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EASY BELIEVISM

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What could be easier than getting saved?

LogRolling

By Ken Blue

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13.

While a student In Bible College, I remember a story that I will never forget. Dr. Malone was preaching, and he told a story about a student who brought a lost man to the “altar.” Dr. Malone said he overheard the sinner say, “I don’t feel like getting saved today.” The student said, “You don’t have to feel like it, you just need to believe what Jesus did for you on the cross.” The sinner responded, “But I want to feel something.” Again the student assured him it was not a feeling he needed. He only needed faith. Finally the sinner knelt and prayed, asking the Lord to save him. Dr. Malone said, “As soon as the two of them stood, the student asks, how do you feel?”

One of the issues confusing pastors and sinners, is the concept that one must “feel” a certain way or his salvation is not real. The problem is we have made feeling a synonym for conviction. Now, feeling may follow conviction. However, feeling need not, and many times does not. Feeling is not conviction, nor is conviction a feeling.  Conviction is a conclusion that one comes to about an issue. Some who get saved may weep and tremble, while another may laugh and shout. Then, there are those who show little or no emotion. Now, who of us can say for sure which person REALLY got saved? The answer is, none of us.

Getting saved is the easiest thing in the world. For the life of me, I can’t figure why pastors and evangelist want to put razor wire between the sinner and the Savior. “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:8-13. Now, what could be easier? The text says the word is in the heart and mouth.  

Then we hear the criticism about “the sinners’ prayer.” I am not sure how a sinner gets saved without a prayer. I guess there is some kind of sinners’ prayer that doesn’t work. If anyone knows what it is, they should enlighten us. We hear that one, two, three, repeat after me, won’t save the sinner. I would be curious how anyone knows that the sinner led in a prayer isn’t saved. The fact, my dear brother is, you don’t know if anyone gets saved or not. If they bawl and crawl their way to the “altar” on their knees, you and I have no assurance they really got saved. Personally, I would no longer announce if people get saved or not. I think the safe thing to say is we had a certain number of professions.

The Scriptures tell us how to believe, and what to believe. But, we are never told what emotional response or feeling one must demonstrate. Let me conclude with one example, and I have many.

About fifty-five years ago, my wife and I went to her brother’s house for the sole purpose of leading him to the Lord. Vernon worked on the rail road, and the heat in his boots had caused a rash. He was setting at the table applying alcohol. I presented the gospel to him, and ask if he understood. He said he did. I ask him if he would be willing to accept Christ, if I prayed with him. He responded with a “yes.” We prayed, afterward he continued to rub the alcohol on his leg. There was no weeping, shouting, or visible emotion. Vernon is still living for the Lord, and I am as sure of his salvation as I am that of any person reading this.

I believe in easy believism. I think there is a mindset that we are in some kind of “Laodicean period,” where people have no interest in salvation. That mindset conditions our attitude toward the lost. So, we put every obstacle before them, and if they aren’t willing to jump them, we beat them up to confirm what we believed. I think we should remove every obstacle between the sinner and the cross, and do everything in our power to get people to accept Christ; so did Jesus, and Paul. Believing is easy for those who believe.

“…unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:18-22

 

PERPETUITY AND HARLOT CHURCHES #1

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harlot churches

 

By Ken Blue

I am as sure of the perpetuity of the church as I am of the human race. I am here, so there must have been a line of beings from me, back to the first human. I have no way of knowing every link back to my first father, or how many were good or bad men. The Bible is clear that Adam was the first person. From there on, it’s anyone’s guess. I am thankful that God has given me a life to live. I hope I won’t be discounted since I don’t have a chart showing a reliable trail of blood back to Adam.

I also have been associated with Baptist all my life. I was raise in the Baptist south, saved and baptized in a Baptist church, attended two Baptist Colleges, and founded and pastored a Baptist church for over 40 years. Dozens of young men have gone out from that church and started other Baptist churches. (Please remember this paragraph.)

I don’t have many challenges as to my perpetuity back to Adam. But, when it comes to my church, I have taken fire from all sides. There is a little band of Baptist that tell me, if I can’t validate my church perpetuity back to John the Baptist, I have a harlot church, and all the churches we have started are little whores.

Most of the brethren agree that Adam was the father of us all. But, when it comes to the father of the first church, you will not find that unanimity. Some believe it started in Matthew 3. Others see Matthew 16 as the starting point. Still, some claim it was started in the next chapter by Jesus. A majority of Christians think the church was born in Acts 2 at Pentecost. A few see it beginning in Acts 9, with the conversion of Saul. Finally, fewer see its beginning after Acts 28. Regardless of where it started, no one church can prove perpetuity of their local church back to John the Baptist. When it comes to the church, we don’t have the same unity we do with Adam.

Well, the last thing I want is to stand in judgment before the Lord, and be judged for having a harlot church. So, if anyone can prove that the chain from his church back to the original church has never been broken; I am all ears. Now, it will not help me if you believe your church has perpetuity. We need to know how you know the chain was never broken from there to you. If the chain was broken for over one hundred years, were all those who were baptized, or ordained into the ministry valid churches? Or, are these harlot churches? If your church was unknowingly in that line, wouldn’t that break the perpetuity, and invalidate your baptism of all those you have baptized? Can you prove that has never happened in your “so called line of perpetuity?” Of course, you cannot.

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

Perpetuity and Harlot Churches Part # 2

“WHERE IS THY GOD?”

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Where is God?
where is God

By Ken Blue

“…My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?” Psalm 42:3. “Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see…” John 1:38,39.

Very little is more painful than memories of former days when we experienced the joy and personal fellowship with God and His people, then discover all has been destroyed by our enemies. To add to David’s pain, he was taunted daily by his enemies with, “Where is God?”

That question has been asked by millions. When life seems to be at its worst, then the taunt, “where is thy God?”, usually follows. But, God was there all the time, though we may not be aware of His presence.

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  • Israel in Egypt 400 years- I am sure God was forgotten by many Israelites. No doubt they were taunted every day with, “Where is God?”      Yet, He was there all the time. First, he led them there to protect them, and allow them to multiply. Next, He led them out to make a great nation of them. God was with them every day although they didn’t know it.
  • The Red Sea- When Israel came to the Red Sea, the Egyptian armies were hot on their heels, and the Red Sea lay before them. It appeared that they were trapped. Many ask, “Where is God?” He was there all the time. The sea opened to let Israel cross, and it closed to destroy Egypt’s army.
  • Bitter water- Soon Israel was out of drinking water. They came to a pool that appeared to solve the problem, but the water was poison. Where was God in their time of need? Moses was instructed to cut a branch from a tree and cast it into the water. The water was healed, and all could drink. God was there all the time.
  • Water from a rock– Some days later, they were in need of water again, but this time there wasn’t a pool nearby. Moses was commanded to strike the rock. He did, and water came powering out. Where was God? He was there all the time.

Time would fail to tell of the Manna, and the quail, of Daniel’s captivity in Babylon, of Queen Esther, the birth of Christ, the death of Christ, the Resurrection of Christ, the absence of Christ, the Tribulation, the Second Advent of Christ, your sickness, and your death. He was there, and is still there all the time! Trust Him.  Where is God?  “…he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5

WHY I AM NOT A MORMON

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MORMONS ARE NOT CHRISTIANS

Mormons

Compiled byKenBlue

Mormons are not Christians

A Christian is one who has accepted the gospel as presented by Paul in I Cor. 15. He has no other rule for faith and practice. Mormons believe no such thing. They call themselves Latter Day Saints. What they mean by that is that the early church went into total apostasy and that there was no gospel preached until Joseph Smith received his angelic revelation on some golden plates he found under a tree in early 1800. He also needed a special pair of spectacles, provided by the angel, before he could read the plates. The plates contained another Bible, another church, another Jesus, another god, and another plan of salvation. Thus, began the Latter Day Saints.

This is exactly how Islam was founded. An angel revealed the new religion to Mohamed 600 years after the death ofChrist. Mormons also hold in common with Islam the doctrine of multiple wives in this life and in the life to come. Islam has the advantage. The women awaiting them will be 70 brown-eyed virgins. Thus, neither religion is Christian.

“The history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is typically divided into three broad time periods: (1) the early history during the lifetime of Joseph Smith, Jr. which is in common with all Latter Day Saint movement churches, (2) a “pioneer era” under the leadership of Brigham Young and his 19th Century successors, and (3) a modern era beginning around the turn of the 20th century as the practice of polygamy was discontinued.

 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints traces its origins to western New York, where Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement was born and raised. Joseph Smith gained a small following in the late 1820s as he was dictating the Book of Mormon, which he said was a translation of words found on a set of golden plates that had been buried near his home in western New York by an indigenous American prophet. On April 6, 1830, in western New York, Smith organized the religion’s first legal church entity, the Church of Christ. The church rapidly gained a following, who viewed Smith as their prophet. The main body of the church moved first to Kirtland, Ohio in the early 1830s, then to Missouri in 1838, where the 1838 Mormon War with other Missouri settlers ensued, culminating in adherents being expelled from the state under Missouri Executive Order 44 signed by the governor of Missouri. After Missouri, Smith built the city of Nauvoo, Illinois, near which Smith was assassinated. After Smith’s death, a succession crisis ensued, and the majority voted to accept the Quorum of the Twelve, led by Brigham Young, as the church’s leading body.”

 Paul said, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Gal. 1:6-9. According to Paul, all Mormons are under God’s curse.

