A Valiant Soldier Called Home

Jewell Smith
1928–2004

Jewell Smith with a reprint of the Tyndale Bible of 1526 A. D.

Jewell Smith was one of God’s mighty men in this age of apostasy. He had convictions, and he had the courage to proclaim and defend them when necessary. This is a rare quality in this period of compromise. For almost the last 20 years of his ministry, he entered a unique phase that has never been equaled. In fact we know of nothing that ever came close. God’s people need to pray that God will raise up another like him in this hour.

Through much time, effort and expense, he assembled a great display of ancient Bibles. In fact, the nearest thing to it that I have seen is to be found in the British Museum in London, England. For almost 20 years he toured every State of the Union, and several foreign countries displaying those Bibles and preaching on the importance of the ancient Bibles. He showed how the King James Version was the inspired Word of God, and far superior to all the modern translations. A typical schedule was to be in one Church Sunday Night through Wednesday Night. Then he would be in another Church from Thursday Night through Sunday Morning.

As he displayed the Bibles, he gave the history of each one, while preaching a powerful sermon that thrilled the hearts of the listeners. He was a fearless defender of the KJV. Our auditorium here at Tabernacle Baptist Church is 70 feet wide, and except for the aisles, his display of Bibles stretched clear across our auditorium. We had him on two different occasions, and oh how I wish we could have him again! We will miss this dear preacher of God’s Word, but he has been called home to a better land where the Word of God is never doubted. He was not a one issue preacher, but believed all the doctrines of the Bible and fervently preached them.

He was born and raised in Kentucky, but was born again and called to preach in Michigan. He pastored two different churches in Michigan, before moving to Florida. He founded Temple Baptist Church/Orlando Baptist Church, and served as their pastor for 27 years.

After resigning that Church he began his ministry with the Bibles for about 20 years, before his health forced him to give it up. He never lost his love for God and His Word, nor did he ever depart from the faith. He was truly one of God’s mighty men and he will be missed by all who knew him and believed in the same common cause.

He went to be with the Lord on June 6, 2004. And his funeral was conducted June 10, 2004 in the Church which he served for 27 years.

He leaves his immediate family i.e.: his wife; Sara Elizabeth, and four children; David Alan Smith, Stephen Mark Smith, Cyndee Denise Sams, and Lisa Christine Ard. He has 10 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

We pray that God will comfort and bless his dear wife that stood with him to the very time he was promoted to glory.

—by E. L. Bynum

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The Modern Church With a Postmodern Prescription

By E. L. Bynum

We are facing troublesome times in the Christian religion of America. Every day it is changing more and more into an unchristian religion. Each year we move a little closer toward the church of the antichrist and the depth of the apostasy prophesied in the Bible. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (1 Timothy 4:1)

The Lubbock-Avalanche Journal of June 5, 2004, carried a very long article entitled, “Major change in thought process creates dilemma in modern church.” This article explores some of the changes that are taking place in churches today. The idea is that we are now in a “ Postmodern” situation which requires changes of a drastic nature, if the church is going to be successful. The following is an exact quote that tells us some of the changes that are necessary for a successful church.

Of course some of the above prescription sounds all right if rightly interpreted and applied, but the ways these people twist the truth, there is no telling how they would apply the ideas.

This looks very much like something that would have come out of a Bill Hybel’s publication. I wrote a major article that dealt with the book by Lee Stroble, titled, “Inside the Mind of Unchurched Harry and Mary.” This book was loaded with unscriptural ideas, and this was an outflow from the Hybel’s ministries.

Let us go back to the recent story from the LAJ. The very idea that we must “Adapt to the language, music and style of the target population’s culture,” is reprehensible, unscriptural and soul destroying. I take it that by “language,” he does not mean a language such as English or Spanish. Rather, he is talking about the crude and offensive language of the world. By “music” he means adapting to rap, rock and rowdy music of the ungodly of our day. This is already in many churches and it is bound to get worse. If we are to adapt to the “style” of the culture, then it will mean adapting to the indecent vulgar clothing styles of our culture today. There was a time when churches needed no dress codes, because people knew how to dress when going to church. As that began to change, many churches adopted dress codes, but it wasn’t long until people began to ignore them. Then many churches just forgot about decent dress in order to reach the people. Now anything goes according to many churches. In fact they even advertise come as you are, we don’t care how you dress.

All of this talk of “seekers” implies that people are seeking after God. That is utterly false. “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” (Rom. 3:11) According to the above quote, the unchurched are pre-Christian rather than hell bound sinners that desperately need salvation. To reach these people, we have to bring the ways of the world into the church so that they can feel comfortable.

