Friday, August 19, 2005
BTK: Dennis Rader
Is Dennis our brother in Christ or a wolf in sheep's clothing? How appropriate that Brent Riggs wrote the following on 8/18/2005:
The kingdom of heaven will include "fakes" for the time being
Matthew 13:24-25 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. (NKJV)
Matt 13.24-30 gives us the parable of the "wheat and tares". Tares were a type of weed that grow up in the midst of a wheat field. These tares look like wheat, but do not actually contain the wheat kernel - the outside is right, but the inside is not. They are useless fakes that compete for vital space and nutrients with the real wheat.
Jesus reveals to us that there will always be people among us who look like Christians, but in reality are not. They appear to be saved but are missing the "kernel" (Jesus Christ). We are told in the parable that it is not our place to attempt to pick out the counterfeits and remove them lest we make a mistake and uproot a true Christian.
Only God truly knows the heart of man. Any time we begin to judge the heart, we tread on ground that only God should traverse. We can judge behavior by measuring it against God's Word but it is to be done with love and a motive of restoration, not condemnation. The Lord instructs us at times to deal with certain behavior of others when it brings shame to Christ (ex. 1Cor 5.11), but we are never to become the judge of the authenticity of a professing persons salvation.
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Dennis Rader is now in prison for the remainder of his life. I hope and pray that he has truly been lead to Christ Jesus' salvation and that while in prison he focuses on doing the will of God. As Christians we cannot wish vengeance on Dennis as this would put our souls in jeopardy. Pray for him and all those who do not follow God's will.
I can empathize with Jeffery Davis but as a Christian I cannot condone his statement to the court. Jesus forgave those who killed him and he went as a lamb to the slaughter. He did not condemn those around him or call them names.
I will add both Dennis and Jeffery to the list of people I pray for because they were both made in the image of God and deserve the chance at salvation
- TCH
The kingdom of heaven will include "fakes" for the time being
Matthew 13:24-25 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. (NKJV)
Matt 13.24-30 gives us the parable of the "wheat and tares". Tares were a type of weed that grow up in the midst of a wheat field. These tares look like wheat, but do not actually contain the wheat kernel - the outside is right, but the inside is not. They are useless fakes that compete for vital space and nutrients with the real wheat.
Jesus reveals to us that there will always be people among us who look like Christians, but in reality are not. They appear to be saved but are missing the "kernel" (Jesus Christ). We are told in the parable that it is not our place to attempt to pick out the counterfeits and remove them lest we make a mistake and uproot a true Christian.
Only God truly knows the heart of man. Any time we begin to judge the heart, we tread on ground that only God should traverse. We can judge behavior by measuring it against God's Word but it is to be done with love and a motive of restoration, not condemnation. The Lord instructs us at times to deal with certain behavior of others when it brings shame to Christ (ex. 1Cor 5.11), but we are never to become the judge of the authenticity of a professing persons salvation.
----------
Dennis Rader is now in prison for the remainder of his life. I hope and pray that he has truly been lead to Christ Jesus' salvation and that while in prison he focuses on doing the will of God. As Christians we cannot wish vengeance on Dennis as this would put our souls in jeopardy. Pray for him and all those who do not follow God's will.
I can empathize with Jeffery Davis but as a Christian I cannot condone his statement to the court. Jesus forgave those who killed him and he went as a lamb to the slaughter. He did not condemn those around him or call them names.
I will add both Dennis and Jeffery to the list of people I pray for because they were both made in the image of God and deserve the chance at salvation
- TCH
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
DiscipleDave@aol.com
I've been reading DiscipleDave's "book" at http://members.aol.com/discipledave/book/Index.html?f=fs and find he has a narrow view of Christianity, along with some errors. I attempted to send the following to him 3 times but all three attempts were delayed and then failed. Here is the message I sent:
I read some of your postings on "Serious Faith" and then went to your website. You have some interesting ideas. Like most people you pick and choose Bible verses to support your statements, even if they are taken out of context. I guess there is nothing wrong in that as long as you don't lead people astray. Satan, the King of Lies, knows full well that the best lie has elements of truth interlaced within and uses the Bible often to corrupt God's Word.
From your chapter on, "The Righteous" I believe you misquoted Romans. You stated:
"ROMANS 3:17: But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have OBEYED from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. (BIBLE) 18: Being then made free from sin, (GRACE) ye became the servants of righteousness. (NOT SIN)"
Your passage above actually comes from Romans 6:17-18 but is taken out of context. At a minimum it should be quoted from Romans 6:15 through verse 23 on the subject of "Slaves to Righteousness" or better yet you should quote all of chapter 6. Romans 3:17-18 says: (starting at verse 10...)
"As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Looking at this it appears that the Holy Spirit used the correct verse, through your typing, I.e. Romans 3:17. So there are no righteous people and all continue to sin. Even Paul, in the same letter to the Romans, admitted he continued to sin. Did he truly not accept Jesus as Christ? Romans 7:7-25 speaks about Paul's struggles with sin. Read the entire section but here are verses 14-20:
"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."
