Thursday, September 18, 2008

Compromise + Enabling = Heresy

There have been so many great posts at many blogs on my Christian Blog List that have touched on the subjects of compromise, enabling and heresy. I think that this is a subject that is one of the most important issues that Christianity faces today.

Does compromise plus enabling equal heresy?

I truly believe that all three are actively at work in today's postmodern Christian church culture. In years past, those churches that obviously compromised the truth of the Bible and true Gospel (regarding sin, pride of self, ignoring and/or allowing unrepentant rebellion against God and His Word, and the re-making of Jesus Christ in their own image) were typically labeled as the "liberal" wing of Christianity.

However, compromise, enabling and heresy (CEH, for short) is creeping into Evangelical church circles at an increasingly alarming rate. Those of us (called the elect in God's Word) who see this are attempting to sound the alarm bells to warn those who may be caught up in such movements to return back to the Bible and what Jesus said was needed to inherit the kingdom of God - namely - our need to repent of sin, follow the Law (Jesus said, "if you love me, keep my commandments) and the Prophets, and the true gospel which points us towards righteousness and holiness.

Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Mar 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect.

The "elect" are the truly saved in Jesus Christ. Notice that Jesus himself acknowledges that the "false Christs and false prophets" [s]hall deceive the very elect. But notice what Jesus said just before those words - "if [it were] possible!! This means that it isn't going to happen! There will always be a remnant of the faithful who will not be deceived by powerful "signs and wonders" that will deceive those not genuinely born again in Christ.

Human nature (especially the nature of the unsaved) is likely to deem such terminology as elitist, bragging, or much worse. What they are missing is the fact that it is the humbling of the heart, confession of sin, repentance of all our sin, asking for mercy and grace at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ that enables us to be His (Jesus Christ's). There is no pride allowed in such an act. We know from whence we came (sinners, desperately in need of the Savior) and that if it weren't for Christ's sacrificial, substitutionary death on the cross, WE WOULD ALSO BE LOST FOR ALL ETERNITY. We can't boast in anything - but the cross of Christ.

Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Look at Paul's instruction for the elect:

Col 3:12 ¶ Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;


Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye.


Col 3:14 And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness.


Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.


Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.


Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Also, look at Jude's admonition to seek out the lost and if necessary, pull them out of the fire:

Jud 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

How are we to balance all of this?

Some choose to use compromise so as not to offend anyone.

Others, choose to utilize a certain level of enabling - so as to appear loving, kind, tolerant, and non-judgmental.

Still others, go all the way towards heresy - willingly or unwittingly - and may THINK they are saved but because of following false doctrine, are not.

Here are some links that discuss various forms of CEH:

Culture Watch: The Bitter Fruit of Apostasy

GCMWatch: Never Congratulate Rebellion and Sin

SAFE - Students Against False Equality: Equality Riders Respond With Arrogance at School's Hospitality

There are MANY more that I need to locate and post. Also, if you have links you would like to include (there are several on abortion I need to locate) please post them in the comment section.

Ultimately, the primary reason that the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Word, the Bible is rejected by those who are CINOS (Christian in name only) is discussed in this post:

Immorality - One of the Main Reasons People Reject God

After reading that post, go over and read Carlotta's blogpost entitled What Exactly is Gay Bashing? Read the comments, too. Quite eye-opening.

Carlotta points out the fact that hyper-tolerance towards homosexual activism has created an intolerant vacuum - designed to silence Bible believing Christians. She also demonstrates that there is much more at stake in the same-sex marriage issue due to such a fact:


Gay bashing is a very important term, because if gay marriages are approved permanently, then it may come to the courts to decide that “gay bashing” is illegal and therefore punishable. If it’s okay for gays to be married, then it certainly has to be okay period! Which is why it’s so important for many of us to take the stand for marriage between men and women. It seems to be coming to that point with people being fired from jobs, suspended from schools, and etc for people merely expressing disagreement with the gay sexual orientation.