In fact the music in a lot of churches sounds much like the music in the night clubs and rock festivals. Of course they manage to get the name of Jesus in there now and then, but there is no Scriptural, spiritual content. With the drums going and bass electronic instruments, you can’t hear many of the words anyway.

I guess if they were ministering to a bunch of nudist they would undress down to suit the culture. It is all so pathetic that it would have been unbelievable a few years ago.

Southern Baptists Adopt this Practice

The newspaper article was based in large part by an event at Wayland Baptist University at Plainview, TX. This is a old Southern Baptist school. The events discussed in the newspaper article took place at the Pastor and Laymen’s Conference at the University. Here is part of the article from the LAJ.

We continue the quote from Micheal Summers as published in the LAJ, as he discusses Mike Martindale.

Comments by ELB

I find it incredible that Wayland Baptist University and the Pastor and Laymen’s Conference, would have Chris Seay, pastor of Ecclesia church speak. It is a sad commentary on Southern Baptists and the Pastors that attended this conference.

Christianity Today, week of September 23, 2002 printed an interview with Chris Seay. In the interview they discus a book written by Seay titled “The Gospel According to Tony Soprano” (Tarcher Putnam). The following quote is taken from the interview:

According to that article he is a fan of the weird and wicked TV program known as “The Sopranos.” The program is filled with cursing and lurid sexual scenes, and yet here is a pastor recommending such trash. That a Baptist University would allow such a Pastor’s Conference on their campus is completely beyond my comprehension. This shows us the direction that the religious world is headed.

Chris Seay does tell us that his father and his grandfather were Baptist pastors, but he does not speak well of them or their churches. I would hazard a guess that they must have believed sin was sin, and that the Bible was true and inspired of God. I would imagine that they might well be ashamed of his departure from the faith. They may have well have believed that Christians should be “Christ like,” and not “world like.”

A Look at Mike Martindale

Just before Summers begins to talk about Martindale, he says, “In some ways postmodernism is like New Age, like taking Velcro and running it across lint and taking what it up.” I would have to agree with the statement that the so-called postmodernism brand of Christianity is “like new age.” It is like Velcro and it does pickup all the things of the world that it comes in contact with.

Martindale was at Bacon Heights Baptist Church for ten years as youth minister. Many evil methods have flowed out of youth ministries and churches have chosen to go along with the trend. So the ministry of Seay and Martindale is a result of the compromise and permissive attitude of many Southern Baptist Churches.

The Heights Fellowship advertises a great deal on the radio, and I must say that the ads alone are an eye opener. They have no invitation at the close of the serve. The music is contemporary, and with a noisy band. They have no standards of separation or dress. In fact we quote from above where he says, “People ask one of two questions, ‘Am I going to be singled out? What do I wear? ’ You won’t be singled out, and anything you wear anywhere else is fine.”

I have driven down the street and walked in the Mall and I know how people dress. Many dress in very immodest clothing that is very suggestive and vulgar. Sometimes you see the same thing even in the grocery store. This kind of dress is OK at the Heights Fellowship, for he says “anything you wear anywhere else is fine.” A decade ago this would have been unthinkable.

“What Would Jesus Do?”

This was a popular slogan for a number of years and could be seen on tee shirts, pins, and bumper stickers. I believe that if the Lord Jesus walked through most churches today, He would do a house cleaning like He did in the Temple. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. (Matt. 21:12-13) He would see the rock bands and all the other garbage that has been brought into churches, and He would clean it out just as he did the Temple. On second thought, I don’t think our Lord would go near some of those places.

We have entered an age of apostasy where fundamentalist or more funny that mental, and where many Bible Baptists have become Babel Badtwists. Protestants long ago lost their protest and the day that is prophesied has come to pass. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” (1 Tim. 4:1-2) “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” (2 Timothy 4:3)

Shall We Forsake the Truth?

The Purpose Driven Church has come to take the place of the true church. The postmodern church is hear to take the place of the modernist church and the truth preaching church. It is all a part of the falling away predicted in the Word of God. In their minds there is no place for the old time religion or the traditional hymns of the faith.

We are instructed to, “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” (Prov. 23:23) The truth is being sold for a mess of pottage, and the churches and preachers who do this, like Esau, will lose their birthright. We would do well to heed what the Lord said. “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” (Jer. 6:16)

We are warned not to remove the landmarks of truth and verity. “Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless.” (Prov. 23:10) We now have a generation that will not buy the truth, but they will sell it out. They have lost the landmarks of Bible truth, and they have no desire to find the old paths and walk therein.

Those who know and love the truth will never buy this garbage being sold as the truth. They will reject it, and if they do not you may expect Ichabod over the door.

