What's wrong with CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) Part 3

It may be hard to really understand the position that I'm coming from if you have not read my blog updates on secular music. So I would ask you to take the time to read them if you have not done so already.

I do want to remind you of a verse, and keep it in mind as you read what is posted here.

1Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Everything that we see, everything that we hear, everything that we do, should be put to the test of the word of God. If it is contrary to God's word, even if it is carrying a Christian flag, should be rejected.

In the last post we said that CCM does not promote Jesus, it promotes the singer, it promotes the music, but that is not the only problem with Contemporary Christian Music. Contemporary Christian Music is not separated from the world.

In 2002 Michael W. Smith and Third day had their 'Come together and Worship Tour'. I have heard, although I could not find documentation, that the concerts would be opened by singing the beatles song "Come Together". I have not seen proof of this, but I do know that there are many other CCM performers that sing secular songs in their concerts.

Holy Soldier Sings Rolling Stones
Point of Grace Sings Earth, Wind and Fire
Jars of Clay Sings Ozzy Osbourne
77's Sings Led Zeppelin.
DC talk Sings Doobie Brothers, Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, REM

The bible clearly teaches against these things.

2Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Isn't it interesting, the CCM singers are saying "come together", but the Bible says "Come out from among them".
Also, the 'Come together tour' by Michael W.Smith and Third Day was sponsored by Chevrolet. What is wrong with this?

2Corinthians 6:14 A Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:

We are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers in marriage, or in business. Now, I do not have anything against Chevrolet, but last time that I checked Chevrolet is not a Christian company. A secular company should not have any part in sponsorship of a "Christian" event. This is only one example, there are many CCM singers whose music is owned and produced by the same music companies who produce songs for Madonna, The Red Hot Chili peppers, and many more.

Also, the bible tells us that we should not copy the world.

1Th 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

If you were to look at the pictures of a secular music group, and a CCM praise and worship group, you could not tell the difference had you not already known. I think that we've established the fact in the updates on secular music that it is not of God, and anything not of God is evil. So why would a "Christian" band want to look like the world when the bible clearly tells us to abstain from this?

Well, the last question brings us to our next point. This is the big argument for CCM. The proponents for CCM say, "we can't reach the world with the old church hymns". I have to admit that they are right here. This world will not be reached by singing church hymns, but this world will not be reached by singing CCM either. Can I ask you a question? When has an important address or message ever been delivered thru song? Let me give you some ridiculous scenarios by they illustrate the point that I'm driving at. Whenever a defendant takes the wittiness stand to speak in his own defence, why doesn't he pull out his guitar and sing his defence? Why doesn't congress put on a Broadway type musical in the house whenever they propose a new bill to be considered for law? What if President Obama were to come to the House of Representatives next year and RAP his state of the union address? All of these scenarios are absurd, why? Because a message of great importance is never delivered thru song. The greatest message that we have to give to the world is the gospel, the word of God, and we deliver that message to a lost world thru preaching!

1Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

We don't sing to a lost world, we preach to a lost world. We sing praises to God AFTER we have been saved, and those songs are not to be sung to the same sensual fleshly beat that the world sings their songs to. We cannot worship God in the spirit, as the bible commands, by singing to music that appeals to the flesh.

The next update will be the final on CCM, after that I will be blogging about Southern Gospel. We will look at the music itself, how it is used, how it affects us, and why we should stay away from it.

The things that I have posted here are only the tip of the iceberg of the information that is available. If you disagree with me, then please search the matter out for yourself, become informed. Don't just form you opinion based solely on your own likes and dislikes. Lets "Prove all things", as the bible says.

What's Wrong with CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) Part 2

So, what is wrong with Contemporary Christian music? Isn't music just music? Does it really matter what kind of songs that we sing? Can't any kind of music be used for God's honor and God's glory? There are many things that can be said, but there are a few key things that I want to look at.

First of all, CCM promotes the "Artist" and the music over Jesus. If you disagree with me, listen to the words of the musicians and singers themselves.

Amy Grant
"What we're trying to do is take Christian principles and make them understandable. Even if it doesn't say Jesus, it doesn't matter. . ." (Rolling Stone, June 6, 1985 p 10)

Amy Grant
"I'm a singer, not a preacher, I'm not looking to convert anybody." (Los Angeles Times, 5/4/84, pg. 2-c)

Rich Mullins:
"I'm really sick of all this heavy-handed Christianity. Musicians take themselves too seriously. They should have more FUN, and they should stop preaching unless that's what God has called them to. If I want to hear a sermon, I'll go to church, thank you." (CCM magazine, April, 1987, p. 12)

Jason Martin of Starflyer 59

"A lot of bands, the reason they get so turned off, is because you have to put the word 'Jesus' in every line. . . That's why so many bands get almost anti-Jesus in their lyrics, even though they're Christians." (HM, Mar/Apr 97 p. 21)

Here's what a secular reporter in the Birmingham News wrote after watching a Michael W. Smith concert:
"If you weren’t familiar with Michael W. Smith’s standing in the world of contemporary Christian music, you might attend one of his concerts and come out none the wiser." (The Birmingham News, Feb. 12, 1993 p. 5c)

Smith's album, Change Your World, has 2819 words — Jesus occurs — ZERO!
Michael W. Smith's album, I’ll Lead You Home, has 2046 words — Jesus occurs — ZERO!
Michael W. Smith's album, Live the Life, has over 1100 words — Jesus occurs — you guessed it — ZERO!