This agrees with what I had read in the book "The Homosexual Agenda - Exposing the Principal Threat to Religious Freedom Today."

It's not only about "gay marriage," people. If these activists get their way - your Christian religious rights WILL BE TAKEN AWAY. Once legitimization of sodomites happens through the acceptance of such unions as "marriage," then the persecution of those who adhere to God's Word on the subject will reach an all time high. Mark my words!

There are Christians who (unfortunately) don't understand the dire consequences of this issue. Proposition 8 MUST PASS IN CALIFORNIA! VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 8!!!

Excerpt from "The Homosexual Agenda":


The Price for Taking a Stand

The reality is that radical homosexual activists and their allies are looking for any opportunity to attack and silence any church that takes a biblical stand with regard to homosexual behavior, regardless of denomination.

[T]he heat is only going to get higher and and temptation to compromise the gospel in face of persecution is going to become more attractive. However, if the church fails to stand strong in the face of attack, then its very reason to exist (evangelization to spread the gospel) is compromised.


This book was published in 2003. We can already see how prophetic those paragraphs are because we are seeing such things happening right before our very eyes!

In the comment section at Carlotta's blog, here is a portion of one of her responses to a homosexual man named "Ted":


But fortunately I don’t have to depend upon my own thinking to decide whether or not homosexuality is wrong - a sin. You are relying upon YOUR own thinking to come to your conclusions. The only way your conclusions can make sense is if the bible is completely rejected, because otherwise, we have a very powerful, reliable source as a guidebook for the human being. The Lord knows we wouldn’t have thought of this ourselves!

As far as our civil rights are concerned, the bible talks about the moral code being written upon our hearts, given to us by God. That’s how we have the laws on murder, stealing, etc, and etc. God gave those to us! There are things that fit and things that don’t and it doesn’t take a genious to figure out that homosexuality is NOT natural! Every human being on earth has one mother and one father. That’s natural!

So you can cry the blues about us taking away your civil rights but it’s actually America leaning away from the moral code written and given to us by God Himself. We are heading for certain societal destruction if we ignore this code.

That I assure you!

Hebrews 10:16-18
“This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds. “Then he adds:
“Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more.”And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.


Carlotta shared a verse from Hebrews that shows THE ONLY WAY OUT from our sins and lawless acts; be they homosexual, heterosexual, or the breaking of any of the other laws God has given man in the Bible. God's laws are HIS LAWS! No man's opinion trumps the truth of this!!

Now, the title of this post includes the word "enabling." I want to share a story about this from chapter ten of "The Homosexual Agenda" book:


A new missionary was walking the streets of Colombia one day, a nation ravaged by organized crime and rampant drug use, accompanied by a Christian native of the country. As he walked the streets of the country, child after child would come up to the missionary and beg him for money. Even though he had limited funds, it was his inclination to give whatever he could to these poor and destitute children. However, his Christian companion quickly admonished him that giving into the demands of the children would cause the children more harm than good.

"You see," his companion said, "these children are trapped by the mafia at an early age to go begging in the streets. The crime syndicate breaks their fingers and other horrible things are done to them. But if you give in and just hand them the money, they will just take the money to the mafia and all it will do is perpetuate the problem. You may have thought that you helped the child, but all you did was treat a symptom, the cause of the problem will go on and on, and future generations of children will fall into the same trap."

*This story was told to Craig Osten by an employee of Food for the Hungry, and internationsl relief ministry.

This story also serves as an analogy when it comes to our response to those trapped in homosexual behavior.


Many Christian ministries that are devoted to helping men and women out of sinful sexual activity attempt to "speak the truth in love." This does not mean that they should be telling those who are actively violating God's standards for marriage and sexual activity that what they are doing is "OK" in God's eyes. Yet, this is what some Christians are doing when they compromise and enable fellow Christians who desire to continue with sinful behavior.

