in agreement with the apostle Paul who said, "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:31-32)

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35-39)

Fearing Satan, his hosts or curses only gives the enemy more power in your life. Fear is not trusting God. It is yielding to the lies and the intimidation of the enemy. If the truth will set people free (John 8:32), then believing the enemy's lies keeps people in bondage. God's children must live by the Truth.

Secondly, God is able to protect his people from curses.

When Balak, the king of Moab called upon Balaam to curse the Israelites, God stopped Balaam from do it. "But God said to Balaam, 'Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.' " (Numbers 22:12)

"However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you." (Deuteronomy 23:5)

Thirdly, God has promised protection to the righteous from curses resting on them.

"Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest." (Proverbs 26:2)

Learn to stand on truth and the armor of God will be firmly in place upon your life. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

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All I could say after reading THAT was "WOW!!" ...and ask for permission to re-print it...

Hebrews 5:9

2005-12-13T00:23:00.000+08:00

"And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all those who obey Him." Hebrews 5:9

By His sufferings in the garden and upon the cross the Lord Jesus was made perfect. But what perfection was this? It clearly does not mean that by these sufferings in the garden and upon the Cross our Lord was made perfect as the Son of God, nor perfect as the Son of Man, for He was perfect before as possessing infinite perfection in His eternal Godhead, and was endued also with every possible perfection of which His humanity was capable. He needed no perfection to be added to His Godhead; it was not susceptible of it; no perfection to be added to His humanity, for He is "the Holy One" in union with God the Father.

But He needed to be made perfect as a High Priest. It was through His sufferings that He was consecrated or dedicated in an especial manner to the priesthood, for this corresponds with His own words - "And for their sakes I sanctify myself" (John 17:19); that is, I consecrate or dedicate myself to be their High Priest. The two main offices of the High Priest were to offer sacrifice and make intercession. Sacrifice came first; and the sufferings of our Lord in the garden and upon the Cross were a part of this sacrifice. He was therefore "made perfect through suffering," that is, through His sufferings, blood-shedding, and death He was consecrated to perform that other branch of the priestly office which He now executes.

Thus as Aaron was consecrated by the sacrifice of a bullock and a ram, of which the blood was not only poured out at the bottom of the altar and sprinkled upon it, but put also on his right ear and hand and foot, so was Christ consecrated through His own sacrifice and blood-shedding on the Cross; and thus being made perfect, or rather, as the word literally means, "being perfected", He became the author of eternal salvation unto all those who obey Him.

Romans 8:26

2005-12-12T17:29:00.000+08:00

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words can not express." Romans 8:26

In all our prayers, in all our approaches to the throne of grace, our mercy and wisdom will be to seek to possess the mind of the Holy Spirit; to desire to know the will of God, and do it; to look up more believingly and continually to the Lord Jesus, that He Himself would teach and guide us; that He would by His Holy Spirit and grace conform us more inwardly and outwardly to His suffering image; that He would grant unto us to know Him more, and serve Him better; that our prayers may day by day be more and more fervent, earnest, and sincere, more spiritual, more in accordance with the will of God; that thus they may be more and more manifested as the interceding breath of the Spirit of God in our hearts, and as such may bring more clear and evident answers down.

Pray for the manifestation of Christ to your soul, for a revelation of the Person, blood, righteousness, and love of Jesus; seek to have your signs and evidences of Divine life more cleared up; your tokens for good more brightly shone upon; your doubts and fears more plainly dispelled, and a fuller and sweeter assurance of personal interest given in the finished work of Christ. Desire also to have the promises applied to your heart, the word of God brought with divine power into your conscience, and a living faith raised up and drawn forth to mix with the truth which you read or hear.

Beg, as the Lord may enable, for submission, patience, resignation, brokenness, contrition, humility, a Godly sorrow for sin, heavenly affections, and that sweet spirituality of mind which is life and peace. Above all, seek an inward assurance that your prayers are heard and accepted, and then watch for the answer. This will give you the surest and best of all evidences that the blessed Holy Spirit is Himself interceding for you with groanings which can not be uttered.

Matthew 11:28

2005-12-11T03:25:00.000+08:00

"Come unto me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

When we rest, we find relief for our weary limbs. So spiritually. When the soul comes to Jesus, He gives it rest and relief from its burdens; as well as deliverance from anxiety, and cessation from the laboUr that distresses and distracts it. He promises to give this - "Come unto me, and I" - who else can do it? None, either in heaven or earth - "Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." How?

