fbpx

Blasphemy

There are many in the land attempting to do what only God can do.

To think that one can achieve salvation through any means other than through Christ Jesus, the only begotten son of the Living God is a hope against hope.

It’s easy to look at the atheist and think how foolish their actions are. It’s easy to look at the cult followers as empty and heading to a dead end with no room to turn around. It’s easy to see the trappings of the religions of false prophets as of no help and filled with falsehoods.

Then there is the danger of practical blasphemy that some professors of Christ practice. To suggest that God needs anything from us or that we have any stake in how he should rule His created order is an equal act of blasphemy.

There is joy in the Lord. In the condition of helplessness we were once in, Christ came to us in our spiritual depravity and saved us from the deserved wrath of God that is fairly charged against us but was graciously placed upon our redeemer in our stay.

O for a thousand tongues to sing…

Is Genesis History?

Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at the Magic Valley Cinema 13, a one night only documentary on creation will show. Is Genesis History is a project hosted by the author of the Truth Project of Focus on the Family, Del Tackett.

Del Tackett, Focus on the Family, and the Truth Project are all reliable sources and gives reason for me to recommend this documentary for consideration.

Who would benefit from a documentary such as this?

  • Everyone

Especially, If I had children of any age being taught in any school system; public, private, charter, Christian, and home.

Here is a link to helpful eBook related to the documentary.

 

A Gospel Tract Video Project

There is Joy in the Lord

Here is a Gospel sharing opportunity for you. These video Gospel tracts are intended for your use in sharing publicly or privately with friends, co-workers, acquaintances, anyone in general.

The idea is that you might consider sharing one of these video excerpts from a recent sermon with your friends. I’ve included them here for you to view as you decide who you might share.

  • I have included links to one print version and three video versions:
  • Long Version: This is the entire sermon from February 5, 2017 from Philippians 2:5-11
  • Medium Version: This has several excerpts from various places in the sermon (about 15 minutes long)
  • Short Version: This has just a few portions of the sermon (about 4 minutes)

Instructions and Suggestions:

First:

  • Pray – The kind of praying I’m talking about is for boldness. We already know that God wants us to share the gospel. For most of us, it is a lack of boldness that keeps us from sharing the gospel. It’s not for lack of want, it’s for lack of boldness. I’m praying for you as you consider this with me.
  • Read Philippians 2:5-11 and Romans 8. There are other things you may want to read as well, but at least those two because they are the primary text I used in this past Lord’s Day sermon.
  • Don’t let any public conversion online divert you from you gospel work. If you share one of the following links on a public social network page don’t let someone (sometimes even professing Christians will do this) lure you in to a distracting conversation.
  • Put it out there and pray for those who the Holy Spirit will draw to the posts.
  • Do not feel obligated to a discussion where you feel obligated to defend me. That is a distraction from the conversation. Let potshots at the preacher roll off of you.

 

Printed tract:

  • Consider printing this post that was published in the Twin Falls Times News this past weekend and give it or mail it to a friend.
  • After you give it, mail it, email it to them, tell them you would like to talk to them about it some time (face to face is best in my opinion)
  • Set a time that you may be able to talk about it.
  • Share that column published in the Twin Falls Times News on your social network sites.
  • Become as familiar as you can with Philippians 2:5-11 and Romans 8.

 

Video Tracts:

  • First, get these videos from my YouTube channel (HERE) and share them directly from there. You could share this blog post, but the intent of this blog post is really to give you opportunity to consider sharing the gospel.
  • Consider sharing the full sermon (HERE) with those you know really well. Maybe even Christians to encourage each other in the work of Christ on the Cross in your own lives.
  • Consider sharing the medium length tract (HERE) with friends via email or messaging. Even for some a 15 minute excerpt will not appeal to them or they may consider that too long of an investment in something you’ve shared with them. But you have some who may be ready for a good discussion after a bit more of an investment of their time.
  • Consider sharing this short tract (HERE) on your social media pages, blog pages, emails, and such. This is a concise collection of a few excerpts from the full sermon. Use this primarily for an opportunity to have more dialog with.


Full Length: 
59 minutes


Medium Length:
just over 15 minutes

Short Length: 4 minutes

Satan Dares Us To Be Careless

Have you ever been tempted to use Scripture to disobey God?

