Word And Verse

J.C. Ryle

“Man,” said a thoughtless, ungodly English traveller, to a North American Indian convert, “Man, what is the reason that you make so much of Christ, and talk so much about Him? What has this Christ done for you that you should make so much ado about Him?”

The converted Indian did not answer him in words. He gathered together some dry leaves and moss and made a ring with them on the ground. He picked up a live worm and put it in the middle of the ring. He struck a light and set the moss and leaves on fire. The flame soon rose, and the heat scorched the worm. It writhed in agony, and after trying in vain to escape on every side, curled itself up in the middle, as if about to die in despair. At that moment the Indian reached forth his hand, took up the worm gently and placed it on his bosom. “Stranger,” he said to the Englishman, “do you see that worm? I was that perishing creature. I was dying in my sins, hopeless, helpless and on the brink of eternal fire. It was Jesus Christ who put forth the arm of His power. It was Jesus Christ who delivered me with the hand of His grace, and plucked me from everlasting burnings. It was Jesus Christ who placed me, a poor sinful worm, near the heart of His love. Stranger, that is the reason why I talk of Jesus Christ, and make much of Him. I am not ashamed of it, because I love Him.”

If we know anything of love to Christ, may we have the mind of this North American Indian! May we never think that we can love Christ too well, live to Him too thoroughly, confess Him too boldly, lay ourselves out for Him too heartily! Of all the things that will surprise us in the resurrection morning, this I believe will surprise us most, that we did not love Christ more before we died.

Ryle, J.C. Holiness. Evangelical P, 1979. 245.

HT: Tony Miano.

Hot on the heels of The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins comes this next literary best-seller:

I never set out to blog to gain popularity (by becoming a star blogger), garner accolades or even earn money, but when I started this blog more than a year ago (first at sicarii.net then subsequently moving here recently), I’ve been blessed by the love and encouragement of many brothers- and sisters-in-Christ and this to me is more precious than silver and gold!

At this point, please allow me to go off on a tangent:

Yes, I know that my blog can sometimes be a little controversial and even start debates among brethren, but it has never been my intention to sow division among those who truly love the Lord. In case some of you are unaware, it does disturb me sometimes and many times I wonder, on hindsight, if I should have expressed such views on my blog. On the other hand, I don’t think I should restrain myself — these are issues that come to mind as I study God’s Word and I believe in sharing what I’ve learned (well, perhaps, a little too much at times).

Read the rest of this entry »

Mikael Thomsen is a young man in Denmark who burns to preach the true Gospel. Listen as he delivers some thunder from the pulpit to a stunned congregation. Pray for him, this is highly unusual preaching in this part of the world (Danish with English subtitles).

My thanks to AllSufficientGrace for bringing this to my attention.

Notice the non-existence of God in the modern church compared to the Five Solas of the Protestant Reformation:

1. Sola Cultura - let culture define church life

2. Sola Successa - let numerical success legitimize activities

3. Sola Entertaina - let entertainment be the guiding principle

4. Sola Edificia - let the edifice be the center of church life

5. Sola Programma - let programs dominate the peoples time

6. Sola Thralldoma – let the people be enslaved by whatever thrills them

7. Sola Processa – let the church be managed by business philosophies and processes

HT: Scott Brown via Slice of Laodicea.

Doh! Silly me, I should have known!

Lords and Bishops arrive in Sydney for World Youth Day!

HT: Living Journey.

James White with a timely and sobering message to all Christians who live in this day and age when many truths are built on nothing but shifting sands except that which is established upon the Rock — the Lord Jesus Christ.

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Colossians 2:8

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

It’s happening… and perhaps even coming to your country soon!

If Brazil’s Senate passes a bill approved unanimously by its House of Representatives, Christians and other concerned members of society who speak out and offend a homosexual can soon be slapped with a five-year jail term for doing so.

Under the guise of preventing discrimination, the measure is seen as the latest attempt at promoting homosexuality — the President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has previously said that opposition to homosexuality is “perhaps the most perverse disease impregnated in the human head” and called for the “criminalization of homophobia”.

If the bill is passed, it will stipulate a five-year jail term for anyone preventing actions of “homosexual affection” in public or private locations open to the public, and penalize private and public school administrators with up to three years in prison if they refuse to hire openly “gay” teachers. In other words, the measure will force prison time for any “moral, ethical, philosophical or psychological expression that questions homosexual practices”, according to Catholic News Agency (CNA).

The Association of the Defense of Life (ADL) put it down simply as fact that, if the bill is passed, a priest, a pastor, a teacher or even an average citizen who says in a sermon, a classroom or public conversation that homosexual acts are sinful, disordered or an illness could be denounced and detained.

Source: WorldNetDaily.

All I have to say is this:

Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter!

Isaiah 5:20

My hat’s off, mate.

Todd Bentley

I guess false prophets and teachers don’t really go away (pity!) — they just reappear somewhere else and wreck more havoc.

Right after the exposé on him was aired on Nightline on ABC, Todd Bentley announced that he would be taking time “to refresh and to rest”.

Good news! Or as I said to a brother, best piece of news to come out of Lakeland, Florida so far!

Well, surprise, surprise! Todd Bentley isn’t really gone, but it seems that moving out of Lakeland might just turn out to be a blessing in disguise for him (but a big groan of pain for us!). If you take a look at his itinerary for the rest of the year at his ministry web site (scroll down to the bottom of the page), you’ll discover that not only is Mr. Bentley not really resting, but that he will be bringing his “anointing” to several U.S. States and even to Uganda and the United Kingdom!

So, it does look like the departure from Lakeland has become an impetus for Todd Bentley to bring his ministry on a world tour and reach others who would otherwise not have a chance of receiving the “anointing” while he was entrenched in Florida.

Which means that, unfortunately, our cheers were terribly short-lived, and that, yes, we’ll soon hear more of his “BAM!” from all corners of the world.

And, so, just like the Great White in the movie Jaws, Bentley’s back to haunt and “anoint” just when you thought that the waters were safe again…