"His concerts draw hundreds of thousands of fans each year, mostly teenage girls who scream out their AFFECTION FOR HIM non-stop throughout. . . . To his fans, Smith is the absolute greatest there is, BAR NONE . . ."

Who is being glorified there, Jesus, or Michael W Smith?

The Bible clearly teaches us that the songs that we sing should bring honor and glory to GOD!

I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing PRAISE to thy name, O thou most High. Psalm 9:2

Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we SING and PRAISE thy power. Psalm 21:13

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my SONG will I PRAISE him. Psalm 28:7

PRAISE the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. Psalm 33:2-3

In the song by Rebecca St. James "You make me come alive", the words are so vague, as most CCM is, that you're not sure if she is talking about the Lord or her boyfriend!

Within the last month I have visited many of the websites of CCM "Stars", here are just a few of the ones that i looked at;

Janet Paschal
D C Talk
Michael W Smith
Steven Curtis Chapman
Phillips, Craig and Dean
Amy Grant
4th Sunday
Jars of Clay
Rebecca St. James
Point of Grace
Chris Tomlin
Toby Mac
Mercy Me
Darlene Zchech
Newsboys
Starflyer 59

None of the sites had the plan of salvation, none of them! It was all about promoting THEIR CD's, THEIR concert's, join THEIR fan clubs. Do you think that John the Baptist would have a fan club if he were around today? No, John the Baptist would say, "He must increase, but I must decrease". John 3:30

So I would say that the first thing that is wrong with CCM, is that it promotes the singer and music, instead of God.

What's wrong with CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) Part 1

The last three blog updates I gave you four simple reasons why I believe that secular music should not be a part of a bible-believing Christians musical library. We talked about how the music of this world is Satanic, Sensual, Sinful, and Sacrilegious. One only has to do a minimal amount of research to see that these points are true.

But even after looking at all that is wrong with secular music, I would listen to that, before I would listen to CCM, (Contemporary Christian Music). Why?? Because at least they are being honest about what they are singing. They are in it for the money, the sex, the drugs,the fame, and they are not trying to hid that from you. Sad to say that there are a lot of CCM ENTERTAINERS that are in it for the same reason, but under the guise of a "music ministry" for the Lord. Now, having said that let me say this. Not every single CCM PERFORMER is out there for the wrong motives (although most are) but their method is still wrong, no matter what their motives are.

Did you know that there are well over 500 scriptures that talks about music? God is very interested in the music that we sing and listen to.

Eph 5:19 speaking to yourselves in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

The bible is very clear that the songs that we sing should be Psalms, Hymns, or Spiritual Songs. The music that we sing these songs with should be spiritual, not fleshly.

John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Just because someone does something under the banner of being Christian, doesn't make it "Christian".

Matthew chapter 7
21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works and in thy name done many wonderful works and in thy name done many wonderful works and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

As I started researching these things I was surprised to find out that Fanny Crosby wrote secular songs before she got saved. After she was saved this is what she had to say about music.

"Sometimes I need to reject the music proposed for my songs because the musicians misunderstand that the Fanny Crosby who once wrote for the people in the saloons has merely changed the lyrics. Oh my no. The church must never sing it's songs to the melodies of the world." (Danny Castle, video "What's Wrong with Christian Rock")

We will not get to the main points of the subject at hand until part 2, but to close out this first update I want to copy and paste an article that I read about the CCM group D.C. Talk. it lays good ground work for the updates that will follow.