By communicating to the soul out of His infinite fullness, by sprinkling upon the conscience His atoning blood, by shedding abroad in the heart His dying love, and enabling the soul to believe on His name, and cling to His Person. In this there is rest - nothing else will do it - nothing else will give it. Other remedies will leave us at last under the wrath of God. But He that comes to and leans upon Jesus, His finished work, His dying love, will have rest here and heaven hereafter.

Are not our poor minds often restless, often anxious, and pensive, because of a thousand doubts, perplexities, painful trials, and grievous afflictions - do they not all make your spirit weary and restless within you? There never can be anything but restlessness while we move round this circle of sin and self. But when by precious faith we come out of our own righteousness, our own strength, our own wisdom, our own worthiness; come to, believe in, hang upon, and cleave unto the Person, blood, and work of the only-begotten Son of God, so as to feel a measure of His preciousness in our hearts - then there is rest. This is solid, this is abiding, this is not delusive; this will never leave the soul deceived with false hopes. No, it will end in eternal bliss and glory - in the open vision of eternal love - in seeing Him face to face whom the soul has known, looked to, believed in, and loved upon Earth.

Isaiah 43:2

2005-12-09T00:27:00.000+08:00

"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you." Isaiah 43:2

How many children of God, when they have been brought into tribulation and sorrow, have found the fulfillment of this most gracious promise! And is there not one of these waters through which all must go - that deep and rapid Jordan (death) which every one must pass through?

How dark and gloomy those waters have appeared to the eyes of many a child of God, in whom is continually fulfilled the experience of the words, "Who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." But how often have these waters only been terrible in prospect, in anticipation. How different has been the reality. When he comes down to the river's bank and his feet dip in these waters, and it appears as though they would rise higher and higher, the Lord suddenly appears in His power and presence, and then the water sinks. He speaks a word of peace to his soul upon a dying bed - reveals Christ in His love and grace and blood - removes those doubts, fears, and disturbing thoughts which have perplexed him for years, and brings into his heart a Holy calm, a sweet peace, assuring him that all is well with him, both for time and eternity. Has he not then the fulfillment of the promise, "When you go through deep waters, I will be with you"?

Romans 5:20

2005-12-08T04:39:00.000+08:00

"But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Romans 5:20

In order to know what grace is in its reign over sin, and in its super-aboundings over the aboundings of iniquity, we must be led experimentally into the depths of the fall. We must be led by God Himself into the secrets of our own heart; we must be brought down into distress of mind on account of our sin and the idolatry of our fallen nature. And when, do what we will, sin will still work, reign, and abound, and we are brought to soul poverty, helplessness, destitution, and misery, and cast ourselves down at the footstool of his mercy - then we begin to see and feel the reign of grace, in quickening our souls, in delivering us from the wrath to come, and in preserving us from the dominion of evil. We begin to see then that grace superabounds over all the aboundings of sin in our evil hearts, and as it flows through the channel of the Saviour's sufferings, that it will never leave its favoured objects until it brings them into the enjoyment of eternal life! And if this does not melt and move the soul, and make a man praise and bless God, nothing will, nothing can!

But until we have entered into the depths of our own iniquities, until we are led into the chambers of imagery, and brought to sigh, groan, grieve, and cry under the burden of guilt on the conscience and the workings of secret sin in the heart - it can not be really known. And to learn it thus, is a very different thing from learning it from books, or ministers.

To learn it in the depths of a troubled heart, by God's own teaching, is a very different thing from learning it from the words of a minister or even from the word of God itself. We can never know these things savingly and effectually, until God Himself is pleased to apply them with his own blessed power, and communicate an unctuous savor of them to our hearts, that we may know the Truth, and find to our soul's consolation, that the Truth makes us free!

1 Peter 5:10

2005-12-07T02:06:00.000+08:00

"And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:10

If "the God of all grace" has indeed "called you to His eternal glory" - if He has indeed touched your heart with His blessed finger - remember you will have to walk, from beginning to end, in a path of suffering; for the whole path, more or less, is a path of tribulation.

And, while walking in this path, and suffering from sin, Satan, the world, and the evil of your own heart, it is only to lead you up more unto "the God of all grace;" it is only that God may, in His own time, "make you strong, firm and steadfast." And when your soul has passed through these trials, you will see God's hand in all, praise Him for all, and will perceive how good it was for you to have been afflicted, and to have walked in this painful path; that having suffered with Christ Jesus, you might sit down with Him in his eternal glory!