If you are being honest you understand the question and the answer is, “yes.”

In a time of war, if your enemy can twist your own words to wage war against you he will successfully win the battle. Don’t forget, Christian, you are at war with the enemy of God. That enemy is a master manipulator and crafty in twisting the words of God. Look around. The shifting in our culture is exhibit A, a living indictment against many professing followers of Christ.

Scripture is powerful for both you and your enemy. It is powerful for the enemy if you don’t know God’s word and powerful for you if you do know it.

The savor of all repenting sinners, Jesus the Christ, was under the attack of the master manipulator who twister of the word of God in Matthew 4:5-6. Satan chose to tempt Jesus with that powerful tool, the very words of God Himself, but was not counting on Jesus actually knowing these words or knowing how he chose to use Scripture out of context to make it seem okay to disobey God.

Human history is full of examples of how Satan chose to use Scripture like this. Unlike Jesus, we prove how little we know the word of God. Think of it for a moment – remember the garden with Adam and Eve and King David committing adultery and murder. Not to mention the ongoing misuse of Scripture by Satan to convince many that they will become equal with God by becoming gods or that it is possible to earn your way to heaven or loss your salvation. Many in our day believe that human life is not to be revered as abortion numbers continue to show the nation less interested in the glory of God and more interested in convenience. And then a hundred other more subtle lies that salvation comes in the act of baptism or speaking in tongues.

If the follower of Christ is not aware of this then he/she is likely to be won over by the enemy. This is no time to be careless in your relationship with God.

The only thing we do when we are persuaded by the enemy of God is prove we are a careless people with the things of God.

Remember this follower of Christ; Satan loves to take God’s word and twist it all up so we don’t know if it’s truth or not.

Here are some warning signs that you have successfully been won over by the chief of all liars:

  • You think there is no God.
  • You don’t think you are a sinner and God surely wouldn’t judge you as one, or at least not the kind of sinner deserving of hell.
  • You think God wants you to do something that is a contradiction of his word.
  • You think reading the bible is something other people should do.
  • You treat others as less important than you.
  • You think of yourself as more spiritual than others.
  • You think praying is something for old women.

Is it possible that you’ve become careless in your relationship with Christ? Is it possible that your church has become careless in her duty?

Reader, today, while it is still called today, don’t be a sloppy and careless follower of Christ like many have become in our day. What partial truth has Satan duped you of lately? What lie have you agreed to believe in order to justify your sin?

Do you not see Satan tempting you, daring you even, to be careless?

O, that the community would find a people devoted and careful to follow and obey God. Calling all sinners, repent and submit with joy to the Word of Life, Jesus the Christ! Be among those with a past that once were believers of lies but have repented and turned to Christ. Stop your careless ways today and live in the light of truth.

The Savior is able to make all things new!

Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor of InterMountain Christian News, Boise, Idaho

Dear Mr. Harper,

First, the intent of my letter is to help – not destroy or confuse. My straightforwardness is not to discredit the legitimacy and seriousness of the unfolding of the events around Saeed and Naghmeh Abedini in the public eye.

You and Intermountain Christian News have been strong advocates for the suffering saints around the world and helped in keeping the news of Saeed’s imprisonment in front of Christians in the intermountain region; For this, I’m thankful.

When we express concern for how things are unfolding in the lives of public figures many may be angry at what will appear to sound like unfair judgment or casting of stones, I am not trying to dig into another man’s personal affairs. I do understand the private boundary. I’m not requesting details of any private matters.

As you have read my public comments and were so kind to visit with me on the phone multiple times the day you released your YouTube interview with Saeed, I once again put out my plea to churches, Christian universities, mission agencies and Christian media outlets to not give Saeed Abedini a platform to speak until he gives clarity of his church affiliation, questions around his ordination, phone activity while in prison, humbly submitting to the authority of his local church in regards to his marriage and answer his alleged past abusive behavior in his marriage. I don’t make these demands; it’s simply a call for accountability. I respect that I have no authority or responsibility for any other church but the one I pastor. I’m not trying to usurp another churches autonomy or pastor’s duty.

I’m not concerned with secular media. They are not bound to responsibly report to the church. Their base is more secular; however, I have found their interviews to be more honest and even bold enough to ask questions regarding the public difficulties. I will give any Christian media outlet the benefit of the doubt until they show themselves more interested in financial gain than responsibly reporting to Christians helpful information.

