By E. L. Bynum
From time to time someone sends me printed material spewing out venom and hatred for the Jews. Recently I was sent two editions of a tabloid size paper called “The Truth at Last.” It is filled with hateful words against Jews. It is filled with pictures of Americans who are blamed for just about everything that goes wrong in our society.
They did not say that a Jew was the cause of the human race going into sin in the Garden of Eden. Maybe that was because even they knew that no Jews existed then. They did not say that Jews were the cause of all sickness and death, but maybe they will get around to that in due time.
The Jew Haters Are in Strange Company
This publication does condemn Communism, but of course they find no fault with the Nazis. Hitler did not kill large numbers of Jews. In fact I did not see anything that condemned Hitler at all. So their view is that Communism is bad, but Hitler was good. Many of them believe that the horrors of Auschwitz never happened. Some of them believe that some Jews were killed at Auschwitz, but no more than 50 or 100 thousand. As if that was an insignificant number even if they were right. How misinformed these people are. The liberals have tried to say that Stalin was right wing, and that Hitler was left wing for a long time. Actually they are both the tools of Satan, and we can safely say that Communism and Nazism are twin sisters of evil hatched in the same nest.
According to them the Jews are the cause of World War II, the Middle East conflict, and our battle against evil in Afghanistan and Iraq. Jews in our government and other places of influence hatched these wars. We must not forget that the nation of Israel is to be blamed for all of this. Have they also accepted the Islamic propaganda that said that Jews not Arabs flew the planes into the twin towers on 9-11-01? I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be surprised.
The Arabs claim that they descended from Ishmael the son of Abraham by Hagar the Egyptian handmaid of Sarah. They are right on that, but they are wrong in thinking that they are the rightful heirs of the blessings of Abraham. We need to remember what the angel of the Lord told Hagar. “And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.” (Genesis 16:10-12) This prophecy has proven to be true. We see it fulfilled in the vast numbers of Arabs in the world, and their war like nature.
Join the hate-the-Jews movement and you will join a vast number of diverse groups that have hated the Jews. (1) We shall let the descendants of Ishmael head this list, because they have been one of the first and most consistent enemy of the Jews. (2) Of course we must not forget Pharaoh the Egyptian who enslaved them for several generations. (3) The Amalekites, Philistines, Moabites, Amorites and other ancient assorted neighbors of Israel also should be included. (4) How can we forget the cruel Assyrians who enslaved the 10 Northern tribes and many others from the tribe of Judah? (5) We should remember that Babylon carried Judah into captivity in the days of Daniel. (See Daniel 1; 2 Chronicles 36). This was because of the Jews’ sin, but this does not excuse Babylon for their wickedness.
(6) We must not forget Adolph Hitler and his wicked minions. What a wicked ungodly crowd to be identified with, but that is the crowd you join when you become a Jew hater. You are joining in with Saddam Hussein, Osama Bin Loden, Arafat, and multitudes of other wicked people who hate the Jews.
Jew Haters Do Not Understand What the Bible Teaches
Many of them fall for the grievous error of believing that the unbelief of the Jews canceled out all the promised blessings of God that are found in the Old Testament. They believe that these blessings have now been given to the church. There is no Scripture that proves such fiction.
God’s Promise to Abram
The covenant made with Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3, and confirmed and enlarged to him in Genesis 12:6-7; 13:14-17; 15:1-21; 17:1-14; 22:15-18, entitled certain basic promises. These have been summarized:
1. That Abraham’s name shall be great.
2. That a great nation should come from him.
3. He should be a blessing so great that in him shall all families of the earth be blessed.
4. To him personally (“to thee”) and to his seed should be given Palestine forever to inherit.
5. Multitude of his seed - be as the dust of the earth.
6. That whoever blessed him should be blessed, and whosoever cursed him should be cursed.
7. He should be the father of many nations.
8. Kings should proceed from him.
9. Covenant – perpetual, “an everlasting covenant.”
10. The land of Canaan shall be “an everlasting possession.”
11. God will be a God to him and to his seed.
12. His seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.
13. In his seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.
When these particulars are analyzed, it will be seen that certain individual promises were given to Abraham, and certain national promises respecting the nation of Israel, of which he was the father, were given to him, and certain universal blessings that encompassed all nations were given to him. The historical procession of the promises are confirmed to Isaac (Gen. 26:3). They are also confirmed to Jacob (Gen.28:14; 35:11-12).
These promises are repeated to David on numerous occasions. Try as you will, you cannot get away from God’s promises to Israel.
The New Testament Confirms God’s Promises to the Jews
We begin with a Jew according to the flesh. Remember what Mary was promised. “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever ; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:30-33)
The family tree of Jesus Christ is traced back to Adam through David and Abraham (Luke 3:23-38). He is also traced back to Abraham and David through the tribe of Judah. (Matthew 1:1-16). This establishes the fact that He was a Jew according to the flesh, but conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit.
All the Old Testament prophets beginning with Moses were Israelites. All of the Apostles were also Israelites.
Has God Ever Changed His Promises to the Jews?
Jesus promised that His apostles would judge (ruler over) the twelve tribes of Israel in the coming kingdom. “Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matthew 19:27-28) This promise is also given in the book of Luke. (Luke 22:28-30)
When his disciples asked Him if He would at this time restore the kingdom to Israel, He told them that they were not to know the times or seasons. (Acts 1:6-7) He did not deny that the kingdom would be restored, but in reality He taught that it would.