Christmas Mourning

2005-12-06T02:00:00.001+08:00

The following aarticle was written by the late Keith Green and was found at http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/articles/index.php?view=article&aid=3357

I'll never forget the incredible joy and expectation of Christmas. Our house smelled like a Douglas fir. The tinsel and ornaments sparkled in the colored lights. Friends and relatives came to visit... all with smiles and laughter... and all with presents!! The season was full of life, warmth, and giving. They are the very best memories of my childhood. The air outside was cold and crisp. And inside, always the smell of something baking. If anyone asked me to describe "joy" in one word, it would have been Christmas.

I remember taking a drive to an area of town where a whole street prided itself on their Christmas displays and lights. The whole neighborhood spent thousands of dollars to light up their front lawns with scenes of snow, Santas, reindeer, and mangers. I always used to wonder what the manger had to do with Santa, candy canes, and jingle bells, but it didn't bother me enough to ask.

When I was about 10 or 11, I noticed the word "Xmas." I wondered what the "X" was for. I concluded it meant "criss," as in "crisscross." It never even entered my mind that it replaced "Christ"! Yes, there were school Christmas plays and other things that talked about the birth of Jesus having something to do with Christmas, but it never really was the main emphasis in my young mind. I only wished that it would be Christmas all year, and Jesus had nothing to do with it! But when I was 21, I met Jesus, and since then it has been Christmas all year... and Jesus has had everything to do with it!

The Origin Of Christmas

In the third century A.D., a wonderful thing happened. Constantine, the Roman emperor, became a Christian. For almost 300 years the Christians had been praying for their emperor's salvation. Nobody believed it was true! But then came the royal decree... Christianity was made the religion of the state. Everyone was strongly urged to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and only deity. At the risk of seeming uncooperative (and believing that it would be safest politically and sociaially), almost everyone in the empire made "professions of faith" in the new religion. This, of course, delighted Constantine.

After a while there arose a great problem. What were they to do with all their other gods? And what about all the great feasts and celebrations, especially the winter solstice and the spring equinox? Before Constantine's conversion, the whole empire would lustily celebrate these festivals to their gods and goddesses. What would they do now? Constantine knew that, although almost everyone had outwardly confessed Christianity, they were in no way prepared to give up their cherished celebrations. What he had on his hands was a kingdom full of "unconverted converts"!

As the restlessness and dissatisfaction of his people grew, the emperor knew something had to be done. So, in desperation, he declared two major "religious" holidays. They would correspond exactly to the times of the old great celebrations. He declared December 25 (for centuries celebrated as Saturnalia, the birthday of the sun) as the celebration of the birthday of Christ. (Although historians say that Jesus was probably born sometime in October.) A great mass or religious service would be held in honor of Jesus' birth on that day (hence, Christ-mas). He also declared the old holiday of the spring equinox to be the celebration of Christ's resurrection. (The old emphasis of the festival was the worship of the goddess of fertility-which is where we get the Easter Bunny.) The grumbling masses were thus quieted when they realized that they could once again celebrate their great holidays. Oh yes, the festivals might be called something different, and they might have to go to some "religious ceremonies," but for the most part, things could get back to normal, and their old festivities could again be heartily resumed.

St. Nick

The history of the man Nicholas (who was later made a saint by the Roman Church) is vague and sketchy. But one thing stands out about his character - he loved the poor and needy, and at every Christmas he used to give gifts to the widows and orphans. He was loved by all, especially children. This is how the tradition and practice of gift-giving was started. The folklore fantasy called Santa Claus grew over the centuries and now is the central image of a secular Christmas, where an average of over $150 each is spent on gifts for every man, woman, and child in the United States alone!

The True Meaning Of Christmas

I've heard a lot of talk (especially by Christians) about the true meaning of Christmas. I've seen Christians go in for all the trappings and trimmings. They spend hours, even days, in department stores trying to figure out what to buy for friends and relatives who already have everything they need ... sitting around the tree and watching nervously while someone opens up the present you got them, as they try to look surprised and squeal with delight... parents teaching their young what they call "a harmless fairy tale" - the story of Santa and how "he's gonna bring you lots of presents, so you better be good." And all the while, a world full of starving, deprived people are silently, invisibly looking in through your living room window begging for a scrap of food, a rag to keep them from shivering to death, and an answer to their misery, suffering, and oppression.

When we consider all the money spent by all of us, during a season that's reatest meaning is the Father giving us His only Son to come live and die for us, we must cry out against the injustice of an American, Christian people, who have so much and do so little. The true meaning of this season should be to give ourselves to the work of spreading the Gospel. Proclaiming freedom to the captives! Giving them bread to eat, then pointing them to the Bread of Life, to fill their hungry souls.

