"Getting Fed": Does This Describe Your Sermons?   Martyn Lloyd-Jones

What is preaching? Logic on fire! Eloquent reason! Are these contradictions? Of course they are not. Reason concerning this Truth ought to be mightily eloquent, as you see it in the case of the Apostle Paul and others. It is theology on fire. And a theology which does not take fire, I maintain, is a defective theology; or at least the man's understanding of it is defective. Preaching is theology coming through a man who is on fire. A true understanding and experience of the Truth must lead to this. I say again that a man who can speak about these things dispassionately has no right whatsoever to be in a pulpit; and should never be allowed to enter one. What is the chief end of preaching? I like to think it is this. It is to give men and women a sense of God and His presence. ... [Read More!]

Confessions of a "Not Being Fed" Pastor

It's a topic that we've talked about before, relating to churches that change over to the trendy, pragmatic, give the audience what they want, style that dominates today's church scene. When a pastor makes the decision to do this switch, one of the first complaints they begin to hear from their flock is "I'm not getting fed here". When this complaint is made, the usual tactic is to turn it around and make it YOUR fault; you are not reading your bible enough, not getting involved in small groups enough, etc. Rarely do these types of pastors consider that there might be some legitimacy in such a complaint, and that the problem is due to their wimpy preaching (as James White called it) . But here's an account of one such pastor who had a change of heart, and seems to have accepted his responsibility in many of those "I'm not getting fed complaints". ... [Read More!]

Church History versus A Misleading Brian McLaren    Link

McLaren is particularly misleading when he's suggesting, as he does quite emphatically at times, that somehow the church went off the rails early on, and that only now are (some) Christians beginning to understand what Jesus was really saying. While McLaren occasionally adds nuances and qualifiers, this ahistorical account runs through [his Everything Must Change] book. In this respect, his message is oddly reminiscent of the ahistorical narrative of church history that dominated the evangelical/fundamentalist churches of my youth. Between an idealized first-century church and the present moment, when the preacher was calling on you to make a decision for Christ, there loomed a great wasteland-all those centuries in which the church failed to heed the plain words of Scripture. ... [Read Link]

Are We Guilty of "Chronological Arrogance"?   Terry L. Johnson

We are technologically superior to previous generations. But are we losing too much in the process? First we walked, then galloped, then road on rails together. Now we drive, largely alone with the window up, and go home to [air conditioned and heated] homes, only coming out to take out the trash or grab the newspaper. Once we entertained ourselves at home by reading books aloud. In the 1920s, families gathered around the radio. In the 1950s, they gathered around the TV. Now there is a TV in each room. Computers will only make it worse. Once the home was a castle, a place of refuge for the family. When behind its doors, the family conducted its affairs without interruption and without outside influence. Now one can hardly eat a meal or conduct family worship without the phone ringing. Sacrosanct family time is violated daily. Friends and strangers alike barge right into the middle of the family's most private and intimate moments via technology. Again my question is, is this progress? ... [Read More!]

Expelled Movie: Science's War Over Human Origin

It will not be my normal practice on Old Truth to offer commentary on films but recent comments on some of our posts here and the release of Ben Stein's "Expelled" have prompted me to compose my thoughts on the issues raised in this film. The movie is a documentary about the blacklisting of scientists who wish to raise the topic of Intelligent Design (I.D.) in the world of academia. For even mentioning the subject many scientists have been fired and black listed. The fact that this sort of thing was going on really came as no surprise to me, and in fact I was already familiar with much of what was reported by Stein in his documentary. Ben Stein is an incredibly intelligent and capable man. I would say that the documentary accurately reported the state of the main stream scientific community and it's utter disdain for any idea that even remotely relates to I.D. Their greatest fear is that, in the words of one of the scientists interviewed, religion and prayer will find their way back into the schools. The purpose of scientists at places like the Smithsonian is to rid the world of all knowledge of God by the means of science. ... [Read More!]

Who Does God Punish, and Why Does He Do It?

In his latest book "Everything Must Change", (in which I feel like writing a response-book entitled "Why?"), Emergent leader Brian McLaren argued that those who believe in a Jesus who will crush His enemies by force [at the 2nd coming] may be inclined to dominate and take advantage of other people. McLaren elaborated on some of his new ideas found in his book when he recently spoke at the Shift conference at Willow Creek. You can read more about his remarks and the common perplexity that many of us have as to why an Emergent fringe leader (many would say a heretical one) would be given pulpit-time by Bill Hybels. McLaren's remarks (and book) show him to be off the biblical rails on the topics of punishment, justice, holiness, and more. But before your pendulum swings too far in the opposite direction in rejection of this new proponent of error, make sure you have an old paths understanding of punishment, why it happens, and who it is applied to. ... [Read More!]

Book Review: Spurgeon's "All of Grace"

"Those who hope to be saved by trying their best, know nothing of that glowing fervor, that hallowed warmth, that devout joy in God that come with salvation freely given according to the grace of God". What a wonderful reminder for all of us from Charles Spurgeon, in his hundred+ year old book All of Grace. In the book, Spurgeon walks you through what God has done and why. Then he elaborates on what must happen for us to be saved and to persevere in the faith. This highly recommended book would be useful for your personal edification as well as an evangelism tool for you to give away to unbelieving friends and family. ... [Read More!]

