“Cheap grace, which is another word for damnation.”
–Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship, p. 68
Cheap grace has killed the American Church.
“Both modern liberal theology and secular totalitarianism
hold pretty much in common that the message of the Bible has to be adapted, more or less, to the requirements of a secular world. No wonder, therefore, that the process of
debasing Christianity as inaugurated by liberal theology led,
in the long run, to a complete perversion and falsification
of the essence of Christian teaching by National Socialism.”
-G. Leibholz, Memoir to Cost of Discipleship, p.30,
Is anybody listening? As the Church goes, so goes the country.
bold mine “Cheap grace…is grace without price; grace without cost!…
In such a Church the world finds a cheap covering for its
sins; no contrition is required, still less any real desire to
be delivered from sin. Cheap grace therefore amounts to
a denial of the living Word of God, in fact, a denial of the
Incarnation of the Word of God.”
-Bonhoeffer, ibid., p.43
I know, I know. Comparing today’s United States with that of Nazi Germany is ridiculous…
I believe the Lord God, is tiring of his Holy Name being drug in the dirt. Of course, these are not really God’s people, as they do not hear him, or move in him, in any way shape or form. Rather Apostasy has taken root, like in many a congregation of today. Political expedience, and a flip of the calendar, trumps the Lord’s ordinances, by a once God honoring organization; which has not been doing right since about the 1970’s when secularism started creeping in.
I can barely remember the time when the Episcopal Church, at least made an attempt to honor God and his ordinances; within their institutionalized systematic theologies, and practices, but then secularism, social science, politics, and humanistic psychology, overtook the organization during the cultural revolution of the 1960-1970’s.
It was then men, who were devoid of the Holy Spirit’s leading’s, who decided just how, and what they would, “and would not do” in being “followers of Christ”. The Book of Common Prayer, for instance, was updated from the 1600’s model to the 1928 version, and so forth.
I could pick on many a Church gone bad; not just the Episcopalians, yet since I was once a part of them; and have some knowledge of the “Catholic Lites – protestant reformation types”, who have “backslidden” to use that term loosely. This congregation is a prime example, of Satan entering into the institution called the Church. Which I now believe it is impossible to remain in (Babylonian Church Systems) of any type, and still follow Christ, in Spirit and in Truth as corruption, or as the Bible puts it defilements, have taken place.
The mother of Harlots, which is a whore, and not the bride of Christ, practicing evil abominations, and is drunk on the blood of the saints… Revelation 17:5-6 – 5) and upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6) And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. … Revelation 18:04 – And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
I have discovered in my personal walk with my Lord, whom you can only know, and follow him in the “Spirit of Truth” who is Jesus Christ, made manifest to those he has called and chosen. Knowing the Lord God is simply by His grace, to those which he has chosen to do a work in. All the proper doctrines, theology, and so forth, will not make a child of God.
It is by having a love for the truth, (Jesus Christ) that we “might” be saved! That’s right: being saved is NOT a Sign up for Jesus, say the right words, and try to emulate him in our lifestyles – which was so often taught in the Christian informed communities of the past, nor is it a modification of those doctrines today! Even the five points of Calvinism, although academically “nearly correct”; fall way short of actually entering into the spiritual relationship, that the “good ground” must be, to be found “in Christ” on the day of reckoning.
Today is the day of Salvation, the scripture teaches: and to expound on this short text, its message means you must be found “in Christ NOW”, as you live and breathe, if you ever hope to be with him, when your body packs up! As spiritual life in Christ is now – and is indeed spiritual, and not a learned up intellectual understanding, which even the Devil knows.
Yes indeed, the entire Bible agrees; yet you cannot “come to an understanding of the truths of God, by natural means”. 1 Cor 2:14 – But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Hence, the most important thing a Christian Fellowship can do, is to discern who is, and who are not the Lord’s people!!! 1 John 4 – Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world…. As a result, the spirit of error enters in, delusion, apostasy, false understandings, with the spirit of anti-Christ, and overall enemies of the cross.
A fellowship of actual believers is no place to be doing an evangelistic meeting – in the midst of the wicked; or even the lost, for that matter.
This is because it is too dangerous in risking the spiritual health of the brethren, by introducing children of the devil, (no matter how nice) into the body. Yet the foremost task of keeping out the religious spirit of anti-Christ emphatically is monumental. This requires strong men of God as Elders, who have the maturity of the Spirit, to recognize someone of a wrong spirit.