Some Suggetsions

As a part of your Christmas celebration this year, we suggest taking your children to a ghetto, to a hospital, to an orphanage, to an old-age home. Teach them the meaning of giving. Teach them it is foolish for us to spend money on things we don't need, and on things that others don't need. Let them spread joy to those who are miserable! Let them give a smile to an old woman's face, whose own children have forgotten and abandoned her in a convalescent hospital. Let them empty their piggy banks and send the money to missions and the poor. Let there be giving! Costly giving! Let us give our Lord Jesus the whole world for His birthday! The world and the Lord await our response...

Restoration Through Forgiveness

2005-12-05T22:04:00.000+08:00

By Doug Easterday

We all have a past - a storehouse of good and bad memories that can still affect the way we live today. Even though I grew up in a godly home and had great parents, some painful things happened to me during my childhood years. I would like to snap my fingers and - poof! - all the painful memories would he gone. But I can't do that! Paul says in Philippians 3:13-14, "Forgetting what lies behind... I press on toward the goal...." Well, I wholeheartedly agree with Paul! We need to press on... but we also need to be able to forget what is behind! And I think most of us have a difficult time knowing how to do that.

No matter what has happened to you in the past, God's goal is to bring you to a condition where the negative issues of the past no longer affect your present and future life in Him. In His Word, the Lord promises to restore the fullness of our lives. In Joel 2:25 (KJV) He says, "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you." Now why did this scripture happen to list those four particular insects?

Because if we were to take these insects and release them on a plant, all four working together would eat the leaves, the branches, the main stalk, and finally the root. Now what would be left? Absolutely nothing. The plant would be destroyed.

But God says that He will restore to you the years that have been nibbled and eaten away... no matter what has happened to you! Even if you feel like you've been totally destroyed, God intends for you to be restored.

The First Step To Godly Restoration

I want to tell you about the first and most important step to godly restoration. It is the first step to freedom within ourselves and freedom in our relationships with other people. Real hurts don't come out of the ground or out of the bushes... deep hurts come from other people. And deep hurts don't heal except through the process of forgiveness.

For us to really be free from the problems and hurts of our past and to be free from the consequences that continue to plague us... we must forgive. This is a godly absolute, and God absolutely will not change His stand on this!

There is a portion of scripture from Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew 6:14-15 that packs one of the biggest "wallops" in the entire Bible. Every time I read these verses my knees get weak, because they contain an incredibly important message from the heart of God!

The "Sermon on the Mount" begins with: "And when He saw the multitudes, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. And opening His mouth He began to teach them, saying (Matt. 5:1-2)

To whom was Jesus speaking this crucial message? His disciples! Or to put it in modern terms - this sermon was spoken to believers! To people who knew the Lord Jesus. This is not a message to the unsaved. We need to understand that fact in order to fully understand Matthew 6:14: "For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."

What a wonderful promise! If we forgive, God will forgive us. But now verse 15 follows: "But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." I don't know about you, but I want to be forgiven by God! I make mistakes! I do things that are wrong, and sometimes my attitude is just not what God wants it to be. I want to receive forgiveness at these times in my life, but God tells me that if I don't forgive... I'm going to be stuck with the consequences of my sin. And I certainly don't want that!

As I travel throughout the Body of Christ, I hear people saying, "Oh, I've forgiven - it's not a big issue for me anymore!" They want to pass forgiveness off as "no big deal," but they're not really understanding the seriousness the Word of God gives to the issue of forgiveness. To God - it's a very big deal!

First I want to talk about what forgiveness is not:

Forgiveness is not a feeling. If you're waiting for some lovey-dovey sensation to come over you, you're going to have a long wait - maybe forever! In all my years of counseling, I have never come across someone who really "feels" like forgiving. Pushing your hurt far back into the recesses of your mind doesn't mean you've forgiven the person who hurt you. As time passes, our memory will fade and the hurt will become more distant, but time alone cannot heal the wounds. Only God Himself can heal the heart.

Forgiveness is not pretending you weren't hurt. Don't shove the incident under the carpet! Don't rationalize and pretend that what happened to you didn't really hurt you - that it isn't a real issue in your heart. Pretending and forgiveness are certainly not the same thing.

Forgiveness is not saying what the person did wasn't wrong. Sometimes we feel that if we forgive, we're actually declaring that what the other person did "wasn't so bad." That's like trying to say, "It really wasn't all that wrong. It must have been my fault. I must have been standing in the wrong place when that car hit me!"