"Christian" Rap band D(ecent) C(hristian) Talk are currently at the forefront of another wave of "crossover" in the BILLION dollar-a-year Contemporary Christian Music industry.
Founding member Toby McKeehan says he and the other Talkers aren't in it for the money though:
"We didn't get together to be stars. We share the same call - to use the stage to let people know about Jesus."(1)
At $35,000 per show, that's one expensive stage!(2)
The three members of DC Talk met at Jerry Falwell's Lynchburg, Virginia university in 1987. For those who may not know, Jerry Falwell is perceived to be one of the most conservative Baptist voices in America. Here's what Dr. Jerry thinks of his "boys";
"During Toby, Michael, and Kevin's tenure at Liberty University, it was obvious to me that God had great plans for these three young men and their powerful program."(3)
God's plan must have "misfired" somewhere, because according to Terry Watkins, director of in Alabama, DC Talker Kevin Smith was kicked out of Liberty for a "drinking" problem!(4).
Like many, many "Christian" Rockers before them, DC Talk have had enough of the stuffy confines of the "Christian" music label, and long to break out into the "real" music world;
"Smith, WHO LISTENS MOSTLY TO SECULAR MUSIC, would like to see DC Talk expand its vocabulary. 'NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE ABOUT GOD. We're getting into being able to speak about our personal lives and our public lives, that kind of stuff, without constantly throwing in the church,' he says."(5)
But wait a minute! I thought the original goal was to use the stage to tell people about Jesus. Funny how things change as time goes by, isn't it? This band has now fallen so far, they even open some of their shows by performing the old Beatles' song, "Help". For those who don't remember, the Beatles were atheists, Communists, Christ haters and God mockers. If DC Talk think they're serving God through this kind of music, THEY'RE the ones who need help!
DC Talk's newest release is called "Jesus Freak," and leader Toby McKeehan starts some concerts off by screaming, "WELCOME TO THE FREAK SHOW!"(6)
There's just one problem, Toby. My Lord Jesus Christ is not a "freak." He is the only begotten Son of God (Philippians 2:9-11).
"Jesus Freak" was directed by an Englishman named Simon Maxwell. Here's a little history for DC Talk fans: Maxwell broke into the secular Rock video industry in a big way by directing the "Closer" video for the satanic and vile band, "Nine Inch Nails". (NIN have made a video showing a monkey crucified to a cross). DC Talk WERE WATCHING ONE OF NINE INCH NAILS' VIDEOS, and LIKED Maxwell's style. Their management then contacted Simon Maxwell at the Underground in Los Angeles, and hired him to do the "Jesus Freak" project.(7)
It's also interesting to note that "Nine Inch Nails" singer Trent Renor is producing an album for another Satanic secular band called Marilyn Manson - whose leader is associated with Anton La Vey of the Church of Satan! What a wicked thread ties all these liars together!: La Vey supports Manson, who uses Reznor, who uses Maxwell, who directed the biggest video DC Talk ever ever made.

What's wrong with the World's Music Part 3

In part 1 we talked about how the world's music is Satanic. One does not have to research far into Rock and Roll music to see that.In part two we talked about how the world's music is Sensual, all that it takes is an honest eye and ear the hear and see that. And I'm not just referring to Rock, or Pop, or Country, but every form of secular music.
Those are not the only problems with secular music. it is also almost always sinful. What few songs that are out there that do not talk about sex, adultery, fornication, talk about drinking, drug use, rebellion, etc.

Most of the songs by Billy Joel are about rebellion.
Most of your country music (with the exception of those that are about sex) talk about drinking, and rebellion.

Brad Paisley;
Alcohol
Whiskey Lullaby

Brooks and Dunn;
Whiskey under the bridge

Miranda Lambert;
Dry town
Gun powder and lead

What kind of message do we send the world as a professing child of God, when we listen to this kind of music but claim the bible to be the infallible word of God. you know the bible that says;

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

What kind of message is it? It is a message of confusion!

Not only is this kind of music sinful, but it is Sacrilegious. Most of it is Blasphemy to almighty God!

Natalie Maines' latest remarks really 'hit home,' so-to-speak, as they came during a visit to her birthplace and hometown as a child, Lubbock, TX. She started her interview with the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal on a good note. But when asked if she was able to attend her childhood church while visiting, an irritated Maines responded...

"No way! I hated how my parents always made me go to that place."

As if that wasn't enough to disturb most local churchgoers, Maines added...

"Besides, now that I'm probably richer than God, maybe he should come to me!"

Their song "Sin Wagon" is one of the most Blasphemous country songs that I have heard. In the song they talk about Flying away to Glory on a Sin Wagon!

Someone might say that not every song that the world has talks about sin, sex, or drinking. Most do (90%+) but there are a few out there that do not. But those songs are not songs that bring honor and glory to God, and they are sung and produced by the same people that sing and produce all of the other garbage.

So what's wrong with the worlds music? It is Satanic, Sensual, Sinful, Sacrilegious, and a Child of God has no business listening to it.

What's wrong with the worlds Music Part 2

Not only is this world's music satanic, but it is sensual. Everything about today's music appeals to the flesh. It's all about lust, sex, and rebellion. That's not the words of some independent baptist preacher, these words come from the very music makers themselves.

"Our music is capable of causing emotional instability, disorganized behavior, rebellion and even revolution." ...'The Beatles'

"The throbbing beat of rock provides a vital sexual release for adolescent audiences."...Jan Berry

"Pop music is sex, and you have to hit them in the face with it."...Andrew Oldham (recording manager for the 'Rolling Stones')

"I'm in rock music for the sex and narcotics."...Glenn Frey of 'The Eagles'
"Rock 'n' roll is 99% sex."...John Oates

"Everyone takes it for granted that rock and roll is synonymous with sex."...Chris Stein, lead guitarist with 'Blondie.'

"Rock music is sex. The beat matches the body rhythms."...Frank Zappa, superstar of 'Mothers of Invention' fame.

Rocker Frank Zappa (who discovered the awful truth December 4, 1993 the second he died) proudly boasted:
"I'm the devil's advocate. We have our own worshippers who are called 'groupies.' Girls will give their bodies to musicians as you would give a sacrifice to a god."

Miley Cirus is one of the most influential celebrities over our teenagers and young people today. During her performance at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards she danced on a stripper's pole. I've read some articles that defended what she did, they said that she did not strip, or really dance, but the implication is still there no matter how you look at it. On and on we could go, about people like Brittney Spears, Madaonna, Rihanna and how their music and lifestyles promote sexual immorality.

