Today marks the anniversary of when Martin Luther pounded those 95 theses on the Wittenberg Castle church door. This act would lead to another chain of events that would lead to the protestant reformation. I just thought it would be a good thing to remind myself what I am still Protesting against concerning the Roman Catholic Church.
1. I protest against a gospel that says salvation comes through the 7 sacraments of the church rather than the sufficient work of Christ. To add to the work of Christ is to destroy the glory of the work of Christ (Eph 2:8-9; Gal 1)SOLA FIDE
2. I protest against the vile way in which the sacrifice of the mass is performed daily saying that Christ is being crucified afresh. His death was once for all, adequate, and sufficient to pay the price for all my sins. He doesn't need to be crucified again (1 Pet 3:18; Gal 2:21; 3:13) SOLA GRATIA
3. I protest the way in which church tradition and councils are elevated to a level of infallible authority which ultimately trumps the authority of the Bible (2 Tim 3:16-17). SOLA SCRIPTURA
4. I protest the way in which Mary is worshiped, pray to, and adored, to a level which is reserved only for the Trinity. SOLI DEO GLORIA
5. I protest the way in which Mary is upheld as a Mediatrix and substitute for Christ as the 'one mediator between God and man.' 1 Tim 2 SOLUS CHRISTUS
6. I protest the way in which the glory of God is dragged through the dirt by adding the mentrual rags (Isa 64:6) and feces (Phil 3:3-9) of human achievement to the work of salvation. SOLI DEO GLORIA
7. I protest the way in which this false teaching holds captive many of my family and friends and others in the city of Youngstown whom I love dearly.
Even if I'm the last one standing and it costs me my life like Latimer, Ridley, Hus, Tyndale, Hooper, Cramner, Love, and a host of others. By God's grace, I'll stand and protest.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
The importance of the Belt of Truth
I just finished reading "A Scottish Christian Heritage" by Ian Murray. I was impressed by the last chapter of the book. I was so riveted reading it, I stay up till past 1 AM reading it.
The last chapter records the apostasty and departure from the truth that took place in the late 1800's. The revivals in Scotland in the 1800's produces men like Hugh Martin, Thomas Chalmers, Robert Murray McCheyne, William Cunningham, Andrew and Horatio Bonar, James Bannerman, Rabbi John Duncan. Indeed, this was a time when there were spiritual giants in the land. So what happened? How is it that so much of Scotland is a spiritual wasteland today?
Men like A. B. Davidson began sowing seeds of doubt upon the Scripture, denying Mosaic authorship of the Penteteuch, embracing higher critical theories from Germany. Then exceptional students were then sent to schools in Germany and would learn the higher critical theories that would attack the inerrancy of Scripture. Then men like Robertson Smith, George Adam Smith, A. B. Bruce began to introduce their attacks upon inerrancy and when they were put on trial for heresy none of the charges could stick.
I find it to be a scary thing that it is difficult to get hired today as a professor in an evangelical seminary without having a degree from a school in Europe that attacks the Scripture and teaches higher critical theories. Take a look at many of the popular evangelical seminaries and read the bio's on the faculty and see many have attained doctorates from schools that attack the Scripture. Even someone like John Piper in the 1970's knew that he wanted to become a professor at a Christian college or seminary. So he went to a school in Germany that attacked the Scripture. I bless God that Piper survived the assault and winded up teaching at Bethel College and Seminary. But I must ask why do evangelical seminaries drool over a doctorate from an institution that teaches God-hating, Scripture-assaulting lies?
Shouldn't we learn from history? Woe to the seminary that sacrifices truth on the altar of scholarship.
I thank God that I attended a seminary (Master's Seminary) that is holding the line on truth and not abandoning the inerrancy of Scripture. Let us pray for the seminaries that train pastors that will be feeding the flock of God for years to come in the US and elsewhere. Let us pray for a revival that would produce giants in the land in the days of mid 19th century Scotland.
The last chapter records the apostasty and departure from the truth that took place in the late 1800's. The revivals in Scotland in the 1800's produces men like Hugh Martin, Thomas Chalmers, Robert Murray McCheyne, William Cunningham, Andrew and Horatio Bonar, James Bannerman, Rabbi John Duncan. Indeed, this was a time when there were spiritual giants in the land. So what happened? How is it that so much of Scotland is a spiritual wasteland today?
Men like A. B. Davidson began sowing seeds of doubt upon the Scripture, denying Mosaic authorship of the Penteteuch, embracing higher critical theories from Germany. Then exceptional students were then sent to schools in Germany and would learn the higher critical theories that would attack the inerrancy of Scripture. Then men like Robertson Smith, George Adam Smith, A. B. Bruce began to introduce their attacks upon inerrancy and when they were put on trial for heresy none of the charges could stick.
I find it to be a scary thing that it is difficult to get hired today as a professor in an evangelical seminary without having a degree from a school in Europe that attacks the Scripture and teaches higher critical theories. Take a look at many of the popular evangelical seminaries and read the bio's on the faculty and see many have attained doctorates from schools that attack the Scripture. Even someone like John Piper in the 1970's knew that he wanted to become a professor at a Christian college or seminary. So he went to a school in Germany that attacked the Scripture. I bless God that Piper survived the assault and winded up teaching at Bethel College and Seminary. But I must ask why do evangelical seminaries drool over a doctorate from an institution that teaches God-hating, Scripture-assaulting lies?
Shouldn't we learn from history? Woe to the seminary that sacrifices truth on the altar of scholarship.
I thank God that I attended a seminary (Master's Seminary) that is holding the line on truth and not abandoning the inerrancy of Scripture. Let us pray for the seminaries that train pastors that will be feeding the flock of God for years to come in the US and elsewhere. Let us pray for a revival that would produce giants in the land in the days of mid 19th century Scotland.
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