Since the 1906 Azusa Street Revival, in Los Angeles, the movement of modern Charismatic Word-Faith/Prosperity fal$e teacher$ extends around the globe. A few other popular proponents include Joseph Prince (Singapore), Brian Houston/Hillsong (Australia) and Nicky Gumbel (UK), etc.

There are many other false gospels, counterfeits to the gospel of Christ, to beware of, beloved.

“Use your discernment, let the Bible lead ya!” ~”Fal$e Teacher$,” Shai Linne

Teach it and preach it, brother Shai! Grace & Peace to you!

See Also: Phil Johnson’s Blog at Grace to You–song lyrics included
The Cripplegate Blog

Biblical Resources:

The second weekend of the National Association of Nouthetic Counseling Conference (NANC) 2013, in San Antonio, TX, concluded yesterday.  Dr. Stuart Scott mentioned the book briefly during one of his sessions!  I wanted to thank him in person for doing so, explaining how this book was a topic of conversation with a dear sister earlier that same day!

I shared with him the concerns I conveyed that morning to her, which he confirmed as accurate.  Also, Dr. Scott informed me of David Powlison’s chapter-critique from his book, Seeing with New Eyes.  Dr. Scott said, “It is basically all about conditional love.  I’ll scratch your back and you scratch mine. That is why even pagans love to read it.”  It appeals to personal felt-needs, feelings, desires, must-haves, lusts of deceit.  It fuels self-centered idolatry, not a servant’s heart.

David Powlison’s Review, Love Speaks Many Languages Fluently, reveals how Chapman’s book teaches a secular model on marriage that is rooted in conditional love ideology.  As Dr. Scott referenced, “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine,” says Powlison, is the gist of Chapman’s 5LL.  In other words, “I’ll love you if you love me,” or “I’ll meet your needs if you meet mine.”  That plays out to the 50%-50% mentality at the end of the day.  Or 100%-100% could be deemed correct.  After all, that sounds exactly like what the world’s psychologists refer to as a win-win situation, doesn’t it?

However, that is a far cry from the biblical model for God’s design for marriage which is all about sacrificial love, exemplified in Christ, selflessly serving and loving ones spouse, unconditionally.  ”I’ll scratch your back even if you don’t scratch mine.”  ”I’ll love you, even if you don’t love me in return.”  ”I am here to serve you.”  This looks like 100%-0%.[1]  And because of the hope that is promised to believers, which in Christ and is Christ, we are in a no-lose situation (no matter our circumstances, married or single).[2]

Remember, in the Old Testament, Hosea and his harlot-wife?  In this true story, we read the reflective depiction of the perfectly loving and faithful YWHW to His chosen, ever-wavering-from-covenant Israel.  In the New Testament, the perfect model of love and obedience is Christ who came to serve not be served.  His sacrificial atonement on the cross, the giving of Himself for His bride is God’s perfect love manifested in the Son.

We must understand it is the act of giving oneself, not ones feelings and/or emotions, that is primary in loving.  Our giving and serving will be imperfect.  We are, after all, still sinners by nature.  But, nonetheless, saved by grace, we must strive after Christ!  Christ loved me and gave Himself up for me (Gal 2:20).  God so loved that He gave His one and only Son (Jn 3:16).  He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 Jn 4:10).  We must seek to obey to love, serve and be merciful in Christian love without the expectation of a return (Lk 6:32-36).

Drawing nearer to this figure of 100%-0%, living life here in marriage, for regenerated sinners is biblical and speaks volumes of love languages while each spouse is being transformed into the image of their Savior, Christ the Lord, in whom all hope resides. By God’s unending grace, repentance for sin and faith in Christ, in obeying His commands in humble servanthood to please Him with all thankfulness, this is where sanctification happens for the married couple through the indwelling Holy Spirit by the Word (Jn 17:17; Eph 5:22-33; 1 Thess 4:2-8; 1 Thess 5:18).

Though Powlison recognizes some practical, helpful application by Chapman toward thoughtfulness, the argument continues that even pagans do that for the give-to-get conquest. And for us, from this former mindset we must flee!