Rock music and Pop music are not the only one's to blame. It's every form of music out there. Most of Country music is about immorality.

Kenny Chesney;
Summertime
Anything but mine

Toby Keith;
I'm just talking about tonight
Stays in Mexico
A little less talk and a lot more action

Gretchen Wilson;
I'm here for the party
California Girl

These are just a few of the MANY songs that promote adultery, fornication, and immorality. There is no way a person can listen to these kind of songs, and keep a clean heart, or obey the words of Philippians 4:8.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

We'll never be able to think on "These things" when we are listening to songs of adultery and fornication.
What's wrong with the worlds music? It is Sensual!

What's Wrong with the Worlds Music? Part 1

I am amazed and heart broken by the number of God's people that see nothing wrong with listening to the music of this world. The bible clearly tells us to "come out from among them", and that means our music too! What is really discouraging to me is to see people that told me when I was a teenager that I shouldn't be listening to secular music, and now they do! Has God changed? Absolutely not! The kind of music that Christians should listen to should be music that Honors and Glorifies God!

Eph 5:19 speaking to yourselves in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

Psalms 9:2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing PRAISE to thy name, O thou most High.

Psalms 21:13 Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we SING and PRAISE thy power.

Psalms 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my SONG will I PRAISE him.

Psalms 33:2-3 PRAISE the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

One doesn't have to look far into secular music to see that it does everything BUT honor God. There are many reasons that can be given as to why a child of God should not listen to the music of this world, but here are four very simple reasons.

1. Secular Music is Satanic

David Bowie in Rolling Stone magazine (Feb. 12, 1976), stunned the music world, when he stated:
"Rock has always been THE DEVIL'S MUSIC . . . I believe rock and roll is dangerous . . . I feel we're only heralding SOMETHING EVEN DARKER THAN OURSELVES."

The super group, Metallica, in the song "Jump In the Fire", commands young people to jump into hell:

"Follow me now my child . . .
DO JUST AS I SAY . . .
Jump by your will or be taken by force I'll get you either way . . .
So reach down grab my hand walk with me through the land
COME HOME WHERE YOU BELONG
So come on JUMP IN THE FIRE."


In the cover song, "The Prince", Metallica openly sing:

"Angel from below . . .
I WISH TO SELL MY SOUL . . .
DEVIL TAKE MY SOUL
with diamonds you repay I don't care for heaven
so don't you look for me to cry
AND I WILL BURN IN HELL from the day I die."

Do these songs sound like ANYTHING a child of God should be listening to?

Paul McCartney said, "We probably seem to be anti-religious. . . none of us believes in God." (Hit Parader, Jan 1970, p.15)

Rock star, Marilyn Manson, proudly boasts:
"Hopefully, I'll be remembered as the person who brought an end to Christianity." (Spin, August 1996, p. 34)

What about the group Nickelback, and their song that was released a few years ago "Rockstar"? Thru the verses of the song he's making a deal with the devil, telling him every thing that he needs to be a "Rockstar".

By his own words, Carlos Santana admits to having communications with a demon named Metatron.
"Metatron is an angel. Santana has been in regular contact with him since 1994. Carlos will sit here facing the wall, the candles lit. He has a yellow legal pad at one side, ready for the communications that will come. 'It's kind of like a fax machine,' he says."

Does it sound like any of this music, or any of these performers are bringing honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ thru their music? Of course the answer is no, but why are there so many professing Christians that see nothing wrong with listening to this garbage?
On and on we could go about how this kind of music is satanic. I could not in one blog post everything that I have come across about these groups and how wicked and vile they are. There is so much information on the web available for anyone to see, and here are some great websites so you can do your own research.

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils%20in%20America/devils_music.htm

http://www.freedomministries.org.uk/godwin/index.shtml

Silence!

I've not posted anything in a while so I at least wanted to give an explanation. Work has been crazy and to top that off we've been moving! Lord willing I will try to get more postings up over the coming weeks and months. Not that I feel that I have a lot of readers that are hanging on my every word, I'm not that neive! But it does me good to work on the postings, it's a relief valve for the times that I have to go without preaching for a while!
So Lord willing there will be more postings coming soon.

What does it mean to be a "Christian"?

Have you ever noticed how we abuse certain words in our English language? Take the word love for instance. A lot of times we are guilty of misusing the word love. A young teenager will begin to be attracted to a member of the opposite sex and will proclaim loudly, "I love her"! Then two weeks later they have forgotten about that girl only to be in love with someone else. We say that we love our trucks, and love our cars, and love our houses, and love our boats, but do we really love those things? Do those "things" really hold a special place in our hearts?

We also abuse the word Christian. Too many people think that because they go to church occasionally, because their grandpa was a deacon, because their uncle is a Sunday School teacher, that they are a Christian. Many people think that they can live any way they want to, but because they have had some kind of religious affiliation in their lives they are a Christian. I'm afraid too many times we are guilty of picking up the title but laying down the mantle.

Every sinner (not just a selected few) that is convicted of their sins by the Holy Spirit, and comes to Christ for salvation, thru faith and repentance is saved by the grace of God, and they are saved forever! However not every saved person is a Christian. To be Christian is to be "Christ like".