All Christian media outlets, if publishing a reworked report from the Associated Press is as good as you can do, please report nothing.

I do not write this to incite, accuse, or disparage. I want Saeed’s story told, but not while these unclear and unanswered questions linger. I will tell of how the church in America came together to pray for Saeed and Naghmeh and their children during his days of imprisonment. I will tell of how my church prayed faithfully for the plight of suffering saints everywhere. This was an expression of joy in the Lord to be reminded that when a member of the body of Christ suffers, the body suffers. It was good to be faced with reality during these God ordained days that the hardship Saeed faced, and worse, is the normal experience of believers in many places around the world. And good to be reminded today that the suffering of this kind is a blessing when it is without cause. But when it is because of personal actions, it is wrong to interpret that as the same thing. It is of a different kind.

  • I have made attempts to communicate with Saeed in private, all attempts met with silence. It is not necessary or required that anyone I write must respond or agree with me. I’m accountable for my words and spirit of my correspondence. I’m willing to be judged by the reader and scrutinized about my intent, motive and spirit of communication.
  • Christians have been conditioned by fear of men, in the name of love, to not hold fellow Christians accountable. We’re told it is unfair, unloving, and even rude to judge. Will we hear the mandate of an uninformed reader of Scripture force us to adopt a secular philosophy that loving someone means we don’t hold them accountable or discern how words and actions are not equal? We must be careful. We want others to be graceful to us, we too should speak with a graceful motive. I am willing to be scrutinized in the same manner. Where it is true, we have a history of being unfair, unloving and even rude; it should not be so when we do exercise discernment. For too long we’ve been told that boldness is rude. Let’s not let the fear of being labeled rude keep us from being bold, and let’s not let the duty of being bold give reason for rudeness.
  • Does the bible instruct us in how to do this at all? It does. When we probe for clarity we give consideration. When we inquire with concern we should do so as gentle as a dove and with discernment of a serpent. We are not easily offended if the one we are speaking with does not see things as we perceive them – we give room that we may be wrong in our inquiry, and if we are we are quick to humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness.

The is an attempt to gain clarity and attempting to act in a spirit of love for the gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ and a professing brother. With respect, I ask you once again to not give Saeed Abedini a platform to speak as a leader to the churches in the intermountain region while serious questions need to be addressed. I submit my letter with an expectation to be judged in the same manner. Words are important; my words should be scrutinized for clarity and weighed against logic in the spirit of Christ, described by Scripture not secular philosophy.

With respect,

 

Paul Thompson

Open Letter to Saeed Abedini

First, to the reader: the intent of this post is to help – not destroy or confuse. I have attempted to make personal contact with Saeed Abedini multiple times in private to gain clarification on some very serious issues that have surfaced since his release in January from Iran. My straightforwardness is not to discredit the legitimacy and seriousness of his situation or the plight of the suffering followers of Christ in forgotten places. It is intended to express ongoing earnest attention upon this. This is a longer post than normal, the weight of the issue requires the length.

To the reader, who may be angry at me for what will appear to sound like unfair judgment or casting of stones, I am not trying to dig into another man’s personal affairs. I do understand the private boundary. I’m not requesting details of any private matters. In my call to churches, Christian universities and Christian media outlets to not give Saeed Abedini a platform to speak until he gives clarity of his church affiliation, questions around his ordination, phone activity while in prison, humbly submitting to the authority of his local church in regards to his marriage and alleged abusive behavior. I don’t make these demands, it’s simply a call for accountability. I respect that I have no authority or responsibility for any other church but the one I pastor. I’m not trying to usurp another churches autonomy or pastor’s duty.

It is of interest: some of my private attempts to communicate with “Christian” media outlets who have been airing interviews with Saeed have been met with silence. I don’t demand from any person, church or institution that they agree with my concern. It is an expression of concern not a demand to agree.