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Building Tobiah’s Parlor

By Bill Mosley

“And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.” (Neh. 13:7,8)

These are the word of Nehemiah after spending several months rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. The very nature of rebuilding requires some tearing down and removing. The above verses are some of the wrap-up work that must be done to restore properness in “courts of the house of God.” The word above translated ‘chamber’ is translated ‘parlour’ in 1 Sam. 9:22. This was the prophet Samuel’s room where Saul and his servant were entertained at the Lord’s Word. Tobiah’s chamber was added to the Lord’s court but not at the Word of the Lord.

Who Was Tobiah?

Tobiah was an Ammonite, a descendant of Ammon, one of Lot’s sons as a result of his incestuous sin with his daughters. God had warned Moses that no Ammonite was to enter into the congregation of the Lord. Yet Tobiah was inhabiting a ‘chamber’ (parlor) in the courts of the house of God. He was no more than a servant of Sanballat, governor of Samaria, yet he had learned the business of cheapening the true worship of God. Tobiah was also the son-in-law of Shechaniah, who confessed to Ezra the trespass of taking strange wives out of the land God had given them. God warned the result of such would cause their sons and daughters to go “a whoring after their gods.” (Exo. 34:16) This had been a great part of their fall into captivity.

It saddened the heart of Tobaih that anyone would seek the welfare of the children of Israel. (Neh. 2:10) This is just the opposite of the heart of sobbing Nehemiah when he heard of the spiritual and physical condition of Jerusalem. It should not seem strange to any believer that those opposed to true worship are never engaged in the same interests. The progressive opposition of Tobaih to the work of Nehemiah is noted. He mocked the God given directives followed by the workers. (Neh. 4:3) When this did not work, he became angry and began threatening the laborers. Conspiracies surfaced daily as the building continued. Be sure opposition to the work of the Lord will raise its ugly head when proper progress endures other obstacles.

Tobiah had became comfortable and seemingly profitable in the room prepared for him. After all he had married into religion and he should make the best of it.

How Could This Happen?

Scriptural directives had been forgotten, spirituality had waned, and substitutes for worship had become acceptable. Eliashib, the high priest, was allied with Tobiah. The young and physically strong had long been taken captive. This even was the result of their lack of spiritual interest of the things of God. Much the same happened in the days of Malachi when true worship had became a weariness. (Mal. 1:13) Less than the best was given to the Lord. Too much of service to the Lord today resembles the torn and the lame of that day. Even less reputable sacrifice as this is often difficult to part with.

The young were now gone from Jerusalem and many of the old who remained were becoming inactive. Maybe because of age or perhaps simply a lack of interest in the work. Some must have had at least enough incentive to try something, even if it was not exactly following God’s command. Hence, the building of a chamber for the forbidden Tobiah, the Ammonite.

It mattered little that the people were in great affliction and reproach. The benefits surely outweighed the detriment of having a forbidden Ammonite in the courts of God. They must have reasoned, “After all we must do something to attract replacements for those who have been carried away.” Thank God for Nehemiah who believed that God had not changed.

Building Attractive Parlors

Building attractive parlors onto or within the house of God is not only popular but just as absurd as building a chamber for Tobiah. To oppose such is just as laughable to its promoters as it was to Tobiah at Nehemiah’s progress. The Lord Jesus has given instruction concerning the house of God. I am speaking here of the Lord’s church as cited in 1 Tim. 3:15. It is not the place where the church meets but the people in the place. However, the distinction of both the people and the place being set apart for worship of God, neither should be spiritually abused. Any place where God meets with His people should be considered holy and dedicated.

Foundations for such attractive parlors may seem innocent. It takes only a small deviation from doctrinal loyalty to develop into a two story discrepancy of truth. As surely as little children are permitted to participate in seemingly innocent activities because of their age, their activity will grow with them into full blown balloons of destruction. When those in the freshman church class of youth entertainment graduate into adulthood, be sure the next class will be younger and more challenged.

Today’s youth are facing more apparent disreputable things in the world than ever. Most are fashioned to redirect their aim from godliness to the world. Parents who are losing their children to such often turn to their pastor for answers. It is beyond my understanding when a young person eats food the parent furnishes, sleeps in their bed, warms by their fire cannot be controlled by parental rules, if any such guidelines exist. The pastor is confronted with such as, “I just don’t know what to do. (He) will not longer come to church with us.” Too often the primary reason is the neglect of prayer and Bible reading within the home. Too many have given in to parental peer pressure. Others can do these things, why can’t I? Rather than cleaning out the parlor they have built on their own premises for their offspring they go to the pastor for answers.