How "Christ like" are our daily actions? Would Christ do the things that we do in our day to day lives? It is a sobering thought. Is Christ exalted in everything we do? No, I'm not saying we have to live a sinless life to claim the name Christian. But I am afraid that too many of US (my self included) do not live up to the title that we have bestowed upon our selves.

I pray God help those of us that are saved to truely be Christian. Not just in name only, but in deed.

Insanity ... Part II

It is painfully obvious that the "new" methods we use are not reaching a lost world for Christ, or motivating Christians to put James 4:8 into practice in their lives. So why do we keep trying more of the same? This is insanity in action. I love Revival meetings, but I'm tired of meeting where no one is stirred, no one is changed. There is nothing wrong with having fun with our youth. Our young people need to know that they can have good clean fun and still live for God, but for many churches their "Youth Program" emphasises nothing but fun and activities. Then, when the Lord is mentioned, He's slipped in quietly at the end. How do we break this cycle? What is it going to take to get the glory back in our churches? There are many verses that we can look at, but one in particular comes to mind.



If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. II Chronicles 7:14

What is the first thing that we must do? Humble ourselves. It's humbling to admit that our programs, our plans, have failed and are failing. It's humbling to admit that we are helpless. Too many times we get lifted up with pride and think that we have a better way than God. But if we're going to have the power of God in our lives and churches, we are going to have to humble ourselves before the Lord and admit that without Him we are helpless!

What's the second thing, prayer. I don't think that I can properly get my burden across right here. Most Christians prayer lives are not even a shadow of what they used to be, what they need to be. I was flipping thru a book on prayer a few months ago. The author said that God understands our busy schedule, and that he doesn't expect us to spend the time in prayer that Saints used to. I disagree with this COMPLETELY! If we are going to have the power of God on our lives, we must frequently visit the prayer closet!

The third thing that we must do is seek God. Are we truly seeking after God? Is HE truly the desire of your heart? When we wake up in the morning, is HE on our minds?
As we go thru our day, do we give HIM any thought at all? Do we go to revivals just to enjoy the singing, so we can shout and have an emotional stirring? (And I believe in shouting). What are you seeking? Be honest with yourself, examine your motives. Are you really seeking after God?

The last thing that we must do, is turn from our wicked ways. We have to turn from those things in our lives that are not pleasing to God. Why do so many people have to have fifty verses on something before they reluctantly give it up? What's the attitude of the average church member? "Well I tell you what, You prove it to me from the Bible, and I'll believe it"!! The truth is that someone with that attitude is not going to change no matter how many verses you show them. Our attitude SHOULD be, "Lord, I'm not sure if this is wrong or right, but I don't want to do anything that would displease you. So I'm not going to do it anymore until you show me different".
The good thing is that if we are doing the first three steps, that fourth one will come automatically! Anyone who vehemently defends their sin, have not humbled themselves, do not have a prayer life, and are not seeking the face of God. No, it won't be easy, but God will give us grace!! Hallelujah!!

When we do these thing, when we start trusting in God instead of the flesh, then we will get the "Revival" back in our revival meetings. Then we will see God work in our youth. God help us, not to trusting in games and gimmicks, but trust in HIM.

Please feel free to leave a comment, let me know what you think.

Insanity ... Part I

Everyone knows what the definition of insanity is, right? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. This is something that I think we are guilty of in our Baptist churches. Let me explain myself.

In years gone by we had the power of God in our baptist churches. The people went to church and the glory fell. A revival meeting was a revival in the true sense of the word, people's lives were forever changed. Bars went out of business. Businesses shut down for the meeting, and a three night meeting was unheard of. Churches were growing in size, not shrinking in size. Their young people were not just in church, but active in church. They were excited about living their lives for God. Young men wanted to be called to preach, to go the mission field. The young ladies wanted to be preachers wives, and raise their children for the glory of God.

But what about today, what do we have today? Our revivals are revivals in name only. No one is changed, no one surrenders their life to God, half the people don't even show up. Yes the preaching is Doctrinally sound. It informs us and perhaps even stirs us, and we "Feel" like we have been renewed. Sad to say that our "Renewal" quickly wears off, and within a week or two we are back to our old routine.

Today we have more programs for our young people than you can shake a stick at! We have children's church, Awana, Kings Kids, church baseball, volleyball, basketball, and football teams. Hot dog Sunday, pizza Sunday, ice-cream Sunday...Sunday. And our youth today are leaving the church faster than rats off of a sinking ship.

So where does the insanity come in?

The last revival didn't work, so lets have another meeting. How do we prepare for this one, the same way we prepared for the last one. No prayer, no fasting, no weeping, not really wanting to go, dragging in late and can't wait to get out because we tivo'd our favorite TV MA rated show.

We can't keep youth in our churches, the ball teams aren't working, the clubs aren't working, the ice-cream Sunday... Sunday's aren't working. So what do we do? Add more ball teams, more clubs, more ice-cream.... you get the point! We do more of the same wishing so hard that it will work.

So what works? in part II we will take a look, and try to find that answer.