  • I do think it odd that not only have I heard nothing in reply from my attempted communication with Erick Stakelbeck with TBN, but even further to have my public questions on their public comments forums deleted without explanation, that is not the behavior of responsible reporting to the Lord’s church. I would further warn anyone watching TBN, and Erick Stakelbeck in particular, that honesty among the Lord’s people is a characteristic of God we embrace; at a minimum – give explanation for why you appear to not be interested in answering questions.
  • I did get reply from Baptist Press after expressing my concern to them about articles they were publishing that were more quoting from Facebook posts and causing confusion for readers as to what is going on. It was a kind reply and I was thankful for the quick reply.
  • I have had personal conversations with Intermountain Christian News. The conversation is ongoing.

I’m not concerned with secular media. They are not bound to responsibly report to the church. Their base is more secular, however, I have found their interviews to be more honest and even bold enough to ask questions regarding the public difficulties. One thing I have learned in my travels of life is that media is media. I will give a Christian media outlet the benefit of the doubt until they show themselves more interested in financial gain than responsibly reporting to Christians helpful information. (Christian media, if publishing a reworked report from the Associated Press is as good as you can do, please report nothing.)

To the reader, I have posted this letter to Saeed Abedini not to incite, accuse, or disparage. I want Saeed’s story told, but not while these unclear and unanswered questions linger. That is not my intent. I will tell of how the church in America came together to pray for Saeed and Naghmeh and their children during his days of imprisonment. I will tell of how my church prayed faithfully for the plight of suffering saints everywhere. This was an expression of joy in the Lord to be reminded that when a member of the body of Christ suffers, the body suffers. It was good to be faced with reality during these God ordained days that the hardship Saeed faced, and worse, is the normal experience of believers in many places around the world. And good to be reminded today that the suffering of this kind is a blessing when it is without cause. But when it is because of personal actions, it is wrong to interpret that as the same thing. It is of a different kind.

  • Reader, I have made attempts to communicate with Saeed in private, all three attempts met with silence from February, March and April. It is not necessary or required that anyone I write must respond or agree with me. I’m accountable for my words and spirit of my correspondence. I’m willing to be judged by the reader and scrutinized about my intent, motive and spirit of communication.
  • Reader, we’ve been conditioned by fear of men, in the name of love, to not hold fellow Christians accountable. We’re told it is unfair, unloving, and even rude to judge. Will we hear the mandate of an uninformed reader of Scripture force us to adopt a secular philosophy that loving someone means we don’t hold them accountable or discern how words and actions are not equal? We must be careful. We want others to be graceful to us, we too should speak with a graceful motive. I am willing to being scrutinized in the same manner. Where it is true, we have a history of being unfair, unloving and even rude, it should not be so when we do exercise discernment. For too long we’ve been told that boldness is rude. Let’s not let the fear of being labeled rude keep us from being bold, and let’s not let the duty of being bold give reason for rudeness.
  • Reader, while doing so, we must use extreme caution. Does the bible instruct us in how to do this at all? It does. When we probe for clarity we give consideration. When we inquire with concern we should do so as gentle as a dove and with discernment of a serpent. We are not easily offended if the one we are speaking with does not see things as we perceive them – we give room that we may be wrong in our inquiry, and if we are we are quick to humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness.
  • Reader, you need to work out in your mind how you will discern the matters and determine how you are going to speak about this when in conversation. We are better prepared to act Christ-like when we practice being Christ-like. Be careful, be extremely careful that we not misuse Scripture. It is equally true that you are an informed ambassador of Christ that you are able to discern when someone is using Scripture wrongly to make their point to defend their actions.
  • Reader, I do not submit this letter to Saeed as example of how we should handle every situation that comes along. Not every situation requires an ‘open letter’. It is my practice that the overwhelming majority of my open letters are letters that express appreciation. The reason I submit an open letter of this magnitude is an expression of a reason that this should be done rarely.
  • Reader, if public comments are made on this post, don’t feel the urge to defend the author of the letter. Really, exercise restraint and leave reply’s to the author. It helps the conversation remain civil if disagreement is present. It is my experience that when this begins to happen confusion follows quickly. I have thick skin and can endure harsh words spoken about me. I will give answer to any questions. I am willing to be corrected. I will only delete comments that have inappropriate links to other sites and will edit any comment using vulgar language.

The following is an attempt to gain clarity and attempting to act in a spirit of love for the gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ and a professing brother. This letter has been written, rewritten, slept over, deleted and written again. I submit it with an expectation to be judged in the same manner. Words are important, my words should be scrutinized for clarity and weighed against logic in the spirit of Christ, described by Scripture not secular philosophy.