Paul proved conclusively that God has not cast Israel away. (Romans 11:1-5) He said that even though they as branches had been broken off, that God would graft them back into the tree. (Romans 11:21-29)
Revelation and the Jews
The last book of the Bible is prophetic and most of it from chapter 4 to the end of the book is yet to be fulfilled. Revelation 7 is yet in the future, and it lists all 12 tribes that will be in existence during the seven-year tribulation. This includes the tribe of Judah from whence Jesus Christ was born. So the Jew haters will fail, in spite of all their venomous hate and persecution. God will preserve this nation just as He promised. This does not mean that Jews are not sinners. They have to be saved as individuals just as do the Gentiles. They have suffered down through the ages and they will yet suffer more, but God still has a great purpose for them. They will yet turn to Jesus Christ and what a glorious day that will be.
They were chosen of God to establish the nation and family that Jesus Christ would be born into. They were chosen of God to give to us the O.T. Law. The were chosen of God to receive the oracles of God and pass the word of God to the world. The Apostle Paul plainly tells us that God committed the Word to the Jews. “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.” (Romans 3:1-2)
The evidence clearly shows that every book of the O.T. was written by a prophet, priest, or king of Israel. All the N.T. was written by people from the same nation with the possible exception of the two books written by Luke. I have never been convinced by any real proof that he was not of the Hebrew race.
The first Church that Jesus established was made up completely of men of Israel. The early churches were made up of the same kind of people along with Gentiles.
The first missionaries were of the Hebrew race, and if it had not been for them, we would all be worshiping false gods, as did our ancestors.
The hate-the-Jew movement prevalent is evil and Satanic. How anyone that claims to be a Christian could ever believe any of their lies is a mystery to me.
By E. L. Bynum
Multitudes are being led astray by the doctrine of baptismal regeneration. Some call it baptismal remission, but it really makes no difference, since both teach that salvation comes in the waters of baptism. This is an old, old heresy. It began quite early in church history and led eventually to the formation of the Roman Catholic apostate religion. The newer groups that promote this heresy are merely following in the footsteps of Roman Catholicism.
The key verse for those who teach salvation by water is Acts 2:38. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” In giving an explanation of this verse, I will quote a learned Bible scholar of the past.
Repent (metanoesate, 2 per., pl., aor. 1, impera. of metanoeo, “to change one’s mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins, Acts 2:38" —Thayer).
Be baptized (baptistheto, aor. 1, imperat., pass., baptizo, “an immersion in water performed as a sign of the removal of sin, and administered to those who, impelled by a desire for salvation, sought admission to the benefits of the Messiah’s kingdom” - Thayer). Mr. Thayer’s first definition is, “properly, to dip repeatedly, to immerse, submerge (of vessels sunk).” Why the passive voice to the verb “be baptized?” Because they had complied with verse 21, for the passive voice represents an act in obedience to a previous act–it shows that the subject has been acted upon, in obedience to something.
How absurd is the idea that baptism must first be performed in order to secure something that previous existed. Upon what does the sinner’s hope depend, Jesus or baptism? Who was set apart for the sins of the world, Jesus or baptism?
Some will answer “Jesus” is the sinner’s hope, and was set apart for the sins of the world, but will add that we get into Jesus by repentance and baptism. This requires action on the part of the sinner. Let’s examine the verbs “repent” and “be baptized,” and see whether they show any action on the sinner’s part. The verb “repent” shows something that the sinner can do–change his mind–an active act. But he cannot baptize himself. It has just been shown that a sinner must act and that baptism is part of the acting “role” in order to get into Christ and yet he can’t act in the baptism of himself. What is the trouble?
The trouble lies within the minds of designing men, who teach that baptism is a part of the plan of salvation. The verb “be baptized” is passive voice, which shows that the subject does not act in order to get forgiveness of sins, but that his sins are already forgiven in obedience to a past act of the mind-repentance.
A passive act never secures a direct result, but is always the result of a previous active act. Exam.: John struck William. Who received the act? William. Why? Because William had done something to John that caused the blow–a previous active act of William’s caused him to be struck by John.
Why were they baptized? As a result of a previous active act–repentance. In every instance in the Bible where people have been baptized, it has been in obedience to some previous act, and the same is always represented by the passive voice. Neither Thayer nor Liddell & Scott ever renders the preposition eis (into) by the words “in order to.”
Those who would use Acts 2:38 to prove baptismal regeneration, are basing their proposition on a preposition. The little Greek word “eis” is here translated “for,” but is translated in the New Testament in the following ways and number of times: “against” 25, “among” 16, “at” 20, “for” 91, “in” 131, “into” 571, “that” 30, “on” 57, “to” 282, “toward” 32, “unto” 208, and “upon” 25. So you can see that they are making a foolish mistake to base a vital doctrine on a little 3 letter preposition that is translated in so many different ways. The baptismal regeneration crowd interpret “eis” “for” in Acts 2:38 to mean “in order to,” thus causing a person to be baptized “in order to” be saved or to receive remission of sins.
Let us notice how that “eis” is used in Matt. 12:41. “The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at (eis) the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.” They repented not “in order” to Jonah’s preaching, but “because of” the preaching of Jonah.
Of “eis” in Acts 2:38, Dr. Carl E. Sadler has the following to say in his notes on Acts.
The Greek word “eis” about which all this contention is in Acts 2:38 is used with the word baptize or word baptism in three other passages: In Matt. 3:11, you have baptism eis repentance. Eis cannot mean in order to there, but because of repentance. Every Campbellite, Mormon, and others who teach baptism in order for remission of sin admits that repentance comes before baptism. In Romans 6:3, you find the expression baptism eis the death of Jesus. Eis cannot mean in order to there, but must mean because of; both because Christ was already dead and raised again, and because in baptism we declare that we died with Him, and have been raised with Him. In I Cor. 10:2, we have the expression eis Moses. Eis cannot mean in order to there, because they were not baptized in the cloud and in the sea in order to get Moses to be their leader, but because he was their leader. He had already led them out of Egypt. If baptism eis repentance in Matt. 3:11 means be baptized because they repented, if baptism, or be baptized eis the death of Christ means be baptized because Christ died and we died with Him, if “were baptized eis Moses” in I Cor. 10:2 means they were baptized because Moses was their leader, then it follows conclusively that “be baptized eis remission” in Acts 2:38 must mean be baptized because your sins have been remitted.