The pastor is faced with, “We need something to attract our youth to church.” Evangelism at home has been abandoned, and worldly entertainment has taken its place. Consequently church has become too boring because of continued teaching on separation. Dedicated service to the Lord is no longer attractive, and spiritual slouchiness is displayed by physical attire. Many even claim they would attend church if it was not for having to dress properly. It seems minds are programmed that we must dress decently to attend the funeral of a deceased friend but it is too demanding to appear neatly attired to worship a risen Savior.

Building Activity Parlors

Mega-church growers have set a precedence in this area that some of the Lord’s churches are quick to pick up on. Basket ball courts with full equipment are found on such church property. Baseball/softball diamonds surround church facilities. Be sure there will be as many, if not more, attending these activities as regular worship services. There will also be a wide difference in ages at the two places. However, even some grandparents will cheer their grandchildren on at athletic events who will not extol their spiritual growth.

When such attractions as the mega-church has cannot be afforded, other methods are employed to appeal to youth for attendance. All with the defensive argument that any means which results in getting youth on the church property cannot be totally wrong. Using resources afforded by the world to attract the world resulted in Jerusalem’s walls falling down and the gates being burned. Contending that society is different today than yesteryear implies that the Gospel of Christ has lost its power to heal today’s spiritual ills. When it is conceded that new methods must be used or the church dies, Christ’s question, “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b), must be answered in the negative. But be sure there will be those who will continue to hold on to the doctrine of Christ until He does return. Some will still be contending for the faith (doctrine) of the local church separate from worldly incentives to stimulate attendance. Be sure of this, if it takes one scoop of ice cream to get some one to come to church, it will take a double dip to keep them from falling away.

Building Music Parlors

Music and singing is an important part of worship to the Lord. When Moses and the children of Israel experienced their delivery from bondage and the destruction of Pharaoh’s army, they sang of His triumph. It was for the Lord they sang. Honor to the God Who delivered them was on their mind. Moses’ sister, Miriam, led the women in the same manner and for the same honor to God. Paul and Silas sing praises to the Lord even in a dreadful setting. This was singing for the joy of the Lord and not for entertainment.

A few years ago Stamps/Baxter music entered into the church camp. It is the foot stomping kind of music that seem to do more for the body than for the spiritual man. Quartets sprang up all over the place and some at least spent their weekends in churches other than their own. The music might begin with four parts, trim down to one, two or three and somehow all finish at the same spot in harmony. Singing schools were as common place as two week revivals. Fifth Sunday singings developed and church attendance was often neglected.

This gave way to other developments that appealed to the flesh yet had some semblance of religious worship. Contemporary music has become the counterpart of all this. While the former was often more enticing to older worshipers, CCM tends to draw the youth. Bill Gaither’s gatherings has drawn the two together in an ecumenical hodgepodge of a Stamps/Baxter setting with a contemporary slant. Much akin to the fifth Sunday singings of the past, some present day church goers will forsake their local church to attend a Bill Gaither home coming festival. Other such digressions in worship could be mentioned here if space permitted. Any and all of which could be defended as being necessary today because of changing times. Time and chance happens to all, but God and proper worship never changes.

Conclusion

It is little wonder then that methods that give birth to such attendance find its way into the local church. Joy in the Lord has given way to fun. Worship has given way to worldliness. This is true whether be in attire or activity. Nehemiah cast all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber that was specifically for him. It all started so innocently but it grew into the proverbial camel’s nose in the Arabs tent. Foundations are essential before buildings can be constructed. Watch for foundations of disreputable outcome. It may seem trivial in the beginning, but what of the result? Such will soon destroy the foundations laid by the Lord. The wicked have already bent their bow at the young. The answer is not to build new attractions but to shore up the firm foundation in their hearts. Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and teaching separation is not out of date. It may be replaced but nothing can take its place. (Psa. 11:3) “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

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Southern Baptist Withdraw from Baptist World Alliance

By E. L. Bynum

In their last meeting in June, the Southern Baptist Convention voted to withdraw from the Baptist World Alliance, because of the “leftward drift in the BWA.” My question for the SBC is, what took you so long? The SBC in their annual meeting, June 15, 2004, finally voted to withdraw from the very liberal BWA. The BWA is an ultra-liberal alliance of 91 Baptist Conventions world wide. Southwestern Seminary president Paige Patterson said, “We have noted, with sorrow, a continual leftward drift in the BWA.” Let me ask, when has the BWA been anything but ultra-liberal and left leaning? Seventy years ago the unscriptural organization was a modernist, leftist organization. It has constantly been controlled by the liberals. The SBC objected because the BWA received into their membership the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, which is a splinter group within the SBC.

Of course, we applaud the SBC for coming out of the BWA, but we still say, what took you so long? They have been contributing 35% of the income of the BWA, and they ought to bow their heads in deep shame for supporting them so long.