If I walked up to you and punched you in the nose, then later came to you and said, "I'm really sorry," what would you say? Would you respond back and say, "That's okay"? If you say this, do you know what you've just told me? You've just given me permission to do it again! You've said, "That's okay!"

What was okay? Was it okay to hit you? No! It was not okay! When' someone comes to you saying, "I'm sorry - I was wrong," and you respond back with "It's okay" - then I believe you're giving them permission to hurt you, and that's really giving them permission to sin.

I don't think we have a right to tell another person that it's okay to sin. Our proper response should be to simply say, "I forgive you."

Forgiveness does not mean you have to trust that person again. A young girl came to counsel with me awhile ago. She was very, very nervous, and it took 20 minutes for her to feel free enough even to begin talking about herself. Finally she told me something she had never told another human being - that her father had raped her almost every day for the past four years.

Now do you think that I should have encouraged her to forgive her father and then go back and trust him again? No! At that point, her father did not deserve to be trusted.

I am not saying that she shouldn't ever trust her father again - as Christian's, we need to allow those who have hurt us the chance to prove themselves trustworthy in the future. But forgiveness is a separate issue from trust. I believe that we can completely forgive a person, but still not have the ability to trust that individual.

Trusting comes only as we get to know someone and believe in that person's character. That's why I can trust God - because I am confident in His character! We develop trust for human beings only as they have proved themselves trustworthy.

When someone really lashes into you, your natural response will probably be anger, hurt, and a lack of trust. If forgiveness means you have to make yourself totally vulnerable to that person and leave yourself open for another emotional or verbal assault, you'll probably choose not to forgive.

But if you can fully understand that "forgiveness" and "trust" are two separate issues, you'll see that forgiveness is not totally beyond your grasp.

Forgiveness is not relieving other people of their responsibility. Our thoughts usually follow this kind of logic: "They really hurt me! If I forgive them, they're gonna walk away scot-free. They're not going to have to face up to what they did, and they're not going to have to answer for their wrong actions!"

We think that forgiveness is somehow letting people "off the hook" so they don't have to answer for their wrong actions. But God is completely capable of making sure a person is held accountable. You can't relieve anyone of their responsibility -you don't have that ability! None of us does, because we're just human beings. Only God can cleanse us by His grace.

As you accept responsibility for your wrong attitude and the unforgiveness in your own heart, you release God to work in a greater way than ever before in the heart of the person you've struggled to forgive. I'm not suggesting that God hasn't been' working all along, but forgiveness will release God as never before to do His restoring work in this person's life.

What Forgiveness Is

Well, what is forgiveness then? I want to give you a definition that you won't find anywhere else. I have probably spent more time studying the word "forgiveness" than any other word in the English language.

Forgiveness is a decision I make to obey God and to walk, as a life-style, in a higher realm by not allowing someone else's actions or attitudes to dictate my actions or attitudes.

First of all, forgiveness is a decision. Even though some decisions can be very difficult, God has given us the ability to make them. Even if our emotions are screaming "No! No!" we're still capable of making a choice to forgive. It's not really accurate to say "I can't forgive." That's not true. What you're actually saying is "I won't forgive."

It's a choice. A difficult one, you bet! One you don't feel like making - sure! But possible? Yes! It is possible to forgive even though there is nothing within us that feels like forgiving. It's an act of our will - not our emotions!

Forgiveness is a decision I make. Who makes it? I do. Even God Himself cannot make that decision for you. Only you can decide to forgive with your heart. If you don't forgive, you will have to live with the crippling consequences of your unforgiveness.

Forgiveness is a decision I make to obey God. Forgiveness is not a suggestion - it's a commandment. God doesn't say, "It would really be a good idea if you could find it in your heart to do some forgiving." No! He says, "You must forgive"! Forgiveness is a choice of obedience to God and it's something that can take place in the privacy of your own heart.

Even if you are angry or bitter towards someone who has already died, forgiveness is still possible for you. Because forgiveness is an issue of the heart. And as you forgive, you are going to know God's freedom and liberty in your life.

Forgiveness is getting your own heart right before God. That's where it must begin - between you and the Lord. I don't believe we should go and talk to someone until we first have our heart right before God. Then, as the Lord specifically directs, you can communicate forgiveness, restitution, and reconciliation to the other person.

Obedience...Or Disobedience?