Dr. Sadler further says, “The argument that the Campbellites make that the expression, for remission of, modifies both verbs, repent and be baptized, won’t hold water. Repent is a plural verb, active voice, second person, has ye for its subject, and was addressed to the whole crowd. Be baptized is a singular verb, passive voice, third person, and has for its subject, not the whole crowd, but only such as had repented and believed. For remission does not modify both verbs. It modifies baptized only, and means that everyone who has repented and trusted in Christ is commanded to be baptized because his sins are remitted.”
While I am on the subject, I might as well deal with Romans 6:3, for the Acts 2:38 crowd will sometimes harp on this verse also. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ...” “INTO” is the same Greek word “eis.” We are not saved by being “baptized INTO Jesus Christ,” as some of these false teachers would have you to believe. The foolishness of such an argument is certainly made to seem ridiculous by comparing I Corinthians 10:1,2 with Romans 6:3. The scripture speaks of Israel’s passing through the Red Sea, “And were all baptized UNTO Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” “UNTO” is the same Greek “eis” that we have above and could have been as well translated “into” or “for.” Yet, we know they were not baptized into or for Moses, nor were they saved at the Red Sea. Their salvation is to be found in Exodus 12:7,12,13, where the blood on the door posts was the only means of safety. It is even so today, for only the blood of Christ can cleanse from sin. Baptism has no meaning until the blood of Christ is applied by faith. Indeed baptism cannot take place until the soul is saved. One may be immersed, but only a saved person can be baptized. Unsaved people may go through the motions, but it is not real, but only an act or pretense until one is saved.
The Israelites could have ignored the blood, and they could have run down to the Nile River and immersed one another, but they would not have been “baptized unto Moses,” for they would not have been obeying God or Moses. The blood saved them from the wrath of God, while the baptism at the Red Sea saved them from the wrath of Pharaoh. Man can kill the body, but only God can kill the soul. (See Exodus 12:12; Matthew 10:28). The soul is saved by “grace through faith” (Eph. 2:8,9), and this always comes before baptism. Baptism is a testimony of salvation, and every saved person should submit to Scriptural baptism. The “dipped or be damned” crowd have neither salvation or baptism, for when they reverse the scriptural order or sequence of the two, you nullify both (or make it impossible to have either). (Of course you understand that the baptism of Israel in the Old Testament was not New Testament baptism).
When the children of Israel “were all baptized unto (eis) Moses in the cloud and in the sea,” they were giving a testimony. The armies of Pharaoh were there in great strength, ready to capture and take them back to Egypt. But they were not captured, and they were not taken back. Instead of going back, the children of Israel continued to submit to the leadership of Moses, and marched through the Red Sea dry shod. With a wall of water on either side, and the glory cloud above them, they present a beautiful type of New Testament baptism. They were testifying to the world that they no longer were in submission to Pharaoh, but they were following the leadership of Moses. When a saved person submits to Scriptural baptism, they are saying to the world that they are no longer under its dominion, but that they are following the leadership of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Mark 16:16 we find the emphasis is on believing. It does not say, “he that is baptized not shall be damned.” Their argument here is very weak. The saved by water crowd pass over what they do not want to believe. They often quote Acts 2:38, but you will never hear them quote Acts 3:19. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out....” Since it does not mention water or baptism, they never find time to quote it at all.
—Reprinted from the Plains Baptist Challenger, November 1983
Dr. Thomas M. Strouse
(Editors Note: We are publishing this timely article. This kind of information is badly needed today. The problems in the FBFI is similar to the difficulties that can be found in the other fundamental Baptist Fellowships. The preachers of the BBFI, WBF, and the Southwide Baptist Fellowship are following down the same path in my judgment. This kind of unscriptural thinking is being promoted by many today. –E. L. Bynum)
Introduction
The 84th meeting of the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International (FBFI) passed Resolution 04-07: Concerning unity in the essentials. The resolution in part states: “Historic Fundamentalism exercised great latitude among the brethren regarding convictions over which good men disagree. Therefore we must not so restrict this latitude in our day by narrowing our fellowship exclusively to those brethren with whom we agree on all points and thereby hinder the greater cause of Christ. We must continue to study, know, and defend the essentials and to agree to disagree, if necessary, on those which are not (such as philosophy of youth work, pastoral authority, political involvement, versions, certain aspects of Calvinism, dating, divorce, evangelism/discipleship methodology, etc.)...we must prioritize an active love for our brethren, so that we demonstrate a Biblically-based tolerance towards those with whom we disagree” (“2004 FBFI Resolutions,” FrontLine, July/August 2004: 23).
The Practice of the FBFI
The FBFI is unscriptural in its practice, influence and nature. The Bible does not teach at all the practice of arbitrarily dividing the Bible into essential and non-essential teachings. Paul claimed that he had “not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). The counsel of God includes “the baptism of John” (cf. Lk. 7:29-30), which is only a “non-essential” to the denominationalists. Since Paul taught the same thing in all of the churches (I Cor. 4:17), and what he taught ultimately ended up as his canonical epistles, then the Pauline Epistles are his contribution to “the essentials.” A brief sampling of his Epistles shows what essentials he taught about the Biblical “philosophy” and “methodology” of youth work (I Tim. 4:12; 6:11-14), of pastoral authority (I Tim. 3:1-7; 5:17-22), of political involvement (I Tim. 2:1-4; cf. Rom. 13:1 ff.), of versions (I Tim. 1:4; 6:3-5), of Calvinism (II Tim. 2:10), of dating (I Thess. 4:3; I Cor. 7:39b), of divorce (I Cor. 7:10-11), and of evangelism/discipleship (II Tim. 2:24-26). Furthermore, Jude originally was going to deal with the common salvation but was led to write on “earnestly contending for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3). This “faith” of course was the objective body of Christian truth known as the inscripturated words of the Lord (cf. Acts 2:42; 6:7; Rom. 6:17; Gal. 1:23; 3:23). Finally, the Lord Jesus Christ commanded the church at Jerusalem to “observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Mt. 28:20). This no doubt refers to all of the Old and New Testament text and canon.