The following was copied from the Calvary Contender.

(ELB: We strongly disagree with the following statement for CC when they say, “Bible-believing fundamentalists likewise desire unity and fellowship with conservative Southern Baptists.” I for one do not believe that real fundamentalists would desire that at any time anywhere. Real fundamentalists are separatist, and want nothing to do with the compromising Southern Baptists. If conservative Southern Baptists were fundamentalist, they would come out of that organization.)

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Editor's Email

Dear Bro Bynum: Just a note to say thank you for your faithfulness and dedicated service to the Lord. You don’t know me, but I have heard you preach at our church and also at the Valiant for Truth Conference. I also subscribe to the Plains Baptist Challenger. I just wanted to say “thanks” for all that you do! In Christ’s Love, Leo Cifers, New Testament Baptist Church, Chesterfield, VA

It’s worse than I thought. This writer thinks it’s a community service to show football (with a peace and prosperity message) instead of a preaching service. Dorothy Boyett. (Below is the letter to the editor of LAJ that she referred to.)

Create Own Halftime Show. Re: The letter “Sunday Night Church Services” (A J, 2 6). Fortunately, the church where I attend, Calvary Baptist, held an event built around the showing of this year’s Super Bowl. However, as in years past, the commercials and the halftime spectacle shown on TV were all blacked out. Instead, we created our own humorous commercials promoting the various ministries of the church. We also had free food, free door prizes and plenty of family and board games to play for all ages. At halftime, our church’s university band led us in a few songs before our pastor spoke on the “Power to Win,” a message that had much more “redeeming” value than what was shown at the Super Bowl.

We provided a “safe” place to view the game only for more than 250 of our members and their friends. I would encourage more churches to hold their own event next year and make it a family affair for their community. I would encourage them to blank out the commercials and halftime “show” and create their own. If not, Calvary is sure to have one next year, and everyone is invited! RADLEY BORG/Lubbock

Dear Sir, I wish to convey my appreciation for your website. The lessons have been a great blessing to me and my wife. I am an Independent Baptist Pastor here in Papua New Guinea, north of Australia in the Pacific region. We have used many of your tracts these many years and they have been a real blessing to us. The latest being the one called “The Bondage of Deceit.” Many of our folks who were ignorantly pulled into the Charismatic movement have been helped and they are now enjoying their new life in Christ. Thank you once again, and may the Lord continue to use you in this ministry. In His Service, Pastor Jerry Penie

I read your web site on entertainment at church. I am a member of a Church of Christ here in Lubbock, Texas. I am thinking of removing my membership because I don’t believe I have to go to church to be entertained with a basketball court. I truly believe in Jesus Christ and what the Bible teaches. I have never read anywhere that Jesus played games with his followers to get them to believe in him. I know that Jesus went to the cross for our sins and not to entertain the people with a show. Joe Stueve

Dear Brother: You “popped your coat tail” in the April issue. “In or Out” was a clear statement on the total independence of the local Church from all other ecclesiastical groups and our total dependence upon our Sovereign God. All of us needed to be “scotched” by the article, “The Passion of Christ.” We need to hear about our divine heritage so well presented in “Origin of the Baptists.” Then you gave us “The Lord’s Supper,” an excellent treatise. One can always be blessed by a message from the late Norman H. Wells. This constitutes one of your best papers and truly a mission work, a big, hardy thanks, and an Amen!
In Christ, our One and only Redeemer, Harace Hammond, Country Baptist Church.

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Reagan Said It

Without God, there is no virtue, because there’s no prompting of the conscience. Without God, we’re mired in the material, that flat world that tells us only what the senses perceive. Without God, there is a coarsening of the society. And without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure. If we ever forget that we’re one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.

—Ronald Reagan, August 23, 1984

News & Views

Edited by E. L. Bynum

(Editor’s Note: In our News & Views column we quote from many different sources. Please understand that this does not necessarily mean that we approve of all of the publications from which we quote.)

Ecumenism’s Pied Piper— “Ecumenism’s many Pied Pipers play an irresistibly seductive tune that exalts ‘unity’ above truth, turns love into prostitution, and the church into a whore as foretold in Revelation 17 and 18. Doctrine is despised, experience is glorified, and correction is forbidden as ‘divisive.’ ‘Christian psychologists’ have persuaded most of the church that an unholy union between Christ and such anti-christs as Freud, Jung, et al., is biblical and essential. Zealous to get others to accept the gospel, we have, as Oswald Chambers warned, manufactured ‘a gospel acceptable to people’ which is packaged in the world’s appealing language of self-love, self-esteem, self-worth, self ad nauseum.” (Berean Call, 5/23/04) This is a true happening today in too many of the Lord’s churches. If this is enough to make you sick, remember how God felt toward the church at Laodicea. Being neither cold or hot produces a lukewarmness that makes God sick. (Rev. 3:16) Activities are pursued today in churches under the guise of worship(?) that are laughable if it were not so eternally serious. —(W. W. Mosley, hereafter WWM)