Pastors, is Your Preaching Wimpy?   James White

When Paul spoke to the Ephesian elders in his final meeting with them, he said these words: "Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God." (Acts 20:26-27) The true preacher of the Word seeks to have this as his ambition as well. God is not honored when men think so little of Him and so highly of themselves that they edit the content of the proclamation for the fear of the face of men and so that they may be considered "successful" in some worldly sense. It is a fearful thing to be unfaithful to the task of preaching "the whole counsel of God." Keeping this in mind, I would like to point out the fact that there are religious hypocrites in the church. There were even in the days of Paul, as he names some by name. But today one looks for the true believer as the oddity in evangelical churches filled with unregenerate men and women who have been fooled into thinking you can shake a man's hand, say some magical words that are not joined with any kind of repentance or understanding of the gospel itself, and you have your "ticket punched" and you are on your way to heaven. ... [Read More!]

Do Today's Churches Give God a Subordinate Role?   John MacArthur

Many in the church today believe that the only way to reach the world is to give the unchurched multitudes what they want. . . Subtly the overriding goal is church attendance and worldly acceptability rather than a transformed life. Preaching the Word and boldly confronting sin are seen as archaic, ineffectual means of winning the world. After all, those things actually drive most people away. Why not entice people into the fold by offering what they want, creating a friendly, comfortable environment, and catering to the very desires that constitute their strongest urges? As if we might get them to accept Jesus by somehow making Him more likable or making His message less offensive. That kind of thinking badly skews the mission of the church. ... [Read More!]

The False Peace of Truth-Compromised    Listen

There is an attitude pervasively present in evangelical Christianity today that says "We're sick and tired of doctrinal debates and disputes that divide people and create disharmony, dissidence, hard feelings, split churches and all that. Why should we have denominations? Why do we have these differences? Those things aren't important. All that matters is 'Do you love Jesus?'" When that attitude prevails, you can kiss the church of Christ goodbye, because the desire for peace, which is a good desire, a godly desire, and the New Testament and the Old Testament frequently enjoin us to seek peace, to pursue peace, to live at peace, and wherever it's possible - to not be argumentative, contentious, divisive. But when we win peace by negotiating truth, where truth is slain in the streets, what we have is what the Bible calls false peace, a carnal peace, a peace that has no substance. ... [Play/Download MP3]

By Nature We Bend Towards That Which is False   AW Pink

The Lord's command in Mark 4:24 is "take heed what ye hear". Corrupt nature is thoroughly in love with error and will more readily and eagerly receive false rather than true doctrine. Should any dispute this statement, we would refer them to Jeremiah 5:31: "the prophets prophesy falsely and the priests bear rule by their means; and My people love to have it so". Said Christ unto the Jews, "because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not" (John 8:45): what a commentary on fallen human nature - had He preached lies they would have promptly received Him. ... [Read More!]

Walter Chantry Books and Quotes    Link

Here's a small collection of quotes from one of my favorite authors. Walter Chantry was a pastor for many years and his books are available (some from Amazon but more often) from the online CVBBS bookstore that is headquartered in the hometown that he preached in for decades. Recently he retired, and along with his wife - moved several states away to be near my church where they can spend time with their grandchildren and hear their son preach for us every Sunday. Walter Chantry is still quite busy for the Lord however, as the Editor of Banner of Truth magazine, which Chad and I both subscribe to. We often jest with Chad that, even though he only lives a mile or two from Walter Chantry, he must wait for his BOT magazine to arrive each month - all the way from Scotland! But it's well worth waiting for, and Walter Chantry's books deserve a special place in your personal library. I owned most of them before I ever met any of the Chantry family, so I hope that erases at least some of the bias of my recommendation. ... [Read Link]

Post Suspended; Decalogue Disposal: The High Price Paid BY NCT.

I have decided to suspend the last post regarding NCT. In it I made the assertion that New Covenant Theology denies the imputation of Christ's active obedience to the believer and most certainly many of it's adherents do. Commentor Chris C. pointed out that that is not a universal teaching among NCT adherents. I had provided a link to an NCT [belief statement] which explicitly denied the imputation of Christ's active obedience but upon further research I have seen a fair amount of upholding of the doctrine concerning the imputation of Christ's active obedience as well. It should be noted that NCT adherents all agree that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone.

NCT is a system of theology still in development and while it's adherents hold many doctrines universally, like the denial that the 10 commandments contain the eternal moral law of God, they also widely differ on may other areas which makes addressing it as system extremely difficult. As the post was written I saw no way to satisfactorily clarify my intent without a total re-write, and since comments had already been made on the post I thought it best to take it down until the issue can be addressed in a manner that accurately represents NCT's position on the matter.

My apologies go to any who were offended or thought that I unfairly categorized NCT and it's teaching in the area of imputed righteousness.

"It Is Written": Establishing The Authority of the Old Testament

2 Timothy 3:16 says that all scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, reproof and training in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. This text teaches far more than just the inspiration of Scripture. It teaches that all of scripture is profitable for training the godly in righteousness. There is no teaching or commandment of scripture which is unprofitable or invalid for the Christian. Even the ceremonial and dietary laws of the Old Testament, the purposes of which were only temporary and are no longer to be observed has use to the Christian when their figures are properly understood. The Lord Jesus left a dire warning for any who would try to teach that the Law has no bearing on the Christian or those who would say, (for example) that "the Ten Commandments are obsolete". He warned that not one jot or tittle of the Law would ever pass away and that those who relaxed the least of it's commandments and taught others to do so would be least in the Kingdom of Heaven. ... [Read More!]