The non-biblical practice of dividing the Bible into essential and non-essential teachings is exacerbated by the attempt to comprehend who has been given this authority to make such divisions. Although the Lord’s churches are “the pillar and ground of the truth” (I Tim. 3:15), no one has the authority to pick and choose his way through the truth seeking supposed essentials while selectively ignoring supposed non-essentials. Paul told Timothy to “preach the word” (II Tim. 4:2). The Bible gives no lists and no “office of list-makers.” How does one become a member on a committee to determine the lists of essential and non-essential teachings of Scripture, and what parameters are used to make such determinations? These questions about and this practice of “selective theology” undermine church authority, and, therefore, Christ’s authority, essentially replacing the Lord with a humanly originated committee (Nicolaitanism?). The Lord’s candlesticks do not need this Protestant approach to church control which is really “ neo-catholic” hierarchicalism.
The Influence of the FBFI
The FBFI is unscriptural in its influence as well. Dare anyone who is officially associated with the FBFI challenge the contents of the lists or those who make up the lists of essential and non-essential teachings? Would censure fall upon those who are not officially associated with the FBFI, but want the countenance of the official committee members and/or their respective churches, and would dare challenge the lists and the list-makers? The fear of pseudo-authorities outside of the autonomous church is the first step toward neo-catholicism (cf. I Pet. 5:3). Solomon’s wise caveat should be heeded by the Lord’s churches: “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe” (Prov. 29:25). These list-makers design their lists of essentials and non-essentials to engender the fear of man. Indeed, many faithful servants of Christ in His churches have experienced censure from these man-made institutions.
The Nature of the FBFI
Most significantly, however, is the unscriptural nature of the FBFI. Its practice, although popular, and its influence, although widespread, are based upon the faulty premise that “the greater cause of Christ” is to unite Christians in a non-biblical para-church organization which attempts to supersede the Lord’s candlesticks. This self-proclaimed movement of “Historic Fundamentalism” is another name for fundamentalist ecumenicalism, which exists because of the erroneous “mystical body,” Protestant church mentality. The Bible neither speaks of an invisible body or a territorial church (the invisible universal entity in Scripture is the Kingdom of God [Jn. 3:3; Lk. 17:20] and Paul addressed the Corinthian Church as “the body of Christ” [I Cor. 12:27]). Baptists do not need an organized movement beyond the local church to tell them what teachings are essential and what teachings are non-essential. When the Apostle Paul left the Ephesian elders, he did not commend them to a religious organization of Fundamentalists or to a list of fundamentals, but he commended them “to God, and to the word of his grace” (Acts 20:32). Since there is no biblically sanctioned Christian organization beyond the local church, there is no need to “demonstrate a Biblically-based tolerance towards those with whom we disagree.” Paul gave warnings to churches on how to handle heresy (admonish twice then reject [Tit. 3:10]) and what to do with those whose practice and doctrine did not agree with his plain teaching, even his teaching about the Pre-Tribulation Rapture (withdraw from and make ashamed [II Thess. 3:6; 14]).
Conclusion
The FBFI is a man-made religious organization that exists over and beyond the local church and which purpose is to unite Baptists around lists of essential and non-essential doctrines, thus producing a false unity around minimal doctrine, all for the supposed greater cause of Christ. The FBFI is non-biblical because it has no Scriptural authority for its nature, its practice and its influence. The Lord’s institution of the local church is sufficient in and of itself, because it has Him as its Head (Rev. 2-3; Eph. 1:22-23), and the Holy Spirit as its Teacher (Jn. 16:13-15). May the Lord’s churches have rest from this type of humanistic religious enslavement (cf. Acts 9:31; Jn. 8:31-32). Any critic of this expose with the charge of lack of brotherly love, should consider the Apostle Paul’s teaching, declaring that “charity...rejoiceth in the truth” ( I Cor. 13:4, 6; cf. Gal. 2:11).
Dr. Thomas M. Strouse is the Dean of Emmanuel Baptist Theological Seminary, Newington, CT 06111
Veneration of relics, saints and images of saints is big business in Roman Catholicism. Every altar to be consecrated must include a venerable relic of some sort. One church claims to have a vial of the Virgin Mary’s milk in its altar, another a swatch of the swaddling clothes used at Jesus’ birth, another a thorn from the crown that was placed on Jesus’ brow. It is said that there are so many chips of wood from the cross that if they were all assembled together, they would fill a ten ton truck. Even Martin Luther wondered how there could be twenty-six apostles buried in Europe when there were only twelve! Saintly bones and the clothing they wore or the artifacts they touched are said to be especially efficacious agents of divine grace. It is interesting that wherever a relic is displayed, an offering box is usually nearby.
In Rome there is a set of stairs on which it is said Jesus stood when He appeared before Pilate. At the top, covered by a small plate of glass, is a drop of blood – said to be a drop of Jesus’ blood. Legend has it that those stairs were transported from Jerusalem to Rome one night by an angel and installed near one of the chapels to increase its holiness.
In Catholic theology a saint is a person officially recognized as worthy of public veneration and capable of interceding for the living. Vatican II upheld the Council of Trent which laid the groundwork for so many unscriptural practices and declared the worship of Catholic saints a good and useful thing on account of the benefits to be obtained from God by their intercession.