Muslim Stamp OK—Christian Cross Must Go— (CNSNews.com) —More than a thousand angry citizens went to a Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, but despite their efforts, county supervisors refused to reverse their decision to remove a small cross from the county’s official seal. The ACLU threatened to sue the county if it did not remove the Christian cross —which symbolizes California’s missionary history. On Tuesday, as protestors waved signs, the Board of Supervisors voted 3—2 to uphold its earlier decision that the cross must go. (Crosswalk, 6/9/04) Another wheel on Satan’s Trojan horse has been attached. While America’s liberal minds open their imaginary gate of acceptance of all religion, Satan’s scheme to erase Christianity is rolling through the gate. Although true allegiance to Christ means more than a dangling cross around the neck or ankle, the cross is a symbol of Christianity and is under attack. “The Thomas More Law Center says that by removing a cross from the LA County seal, the government is ‘conveying a message that is anti-Christian’ and violating the Constitution.” (Christianity Today, 6/11/04) It is not the cross that disturbs the devil’s crowd, it is the risen Christ they can’t accept. —WWM

Baptism Might Offend Swimmers— A Virginia church recently got into some hot water for conducting river baptisms in a public park. Last month, officials of a park just outside Fredericksburg, tried to break up the ceremony, claiming it might be offensive to nearby swimmers or other people using the park. (Charisma, 6/10/04) I know nothing about this church, so cannot comment on the scriptural aspect of their baptism. But it takes little imagination about the clothing, or the absence thereof, of the public swimmers. Anything that remotely reminds the world of the righteousness of Christ is sure to be offensive. The “chief corner stone” is indeed precious to true believers, but Jesus “is a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word,” (1 Peter 2:6-8). This group of city officials would have had little effect on the banks of Jordan. I feel sure the ACLU was not as organized at that time. —WWM

Speaking Out Against Sin A Hate Crime?— “Canada and Scandinavia have already moved to suppress the criticism of homosexuality with laws making it a ‘hate crime’ to criticize or speak against homosexuality in any way;. . .” (TVC News, 6/11/04) Homosexuals are making rapid progress in the U.S. to becoming acceptable by law. It takes little imagination to name the liberal senators who would readily sponsor a law or an amendment to make it a crime to speak against homosexuality in the U.S. No man made law will ever repeal God’s law concerning the sinful unclean practice of homosexuals. Worshiping and serving the creature more than the Creator is more fashionable than ever. (Rom. 1:24) “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:” —WWM

Where Has The ACLU Been?— The American Civil Liberties Union says the Establishment Clause “requires the separation of church and state,” and it opposes the use of any religious symbol or speech on public property. Street preaching with Bible in hand has been practiced in small town America all of my life. There is no written law against this type of proclaiming the gospel in at least some towns in the U.S. The ACLU will have to increase their workforce if they intend to change this status in America. The ACLU will never be caught helping to quiet the Muslim call for prayer reverberating through the streets of Hamtramck, Mich., or anywhere else. —WWM

De-Christianizing America— “Whether it be same-sex marriage, the removal of ‘under God’ from the pledge of Allegiance, or now the removal of a small cross from the LA County seal, the impact is the same: the de-Christianizing of our society.” Li Mandri said the Thomas More Law Center is “committed to fighting this battle,” both in California and elsewhere in the country. The Law Center says Los Angeles County supervisors “caved in” to a demand made by the American Civil Liberties Union, which threatened to sue the County if it did not remove the cross from the seal. “LA County decided to remove the cross and offend Christians rather than fight the ACLU,” the Law Center said in a press release. ( Crosswalk, 6/8/04)

Church Wants Women Bishops— “The Anglican Church in South Australia has backed the ordination of women as bishops.” South Australian Anglicans have “long supported the role of women in the church, after approving the ordination of women as deacons in 1986 and as priests in 1992.” South Australian Anglican representatives are now being urged to press a similar decision in October at the general synod in Perth. (Daily Telegraph, 5/24/04, via AIBN , 5/31/04) It sounds shallow to suggest to this group to read the Bible concerning this issue. Since their bishops preside over church matters and priest pronounce ablutions, how can women do this if women are not permitted to speak in church? (1 Cor. 14:34,35) —WWM