The real issue is obedience to God. What's the opposite of obedience? Disobedience. So if you don't forgive, what are you doing? Disobeying. And what is disobedience? Sin. That's pretty plain, isn't it? If we choose not to forgive, we choose to sin. The Bible says in Psalms 66:18 that "If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear..." Do you want the Lord to hear you? Then I believe you need to forgive.

My father, who had been a minister for 45 years, shared a valuable truth with me just before he died. He said, "Doug, I'm convinced that many Christians who stop growing in the Lord, that go through the same problems over and over again, these are people holding on to unforgiveness."

I consider that to be a classic statement from a gentleman with great experience in dealing with people who never found freedom and liberty in God. And I have seen, from my own experience as a counselor, that unforgiveness will bring your spiritual life to a halt.

But forgiveness is the greatest weight loss program known to man! Want to lose some (spiritual) weight? If you forgive, you will immediately sense the heavy weight of unforgiveness lifting.

A Lifestyle Of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a lifestyle. Forgiveness is not a one-time act, but rather a lifestyle that has to be maintained. The opposite of forgiveness is unforgiveness, and unforgiveness has two cousins. The first one is resentment. The second cousin is bitterness.

Resentment begins with the prefix "re." Re-sent. So resentment is something that happens to me, and I say, "Well, if you're going to do that to me, I'll send it right back!" That's resentment. It's an exchange.

"They never call me, so I won't call them! They never write me, so I won't write them!" So you have this stalemate. It's called resentment. If someone walks in the door, and just that person's very presence causes your blood pressure to rise, then there's an issue of resentment.

If someone mentions a name, and you get a "check" in your spirit because it reminds you of another person by the same name... that's evidence that something's still wrong. Any person or memory that makes your blood pressure rise should give you an indication of something in your past that's not resolved. The Lord may be trying to show you that you haven't forgiven.

We're not usually aware of unforgiveness in our hearts towards someone unless we're doing daily battle with negative emotions. But the issue really isn't how often you think about that person - but rather what happens when you do think about them.

What happens when you recall a certain situation? What goes on internally? It might be something you only remember once a year, but when you do remember - your blood starts to boil! Then there's bitterness in your heart. And bitterness will kill you -spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

So we can't just forgive one time and say, "That's over with!" It's something that has to be maintained. I can't guarantee that after you've forgiven you won't be hurt again. In fact, I can almost guarantee that you will be! Forgiveness isn't saying, "I'll forgive... but just this once!" That's not forgiveness.

Forgiveness is a lifestyle of taking our rightful place in God and saying to the person who continues to hurt us, "I'm sorry you feel the way you do about me, but I'm not going to respond back to you in the same way." Taking this stand puts my emotional health and destiny in the Lord's hands, instead of letting the person who's giving me the problem rule my emotional life.

This is hard to do, but it is possible. And it's the only way we're going to really rise above the constant conflicts we have to deal with in human relationships. Forgiveness says, "No! In the name of Jesus, I am going to rise above that and not let your problem become my problem."

Because a wrong reaction is just as bad as a wrong action. If someone hurts you, and you react to it in a sinful, wrong way, then you are just as wrong as the one who hurt you.

The bottom line is this: If you refuse to forgive (or say you can't) what you're really saying is that holding on to your hurt is more important to you than going on with God. It's that simple. I believe the Word of God says that if you don't forgive, your spiritual life will stay where it is until you are able to forgive.

How To Know If You've Forgiven

Many people have asked me how they can know for sure if they have really forgiven someone. The Lord has impressed upon me that forgiveness is complete if you will allow Him to use you as an unrestricted channel of His love for that person. If you are willing to obey the promptings of the Lord to bless that person in whatever way He chooses, if you will let His love flow through you to them - then you will know that you have forgiven.

I want to encourage you right now to ask the Lord to reveal any unforgiveness that might still be lurking in your heart. I never thought I had a problem in this area because I was "spiritual." And spiritual people don't have problems with unforgiveness, right? But God began to bring things to the surface and convict my heart about unresolved issues in my past.

The Lord will do the same for you if you'll just allow Him to show you specific individuals that you might need to forgive. I have learned in my 20 years as a counselor that there is no substitute for forgiveness. Forgiveness will free God to move on your behalf, and it will free the other person from the bondage your bitterness or resentment has placed them in.

Best of all, forgiveness will free you to continue growing in the Lord and to become the man or woman of God the Lord intends you to be.

Doug Easterday is the Director of Daystar Christian Ministry and is on the pastoral staff at Christ's Center Church in Junction City, Oregon. The Restoration School, at Christ's Center, aids people in overcoming problems of the past.