Beloved, looking to Chapman and his book for advice, and all its spin off versions for children, teens and singles, is not wise.  It will send you in the opposite direction of God’s Word, building a house on sand (Mt 7:26-27).  As always, be alert and avoid any opposing or conflicting theologies toward God’s Word (Psalm 1:1-6).  Refuse to receive vain, empty, ear-tickling philosophies which are assuredly found in psychology models and practices (Col 2:8).

If your marriage needs help, may you be encouraged here to seek biblical counseling through the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (NANC) or pastors, elders, teachers in like-mindedness honoring the doctrines of the authority and sufficiency of the Scriptures for all matters of life, faith and heart/mind/soul/spirit.

Footnotes:

1.  The National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (NANC) Conference, San Antonio, TX 2013, Dr. James Allen Fain III.

2.  Counseling:  How to Counsel Biblically, John MacArthur and The Master’s College Faculty, p. 120. (parenthesis mine)

See Also, False Gospels: The Psychology Movement

Bob DeWaay’s Review

Featured front and center on this month’s edition of Family Christian Bookstore’s catalogue (2/1-3/14/2013) is Sarah Young and her popular books for women, Jesus Calling and Jesus Today.

Beware as this book promotes the author’s extraordinary claims that Jesus has audibly spoken to her for a period of time.  So much so as to generate a year long devotional for publication, etc., etc.  As such,  Jesus Calling falls squarely in line with the false teachings of gnosticism and its counterparts of contemporary revelations and open canon-type encounters from God.  Conversely, deviating from the closed canon, Sola Scriptura.

Biblical Resources:

Tim Challies’ Review

From The Cripplegate Blog, Jesse Johnson’s Review

~Exceprt, “But I can’t get past what she says it is. Underneath all of this is the fact that Young has recorded new revelation from God, spoken audibly to her, on a nearly daily basis, and now I am supposed to have my devotionals from God’s words to her. I just can’t get past that to the content of the actual words Jesus allegedly spoke.”

From Steak and a Bible Blog, Julia’s Book Review

Ken Silva, of Apprising Ministries, Reports Beth Moore’s Endorsement for Jesus Calling

  Biblical Resources:

Book Review from Beginning and End Blog Reveals the Abomination of Witchcraft and the Prosperity Gospel in The Circle Maker

From Worldview Weekend, Brannon Howse and Chris Rosebrough Review The Circle Maker

  Endorsements:

“Mark Batterson’s The Circle Maker will have you praying circles around any situation you are facing.” -Craig Groeschel

“Honi the circle maker is a longtime legendary figure, and Mark Batterson is well on his way.  You will love the freshness of this approach to prayer.”   -John Ortberg

 ”Mark Batterson is a master storyteller.  His stories illustrate important biblical truths that convict me in my heart.” -Ruth Graham

From the Velvet Brick Blog, Nancy Leigh DeMoss & True Women’s Conference ’12 Endorse and Utilize Batterson’s Teachings

Biblical Resources:

Dr. Gary Gilley’s Review ~Excerpt, ”It contains false winds and strange fires.”

Biblical Resources:

Deception in the Church’s Exposé, by Sandy Simpson, with a Report on the Singapore Cell Church Model

Apprising Ministry’s EXCELLENT Berean Examination of Nicky Gumbel’s Teachings, by Michael J. Penfold.  Additional Research Regarding John Piper’s Endorsement for a Preacher, and Desring God Conference 2013 Guest Speaker Candidate, who Utilizes The Alpha Course here

 Biblical Resources:

A Christmas newsletter began going ga-ga over this book in that it “caused them to analyze, reassess and reaffirm their purpose in life” and “to develop a personal mission statement for the years to come.”  After reading this positive recommendation for Buford, I was compelled to do some research.  Just as we saw a raving promotion for this book in our personal mail, Dr. Gilley doesn’t miss to mention its numerous “great read” recommendations, in all its editions, for the believer in the Christian community.

Dr. Gary Gilley’s Overview 

Aside from all that, the ultimate privilege for any of us as Christians is to stand for the Gospel, keeping it front and center!  Without the Gospel, it’s just another national argument which has no power to save.  Without the Gospel, it will take the political swing to freedom of speech and religious expression, which is a good thing!  We are blessed by God to have our constitutional freedoms!  In the case of moral issues, however, the patriotic cry just doesn’t go far enough.  It overshadows.  Hiding the eternal weight of the matter, sin, separation from Holy Creator-God.  ”For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23).  In fact, the moral issue itself also doesn’t go far enough.  And, if not careful, the platform can become a breeding ground for ecumenism.  We need the Gospel!