Being we live in a western culture – which measures, calculates, and stores everything in an intellectual filing system, containing proper Bible doctrines and dogmas; it is an enormous task to try to discover those who walk in the knowledge of truth; versus those who may have been taught to “sound like they do”… As we said in the Army: are you tracking me?
The bottom line is not how well were you taught the scriptures, but ratherhow well do you walk in them – if at all?
I could go on and on, but it is useless to try to teach people into salvation, or “how to be the Lords” by reason, as it is a work which God alone does by His Spirit, and human beings have no business interfering with the workings of God. Or by trying to be “God and Savior” themselves! Also, I risk having my words used against me by the enemy – or worse; becoming an anti-Christ myself! I have experienced Satan using my words verbatim against me; in mocking the Lord within me.
It is a very strange thing to fall into the hands of the living Lord, and you soon meet the enemy head on, in ways which you could never have imagined.
“Liberals often will tell you that “moderate Islam” is peaceful and it’s only the jihadists we have to worry about. But is this true? The answer, from the Qu’ran may surprise you.”
Many claim that there are Moderate Muslims in America and elsewhere. Is this true ? In this video you will see the shocking facts that our Pentegon, CIA, FBI are falling into this lie, bringing Jihad into power under the name of Moderate Muslim and taking America down to the slaughter and destruction. The man in this video, Anwar Al Awlaki, was born in USA and considered a Moderate Muslim when he was invited to attend a dinner at the Pentegon following the 9-11 attack. Now he is sending Jihad to America from Yemen!
Pastor sees the truth about Dec 25th, not being Christ’s Birth. – What should we do and how should we use this opportunity to help spread the Great commission…?
Thank you for putting into words the “spiritual things” which I have been experiencing with Religious folks. Those who lean to their natural understanding of the Bible; rather than take the narrow road, and only yield to Christ with their flesh – so that they might be crucified in him; and experiencing the things which only a son or daughter of God can have!
It has been a long road in seeing, that Church folk; actually will not follow HIM nor be made conformable to his image – they just do theological beliefs, and ceremonies instead. And since most teach “once saved, always saved” they don’t give a second thought, that they may be loosing their spiritual life, in drying up to be burnt!.
Great contrast of the Babylonian Church (False brethren), and the Actual brethren, (the blood of the Saints) who are elect, and have chosen the way of the cross; that they might actually enter in now!
It is a popular, but misconceived concept created from 1900 years of anti-Christ’s, that “God loves everyone” the same. This is simply not true.
God loves his elect; that is, those he is willing to start a work in, towards salvation; creating that individual in the image of his son, Jesus Christ, the only perfect and acceptable means to God, the Father.
Jesus taught his disciples that all that the Father gives to him, will come. He also said on many an occasion “that it is not for their ears to hear”, but to you it is given for understanding (paraphrased).
He is not willing that any should perish in sin, yet that is also in the contexts of whom God the Father wills, and instills his grace upon.
The scripture also says that God takes no joy in the destruction of the wicked, yet he will one day destroy all those not found in the lamb’s book of life.
The problem is that “men want to play God”, in acting “independent of actually following Christ”, by the Holy Spirit. Who is Jesus Christ; the only way to the Father NOW; as we live and breathe. Independence and Rebellion are the two legs, which sin stands upon. So, we who have started with him in salvation, must crucify the old man into his image; that is to allow God to do the work of crucifying our flesh, into the image of his name’s sake. The WICKED, have never started with HIM; and will not. Yet, the LOST will at some time, start with Christ in their lives; but will they finish with him, is the monumental question…
This is why the Apostle Paul continually wrote corrective letters to the different churches, (Galatians, Laodiceans, and so fourth) and why he “beat his flesh” (denied his carnality) that he “might” enter in with Christ NOW, being made conformable to his image.
We must be found IN HIM when we stand before him, and that dear friend is a spiritual condition, and not someone’s favorite doctrinal position; as you may, or may not have been taught, by natural means.
Luke 8 depicts the different types of ground, which people who “start with Christ” are likely to take. It is only the good ground, which produces good fruit, in the form of spiritual maturity; as they have chosen to abide in the vine (Christ in Spirit, not just an intellectual position), so not to be cut off and burnt ultimately.
This is NOT about self-righteous behavioral modifications; you know the routine – “I don’t cuss, I don’t drink, and I don’t smoke”… As it is a work Christ does in us alone, by grace, to those who actually have a heart towards him! Church righteousness, (those who are not dependent on Christ himself) and will normally follow the afore mentioned behavioral modifications; as they will NOT follow the Holy Spirit, in being made to conform to his image – again “Christ’s image”, is what is being spoken about here. This is why the Apostle Paul called them “enemies of the cross”; not because they were some pagan sect outside the camp of believers, but because most simply refused to turn their flesh over for execution, via the Holy Spirit, the only way to spiritual life. The natural man cannot, (emphatic) make himself into the image of Christ, independent of the Holy Spirit!