The Great Pretenders

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
II Timothy 3:5

Every time that I've heard this verse preached on, it's always used to refer to those that are hirelings. Those that use "Religion" as a means of financial gain. It's used to refer to the ecumenical movement, to the charismatics that work off of people's emotions rather than the spirit of God, to those that are "Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" Matthew 15:9. And certainly those can be applied, but when I read this verse I see us, Independent Fundamental Baptist. Why do I say that? We are a form, a shell of what we used to be.

There was a time when men, preachers and laymen alike, had a close personal relationship with Christ. They could do more than just talk about the power of God, they experienced it. They knew what it was to spend great amounts of time with God in prayer, meditation, and study. Men like Johnathan Edwards who would sometimes spend 18 hours a day in prayer and study, who preached the message "Sinners in the hands of an angry God". People clung to the pews and pillars of the church afraid that the ground would open beneath them they cried out

"IS THERE NO WAY OF ESCAPE"!

What about men like Charles Finney who was preaching a revival in a port town. A sea captain testified that conviction broke out among the passengers as the ship neared the town where Finney was preaching.

These are just two examples of the power of God that history is filled with. Why don't we see that manifested power today like they did in years gone by? A better question might be, why don't we care? Most people are content to sit back and talk about the "Good ol' days" with no concern about our present spiritual condition. We go to church, we sing, we pray and preach, then leave church Sunday night to go back to our worldly lifestyles that we live thru the week, there is no conviction in our services, no one gets saved, no one is changed, no one rededicates, no one surrenders their life to the service of the Lord (and I'm not only talking about surrendering to preach), and we talk about what a wonderful service that we had, and we pretend that "the spirit was there"! When in fact, we know little about the spirit that the old time preachers knew.

Why is this, did they have some kind of special power with God that was exclusive only to them? Is God a respecter of persons, giving to them a special relationship with Him that we have no access to? God is no respecter of men, we can have the same power that they had, but if we want it we have to pay the same price they paid. Why, because God is no respecter of men.

I don't want to just read about the power of God, Revival, I want to see it! I was chatting with a preacher on facebook last night, he told me of a great quote by Dr. James Stewart, "The church has been sub-normal for so long, that if we ever got normal, the world would think we were abnormal".

I'm tired of pretending, I want to see the power of God in our churches again.

What more could He do?

Just got done listening to a message from oldpathsermons.com, the text was Isaiah chapter 5. The message deals with some things that have been on my heart and mind lately.

Isaiah 5
1 ¶ Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:
2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.

These verses talk about how a vineyard was planted, how great care was taken to make sure the vineyard would have every opportunity to produce. The verse talks about how the vineyard was fenced, it was protected from intruders and wild animals that might come in and harm the vineyard. It talks about how the stones were gathered out, about the tower that was built in the midst of it, and how he placed a winepress in the vineyard.
What is the purpose of the winepress? So wine could be made when the vines have produced their fruit. This vineyard was not planted simply for show, for people to walk by and say, "what a beautiful vineyard". This vineyard was expected to produced fruit so the owner would have something to show for his hard work of building, working, and caring for this vineyard. But verse two tells us that when it should have brought forth grapes, it brought forth wild grapes. Grapes that were good for no use at all.
We know from John chapter 15 that God is the husbandman, Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. We are to bare fruit for the masters work. I'm afraid, however, that just like Isaiah chapter 5 when God has expected to reap grapes from our lives we have given Him nothing but wild grapes.

4 What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?

So the question is, what more could he do? What more could the Lord do for us to get us to produce fruit for His glory? We live in the greatest country on earth, we live without threat of persecution. We have beautiful church buildings, but we do not have the power of God in our hearts, and homes, and at the house of God. We have allowed this world to consume our lives and anything that has any resemblance to God is chocked out.
What happened to Christians living separated from this world. Not because it's popular, not because the preacher preaches it, and not even because the bible say so, but because we want to please HIM. Why do we have to have fifteen verses on something before we are willing to give it up for the Lord? Why can't we say, "Lord, I don't know if this is wrong or not, but there's so much controversy surrounding it that I'm going to give it up because I want to please you". What more does the Lord have to do for us to get us to serve Him? What's it going to take in your life and mine for us to sell out to God?
What more could He do?

A Thirsty Soul

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
Psalms 42:1

Sad that too many of us cannot identify with this passage of scripture. Most professing "Christians" are too busy chasing after the things of the world to be preoccupied with Jesus. How we rob ourselves of the blessings, fellowship, and power with God when we chase after the things of this world.

What is the purpose of your life, what do you live for? What consumes your thoughts? Is it money, a better position at work, a better education, a new car, house, boat, flat screen television? What drives you from day to day? I know that we have to work to live and provide for our families, but we have gotten to the point where our job and our possession's are what we live for. I know very, very few people who view their jobs as simply a means to live while they serve God. Most church people view service for Christ as something they do every once in a while to soothe their conscience while they live for the temporal pleasures of this life.
Oh we talk a great talk, we know all the word to "oh how I love Jesus", but we don't know the true meaning. How many times in our lives when we come to a decision between taking the will of God by faith, and choosing the easy path, do we choose the latter.