I absolutely believe it is wrong for pro-gay activists to boycott Chick-fil-A, on August 1st (2012).  Projecting such plans based on the company’s professed attitude in favor of biblical marriage.  Equally, I am against anyone’s organized agenda to boycott a company that has gay marriage supporters in leadership, like the National Organization for Marriage does, here and here.  All businesses, regardless of personal views on marriage held by their CEO’s, have men and women employed who are working to provide for themselves and/or their families.  Some of these families may even be those who share our common salvation.  So, I am not going to stop buying Cheerios!  That would just be silly.  They’re healthy and our kids love them!  It’s my hubby’s favorite go-to-pantry-snack at night.  And we like to shop at Target.  We just won’t be buying any pro-gay t-shirts.  Maybe, though, we’ll stand around the rack and share Gospel tracts!  Yeah!

Now, at this point, some readers may be getting their feathers all ruffled since I am not willing to heist the bank of the gay community.  I have no intention to.  I know it is disturbing and painful to think of this particular deception and sin multiplying like chickens in the hen house, right before our very eyes!  Our American society honing in on the days of Noah and the ranks of Sodom and Gomorrah’s corruption.  Rolling-in-chicken-feed corporations, and famous, Hollywood celebrities using their positions of influence to promote this sinful agenda is disturbing.  I understand the concern.  I share it!  I just think we are called to a different approach.

Let’s stop with the “hit ‘em where it counts–smack dab in the wallet” American consumer kind of way of handling things.  What does that really accomplish?  Protesting, punishing with financial threats?  What if a company does go under for getting boycotted?  And people can barely feed their kids?  Do you want that on your head?

Instead of the fruitless boycott approach, and keeping the Great Commission of Christ in mind, let’s share the Gospel of grace, repentance and faith in Christ alone for salvation, in love, with the attitude of Christ, the way a restored, forgiven sinner should.

One of the Least,

-Karla Tadler

 “Drunkenness is the devil’s back door to hell and everything that is hellish. For he that once gives away his brains to drink is ready to be caught by Satan for anything.” ~CH Spurgeon

10)  Inebriation Varies in Measurement:   “Wine is a mocker and strong drink a brawler, whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1).  Intoxication, being stupefied or excited by a chemical substance like alcohol, for some light-weighted folks this could be achieved with just one drink or less.

9)  Drinking is Unwise:  No doubt drunkenness is clearly a sin and those “who practice it will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal 5:21).  However, it is also clear that it is UNWISE to FLIRT with the sin of drunkenness/dissipation. A lot of people can’t, or don’t want to stop at just one or two drinks.  Alcohol’s powerful substance and effect can easily tempt and lure one down the path of addiction, disease and eventually death.  Death for themselves and others who may die while the drinker is under the influence.

8 )  God Wants His People to be Holy:  We are called to be holy; to reflect the nature of the LORD in Christ (1 Pt 1:13-16).  What part of being drunk, or buzzed at the minimum, reflects God’s holiness?  Alcohol opens the door for the dominoes of licentiousness to fall.  Alcohol is not to blame, necessarily.  Our own willful and depraved sin nature is.  But choosing to engage in mind-altering substances in the first place potentiates, enhances further choices and predicaments for sinfulness to come to mind that otherwise may never have appeared.  Things like adultery, pornography, fornication, homosexuality, theft, false witness, blasphemy, course jesting, crude language, disobedience to parents, breaking the Golden Rule, etc.

7)  An Abstinent Witness:  Before Christ’s ministry, the forerunner who was chosen and called to pave the way for the Messiah, John the Baptist perhaps with the Nazirite vow, did not drink; “no wine touched his lips.”  If someone is drinking, do you tend to take them seriously or not so much?

6)  Continued Abstinence Practiced with a Health-Related Exception:  After Christ returned to His Father, men of the faith, Paul and Timothy, did not drink.  Paul, as Timothy’s spiritual father, only approved  ”a little wine.”  To “no longer drink only water” to treat Timothy’s painful, stomach ailment likely due to typical, contaminated water of the day.  It was common for wine to be added to water as a disinfectant.