It is variously estimated that there are twenty to thirty thousand Catholic saints. Many are honored annually at festivals and feasts. In fact, they fill the liturgical calendar, for there are several to venerate (worship) every day of the year.
There are saints for almost every need and vocation. There is Saint James for those with arthritis, Saint Vitus for those with nerve diseases, Saint Anthony to find lost articles, Saint Thomas Aquinas for students, Saint Expedite for prostitutes, Saint Catherine for nurses, Saint James the Greater for laborers, Saint Ives for lawyers, Saint Brendan who supposedly discovered America nine hundred years before Columbus, Saint John Bosco who died in 1888 but is the patron of the film industry and Saint Simeon of Stylites for flagpole sitters (he sat atop a 60 foot pillar for thirty-six years), and on and on.
Saints may rise or fall according to who is pope. At the present time the Catholic pontiff is encouraging the canonization of both Pius VII and John XXIII in an effort to rescue Pius XII from his unsavory reputation of favoring Adolph Hitler and the Nazis – that is, when he thought Germany would win the war. The Catholic church is patient and knows that people forget.
Saints can be demoted, too. In 1969 two hundred were dropped among them the famous Saint Christopher who is said to have never existed. Of course, Rome claims saints who were not even Roman Catholic such as Saint Patrick, who opposed many dogmas and practices of Romanism.
Assuming that some of Rome’s “saints” are actually in heaven, none of them would possess the omnipresence necessary in order to hear thousands of simultaneous prayers from devotees around the world. Heaven is not a political arena of promotions, demotions and favoritism. It offers no balm for religious rackets of relics or images. When it is all said and done, isn’t it better to simply trust Jesus as our living Saviour and do as the Scriptures say? “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16.
–Mission To Catholics Challenger
–Reprinted from the Plains Baptist Challenger, July 1983
Three major independent Baptist fellowships (Baptist Bible, Southwide, and World Baptist), fulfilling a “vision” of Dr. John Rawlings, came together at Highland Park Baptist Church (Chattanooga). Each Fellowship met and voted in late September. The SBF voted 215 to 58 to accept the officers presented, and to continue to be a part of the IBN. We were able to attend some of the services and most of the business meeting. These disparate Fellowships are divided on many issues: KJV, CCM, and New Evangelicalism (Ecclesiastical separation, Promise Keepers, Falwell and other conservative Southern Baptist leaders, e.g.). Adding to the confusion and weak stance is the fact that Falwell is a member of both the BBF and SBC. And Rawlings is Falwell’s mentor, and veteran BBF leader who was unable to speak at the meeting. Apparently two of Dr. Rice’s sons-in-laws, spoke from the floor in favor of the 215 majority. The SBF is now entangled with, and routinely fellowships with, new evangelicals, and compromising Southern Baptist leaders. [Much more could be said if space permitted, CCM rock music, etc.]
Will there now be a faithful remnant in the SBF who will “come out from among them and be separate?” We pray to that end. We grieve at the lack of discernment being evidenced by “fundamentalist” leaders of our day. [2 Cor. 6:17; Zech. 4:50]
—Calvary Contender
By Charles H. Spurgeon
“We believe that the Baptists are the original Christians. We did not commence our existence at the Reformation, we were the reformers before Luther or Calvin were born; we never came from the Church of Rome, for we were never in it, but we have an unbroken line up to the Apostles themselves....Persecuted alike by Romanists and Protestants of almost every sect, yet there has never existed a government holding Baptist principles which persecuted others; nor I believe, any body of Baptists ever held it to be right to put the consciences of others under the control of man. We have ever been ready to suffer, as our martyrologies will prove, but we are not ready to accept any help from the state, to prostitute the purity of the bride of Christ to any alliance with government, and we will never make the Church, although the Queen, the despot over the consciences of men.” –Charles Spurgeon, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Vol. 7, 1861
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.)
Educating Children to Sin— Over two-thirds of UK teachers support a push to inform schoolgirls on how to obtain an abortion. A survey of 700 schoolteachers conducted for the Times Educational Supplement (TES) reveals 69% of teachers think that teaching children how to procure an abortion is in the child’s best interest. In addition, 98% of teachers thought educating children in contraception use was also essential. . . Statistics repeatedly reveal that more aggressive sex education leads to higher rather than lower teenage pregnancies. The UK is a prime example, having Europe’s highest teen pregnancy rate. Despite a heavily funded goal to halve the teenage pregnancy rate by 2010, teenage pregnancy rates there continue to skyrocket. (LifeSiteNews, 2/4/05) Education agencies in America could learn much from observation of this finding. The Bible is a better source for obtaining such knowledge. Carrying a Bible to school has become unlawful reading in our public schools. Would not Bible study in the classroom be better than waiting for years to see our carnal methods fail? —(W. W. Mosley, hereafter WWM)
Sin Benefits?— “If you don’t take a job as a prostitute, we can stop your benefits,”so reads the headlines of a portion of an article on London Daily Telegraph Online, 1/30/05. “A 25-year-old waitress who turned down a job providing ‘sexual services’ at a brothel in Berlin faces possible cuts to her unemployment benefit under laws introduced this year. ...Under Germany’s welfare reforms, any woman under 55 who has been out of work for more than a year can be forced to take an available job – including in the sex industry – or lose her unemployment benefit.” (Prov. 14:34) “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” Most have lost sight of eternal benefits. The results of choosing the wrong benefits are too important to ignore. (Psa. 9:17) “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” —WWM