Book excerpt:


It is vital for members of the Body of Christ to understand the homosexual agenda and how it threatens many personal and religious freedoms. If we sit back and surrender, giving those involved in homosexual behavior everything they think they want, we are just like the missionary in Colombia who thought he was solving a problem but instead making it worse.


Jesus told us, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his own soul?"

What is that worth??

These dear people lost and trapped in sinful behavior and relationships will never be able to hear and respond to Christ's redemptive love for them!!

What's more, our ability to raise our own children and grandchildren to know and live the uncensored Christian life and faith is at risk as well. Parental rights are also an essential part of religious freedom: the ability to raise and guide one's own children and grandchildren according to one's God-given, Bible following, Christian beliefs.

Excerpt:


We cannot allow [a false understanding] of love to trump truth." In our hope of being accepted, we have often backed away from the spiritual battle for the hearts and souls of men. Rather than confront the culture, we have often chosen to conform to it. Instead of promoting self-fulfillment in our churches, we must get back to modeling self-sacrifice. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice for us, and like him, we must be humble servants and not haughty judges. We need to point the individual traped in homosexual behavior to the true cross, not a revised, meaningless gospel that requires no sacrifice, no repentance, and provides no real lasting deliverance from sin and its pain and sorrow.

We must be willing to be salt and light in our culture, no matter what the price.


This is what is known as the agape love of Christ.

I realize that the homosexual men and women who come to this blog and post comments don't understand that true Christian love expressed for them is a love where we want to see them redeemed from a lifestyle of certain, ultimate despair.

There are SO MANY who have been released from the bondage of homosexual behavior and identity and redeemed through faith in Jesus Christ! Several of these dear people have posted comments here and have shared their testimonies!

Deliverance is real - when one is repentant and redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ which was shed on that cross at Calvary over 2,000 years ago!

My prayer is that those involved in compromising churches (on this issue as well as many other non-biblical movements); enabling churches that refuse to call sin what it is - rebellion and separation from Holy God; and heretical churches that ultimately lead to apostasy and rejection of Christ, will be spiritually awakened by the Truth.

Each of us will spend eternity in one of two places. Choose God's Kingdom!

Mat 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

Mat 7:14 "Because[fn1] narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Mat 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Mat 7:16 "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

Mat 7:17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

Mat 7:18 "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

Mat 7:19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Mat 7:20 "Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Mat 7:22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'

Mat 7:23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

Mat 7:24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:

Mat 7:25 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

Mat 7:26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:

Mat 7:27 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

Mat 7:28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching,

Mat 7:29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.


Reference source: The Homosexual Agenda by Alan Sears and Craig Osten

HT's: Christocentric, GCMWatch, Culture Watch, SAFE, Coral Ridge.org


*******
Update: There is an absolutely excellent and thorough post over at Neil's Eternity Matters blog called, Endless Errors From Soulforce

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are so right, Christine. Your title nails it. I was just listening to a John MacArthur sermon on unity and he emphasized that we are to be united in truth, not error.

How did the church deteriorate so far? Because people valued false unity over real unity. They compromised and enabled, just as you noted, because they cared more about themselves and looking "nice" than they did about the truth of God.

Anonymous said...

Such a powerful and important post Christine!

Especially loved that analogy you shared from that book the "Homosexual Agenda." The missionary thinking he's helping those children who were only helping their crime bosses, and those of us who're thinking we're helping gays by showing them "love" and accepting their marriages, their sexual unions but only helping stay further away from God!

Both acts look "loving" from outside appearances, but the actual results are dark and evil.

As shown by both gay men, our regular gay poster Kevin, and Ted - who on his website called Pastor Miles the gay-basher in chief - neither men could find it possible to say that homosexuality is immoral, of course. To admit to immorality would admit to the foolishness of immoral gays getting married!