Dear Saeed,

It has been a pleasure over these past several years to pray and encourage others to pray for you to boldly speak the gospel. I will do it a hundred times, no a thousand times, again. And I continue to do so even now.

I get that your return to the US has been more difficult than anything you experienced in prison; it’s a different kind of difficult, I agree with you that it is more difficult. I get the pain you are experiencing. It is hard to do what you are doing especially when so few Christians in America understand it and don’t know how to navigate a re-entry to ‘normal’ life because many of us have forgotten that the normal Christian life includes suffering for the cause of the Gospel.

What I don’t get… and the reason I’ve attempted other private messages and some questions on your Facebook wall is why you are unwilling to give clarity of your church affiliation and clarity to your ordination as a pastor. There are some things that I request answers to understand where you’re coming from.

  • Are you an Assembly of God pastor or a Calvary Chapel pastor? Where do you pastor, shepherd?
  • Is your ordination from a church, denomination or an internet source unrelated to a local church? As a director of a not-for-profit, none denominational, Christian ministry who are you accountable to?
  • It is reported that you spent many hours through many days watching movies on a phone while in prison; if so, how do you reconcile the reporting to the churches praying for you that you were spending your days in prayer, reading Scripture and witnessing to other inmates? (This is not to mean I don’t think the long days were difficult or that you didn’t pray, read the Bible, suffered beatings, and witness to others.)
  • Is the public record of abuse in your true or false?
  • When you talk about revival, what do you mean?

These are not questions of your integrity or validity of ministry. I don’t believe that one has to be a pastor to suffer for the work of Christ, I don’t think only ordained ministers are allowed to give testimony of the work of God, I’m not requiring that all ministers are without sin and hardship in marriages. These are questions that came to us, we didn’t go looking for these things about you, it is not out of order for discerning people to ask for answers. God’s people are full of grace and patient with each other, but we are not called to follow blindly.

The issue of your marriage is complicated for the public. The marriage of elders in the church is an illustration of the Gospel. Marriage preaches the Gospel every time that marriage is mentioned or considered. Marriage is used as a word picture of grace. It is a representation to everyone everywhere of our Redeemer. It is and may be far more important for the church in America to see you give attention to this than anything you can tell us about revival and those God ordained days of your suffering.

Where it may not be the ideal way you envisioned returning home, you and Naghmeh have made public comments about your marriage. Where it is not required of you to live under the scrutiny of others, you don’t get to choose what parts the public scrutinizes. If you serve as a pastor, you live as a pastor.  Still, there are graceful boundaries we give; however, from what you and Naghmeh have publicly said, there are only a few possible true answers and only one certain truth.

One of three options

  1. you are telling the truth and Naghmeh is lying,
  2. you are lying and Naghmeh is telling the truth,
    or
  3. you are both lying.

The only thing that is certain; it is not possible that both of you are telling the truth.

Every time you defend yourself by saying these things are “lies and false accusations”, as you are doing, you are publicly calling Naghmeh, your wife, a liar. This is a conclusion you may not be intending, I’m willing to be corrected.

You are a public figure to the American church. This being so, it is appropriate for your actions and words to be scrutinized. This is what it’s like to be a pastor. Words are weighed in the balance of logic.

Your words mean something. The words you are currently using are communicating that you are publicly being mistreated by some while you publicly call your wife a liar. You are not judging fairly yourself. You are making public judgment of your wife while not wanting to be held publicly accountable yourself.

This is not acceptable behavior of a man of God.

With respect, I do have a responsibility to the Lord’s people I pastor to give them shepherding direction as they navigate through the landscape of our day. It’s a beautiful thing to trust the Lord’s people to make biblical judgment with kindness and compassion. The Lord’s people are this way. We know the kind of grace it took to save us and we enjoy giving that kind of grace to others.

To your wife and children. You have a gospel mandated duty. The wife of your youth has a word for the church in America too, be reconciled, make amends, humble yourself, and go forth, together, with the gospel. The church wants to hear from both of you.

Please give consideration.

 

Paul Thompson

 

 


edited for spelling and grammar corrections

 

Helpful Islamic Terms (tBC016)

In today’s BridgeCast I give some helpful terms in regard to Islam and the cultural storm of money following the Thanksgiving observation.