Homosexual Bishop Causes Strain On Anglicans— “Overseas Anglican leaders are being praised for issuing a statement that calls on the leadership of the Episcopal Church USA to repent within three months or face expulsion from the worldwide Anglican Communion.” (AgapePress, 6/1/04) Sounds somewhat like Jonah 3:4. Yet the outcome will be much less likely. Ordaining V. Gene Robinson as the first openly gay bishop by the ECUSA has put a strained relationship on the world-wide Anglican church. Although this is not the only area where repentance is needed in the world-wide Anglican church, it is good that some of them know homosexuality is a sin. This group has “also suggested that similar disciplinary action be taken against the bishop and synod of the diocese of New Westminster, Canada, for their approval and implementation of so-called ‘same-sex blessing ceremonies.’” —WWM

Rap Music Educational?— A growing number of public school teachers across the U.S. are using rap music to teach history and English. (AgapePress, 6/4/04) AP also reports that schools across the U.S. are “replacing William Shakespeare and T.S. Eliot with profane rap groups like ‘Run-DMC’ and ‘Geto Boys.’” If rap music is that which some punk is playing at many stop lights, with his/her window rolled down even in the winter, so as, I suppose, all within earshot could listen to (which sound could reach for blocks), is what some tax paid educators(?) are teaching, they must have learned this at a different college than the school teachers I know. How could anyone learn English from words too difficult to understand. Maybe a person just has to get used to it. The titles and words of the music of the rap groups above are to vulgar too print here or any where else. God is not in this! (1 John 2:15) “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” —WWM

Univ. Grads Permitted to Honor Terrorists— The Univ. of Calif. Irvine has permitted a Muslim student graduating organization to honor a Muslim terrorists group. After all, the standard argument is freedom of speech for all Americans. It seems to matter little what group it is that wants to support opposition to Christian America, they some how get their way. The U.S. President gets maligned for fighting terrorists while taxpayers pay for the education of a group who honor them. Something seems a little warped. (John 16:33) “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” That helps! —WWM

Fed. Judge Says Women’s Rights to Abortion Trumps Unborn’s Pain— Pro-life advocates and Christian groups nationwide are reacting strongly to a liberal San Francisco federal judge’s declaration that the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act is unconstitutional. Federal Judge Phyllis Hamilton ruled on Tuesday that a woman’s right to have an abortion is paramount, and that it’s “irrelevant” whether the unborn child suffers pain in the process. (AgapePress, 6/2/04) It may be ‘irrelevant’ to this unscrupulous female judge, but she should read what the Judge of all the earth says about it. (Exo. 21:22a,23) “If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her,...and if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,...” Such a betrayal against human life brings the words of Jesus to mind. (Mark 14:21b) “. . . good were it for that man (Gr. anthropos; human being) if he had never been born.” —WWM

Radical or Realist?— “For several years now, radical Muslims in northern and central Nigeria have been carrying out a ‘holy’ war, or jihad, against Christians. The attackers, mostly Fulani Muslims, use guns and machetes as their weapons of destruction. They make no distinction between men, women, and children...” (AgapePress, 6/7/04) In every area where Islam is in the majority their holy war is primarily against Christianity. Be sure where the Islam religion gains majority their doctrine will become more pronounced. Christianity in America is not immune from an Islamic jihad any more than from terrorist. Let our hope be in the true God. (Exo. 23:22) “But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.” —WWM

Another Scripturally Sound Fool— The Lutheran minister who proclaimed last year that there was no God or afterlife was suspended for a second time Thursday for ignoring church orders not to repeat those beliefs from the pulpit. (Berean Call, 6/18/04) At least one Lutheran church has a fool for a preacher. (Psa. 14:1) “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” This Lutheran minister stopped woefully short of Solomon’s wisdom. (1 Kgs. 8:23) “And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee , in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:” He may not be the only minister who questions God’s existence and supremacy. Pray for men like Alabama’s former Chief Justice Roy Moore who testified before the Senate Judiciary sub-committee and reportedly made this complaint, “We have the federal courts coming into our states telling us we cannot acknowledge God.” —WWM

Vulgar Arts Tax Supported— “In votes Wednesday, the House...approved an amendment by Rep. Louise Slaughter, D—N.Y., adding $10 million to the National Endowment for the Arts’ budget, bringing its total to $131 million.” (Muth’s NVs, 6/18/04) The NEA repeatedly displays art(?) that is too vulgar for adults to view, and more so for mixed crowds and children. Yet somehow the majority of our elected officials have no spiritual integrity or this would not happen. It is little wonder organizations such as the ACLU make lawmakers shudder. (Eccl. 12:13) “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” —WWM