Before Expense!!— Oklahoma voters passed a lottery bill in the 11/04 elections. An article in The Daily Oklahoman 2/9/05 reported an expected $62 million revenue to assist in OK’s education system. The notice did admit this was before expenditures were deducted. It seems the OK governor as well as law makers need to take a course in business management. If a farmer harvest 2 bales of cotton per acre, he counts it a good crop. Yet if it cost the price of 2.5 bales to get it to the market an epidemic of diminishing returns must be treated from another source. I would be interested to read of the cost of this project before we get to the amount of revenue projected. Incidently revenue implies gain and cannot be counted before cost is calculated. (Luke 14:28) “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” —WWM
Morals Don’t Count?— “Federal Judge Gary Lancaster, a judicial activist appointed by President Bill Clinton, last week discovered a constitutional right to sell obscene films depicting women who are beaten, raped and killed. The ruling came in a case called U.S. v. Extreme Associates. This previously unknown ‘right,’ Lancaster says, emanates from the U.S. Supreme Court’s far-reaching 2003 decision in Lawrence v. Texas which struck down state sodomy laws. The Lawrence decision, Lancaster wrote, ‘can be reasonably interpreted as holding that public morality is not a legitimate state interest sufficient to justify infringing on adult, private, consensual, sexual conduct even if that conduct is deemed offensive to the general public’s sense of morality.’” ( Family Research Council Web., 2/4/05) Moses talked freely concerning morals in government. (Deut. 4:8) “And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?” Unless of course you agree with those who feel the Ten Commandments should be removed from Gov. buildings. We must admit that the Bible is replete with God’s laws governing a nation. (Psa. 33:12) —WWM
Pull ‘um Up Or Pay— “The Virginia state house has voted to outlaw the trend of wearing trousers so low that underwear hangs over the top.” (BBC News, 2/9/05) The trend of wearing baggy pants has progressed to the disgraceful. Youth dumbing down in attire has been picked up mainly from the rap music crowd. Its going to cost to bare the body in VA. Too much revelation could cost the culprit up to $50. The VA state congress has moved in the right direction. The cost will be greater when account to God’s law of modesty must be answered to. Under OT law modesty was demanded in service. (Exo. 28) NT grace also supports modesty in apparel. (1 Tim. 2:8,9) —WWM
Internet Gambling On The Rise— Since gambling hit the Internet the desired pot has rapidly grown. “This year the pot will grow to an astounding $10 billion, up by 40 percent over the take in 2004. Not bad when you consider that the whole Internet gambling business is operating outside the law.”(NewsMax Online, 2/8/05) The ‘get rich quick’ obsession has hit our nation with fury. Raising money for everything from subsidizing healthcare facilities to financing the senior class trip seems to require the selling of “chances” on something. The Christian’s life is not one of chance, but it is of confidence in the Lord. Faith is not a risk but a righteous depending on our Holy God. (Heb. 11:6) “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” It is sin to gamble, it is glorifying to God to have faith. —WWM
One Worldism— International religion is rapidly being accepted. A one world church is in the making. Closely related to this is a one world government. All this fulfilling Bible prophecy. Look for subtle legislation from liberal law makers that will forfeit our national freedom. As national freedom goes, so goes the freedom to worship the true God. An equalization of wealth, an international regulation of personal accumulation of capital, are trademarks of communism. Not only is this possible, it is altogether believable under a multinational court system with power to enforce penalties for non-compliance. The kings of the earth are ready to drink of the same cup. All this under the guise of worshiping a common god. Our God is not ‘common,’ but is mighty to the “pulling down of strong holds.” (1 Cor. 10:4) Pray!!! —WWM
Dolly the Sheep/Polly the Soul— The scientist whose research team cloned Dolly the Sheep will soon be cloning human beings legally in Great Britain. The British government licensed Ian Wilmut Feb. 8 to clone human embryos for medical research. Wilmut intends to use the embryos for research on motor neuron disease, according to the AP. (Baptist Press, 2/10/05) Dictionary definition of ‘clone:’ One or more identical organisms descended asexually from a single ancestor. Although stated differently, this was said of Jesus. (Luke 1:34) “Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” Many of the same researchers above deny the possibility of Jesus having only one earthly ancestor. Yet spend untold millions to produce a human from a single ancestor. Who is trying to be like the Most High God? (Isa. 14:12-14) —WWM
Leading Abortion Provider Seeking New Leadership— Gloria Feldt, 62, resigned suddenly Jan. 27 after eight years as PPFAs president. She did not provide an explanation upon her resignation but has since told the AP her departure was amicable after several months of discussions with the organizations board of directors. PPFA endorsed Democrat John Kerry for president last year, the first time it had endorsed a candidate for the White House. Feldt told the AP it was not Planned Parenthoods fault that the pro-choice candidate didn’t win. ...PPFA affiliates performed about 244,000 abortions in 2003, according to the AP. (Baptist Press, 2/10/05)
Tax Dollars At Work— A Democratic state senator (Tony Rand) ordered his staff to remove a cross, Bibles and hymnals from the nondenominational chapel in the rotunda of the North Carolina legislative building, saying the Christian emphasis was inappropriate in a public building used by people of different faiths. (Crosswalk, 2/10/05) Two hundred years ago Sen. Rand would never have thought of political correctness. Only Christians and maybe a few unbelievers would then have been elected to such an high office. That probably would have left out this senator who is more concerned about offending false religion than the living God. —WWM
Hungry For Spiritual Truth?— Baptist Press, 2/14/05 reports that the vice president and publisher for Bibles for Zondervan said the 18-34 year olds are ‘hungry for spiritual truth.’ With this in mind, Zondervan is publishing the ‘gender-neutral’ Todays New International Version. It is a revision of the NIV with ‘he’ and ‘him’ made more politically correct for this age group, who are so thirsty for the truth. So now they know the truth better if the TNIV should read, “So God created humans in It’s own image, in the image of It created humans human; human and human created it them.” It is doubtful that even in the TNIV does Gen. 1:27 this injustice. Here is the real reason. The purpose is not to satisfy ‘spiritual hunger.’ None seeketh after God. (Rom. 3:11) It is money!! Remember this proverb: when someone says, “It is not about the money,” hang a flag on it that IT is indeed about the money. —WWM