Another aspect of the modern day church is false brethren, this is epidemic today, especially since most have been taught “the proper words and phrases to utter” out of the scriptural texts! This is why a fellowship of actual beleivers must have elders of spiritual discernment and maturity, otherwise the fellowship will become overun by Satan’s people.
Think about it – most in western cultures have been trained to some degree, in Bible teachings, yet this does not give a man or woman, the chance to become, a son or daughter of God!
Yet, all SAINTS (who have actually started in Christ) have this treasure in earthen vessels, and we slip, fall, and battle with our flesh and with our sin nature (old natures). Yet, He (Christ) is faithful to forgive us, if it is with a heartfelt repentance, we return to him for mercy.
Remember, you cannot fool God, who has a window into our hearts. Yet most (the elect) the Bible tells us, will not allow themselves to suffer what Oswald Chamber’s called the white funeral. (Being crucified with Christ) and most will take what Jesus Called the broad road; which the further traveled down, the more one is likely to shrivel up and die; as they are not partaking in the vine, who is Christ himself, the only hope of salvation. This of course, ultimately leads to destruction.
Even worse, is whom the Apostle John first coined as anti- Christ’s; the ones who started with us, but departed from us. These type of broad roaders, think they can enter into Christ; not being made comfortable to his image. These are the RELIGIOUSE TYPES, normally well read, well spoken; and deceivers of the weaker brethren, (babes) by being deceived, of a different spirit; the spirit of error! Today, most often the local “Church Pastor” with a head full of Bible doctrine, fits this description. It is not some evil raving maniac, possessed by the devil, which most have been taught to believe!
Think about that too; would an establishment institution go and label themselves as anti -Christ? Of course they wouldn’t, that would be self defeating, and destructive to the attendance roster!
You see, one’s salvation is totally dependent, and “hangs on” (so to speak) their dependent relationship with Jesus Christ alone!
Will they shrivel up and die, and ultimately be burnt? Or will they remain with him, in Spirit and in Truth; having a love for the truth that they “might be saved”, in the end is the ultimate question. This is why it is written, that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, is the only unforgivable sin! As Holy Spirit, is your spiritual connection with Jesus Christ himself! Paul said he must run the good race, fight the good fight, lest he be a castaway, or in not finishing – be condemned!
Woe; you say, who the great Paul..? Yes, precisely so, and we who know him (in spirit – and not mere intellect or soul) must keep pushing into the kingdom of God, which is within us Jesus Taught; and not some “frock in the box”, or even a “village minister” that is of the spirit of, (anti-Christ).
You may be shocked, that I have written this today; but allow me to assure you, I was much more shocked, when I realized most who claim Christ’s name, really have nothing to do with him, only their particular brand of systematic theologies!
Jesus is NOT for everyone, (shock and awl) – but the world church systems would starve, if they didn’t do such religious promotions; for the last 1900 years! Satan is the slickest of all bastards, and he created these institutions to confuse and ultimately destroy the actual brethren! The world, and world church systems are much more brutal and diverse, than I would have ever imagined as a young Christian; so I struggle to write these truths, for those who have an ear to hear.
Oh, and By the way, a real Elder, of spiritual maturity and understanding: (good ground, with mature fruit) is extremely rare today; (not just Bible scholars, but rather Elders in the Lord) so please don’t think what I have written is unbiblical in the least!
May our Lord bless your understanding of these things.
We all know that of those who ostensibly begin with God only a few find and enter the strait gate and take the narrow way. The vast majority fail to enter the kingdom of God before they die and get destroyed in the end.
Those ones are the ones I feel really sorry for, and I wanted to post the stories of a couple of that sort who I know, and who I have occasional news of.
The first one is ‘John’, not his real name.
John I met when he was associated with a fellowship I have had a lot of contact with many years ago. He struck me as being slightly odd, but I was a young Christian then and did not know about fakes/antichrists etc.. He disappeared from that fellowship, and the next thing I hear is that he has gone to Bible college and is going to be a Baptist pastor.
I was stunned by this. How on earth could someone be among those with genuine experience of God, and have seen the real thing only go off and play sermon sandwich on Sunday?! I found him on the internet, with the prefix ‘Rev’, running a Baptist church up North. There were photos of him presenting something to Number 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister’s official residence, with two others, all of them in clergy frocks.