5)  Christ’s Rebuke:  Let’s not ignore Jesus’ disdain for his mother’s request to turn the water into wine because “His time was not yet at hand.”  Wine was to become a symbolism at the Lord’s Supper for His soon-to-be-shed-blood, sacrifice and atoning death for the forgiveness of sins. He would direct that cup to pass Him and not drink from it.  Though instructing His disciples, and thus His church, to remember His death with the taking of the broken bread and a sip of wine from the cup, He Himself would not celebrate a complete Passover meal until the Ultimate Wedding Celebration with His Return to earth with His bride.

4)  Christ Refused:  The Lord would not receive a little gall and wine in the midst of His brutal, painful crucifixion to retain all His mental faculties which would prove wise as ministering to the thief on the cross next to Him would occur.  When will we have our next opportunity to witness to beloved family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, perfect strangers?  Will it be in our next hour?  I can assure you, the opportunity is daily for the Great Commission while we are on this earth.  Let’s not allow drinking to snatch that away from us when we are called to be fire snatchers!

3)  Glorify the Lord:  Is obtaining impaired judgment and a loss of senses really glorifying to the Lord when drinking alcohol?  Eat, drink and be merry may be the way the saying goes.  However, Scripture says, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31).

2)  Alcohol is a Strong Distractor and Stumbling Block:  Alcohol is a powerful conductor to opening the door to a deceiving coping mechanism, indulgence.  If a parent-teacher in the faith, as I am, this is not a good exampling to the children we have been entrusted to train up in the Lord, trusting Him alone and leaning not unto our own understanding, or glass(es) of wine for comfort or distraction.   Instead, we are to affix our eyes on Jesus and thank Him in His strength for trials, tribulations, persecutions and fiery ordeals which we are “to count all joy” and that “refine our faith.”  Now for the stumbling block identification from the Bible.  From Romans Chapter 14, verse 21, “It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.”  We don’t necessarily know which brother, or sister, we could cause to stumble if they knew we were drinking.  So, best not to drink, or anything that causes weakness in another, thinking of others’ interests more than our own, the profit of others, not our own.

1)  The Trumpet Will Blast:  The Bible says to have a “clear conscious.”  To be “watchful, alert, sober-minded and sober-spirited.” The Lord’s return is imminent!! At any moment, the next thing on God’s calendar is to call His bride to meet Him in the air!!! Ya-Hoooo! Do we want to be less than watchful, alert and sober, during the divine, long-awaited rapture to our Lord and Savior!? Be ready! The time is drawing ever-nearer for the Ultimate Wedding Celebration with He who is called Faithful and His bride, remnant believers.  He who is KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.  He who is All Joy, All Blessed Hope and Eternal Happiness!  He who is our Sufficient Salvation and our Forever Celebration!

After all is said and done

If we are going to drink, please let’s not divide over this with those who do not and vice versa.  It truly is a matter of conviction of the Holy Spirit and sanctification by His Word.  Not all believers are in the same place in that regard.  Let’s Be WISE and be AWARE of what we are dealing with.  As one can see, this pie has more pieces than just the slice of drunkenness.  This post may even inspire one to think of more good reasons to walk away from  alcohol’s potential, harmful effects.  In fact, I hope it does.  Please note, in offering ten good reasons for consideration to not drink, I wish to make no arguments for a biblical requirement for total abstinence or for it being biblically unlawful to partake.  The only scriptural requirement as said by Jesus, in Jn 3:3,5, is “you must be born again to see/enter the kingdom of heaven.”

I know a beloved and discerning pastor-teacher and author, who lost his pastorate, position of church eldership, instilling confusion and shock amongst his congregation and family while nearly losing his life!  All because of a severe, secret drinking habit that tail-spinned out of control from a periodic, little glass of sleeping aid.  Praise God for his physical healing and spiritual restoration to continue on in the race with us, bearing good fruit again for Christ.  This has been no easy journey, marked by pain, many tears and prayers I am sure.  He is forgiven of the Lord, we firmly believe, but no doubt paying an inevitable price in consequences.  I pray for continued perseverance by God’s strength and grace.  And that his family, friends and church are all stronger in the faith and in conviction from transforming sanctification, to the glory of God alone.

One of the Least,

-Karla Tadler