Boy Scout Boost— The House has voted overwhelmingly, 418-7, for a resolution urging the military to continue supporting Boy Scout jamborees and other activities. Last year, the Pentagon agreed to warn military bases against directly sponsoring Boy Scout troops. That partly settled claims by the American Civil Liberties Union that the government engages in religious discrimination by supporting a group whose members must believe in God. The Pentagon says Boy Scouts can still meet on base like other civilian groups, and military personnel can take part in Scout activities on their own time. The House bill’s supporters condemned the ACLU and praised scouting for developing good citizens. A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate. (AgapePress, 2/10/05) Be sure the ACLU will not abate their goal of expelling God from America. They better enlarge their harvest bins. (Ga.l 6:7) “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” —WWM
Money Matters— Wal-mart “has joined 228 other Fortune 500 companies that offer benefits to same-sex ‘partners’ of employees.” (AgapePress, 2/9/05) The Christian would have to leave this world to escape any contact with such fornicators. (1 Cor. 5:9,10) But it is needful that believers know where their provider of this world’s good stands and take that into consideration. —WWM
More ‘Hate Crime’ News— The Swedish pastor convicted of a hate crime for preaching against homosexuality in 2003 has had his conviction overturned on appeal. ...the pastor of a Swedish Pentecostal church in Kalmar, Sweden, was sentenced in July to one month in prison by a Swedish court for inciting hatred against homosexuals. [He] was prosecuted in January 2004 for hate speech against homosexuals for a sermon he preached citing Biblical references to homosexuality. (LifeSiteNews, 2/11/05) The heathen are raging against the Lord. Laughter at righteousness will soon be met with the laughter of God, as He hold them in contempt. Although the kings of the earth take counsel together, no political correctness can change the fact that sin is sin. (Psa. 2:4) “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.” —WWM
‘Gansta Rap’ Is Often Vile, A Bad Influence— Today’s popular music is so depressing. If today’s rock ‘n’ roll is not anguished and miserable, it is angry and furious. Rap music is filled with violence, promiscuity, and hatred, especially for women (7/24/97 World). Profanity-laden, death-wish lyrics in such music puts harmful ideas in young listeners’ heads – glorying assault, death and rape. Eminem is perhaps the most foul-mouthed, angry, bitter – and popular – rapper of them all and shows his rage at his mother and father [via his songs]. Many rappers never knew their fathers. (Calvary Contender, hereafter CC.)
Dangerous Meditation— Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a veiled form of Hindu/yoga. Initiates to TM receive a mantra (Hindu holy word) to repeat while sitting in yogic postures engaging in yogic breathing. The goal is to find God within their own beings, since God and the self are really one (Nov. 2004 Chr. Today). But seeking enlightenment through meditation opens the soul to deception and to spiritual bondage. —CC
Who Wrote The Bible? - “Bad men or devils would not have written the Bible, for it condemns them and their works. Good men or angels could not have written it, for in saying it was from God when it was but their own invention, they would have been guilty of falsehood, and thus could not have been good. The only remaining being who could have written it, is God – its real author.” - Gospel Standard, 11/04 —CC
Graham Promised Not To Proselytize— In preparing for the Billy Graham crusade in LA last Oct., the Billy Graham organization promised the Roman Catholic archdiocese that Catholics will not be proselytized. This is in keeping with Dr. Graham’s longstanding belief and policy, there will be no proselytizing, and anyone identifying himself as Catholic will be referred to us for reintegration into the life of the Catholic Church......this has been Graham’s working policy since the 1950s. The names of thousands of Catholics have been turned over to Catholic churches for “follow-up.” – turning babes in Christ back over to the wolves! —CC
Purpose Driven Catholic Churches— Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Church Seminars are now being hosted by Roman Catholic Churches. The marketing message on the seminar’s logo reads: “ Implementing the Purpose Driven Church – Growth Without Compromising Your Message or Mission.” Since we know the Roman Church cannot, and never will, compromise its infallibly pronounced gospel of works and sacraments, we must wonder if the “Purpose Driven Seminar gospel is indeed the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” It should not surprise us that Roman Catholic churches are participating in Rick Warren’s seminars. He often quotes Roman Catholic leaders favorably. —CC
SBC Seeks New Alternative To BWA— Two dozen retired chief executives of Southern Baptist entities have declared themselves to be “advocates of the Baptist World Alliance.” Former SBC/BWA leader Duke McCall says “Our purpose is to retain Southern Baptist participation in and support of the BWA.” The SBC’s chief executive Morris Chapman said: “We hope for the BWA God’s blessings in every work they do for the Kingdom’s sake” (1/27 Alabama Baptist). SBC funding of the BWA has been cut but the SBC will continue their dialogue with the BWA toward possibly resolving the dispute. —CC
Spong Debates Mohler— Liberal retired Episcopal bishop, John Shelby Spong, again revealed his extreme liberalism in a debate Dec. 16 with Southern Baptist Seminary president R. Albert Mohler. Spong argued Christianity must be updated for modern times, that in the 21st century it is not realistic for Christians to believe in miracles such as the virgin birth and resurrection of Jesus (12/22 BP). Mohler says we have a choice between the Christianity preached by the Apostles and handed down to us, or Spong’s “Christianity” which is devoid of all that is essential to the faith beginning with a supernatural personal God, all the way down to the incarnation of Christ and His saving work on the cross. —CC