The next thing I see is that he has taken up an interest in seriously big motorcycles, and is dressed like a Hell’s Angel, complete with leathers, beard, chains etc. Now I see that he is promoting ‘heavy metal rock bands’, like Iron Maiden and AC/DC.
A more obvious fake one could not hope to meet, but he is still playing Baptist pastor when his heart is plainly with some of the worst elements of society, and not with God.
I see also, in one of his articles online, that he is talking like a pagan Catholic, saying that we cannot live up to the standards of Almighty God, His Law is too high and we are just to stumble along in sin, being sinful and wicked followers of Jesus. Of course, no such thing exists. The problem is not that God’s standards are too high for His people and He has given His people and impossible standard to live by. The problem is simply that he is not born again, not a child of God. He does not have the new nature, and that is why he loves the wicked things of the world. Quite astonishing that he would carry on in such hypocrisy, but church people do, sadly.
The second man I wanted to mention is ‘Fred’, again, not his real name.
We saw Fred again the other day, and he is now quite an old man and frail too. However, he is still an elder at a fellowship where the Lord moved in power about 55 years ago, but which died about 25 – 30 years ago.
Fred is a lovely man and a pleasure to be with. He is exasperated with much of what is going on in the fellowship and would like to see an end to a lot of nonsense, but like so many who were there when a fellowship begins in power they will not leave when apostasy sets it. They love to keep the flag flying, as the name of the chuuurrccchhh has become more important than the Name of the Lord.
I felt that we have moved on and left him behind, when we saw him the other day. He is still trying to have hope that the Lord is still there and moving among them. He and His wife do not know that if a people leave the Lord for chuuurrrccchh or something else He will leave them.
Whether Fred’s name still appears in the Book of Life I don’t know, but when he and the odd other person who had something real once dies there will be no first generation people with experience of God there.
This sort of thing fills me with horror, as we all know what happens to the ones who, for whatever reason, are not found written in the Book of Life.
I have seen so many who began with God in genuine initial conversion go wrong, take the wide gate and broad road, and die, spiritually. They had the chance of life, and have refused the way of the Cross.
The other day Fred told me that they had got over their difficulties at the fellowship following the ‘pastor’ going off in adultery with the church secretary, conducting an affair for eight or nine years before being discovered whilst, at the same time, pretending to preach the gospel and walk with God. He said that people were coming to the chuuurrrccchh again, and that included not just Christians, but unsaved too. He thought that was great as perhaps they would get saved. The rationale being that there was no evangelism going on anywhere and this was a good thing, a good alternative.
It seems that when people go the wrong way they are blinded and utter horrors are held to be good, and acceptable.
There is no point trying to straighten people out if they have done this sort of thing, they would not have gone that way if their hearts were not in a condition to accept it all. I still feel shocked and saddened by it though, and have no choice but to leave them behind and move on.
Ever wondered how on earth it is that you can go to ‘chuuurrrccchhh’ and do it avidly only to lose that new life you were given? The Lord confirmed to me the reason why.
Praise God, we who are given light can see these things! Most will not see them, neither do they wish too. Well said as always brother!
The Lord showed me in a devotional, the night before getting hired as a deck hand aboard the Lightship Chesapeake; “we are to be Vessels of Light for Christ”; thus the name of this Lightship Ministries.
This IS my experience as well; those without HIM cannot understand this, as they have not received this grace, Spiritual enlightenment to their natural minds. Studying the Bible is fine, but it WILL NOT make you a child of God, as it is ONLY GOD, the Father who chooses and adopts into his family. Systematic theologies, make NO difference using natural teachings to bring others to Christ… Sorry, it just won’t happen, and is moving independently from God, at least in ignorance; if not downright rebellion!
Be careful you actual disciples and followers of Christ, Satan has set up a close counterfeit to the truth – and most cannot, or even “will not see”,
IF – they have actually started with the Lord.
This is why Jesus told his disciples to enter in the narrow way (spiritually), which leads to spiritual life “now”. Instead of the broad road, to fit in comfortably with the world (for those who have started their walk “IN” him), but ultimately move farther, and farther away from Christ, who IS their only chance at salvation; which we must all be “found in,” when we meet our maker.
“Satan is a 24 K Bastard”, as a brother has said privately to me… And the false Church or Ecclesia is a major weapon in his arsenal, meant to destroy the actual follower!