In this day it may be helpful to have an increased knowledge of Islamic terms. When you read or listen to a ‘news’ report and a term is used that you’re not familiar with, find a good dictionary or reliable source to help give you a working definition of how that term is defined and used.

Allah: This is the only Arabic word for god. This makes translation of the bible into Arabic problematic. Not because there is not a word in Arabic for god. An Arabic speaking person reading the bible in his/her language would use the word allah when they read your English word ‘god’.

In an English speaking context, we have a general word ‘god’ and a specific word for Yahweh [‘God’]. Translators generally note this with a lower case ‘g’ and an upper case ‘G’.

The necessary duty for a believer is to have a working knowledge of the definition according to the doctrine (teaching) of the different faiths.

One of note here is that the god (Allah) of Islam and the god (Yahweh) of the bible are not the same gods. Yahweh reveals Himself as triune, Allah is similar (in definition) but in no way a triune being. This is important in knowing why a Muslim is confused when you refer to Jesus as Deity (God). To a Muslim, you believe in multiple gods.

There is more, but this is a start.

Jihad*: This is a struggle or effort in god’s cause. The great jihad is the inward struggle against the passions. The lesser jihad is a defensive or legal war, to protect the interest of Islam. It is mistakenly called holy war. Jihad is the Muslim obligation to strive to teach, explain, spread, and protect the message of Islam.

Caliphate** is a form of Islamic government led by a caliph (a ruler considered a politico-religious leader of the Islamic community of believers, and rules in accordance with Islamic law.)

A caliphate is political state without separation of religion and government ruled by a religious leader called a caliph. This politico/religious ‘state’ may or may not be recognized by the community at large as legitimate. In Islam, it doesn’t need to be recognized by others, they just are and do.

*4truth.net
**Wikipedia

The Truth Is, They Are Not Telling You the Truth

Over the weekend I participated with over 100 other citizens from the Magic Valley in a nation wide movement to defund Planned Parenthood. I’m not one to quickly join protest without much information on the organizers and the intentions of all the participants.

IMG_20150822_103843-1 IMG_20150822_110023 IMG_20150822_124842

This was worth the risk for me.

I was pleased, it was largely a grassroots gathering, loosely organized and peacefully unified and respectful of all the participants. I did not participate with prayers to Mary and I didn’t require anyone to listen in on my Scripture reading and prayers. I was pleased to meet several people in the community with this common desire to see American tax payer funds stop going to Planned Parenthood, period.

My Letter to the Editor in the Twin Falls – Times News has generated mild traffic but heated emotion over the weekend. There is a lot of confusion over who’s statistics are accurate. Planned Parenthood argues that only 3% of their services includes abortions and the Susan B. Anthony foundation argues that it is really 94 – 97% of Planned Parenthood services include abortions. That’s quite a discrepancy and I don’t know which one is the more accurate. (My opinion is that it is indeed higher than 3%, but where is it factually? I have no idea.)

But this much I now know about the Twin Falls Planned Parenthood:

  • They are part of the Planned Parenthood of the North West (like all of Idaho’s Planned Parenthood clinics)
  • The Twin Falls Planned Parenthood clinic applied and was granted a direct grant, Title X. This is tax generated money for women’s health. It is a “competitive bid” process, meaning any women’s health organization is welcome to apply.
  • Twin Falls Planned Parenthood did receive Medicaid money for two murders (abortions) in Twin Falls between 2012-2014. (see chart below)
  • 203 unborn babies were murdered (aborted) in Twin Falls in 2011 (cited in previous posts)
  • Governor Otter has decided not to investigate Idaho Planned Parenthood clinics even though there are now 8 videos (as of Aug. 24, 2015) that show unethical activity is present within the organization of Planned Parenthood.

There is a better option for women’s health in the Magic Valley. Stanton Healthcare provides free healthcare for women regardless of income status. It is Christian based, but it is not required that you be a Christian to receive services. Help spread the word.

It takes work to get clear factual answers, but it can be done. Here is the truth about the state of Idaho and federal tax payer funding of murders (abortions) in Twin Falls, Idaho. This is money that is given directly to Twin Falls Health Center (Planned Parenthood). It is not a lot, but it is tax payer money (Idaho Medicaid) for the purpose of murder (abortion).