We are faithful to church, read our bibles, even witness occasionally, but do our hearts really long after Him. Is He truly our hearts desire? I don't believe that there are many of us that can say He is. We need to reach the point in our lives where He is our reason for living, where we hunger and thirst for God and His word.

Spiritual Autism 3

In Part 1 and 2 we looked at several things concerning Spiritual Autism. We look at the cause of autism, we looked at the comparison of autism, how the physical compares to the spiritual. We looked at the conditions of autism, how it affects our Dialog, or Diet, and our Development. But what is the cure for autism, how do we get out of this condition of being spiritually autistic?

Concerning physical autism, it’s not a simple answer. The first thing that we have to do is identify the problem areas. It’s been over two years now since Jennifer and I have know that Tyler is autistic, but we still don’t know exactly what is wrong with him. It may be a yeast build up; it may be Mercury or other heavy metals that are built up in his body. He may have food allergies that we are currently unaware of. He is on a waiting list to see a D.A.N. doctor, (Defeat Autism Now). The wait can be very long, and the visits very expensive.

Tyler’s method of treatment will vary based on his particular needs. Spiritual autism, however, is a little easier to treat. Identifying the problem area is still the first step. What area of our lives have we let slip. Have we just grown cold on the Lord, have we stopped praying, stopped reading our bibles? Have we let some of the sins of the past life slip back into our lives, maybe it’s the wrong kind of music, or watching ungodliness on T.V. We have to identify the area that has caused our lives to become autistic spiritually.
Then, we have to get those things out of our lives that are hindering our walk with God. And pray for others that they don’t fall into this condition of being spiritually autistic.

In part 1 I told you about Tyler’s pediatrician, and how she just could not understand our concerns about autism, she insisted that everything was fine. This lost world that has never come to Christ, that has never experienced salvation, that has never experienced a work of grace in their hearts. They can’t understand our concerns over our brother’s and sister’s in Christ that have fallen into sin. They think that our concerns for them are unwarranted, that they are perfectly normal. There is nothing “normal” about a Child of God living a life of sin. God help us to keep the sin out of our lives, to keep an open line of communication with our heavenly father, and to not develop this condition of being Spiritually Autistic.

Spiritual Autism Part 2

In part 1 I told you about Tyler and his condition of autism. We made the comparison between physical autism and spiritual autism, and how when we have allowed sin in our lives we become spiritually autistic. But what are the characteristics of autism? How does autism affect an individual? Autism affects every child differently, each autistic child has their own unique problems, but there are certain areas where they share common difficulties.

First of all, autism hinders a person’s Dialog. Tyler is four and a half years old, his speech is limited and until about six months ago he basically did not talk at all. We thank the Lord for the progress that we are seeing with him, his speech seems to be improving weekly, but he still has a long way to go. It is heart breaking to have a child that, because of their condition, you cannot communicate with.
It is also heart breaking to our heavenly Father when, because of sin in our lives, our line of communication is broken. Psalms 66:18 says that if we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us. How many times have we let sin come into our lives and break that fellowship with God? When we do we are showing signs of spiritual autism.

Not only does autism hinder our Dialog, but it hinders our Diet. For half of Tyler’s life he has been on a wheat free diet. He can have nothing with gluten or casein. His body cannot process those foods. What did the apostle Paul say to the saints in Corinth? Because of their carnality he had to give them the milk of the word and not the meat (I Corinthians 3:1-3). As long as we harbor sin in our lives, we will not get the proper nourishment that we need from the word of God. We simply will not be able to handle the “meat of the word”.

Lastly, when we become spiritually autistic, when we give in to the flesh and let sin in our lives, it hinders our Development. Because of Tyler’s condition of autism, he cannot develop properly. Jennifer and I cannot train him like we can train Wesley and Riley because of our inability to communicate with him. We are commanded in the scriptures to grow in grace (2 Peter 3:18), to study to shew ourselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15), and to press toward the mark (Philippians 3:14). But we cannot follow these commands from scripture, we cannot develop in our spiritual lives while harboring sin in our lives.

Spiritual Autism

For those of you that don’t know him, this is Tyler. A few months before Tyler’s second birthday Jennifer and I became concerned about him. He was not talking yet, and he would not make eye contact with anyone. Jennifer and I were concerned that it may be autism. We took him to his pediatrician and voiced our concerns. She assured us that everything was normal, that some children just start talking later than others. So we left the doctor’s office with a spring in our step assured that Tyler was ok and everything was fine.

After just a few weeks however, our concerns were back because we were still not seeing any improvement. So we took another trip to the doctor’s office for another dose of reassurance, of which she was more than willing to prescribe. So we left the office the second time not quite as content with the answer but comforted, somewhat, that Tyler was going to be fine.

Again, it was not long until we knew that there was something very wrong. Around the time that Tyler turned two years old we knew that he was autistic. But why did the doctor’s refuse to see this? Just the mention of the word autism was like showing a crucifix to a vampire! She did not want to hear it. All she could do was reassure us that Tyler was completely normal; he was just like anybody else.

We stopped taking Tyler to that pediatrician and began treating him, through the help of other doctors and friends, for autism. It took two years for the doctors to confirm what Jennifer and I had already known. Tyler was diagnosed with PDD, Pervasive Developmental Delay, a form of autism.