Pentecostal Explosion?— “I think it will be a historic event because we’re going to train 10,000 people how to minister healing,” Frances Hunter, 88, said. “When we anoint the 10,000 people on the healing team, do you have any idea the explosion of power that’s going to go out?” she added. (Crosswalk, 6/17/04) Ms. Hunter has a husband, Charles, and they have worked together as a team is such a ministry since 1985. In this report she does all the reporting and it is my guess that she has for the past 20 years or so. She doesn’t know any more about teaching healing than she does about not speaking in church or asking her husband when they get home. (1 Cor. 14:34,35) Beware of false teachers who bring in damnable heresies.(2 Pet. 2:1) —WWM

This Is VBS?— Since the beginning of my remembrance, VBS in church circles has stood for Vacation Bible School. The Word of God is not only under attack by so called translators, it is sadly being left out of much church activity. The First Baptist Church has this announcement in their town paper. “...a ventriloquist, illusionist, and children pastor..., will be conducting Super VBS...at Granite (OK) First Baptist Church.” (Granite Enterprise, 6/24/04) The article continues to explain that this year’s “VBS will feature puppets, balloon animals, magical illusions, fire-eating sponsors, . . .” There will be a Carnival the following Sunday of this three day VBS. Bible study classes are not mentioned. Sounds like Manasseh getting busy rebuilding the high places which Hezekiah had broken down. Manasseh “used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards:” to gain a following. The Bible reports than Manasseh “wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger” (2 Chron. 6). Paul instructed Timothy to “preach the Word.” (2 Tim. 4:2) The feeble argument is that children cannot understand Bible teaching. Timothy was only a child when taught the Scriptures by a faithful parent. (2 Tim. 3:15) Makes one wonder if it is the children that can’t learn or the teachers that can’t teach? —WWM

Teach Children Atheism, Let Them Decide— The Institute for Public Policy Research recommends that atheism be added to British school curricula and explicitly taught. A similar change has already been made in Scotland. The report says (3/04 Faith and Freedom): “Children should be taught atheism and then allowed to make up their minds on the validity of religion or atheism on the basis of which is best supported by the evidence.” Britain is now a secular society (Rom. 1:28) with “only 7% of the population attending a place of worship each week.” Evolution and humanism are already standard fare in most U.S. textbooks. —(Calvary Contender , hereafter CC.)

Anglican Archbishops Won’t Accept Funding From ‘Apostates’— Anglican archbishops in Africa have delivered a stinging rebuke to the Episcopal Church (ECUSA). The Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) voted to reject funds from any diocese that recognizes homosexual clergy (5/1 World) and to refuse cooperation with any missionary who supports ordaining gay priests. The consecration (by ECUSA) of Gene Robinson (an open homosexual living with his partner) last year set off a global fracas that may split the ECUSA and worldwide Anglicans. The CAPA leader said “we will not on the altar of money” mortgage our conscience, our faith, our salvation. —CC

Homosexual Master Plan to Destroy Family— Homosexual activists’ goals for the destruction of the family include: universal acceptance of the gay lifestyle, destruction of Scriptures that condemn homosexuality, muzzling of clergy and Christian media, special privileges in the law, overturning laws prohibiting pedophilia, indoctrinating children through public education, etc. (Dr. James Dobson newsletter, 4/04). Some danger points: 1.With the legalization of homosexual marriage, all public schools will be required to teach that this perversion is the moral equivalent of traditional marriage 2. Foster-care parents will be required to undergo “sensitivity training” to rid themselves of bias and must affirm homosexuality in youth 3. The impact of homosexual marriage will spread through the world and lead to polygamy 4. It will create millions of motherless and fatherless children. So far, only Belgium, the Netherlands, and Canada [and Mass.] have authorized homosexual marriage. —CC

Ministry Goes To Extreme To Attract Youth— Tulsa’s Church on the Move, is a charismatic megachurch, “big on show and short on spirituality,” There is dancing, worship, video games, but no “hokey sing-along” games. The ministry is called “Oneighty” and Blaine Bartel is its national director. He “makes the Bible more accessible.” Instead of saying, “Thou shalt not whatever,” he’ll say, “This is what you shouldn’t do.” This entertainment-based approach draws a crowd but has little effect on long-term spiritual growth. —CC

‘Methodists Should Split But Won’t’ — Over 1,000 delegates met in Pittsburgh April 27—May 7 for the quadrennial General Conference of the United Methodist Church. One issue (homosexuality) dominated the meeting. It is also dominating other liberal mainline denominations including the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Episcopal Church. The UMC Book of Discipline says the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching, and “self-avowed, practicing homosexuals shall not be appointed to serve” in the UMC. There were suggestions of splitting, schism, and a lopsided vote for a unity resolution (869—41) drew the conclusion that “we’re not ready to talk about an amicable separation” and, “the church should split, but won’t.” —CC

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