I do agree with the arguments being made that other tax payer money given to Planned Parenthood for “other services” frees other money to be spent for murdering (aborting) unborn babies. This is the reason for my opposition for any tax payer money being given to Planned Parenthood, period.

image001


NOTE: post was edited for spelling, grammar and photos by Paul Thompson at 1:59pm, August 24, 2015

How Aware Are You?

It won’t be long and you’ll begin to see the talented musicians playing those familiar Christmas tones on their pianos, cellos and violins. I don’t mean to make small of their talent when I bring up the matter of their beliefs. I don’t mean to be critical of you if you post their clever videos or are impacted at some level by the music. I simply want to only bring up the question… How aware are you?

Music is a fantastic place isn’t it? It is marvelously  close to the heart. Which should give reason to ask oneself, “How aware are you?”

I don’t have any angst with the music of the Piano Guys. I agree with many, they are talented. I enjoy a story told by the music played. But when it comes to music in worship… I have to be aware.

A musician who plays music for the purpose of worship is responsible for what god he is leading the worshiper to worship and the worshiper must know that the leader is leading the worshiper to worship his god. This is why I take issue with believers using music from an unbeliever to generate a worshipful experience. Can the unregenerate properly lead another to truly worship God?

Most don’t know that the Piano Guys are on public record as stating their faith, they are not ashamed of their faith. For that I respect them for disclosing that. How aware are you that they offer full statement of belief on their website, it is as follows…

“We believe the purpose of life is to be happy.
We believe the best way to be happy is to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and to love others more than yourself.

We believe family is most important.

We believe we are all children of a God who loves us dearly.

We believe that good music can be a source of joy, inspiration, and fulfillment.

We believe as Bobby McFerrin once said, listening to only one kind of music is like insisting on living in only one room of
your home your entire life.

We believe in as much laughter in life as possible.

We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as “LDS” or “Mormons”) to learn more about this church please visit mormon.org”

Last year I pondered the matter like this…

Why is this important for me? Why should you find it a significant thing to think through?

Learning that the Piano Guys are LDS did not change the fact that these [piano] guys are talented. They are. What changed is the origin of their faith. When a Mormon speaks of the birth of Christ, sings of the birth of Christ, or even plays music [without words] of the birth of Christ I’m in a different place of critique. I’m no longer simply enjoying music, I’m in doctrinal conflicted with the musician. When a Mormon sings of the birth of Jesus, he means a god left heaven, came and had sexual relations with a woman, and she gave birth to a child. They are the same words an orthodox Christian may sing but the teaching behind those same words are radically different.

I can still respect the talent of the Piano Guys, but I can’t experience worship as a result of their music. I might feel emotion that their music creates but I can’t trust my emotions to lead me to worship. I must give direction to my emotions. It’s possible that many will disagree with me on this. I welcome the disagreement, I’m only stating my observation from comparing the doctrines of the Book of Mormon and the Bible.

What do followers of Christ (defined by the Bible) have in common with Mormons? There is no place where the two are the same. The two doctrines are at conflict with each other, they have two different masters.  The Bible teaches that “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:24)

Can a follower of Christ enjoy the talent of the Piano Guys? I think that’s clearly possible. Can the Piano Guys lead a follower of Christ (defined by the Bible) to worship? The answer, in my observation, gets sticky. Because the Piano Guys state their beliefs on their website as clearly Mormon, and because I believe the Bible to be a sufficient rule for my life, I say no; they can only lead someone to worship their god, and clearly they want listeners to worship their god because they invite visitors of their website to check out Mormonism.

I might listen to music from the Piano Guys but I will direct my spirit to not be carried away with emotion. If I’m not careful, my emotion will deceive me and lure me into idolatry. Giving my emotions to another god must be guarded always. Clearly there is a secular product that is enjoyable by the Piano Guys, but just as clearly there is a spiritual component that must not be ignored. If I’m not careful, I can let the familiarity of the music played by the Piano Guys to eventually weaken my heart as to considering that ‘maybe we do worship the same deity.’ We don’t worship the same, so I’ll guard my heart

Be on guard. Guard your heart Christian.

Offered for consideration

Follow

Get every new post on this blog delivered to your Inbox.

Join other followers: