| Editor: David E Marlett Th.D. | |
| March 18, 2002 | Vol III #4 |
From Times Wire Reports
GREENVILLE, S.C.--The president of Bob Jones University says that he wants to shed the school's fundamentalist label because the term has been equated with terrorist in the minds of many people since Sept. 11.
Bob Jones III has suggested using the word "preservationist" to describe Christians with a fierce belief in the Bible's literal, inerrant truth.
"Instead of 'Fundamentalism' defining us as steadfast Bible believers, the term now carries overtones of radicalism and terrorism," writes Bob Jones III in his "President's Corner" column on the university Web site, www.bju.edu/aboutbju/aboutbju.asp?section =president. University spokesman Jonathan Pait said the university remains "unashamedly fundamentalist."
Pait accused the media of lumping Christian fundamentalists with Islamic fundamentalists.
TCCN Comment: Anything with a liberal compromiser like BJ 3 at its head should rightly lose the label "fundamental." I would prefer however that BJ 3 turn the school and its various para-church ministries over to the oversight of an independent fundamental local BAPTIST church. ( There is no such thing as a fundamental Methodist church.) That might bring back the standards of dress and conduct that made it the school it once was under BJ 1.
Just for the record, TCCN is a fundamentalist publication. It is also a Christian publication. May I be so bold as to even declare it a Baptist publication? We have no intention of hiding our heritage with ambiguous labels even if the liberal media does slander us.
A word for BJ 3. When your grandfather said, "Do right!" he was talking about taking a stand for Christ-honoring conduct, not following the advice of an ungodly marketing consultant.
by Rev. Mike Slattery
This was a study/response I gave to the "homo" issue when a fellow tried to say that Romans 2 explained that Romans 1 was NOT showing condemnation for what misinformed folks call "Homosexuality". The word "homosexual" is a made-up word from around 1895 or so. The term appeared in Webster's dictionary for the first time in 1902.
THE TERM QUEER AS A NOUN (1812) is a person who has sexual relation with a person of the same gender as himself or herself.
THE TERM GAY, as claimed by those who have sexual relations with those of their own gender, wasn't used until it was needed for political and recruiting reasons in 1953.
THE TERM SOD-O-MITE (as pronounced in English) a citizen of Sodom, Date: 14th century and is defined as one who practices sodomy, which according to Webster's etymology: Middle English, from Old French sodomie, from Late Latin Sodoma Sodom; from the homosexual proclivities of the men of the city in Genesis 19:1-11 and dates in the English language to the 13th century 1 : copulation with a member of the same sex or with an animal. :Buggery (1925 edition sitting on my lap)
Now God said that those we call sodomites (but that you are renaming homosexuals) have been given over to a reprobate mind and that they have left the use of the woman to worship and serve the creature through their unnatural lusts. God called it (what you refer to as "homosexuality") as "vile affections" and a practice "against nature" and an "unseemly" work. But more telling is the mention that they did "change the natural use". That is, they were not born that way and so your term homosexual does not apply: They were given over to a reprobate mind because they chose to do according to their own lusts. This is where the definition of the word "queer" as an adjective comes in: Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1508 1 a : WORTHLESS, COUNTERFEIT b : QUESTIONABLE, SUSPICIOUS 2 a: differing in some odd way from what is usual or normal b (1) : ECCENTRIC, UNCONVENTIONAL (2) : mildly insane : TOUCHED c : absorbed or interested to an extreme or unreasonable degree : OBSESSED)
And so God says of those who CHOOSE to behave this way: "Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."
Now you seem to be thinking that Chapter 2 somehow makes Chapter 1 say something other than it says; but to the contrary, it magnifies the problem and shows that those who are guilty of these horrendous crimes against nature are more numerous then those in Brother Paul's day would dare to imagine.
Ro 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent
heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
There is nothing stated in Chapter 2 that would lead anyone with an ounce of honesty to think that the Lord had anything other than what you are (mistakenly) referring to as homosexuality; in fact what the LORD is referring to is "O MAN": both the unregenerate Jew and the unregenerate Gentile. He passed judgment upon both. As you will notice Paul states,
"We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things"; therefore your assertion that chapter 2 changes the "normal misinterpretation" of Chapter 1 again falls apart when you continue to chapter 3 '.
Ro 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. "
You can see that the references God was using to bring universal condemnation upon those without natural affection, those who had been given over to a reprobate mind (O Man), were the oracles of GOD ... the scriptures ... namely the OLD testament: .
Le 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.
24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:
25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.