$69,000 Sandwich Has Image of Virgin Mary? Pope Prays to Mary— The highest bid on the online E-bay auction site (at the middle of a recent week) for a partially eaten 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich, which, according to its owner bears the image of the Virgin Mary (11/27 World). Catholics ascribe to Mary powers she never claimed. Pope John Paul II recently prayed to Mary for peace in Iraq and the world at ceremonies marking the 150th anniversary of the Catholic dogma of the Immaculate Conception. (12/10 HT) He called on Mary “to obtain peace and salvation for all peoples.” —CC
Catholic Group To Join New Ecumenical Groub, SBC Declines— The Conference of Catholic Bishops in the U.S., at their fall gathering, voted to join the new ecumenical group, Christian Churches Together in the USA. CCT’s goal is to have the broadest ecumenical umbrella to date, bringing together Catholics, liberal and evangelical Protestants, Baptists, Orthodox, Pentecostals and Charismatics. Its steering committee includes a Catholic Bishop and Cardinal ( O Timothy). A spokesman for the SBC’s No. American Mission Board said “For the most part [emphasis added by CC editor], we don’t do ecumenism because you usually have to give up some doctrinal beliefs or ignore or emphasize others to work with folks that really aren’t on the same path, share the same doctrines, the same beliefs – particularly about salvation......” (1/6 AB). Such alliances are unscriptural and cause confusion. CCT is set to launch formally next fall and be a broader body than the older NCC. —CC
China Gives Religion A New Name: ‘Evil Teachings’— In a sudden wave of Christian arrests last summer, Red China issued a top secret directive to spread Marxism against “Western” attempts to destabilize China with religion, or “evil teachings.” Per our State Department’s 2004 religious-freedom report, about 30 million Protestants and at least 5 million Catholics worship in unofficial house churches. Unregistered churches are not allowed to operate, but enforcement of this varies widely from region to region. —CC
Death Wish— A Hindu seer almost incited a riot by failing to die on Nov. 17. The chief cleric of Sriguru Ashram in India had predicted his soul would leave his body sometime that morning, and 15,000 people showed up to watch. The crowd was quiet when he sat down to meditate at 6 a.m., but turned violent when he was still alive at noon. The seer says he is sorry and “wanted to leave my mortal body, but I could not.” Unless he becomes saved, both his soul and his body will spend eternity in Hell. Souls are perishing and need the Gospel. —CC
Westward Ho!— Europe will have an Islamic majority by the end of this century based on current demographic and migration trends, a leading US Middle East specialist says. “Europe will be part of the Arab west - the Maghreb,” said Bernard Lewis, a Princeton University professor (Berean Call, 8/5/04) More are taking notice of the movement and design of followers of Muhammad. True Islam believes “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger.” Those who believe in the true God and His Son, Jesus Christ, the Creator of the universe, are heretics in the sight of Islam. Christians are doomed to persecution if not death, if they do not convert to Islam in Islam dominated nations. Political correctness will not make Islam a peaceful religion. —WWM
Planned Parenthood On The Legal Carpet— “The Los Angeles, California chapter of the pro-abortion group Planned Parenthood has been the subject of several recent complaints of racism and discrimination by both African-American and Latino employees which were filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as well as the California Fair Employment & Housing Administration. The complaints by the Planned Parenthood employees allege that the group is led by Caucasian women who have created a hostile working environment for men as well as minorities. Also, although they are not supposed to be involved in political activities since they are supposedly a nonprofit organization, there are posters on the wall highly critical and mocking of President George W. Bush and religious conservative Rev. Jerry Falwell.” Mark Crutcher of Life Dynamics, Inc. said, “The organization was started by an admitted eugenicist whose stated goal was to create what she called ‘A Race of Thoroughbreds.’” ( Talon News, 8/20/04) Nothing is said here about the “hostile” environment for the unborn at PP’s abortion clinic. It would be good if all of these employees would file murder charges against PP. —WWM
Gay Marriage Rights Deteriorates Biblical Marriage— “If marriage is all about fulfilling human desires and not parenting (as many proponents of gay marriage argue), it makes sense to dissolve marriages that don’t seem fulfilling. Recent experience in Scandinavia suggests that when a society reduces marriage to this minimalist definition, families dissolve more quickly. British demographer Kathleen Kiernan has shown that since gay marriage came to Scandinavia in the early ‘90s, the out-of-wedlock birthrate has leaped significantly, and the family dissolution rate has risen. Only where the gay marriage movement had little success has the out-of-wedlock birthrate remained low. Marriage has virtually disappeared in the most gay-friendly districts of Norway, formerly the most conservative of the Nordic countries.” (CT, 9/04) God has not joined together any gay couple. What God has joined together are one man & one woman until the death of one or the other or both. As surely as the warning is, let not man put asunder in the case of man and woman, let not man join together man/man or woman/woman. God has already placed His disapproval upon this. —WWM
Beware of ABWE— Baptist churches, associations, fellowships are joining almost anything that will enhance their attendance or raise support for their missionaries. The Association of Baptists for World Evangelism is just such an organization that many are joining. The ABWE was organized in 1927 and since that time other organizations of Baptist and Baptist churches have joined them in world evangelism, a duty that was given only to the local church. All this under the name of Independent Baptist Missions. The BBFI, BIMI, BMM, BWM, and many others who call themselves Fundamental Independent Baptist are all joined together supporting missionaries in this association. Some missionaries sent out by such boards are calling unaffiliated Independent Baptist pastors for appointments to speak. Not every missionary that claims independency is altogether unaffiliated. Beware! —WWM
Aids In Africa - AIDS kills about 6,000 people each day in Africa, more than wars, famines, and floods. Life expectancy in Botswana has dropped to 44. It has 70,000 orphans. Uganda became the first African country to beat back its AIDS epidemic, and AIDS there has declined dramatically through a U.S. funded abstinence/condoms/prevention program. (11/6 World). —via —CC