What is the cause of autism? We could fill hundreds of blogs, and no doubt they have, discussing the causes of autism. Some say that it is purely genetic, that autistic children were simply born with it, nothing more. Some say that vaccines are 100% at fault, and a person’s genetic makeup plays no role in it at all. Our oldest son got all the vaccines that Tyler did, but he is perfectly healthy. So vaccines cannot be 100% at fault. Genetics cannot be 100% at fault either. I heard one doctor that said it best, “it is not possible to have a genetic epidemic”, and certainly we have an epidemic of autism in our country today.

I believe that the problem is a combination of both genetics and vaccines. Time will not let us go into a discussion of why vaccines are bad, I’m sure there are plenty of other blogs to read on this subject, but I know from my own research that they are. How could Wesley be healthy and Tyler be autistic when they had the same shots? Wesley’s body was obviously stronger and more able to deal with the toxins, and other dangers, that Tyler’s body could not handle.

The title of this blog is Spiritual Autism. So what is the comparison how does the physical compare with the spiritual? A few months ago I began thinking about Tyler’s condition, how it affects him, and my relationship with him as his father. I began to compare that to our spiritual lives, when as children of God we have sin in our lives, how it affects us and our relationship with our heavenly Father. As children of God we know that we have a constant pull to sin from within (Romans 7) that is in our “genes”. We know that when we sin, when we “inject” sin into our lives, that we lose fellowship with our heavenly Father, we become spiritually autistic. Over the next update or two we will look at similarities between Tyler’s condition, and the condition of the child of God that has allowed sin into their lives, and see the dangers of becoming Spiritually Autistic.

A Parental View

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matthew 7:11
Ever since my first son was born, I’ve had a new appreciation for this verse. No, not that I know or comprehend everything about God’s love, his love for us is beyond comprehension. But the verse seems to have taken on a deeper meaning for me since my children were born.

I remember being in the hospital with my wife when our first (Wesley) was born. I remember how absolutely overwhelming it was the first time that I got to hold him in my arms, this was MY son. I know how great my love was, and still is, for my children. But to think that as great as my love is form my children, God’s love for me is greater. As much as I want to do for my children, God wants to do more for me.
That doesn’t mean that he will give me everything that I want. Many times it is because of that great love that my heavenly father tells me no. There are a lot of things that my children want but they cannot have, it may be something that they don’t need, something that could hurt them, something that would be contrary to the truths that I as a father am trying to instill into them. A lot of times my children do not understand why I tell them no, but it is my responsibility to tell them no, and to teach them why.
By the same token, my heavenly father will not give me those things that will be harmful to me, those things that will turn my heart from Him. Many times, like a little child, I don’t see the dangers; I don’t understand why He said no. But it is my responsibility to be obedient, whether I ever understand or not.

How can I know when my children begin to appreciate and understand my love for them? When they begin to say, “thank you daddy, for not letting me do this, not letting me have that”, when they begin to recognize that the things I have done for them have been for their good.
How will I know when I am maturing in Christ, when I can say thank you Lord for the trials, thank you Lord for the valleys, thank you Lord for the times when you said no.

I remember laying that little new born baby boy in his bed and realizing how helpless he was. He could not feed himself, he could not dress himself, all he could do is lay there and depend on mama and daddy. As I stood there and looked at that little boy, I realized that I was as helpless as my son, I can’t do anything without my heavenly father.
As my children are growing their dependence on me as their father is getting less and less. But my dependence on my heavenly father will never diminish. I’m striving to be a more mature Christian, to grow in grace and knowledge, but I need Him as much today as I did when I was an infant Christian.

Why "Old Paths"?

I am proud of my Baptist heritage. I'm happy about the fact that as a baptist I am not a protestant, we did not come out of the Catholic church. I'm proud that our history can be traced from the ten primitive persecutions of the second and third centuries. From the times of Constantine in the fourth century, and all thru the dark ages. During the times of the great awakening when men like Wycliffe, Huss, and Knox, were coming out in opposition to the Catholic church. The true churches were singing and preaching the praises of God, often times giving their lives for their beliefs. Though these churches were known by many different names, Montanists, Waldenses, anabaptist, they were baptistic in their policies and doctrine.

I'm proud of the roll that baptist played in the establishment of America. From Shubal Stearns and the Sandy Creek Baptist Church establishing the bible belt throughout the south, to John Leland and the Baptist of Virgina playing a vital roll in the establishment of our Constitution. I'm proud of my Baptist heritage.

But I'm sad at what many Baptist have become. In these days of contemporary music, and the ecumenical movement, we have lost the meaning of what it truly means to be a baptist.

I chose the name "old paths Baptist" because I want to be identified with the old time way. What it really means to be an old time, Independent, Fundamental Baptist.
To take the bible (KJV) literal. That the bible teaches salvation by grace thru faith for all, not just a few, that come to God thru faith and repentance. That separation from this world is something that we do to please our heavenly father as it is taught in the bible, not according to our personal preference, and not just when it is convenient.

I am, by the grace of God, going to walk in the old paths.