Monday, July 23, 2007

Biblical, Christian, and Uncompromising

Lately, I have been finding some truly awesome blogs and website links that are biblical, Christian, and uncompromising about the gospel of Christ. I will be adding them to my blogroll, but wanted to "introduce" some of them here in this blogpost.

1. The Great Apostasy

The author of the blog writes:



I’ve found myself praying a lot lately for the sleeping church to “Wake Up!”

I speak as someone who was previously sleeping (well, maybe not completely asleep … but I was severely distracted by some serious life issues for several years). Without meaning to, I think I lost touch with and/or ignored many developing trends in the Church at large.

One day — not that long ago — I had a definite feeling like I’d woken up from a spiritual “nap” … and while I’d been napping, the Church had changed. When I’d gone to sleep, it was still a good thing to be a Bible believing Christian who believed that Jesus was THE way, THE truth, and THE life.

But when I woke up, I suddenly found myself marginalized, called a “Fundie” (and worse), and just generally feeling out of step and at odds with the whole Purpose-Driven / Emerging / Contemplative / Inclusive “movement” that had completely immersed the evangelical Church and filled it with compromise.

My faith, which had previously been pretty representative of the norm in the Christian circles I travel in, suddenly — and I mean SUDDENLY! — was considered outdated and even “dangerous.”

All that to say, I’ve been praying often that others out there like myself will wake up in time to shake off the effects of sleep and prepare themselves, their families, and their church communities for what may be just around the corner.


P.S. I love this quote in his site's sidebar:


How deep does the rabbit hole go?
“You have to see it for yourself. This is your last chance. After this there is no turning back. You take the blue pill, the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. Remember, all I’m offering is the truth, nothing more….”

–Morpheus, The Matrix


2. 4Simpsons Blog

I found author Neil at 4Simpsons Blog via GCM Watch. A few posts ago, I shared the link to his 5 part essay entitled, "Problems with pro-gay theology." I couldn't locate an "about me" page there, but in his "Apologetics" category listing, he had this to say:


One of my irritations with liberal theology is that it pretends to be slightly different from orthodox Christianity while it is usually 180 degrees apart on the essentials of the faith. Please note that by “liberal theology” I don’t mean the theology of political liberals. I am referring to people who call themselves Christians but deny the essentials of the historic faith (i.e., the kinds of things countless martyrs died for).

For example, claiming that Jesus is one of many paths to God isn’t a little different than saying He is the only way, it is the opposite. There is either one way or there is not one way.

Claiming that Jesus isn’t God isn’t a little different than saying He is God, it is the opposite. He is either God or He is not God.

Claiming that the original writings of the Bible were not inspired by God isn’t just a little different than saying they were inspired by God, it is the opposite. The Bible is God’s Word or it is not God’s Word. It makes roughly 3,000 claims to speak for God, so if liberal theologians think those are all false then why do they bother with the Book at all?

Claiming that miracles never happen (Virgin birth, loaves & fishes, healings, the physical resurrection, etc.) isn’t just a little different than saying they did happen, it is the opposite.

Liberal theology claims the opposite of what historic, orthodox Christianity claims regarding the essentials of the faith. They are entitled to their opinions, of course, but it is disingenuous and misleading for them to call themselves Christians while espousing those beliefs.

They have invented their own religion, which is their right. It would just be less confusing if they would give it a new name. And it would be more intellectually honest to stop taking money from people who do believe in the essentials that those denominations were founded upon.


Yep!!!

3. Christian Online Magazine
Unlike "Christianity Today," which seems to be going in the direction of liberalism more and more each year, this online magazine stays true to the gospel of Christ and the truth of God's Word (from what I have read so far over there). Author and publisher Darlene Osborn, also has a Christian Poetry Page. At that page, she includes this Bible verse:


Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. Deuteronomy 32:3


I have read some of her poems. Beautiful!

4. Stacy Harp's Active Christian Media deals with many issues that confront conservative, Christian bloggers. She currently has a YouTube video up expressing her concern and alarm regarding stories about teenagers torturing animals.
She writes:


These stories are very concerning to me for numerous reasons. First, these types of individuals are likely to abuse humans in the future if they are not stopped now. They are clearly disturbed individuals and in need of serious help.

It also concerns me because it makes me wonder what has happened to these teens that they have gotten to the place in their lives where they have no conscience and can just torture a living animal all the time while laughing, as was reported with the teen girls who set the kitten on fire.

It’s sick, and I can’t help but wonder if these teens have been abused themselves because it’s not normal to torture animals.

My hope is that these individuals get some serious help and find the God who loves them and will forgive them all of their sins if they confess them.


Good work Stacy! Keep getting all of these important messages out there!

P.S. By now most have heard of football player Michael Vick's involvement in illegal dog fighting; as well as the horrid and sick torturing and killing of the pit bull dogs. I just couldn't even stand listening to the details in the news reports!

Hopefully, the exposure of this awful crime will shed light on the situation and speed up efforts to shut them down!

*******

Wow! Just read some emails and received an invitation to a conference. It reads:


Integrity and The Cross Conference:
How Jesus Purifies Our Passions

Broken commitments, addictions, narcissism, homosexuality: rarely have Christians faced such enticement unto moral compromise. And been ensnared. Our witness as the body of Christ on earth is at stake. We can fight. We can know our vulnerabilities, and most importantly, the power of Jesus and His community to set (and keep) us free from compromise. Join us as we explore the power of the cross and resulting integrity. He is returning for a pure bride, without spot or blemish. "...give us an undivided heart, that we may fear your name" Psalm 86:11b


Hey! If you are a reader who lives in Dallas, you might want to attend!

Hosted by Desert Stream Ministries, Bethesda Community Church and the Dallas/Fort Worth Living Waters Group
September 6-8, 2007 at Bethesda Community Church
Fort Worth, Texas

*******

Check back. Additional postings coming up.
Christine

2 comments:

John J. Kaiser said...

Neil's blog (4Simpsons) is an excellent source of information. He takes a lot of time with his posts and is always thoughtful and thought provoking.

J. Kaiser
http://totaltransformation.wordpress.com

Christinewjc said...

Hi John,

I agree about Neil's posts! He has quite a following over at his blog...I'm a bit envious!

I need to venture over and check out your "Total Transformation" blog!

Thanks for stopping by and commenting! You are welcome here any time!

Christine