We must all fight the good fight, and run the good race set before us, should we wish to enter into the kingdom of heaven NOW. This is why it is written; if the righteous scarcely be saved, where should the lost (those called and chosen who fail to walk with the Lord), and sinners (the wicked, whom God has not drawn to himself) appear?
This is a rhetorical question, of course; the answer being “outside of Christ” and later, judged and burnt. This is not a make you feel good, and comfortable in the world teaching – but rather is the hard and serious truth of God, only found by abiding in Christ, Jesus and one with the Father NOW. After our bodies pack up; all hope is lost in ever being able to come to Christ! Most will hate the truth of God, as I have attempted to express here – but only a small remnant shall enter the kingdom of heaven the scripture teaches; and this is precisely why.
“The Bible forewarned us of the day in which we live
as a time when professing Christians would,
‘turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.'” –Myths in the Church 1
And the single greatest myth promoted in the church today is this:
The delusion that the conditional promises
of God are available without condition.
Myth #1: Turn on the television to any number of mega-church pastors and you’ll hear them tell you that “God is gonna work all things together for good in your life.”It’s a lie from the pit of hell, but it sure “tickles the ears” of the millions of professing Christians who have “accumulated teachers in accordance with their own desires” (see 2 Timothy 4:3-4). Truth #1: God does NOT work all things together for good for everybody! What the Bible actually teaches is:
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
–Romans 8:28, bold mine
The only group of people on the earth today who God is “working all things together for good” for are those who are fulfilling the conditions of:
a) loving God* and,
b) living according His will (purpose) rather than their own.
So when a preacher declares to the multitudes who are going their own way and doing their own thing that “God’s gonna work everything together for good” in their lives, two things are undoubtedly true:
Yes indeed dear brother, we are sons of God, who are “born of the spirit of God”, and not servants!
Yet like the Egyptians, Church people wish to enslave the children of God, as they only follow a different spirit, (which is the spirit of anti-Christ). These broad road and nominal Christians, are enemies of the cross; not so much in words, but rather in deeds!
“Brothers and sisters, we live at a time in history that the Bible describes
as an age of “strong delusion” (see 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). According to Jesus, thousands of pastors and parishioners think they are saved, but are not
(see Matthew 7:21-27). The Old Testament prophet Hosea described
a similar time in Israel when outwardly the nation was experiencing
a time of prosperity and growth, but inwardly, moral corruption
and spiritual adultery permeated the people and the priests:‘Listen to the word of the Lord… For the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land… There is no truth, no faithful love, and no knowledge of God in the land…
So you will stumble by day,
and the prophet also will stumble with you by night…
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being my priest.
Since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.'”
–Hosea 4:1,5-6, bold mine
And it would be fair to say, indeed it would be quite an understatement to say, that some “church leaders” weren’t happy about it.
“But let no one dispute (find fault); let no one argue,
for My (God) case is against you priests.”
–Hosea 4:4, parenthesis mine
The Old Testament’s Jeremiah described our time this way:
“A horrible, terrible thing
has taken place in the land.
The prophets prophesy falsely,
and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it like this.
But what will you do at the end of it?”
–Jeremiah 5:30-31, bold mine
Indeed, the multitudes love it when preachers and church leaders customize their Christianity. Roughly two thousand years ago God warned us about this very thing:
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;
but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for
themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” –2 Timothy 4:3-4
What role does the word of God play in your life, oh professing Christian?
“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you.”
–Colossians 3:14
Does it? Does the word of Christ “richly dwell within you?” How so? Could you name the 6th book of the Bible? Could you find the book of Philemon without a table of contents? How many verses do you have memorized? 3? 30? 300?
“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth,
but you shall meditate on it day and night…”
–Joshua 1:8
Does this describe your lifestyle, oh professing Christian? Is the word of God on the “tip of your tongue?” Is it consistently in your thoughts throughout the day? Are you, “always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you?” (1 Peter 3:15).
Brothers and sisters, we live at a time in history that the Bible describes as an age of “strong delusion” (see 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). According to Jesus, thousands of pastors and parishioners think they are saved, but are not (see Matthew 7:21-27).
The Old Testament prophet Hosea described a similar time in Israel when outwardly the nation was experiencing a time of prosperity and growth, but inwardly, moral corruption and spiritual adultery permeated the people and the priests:
“Listen to the word of the Lord… For the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land… There is no truth, no faithful love, and no knowledge of God in the land…
So you will stumble by day,
and the prophet also will stumble with you by night…
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being my priest.
Since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.”
–Hosea 4:1,5-6, bold mine
Lightship Ministries 