There is a subtle piece of information that you missed in your dissertation: sin continues to live in me even though my spiritual self has been cleansed. I only recognize it as sin through the law to which I am no longer bound. So are their no righteous people? Of course there are, all of us that belong to the body of Christ through faith in Jesus. Read Romans 3:21-31 on "Righteousness Through Faith."
- TCH
I read some of your postings on "Serious Faith" and then went to your website. You have some interesting ideas. Like most people you pick and choose Bible verses to support your statements, even if they are taken out of context. I guess there is nothing wrong in that as long as you don't lead people astray. Satan, the King of Lies, knows full well that the best lie has elements of truth interlaced within and uses the Bible often to corrupt God's Word.
From your chapter on, "The Righteous" I believe you misquoted Romans. You stated:
"ROMANS 3:17: But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have OBEYED from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. (BIBLE) 18: Being then made free from sin, (GRACE) ye became the servants of righteousness. (NOT SIN)"
Your passage above actually comes from Romans 6:17-18 but is taken out of context. At a minimum it should be quoted from Romans 6:15 through verse 23 on the subject of "Slaves to Righteousness" or better yet you should quote all of chapter 6. Romans 3:17-18 says: (starting at verse 10...)
"As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Looking at this it appears that the Holy Spirit used the correct verse, through your typing, I.e. Romans 3:17. So there are no righteous people and all continue to sin. Even Paul, in the same letter to the Romans, admitted he continued to sin. Did he truly not accept Jesus as Christ? Romans 7:7-25 speaks about Paul's struggles with sin. Read the entire section but here are verses 14-20:
"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."
There is a subtle piece of information that you missed in your dissertation: sin continues to live in me even though my spiritual self has been cleansed. I only recognize it as sin through the law to which I am no longer bound. So are their no righteous people? Of course there are, all of us that belong to the body of Christ through faith in Jesus. Read Romans 3:21-31 on "Righteousness Through Faith."
- TCH
Friday, August 12, 2005
Towards the Goal
Ever forward time marches on, towards the final Goal
But when all my days are counted, have I given it my all?
When I was young I would dream and pray,
I was happy and ignorant and full of play.
Wisdom comes with time and ever forward it moves,
And now that I am older I have nothing left to prove.
As I grow older and near that final Goal,
I focus more on Jesus and the condition of my soul.
Though I am a sinner and my soul is far from white,
I know that Jesus loves me and is conscience of my plight.
When I cross that line and reach out with my soul
I know that Christ will be there as I reach my final Goal
TCH
But when all my days are counted, have I given it my all?
When I was young I would dream and pray,
I was happy and ignorant and full of play.
Wisdom comes with time and ever forward it moves,
And now that I am older I have nothing left to prove.
As I grow older and near that final Goal,
I focus more on Jesus and the condition of my soul.
Though I am a sinner and my soul is far from white,
I know that Jesus loves me and is conscience of my plight.
When I cross that line and reach out with my soul
I know that Christ will be there as I reach my final Goal
TCH
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Can a 13 year old give consent?
Pamela Turner pleaded "no contest" to the charges and faces 9 months in jail according to the Abram's Report. The 13 year old boy (we'll call him Bob) was not charged with any crime. If this had been a male teacher and a female student the man would never be getting out of jail or serving 20 or more years. What's the difference? Why are women treated differently?
Ok, 13 year old boys are walking hormones and most dream about having sex with a hot blonde. Well if you haven't seen Pamela Turner, let me tell you she is a hot blonde. I bet the Bob thought he died and went to heaven. Well he didn't, he went to sin city.
She took advantage of Bob because at his age he could not control his lust. Did he give consent? Absolutely he did. He probably fell all over himself giving consent. That doesn't make it right nor does it forgive Ms. Turner.
Ok, 13 year old boys are walking hormones and most dream about having sex with a hot blonde. Well if you haven't seen Pamela Turner, let me tell you she is a hot blonde. I bet the Bob thought he died and went to heaven. Well he didn't, he went to sin city.
She took advantage of Bob because at his age he could not control his lust. Did he give consent? Absolutely he did. He probably fell all over himself giving consent. That doesn't make it right nor does it forgive Ms. Turner.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Should the Bible be used in Public School?
No way. Would you want the Dixie Chicks to teach Astrophysics? The Bible needs to be read and then taught by people of faith to the secular world. Without faith there is no understanding of the Bible and therefore no benefit to the student.
Public School Teachers should teach what they understand and leave the business of faith to the private schools where the teachers are qualified to teach this subject.
- TCH
Public School Teachers should teach what they understand and leave the business of faith to the private schools where the teachers are qualified to teach this subject.
- TCH
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Should Scott Peterson be put to death?
No. Is justice served when the State executes its own people? Is God served by this? Exodus 20:13 says it clearly. As Christians we must allow Mr. Peterson to repent from his sins and turn back to God. Whether this takes weeks, months or years to accomplish it is in God's time, not ours.
Pray for him that he may find salvation in Christ Jesus.
TCH
Pray for him that he may find salvation in Christ Jesus.
TCH
Day one on the road...
THE ROAD NOT TAKEN by Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Two roads diverge and I shall take the one to which God leads me, because I know that Jesus is at it's end.
In Christ Jesus,
TCH - The Catholic Heretic
TCH - The Catholic Heretic