Anyways, hope folks get a chance to see James Hartline's newest post which is a part of his journal he kept on his release from homosexuality. Like other ex-gays living a very fruitful life in Christ, his is just as powerful! Check him out here: How I Overcame 30 Years of Homosexuality -- From The Journal of James Hartline

Thanks so much for this very important post and I pray that the gay-pleasing churches stop their wimpiness and start standing up for the truth of the Word of God! Take a stand for Christ!

Anonymous said...

Christine if it were not for your voice and Carlotta's speaking truth and wisdom from California I would have given up hope that anyone cared that the state is about to be dismantled peice by peice by the homosexual movement.

Thank you so much. That may not mean much to some but the Bible tells us to encourage one another the more as we see the day of his coming approaching.

We are to encourage one another to be faithful no matter what. We are surely to see false signs and wonders as the approach of the wicked one grows closer. Even so, our redemption draws nigh. What the book spoke was only 5 years ago and look at the rapid advancement of what was spoken. We should also preach and evangelize with all haste and with full grace.

Be steadfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord, know that your labor is not in vain.

Blessings!

Anonymous said...

1Cr 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Anonymous said...

Thanks gcmwatch (Pastor DL)!

Like I posted on your blog, I'm thankful for men like yourself who have provided a wealth of information and support!

Your leaving homosexuality and turning to God has not only been a blessing for yourself and others seeking to leave that lifestyle, but those of us who have never been homosexual but working to also help bring out people of that immoral and unhealthy way of life.

As long as there's Christ, there's hope for us here in California. How inspirational for us to win that fight for the cross at Mt. Soledad! Now we're praying for the same victory over something far more important - the sanctity of the family through marriage of a man and a woman!

Praying and waiting for November!
(Sosthenes - great scriptural reminder!)

Anonymous said...

Pastor, I would just encourage you not to give up because there are rewards and a lot of people would probably help if they though they knew how to make a difference.

Though I'm saved and I don't believe that I will stand before the White Throne judgment, there is another judgment seat. And while I can feel good that I'm a busy Christian, I don't think that I will enjoy giving an account. It isn't what I think about what I do that matters but it is about what God thinks that matters.

I wonder if I'll be asked, "Why didn't you do this or do that?" What could the possible answers be other than "I didn't want to do them"? Would I really like to say that before God?

"... For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required:..."Luke 12:48

We're all probably given an average of 75 years to accomplish things on this earth. I'm bummed out that I won't have enough time to do more and I'm not happy that I don't have a bigger impact or better results. Even though I'm busy, I don't feel that I've done enough. How do we allocate our time?

2 Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.

So I ask all of you, what are you investing in? What are you going to be doing sixty million years from now? Is what you do now going to be tied to rewards then? Why does Jesus say to store up treasures? Will you have enough in the ways that your rewards, treasures, capacities, authority and other things be revealed then? Will what you do then be tied to what you do now?

Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

1 Co.r 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is and if what we’re doing doesn’t measure up then it will be burned.

It is hard to give you a simple answer but I think the hymn writer understood the context of the Bible:

"Only one life, 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last."

And there is another hymn called “Are there enough stars in your crown?”

Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Matthew 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

People are afraid to share their faith because they are afraid of people making fun of them. Do you know that you miss out on rewards when you don’t share your faith?

Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me.

Luke 12:21 So [is] he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Luke 12:21 makes me think that if we don’t do enough, we won’t be rich towards God.

Answer:

Luke 12:23 The life is more than meat, and the body [is more] than raiment.

Phil. 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,

Can I have a little more manure? Manure is what is left over when your body is done absorbing all of the minerals and good stuff. We like to hang on to it but I'd rather trade what I cannot keep in this life for something I can never lose in the next life.

So when you are perplexed, there is probably a reward in it because you are suffering for Jesus Christ.

Christinewjc said...

Hi Neil,

Thanks for affirming that my title "nails it."