 Mormons do not believe any Bible is inerrant or infallible

The Church has 4 Standard Works that are authoritative:  The Bible (in so far as it is translated correctly), the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price.  Speeches and writings of the current president of the church are also authoritative. 

Mormons do not believe there is only one God

There are many Gods. Brigham Young-Journal of Discourses 7:333 “How many Gods there are, I do not know.  But there never was a time when there were not Gods.

Mormons do not believe Jesus is God

One of the main fundamentals of orthodox Christianity is belief in the virgin birth of the Savior.  Statements from the LDS church leaders show that they have a different view of Christ.  Bruce McConkie, a Mormon Apostle, teaches in his book, Mormon Doctrine, “Christ was begotten by an immortal father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal fathers.”  (p. 547)  Joseph Fielding Smith, tenth President and Prophet of the Mormon Church claimed, “Christ not begotten of Holy Ghost…He was not born without the aid of Man and that Man was God!”  (Doctrines of Salvation, 1:18).  By worshipping such a being the Mormons fall under the condemnation of Romans one by changing “the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man” (1:23).

Mormons do not believe you can know for sure your are saved

The Bible is full of verses proclaiming the saving power of Christ’s blood that was shed for us on the cross.  Despite all the verses forcefully declaring the importance of Christ’s blood, the Mormon pamphlet found in almost every LDS visitors centers titled, What the Mormons think of Christ, refutes the saving grace of Christ’s sacrifice.  On page 22 we find this written, “Christians speak often of the blood of Christ and it’s cleansing power.  Much that is believed and taught on this subject is such utter nonsense and so palpably false that to believe it is to lose one’s salvation.  For instance, many believe or pretend to believe that if we confess Christ with our lips and avow that we accept Him as our personal savior we are thereby saved.  They say His blood, without any other act than mere belief makes us clean.”

Mormons do not believe one can be saved without accepting Joseph Smith as God’s Prophet. (Sounds like Islam, doesn’t it?)

The Bible teaches that Jesus is the only giver of salvation and that no man cometh unto the Father but by Him (John 3:16 & John 17:6).  The Jesus of Mormonism claims no such authority.  Mormonism teaches that in order to be saved on must believe in Joseph Smith, their founder, as well as believe in their Jesus.  In his book Doctrines of Salvation, 1:189, Joseph Fielding Smith proclaims, “NO SALVATION WITHOUT ACCEPTING JOSEPH SMITH”.  Brigham Young said, “From the day the Priesthood was taken from the earth to the winding up scene of all things, every man and woman must have the certificate of Joseph Smith, Junior, as a passport to their entrance into the mansion where God and Christ are.”  He also said, “No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of god without the consent of Joseph Smith” (Journal of Discourses, 7:289).

Mormons do not believe non-Mormons are saved

Orson Pratt (Mormon Apostle)–“..all other churches are entirely destitute of all authority from God; and any person who receives baptism of the Lord’s supper from their hands highly offend God, for he looks upon them as the most corrupt of all people” (The Seer, pg 255)

I could give a dozen other reasons why I am not a Mormon. Need more proof? Let me know. Most of these answers are provided by others.

WHY NO CHRISTIAN HAS AUTHORITY OR POWER TO HEAL

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heal
(Do I see Oral Roberts, the healer, with glasses?)

There are many today preying on the sick, hurting, and infirmed, under the pretense that they have a special message or power from God to set them free. These men and women are false teachers and making merchandise of the hurting by selling their books, tapes, and seminars.

I can prove to you that no person on earth today has the gift of healing as taught in the Bible. In fact, my book on Why Bible Believers do not Speak in Tongues, silences all of them, and no one has or can refute it.

I will give a list of questions on this subject. They are simple, and the respondent should be strait forward with his or her answers. Please don’t waste my time with your beliefs or hearsay. We want the truth.

  1. Do you believe the miracle working power Jesus and the disciples had are present today?
  2. Do you know anyone with those powers?
  3. Do you know anyone who was dead three days or more and was raised from the dead?
  4. Do you know of any mentally retarded person who was healed by the gift of healing?
  5. Do you know anyone blind from birth, and a faith healer restored their sight?
  6. Do you know anyone who could not walk for 40 years, and was restored by a faith healer?
  7. Do you know a miracle worker who walks on water?
  8. Do you know a miracle worker who feed thousands with a little boy’s lunch?
  9. Do you know anyone with ALS that was healed by a faith healer?
  10. Do you know anyone who had Alzheimer’s that was healed by a faith healer?

If you have positive answers to the above, please send us their name and address so we may contact them.

The above ten questions should be enough to get us started. Now, before you answer; yes I believe the entire Bible. Because I know how to rightly divide it, I don’t believe in Faith Healers or any of their claims today. However, proof is sufficient. Kingdom miracles fazed out as that gospel was rejected, and the new gospel of grace was introduced by Paul.