I think back to when I was growing up. Same-sex "marriage" was unthinkable! And - to have churches approve of it? Totally appalling!

The dreadful trend towards compromise and enabling OF SINFUL PRACTICE has trumped what you have mentioned. Rather than being "united in truth," they choose to be united in error. How much like the world such churches are - that are united in their errors. Such a shame!

Carlotta,

You wrote: "Both acts look "loving" from outside appearances, but the actual results are dark and evil."

We know that Satan prowls around like a roaring lion ready to devour the deceived. He has succeeded in twisting men's and women's minds to see things that are clearly evil as 'good'; and things that are clearly good as 'evil.' The Bible says "Woe to them" who would do such a thing!

The twisting of the Truth - and true meaning of love - has caused people to continue in the darkness of their sin. This is where Satan wants them to be - content in their immorality and separation from Holy God. That's not freedom - as they label it. It means they are captured in the bondage of darkness.

Pastor D.L.,

Your life story and ministry encourages me greatly!

This morning, I awoke thinking about The Lord's Prayer. At the end of the prayer, Jesus said we should pray, "and deliver us from evil."

Jesus DID deliver us from evil 2,000 years ago on that cross at Calvary! No matter what happens on this earth, He has "overcome the world" as the Scriptures tell us.

No matter what happens with the CA Marriage vote, our ultimate "deliverance from evil" is secure in Jesus! We may have to suffer the consequences and persecution of this fallen world right now, but the promise of redemption is greater than anything else we could achieve here. Amen?

Each time we are persecuted or cursed, or screamed at because of our beliefs, we are to count it as good. They hated Jesus - they will hate us because of Him.

The same-sex delusion is just a symptom of a greater spiritual problem.

Jesus told us that as we get closer to the end times, it will be as "in the Days of Noah and The Days of Lot."

We see how overwhelmingly the radical homosexual agenda has infiltrated every part of this world. There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus alluded to the "Noah and Lot" days as evidence of the permeating sin of homosexuality (and other sexual perversion and sin) as increasing in intensity prior to his return.

D.L., one of my favorite songs is "Lifesong" by Casting Crowns. While listening to it yesterday, I thought of you. You, dear sir, live a "Lifesong" to Jesus Christ kind of life!

I share this encouraging youtube video with you today:

Lifesong

Lifesong lyrics:

Empty Hands held high
Such Small sacrifice
If not joined with my life
I sing in vain tonight

May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to you

Chorus:
Let my lifesong sing to You
Let my lifesong sing to You
I want to sign your name
to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to You

LORD, I give my life
A Living sacrifice
To reach a world in need
To be your hands and feet

So may the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to You

Chorus

Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Let my lifesong sing to You (x3)

Chorus (x2)

Christinewjc said...

Sosthenes,

Wonderful and beautiful comment!

Amen!!

Anonymous said...

Sosthenes - wow! Standing before the judgement seat of Christ and giving an account of ALL things. If that doesn't cause us to stay on our knees what will? I know I'm never doing enough that's according to my responsibility that God has given me, but I will keep pressing on!

Thank you for such a wonderful "mini-post" and the scriptures to remind and motivate us to continue striving to do our Lord's will!

Christine: on dark and evil. I had to explain to Kevin on my blog why I used those two terms. He doesn't believe his marriage to Doug is evil. Unfortunately, God only recognizes light over darkness and good over evil. Homosexuality isn't light but of darkness, therefore evil. I know it was extremely difficult to hear that his legal (for now) marriage is considered dark and evil, and it was just as difficult to tell him because I truly care for him.

But my prayer remains for any who aren't practicing God's will for their lives to become born again and taste of that light and not live an evil life in darkness!

But you hit it on the head when you wrote, "The twisting of the Truth - and true meaning of love - has caused people to continue in the darkness of their sin. This is where Satan wants them to be - content in their immorality and separation from Holy God."

What happens when we follow after Christ?

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12