As you can see, it wasn't just those who were under the LAW that God did not want to defile themselves with what you mess call "homosexuality". Notice even those who were in the land before Israel where violators of the will of God in this deed. Bringing chapter 2 of Romans back into the picture, we see that although the Jew had the added revelation of the oracles of God to tell him that a man leaving the use of a woman to lie with another man was an abomination deserving of the status of a CRIME and the result of a reprobate mind, the Gentile (as well as the Jew) had the Law of God planted in His heart.
Ro 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
And again the LORD states
Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
What type of fornication: male with female? No not at all, this was "strange flesh"; that is, as opposed to NATURAL flesh ... man and woman. One might say that the condemnation was only on account of their violent behaviors ... true enough, but all unnatural behavior that is the by-product of a reprobate mind is violent behavior: It is an attack on the truth of GOD. It is enmity against GOD and a carnal war of that which is against GOD. Here are two other references in the NT:
1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
The good news is that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
The queer, sodomite, abuser of himself with mankind fellow has just as much opportunity to repent as the thief and the murderer and the liar. They, that is WE, are all promised the same salvation ... for whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.
O would to God that more folks with vile affections would turn to the LORD GOD, Jesus the CHRIST, and receive a NEW heart and a NEW mind and NEW HOLY affections.
1Co 11:8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Ro 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
In Christ,
Pastor Mike Slattery
Freedom Baptist Church
Belleview, Florida
NO INC... just Blood Grace and Glory!!
[ To subscribe to Pastor Slattery's newsletter, send and e-mail to revslatts-request@wilderness-cry.net with only the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. Pastor Slattery is also available for meetings. ]
Today we mourn the passing of an old friend, by the name of Common Sense. Common Sense lived a long life but died in the United States from heart failure in the break of the new millennium.
No one really knows how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He selflessly devoted his life to service in schools, hospitals, homes, factories helping folks get jobs done without fanfare and foolishness. For decades, petty rules, silly laws, and frivolous lawsuits held no power over Common Sense. He was credited with cultivating such valued lessons as to know when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, and that life isn't always fair.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn), reliable parenting strategies (the adults are in charge, not the kids), and it's okay to come in second.
A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, and the Technological Revolution, Common Sense survived cultural and educational trends including body piercing, whole language, and "new math." But his health declined when he became infected with the "If-it-only-helps-one-person-it's-worth-it" virus. In recent decades his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of well intentioned but overbearing regulations.
He watched in pain as good people became ruled by self-seeking lawyers. His health rapidly deteriorated when schools endlessly implemented zero-tolerance policies. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, a teen suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened his condition. It declined even further when schools had to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student but could not inform the parent when a female student was pregnant or wanted an abortion.
Common Sense lost his will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, criminals received better treatment than victims, and federal judges stuck their noses in everything from the Boy Scouts to professional sports. Finally, when a woman, who failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot, was awarded a huge settlement, Common Sense threw in the towel.
As the end neared, Common Sense drifted in and out of logic but was kept informed of developments regarding questionable regulations such as those for low flow toilets, rocking chairs, and stepladders.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by two stepbrothers: My Rights, and Ima Whiner. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. -Author Unknown
by Dr John Waters
The Psalmist said, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." (Psalm 122:1) Why do so few say that when they are invited to a Bible-believing Baptist church? Why do so many that are contacted on house-to-house visitation never show up to Sunday school or the preaching service? Surely, there are scriptural reasons to explain their attitude and lack of response. Excluding those who are permanently afflicted or shut-in, we find the Bible has a lot to say about the symptoms of not going to church. Failure to go to a good church is truly a symptom of a deadly spiritual disease that is already rooted in one's soul.
The first reason people do not go to church is because their heart is not right. Without exception, we have found that people whose hearts are right with God go to a good church unless they are sick. In Luke 14:18 we are told that those who were invited by the Lord to His supper "all with one consent began to make excuse." The devil can give you a dozen excuses for not going to church. For instance, one favorite excuse is "I'm too tired," but you are not too tired to go to work or to town or on a trip someplace. Suppose the house were on fire. Would you sit in your easy chair and burn up, saying, "I'm too tired"? Of course not! You would forget your tiredness and run for your life. Suppose you had to go to the hospital because of an acute attack of appendicitis. Would you excuse yourself by saying, "I'm too tired"? Such an excuse will not stand. Some people are too lazy to get concerned about their soul. Of course, these people are not too tired to visit relatives or to participate in some sinful amusement. Therefore, excuses only show that people's hearts are not right with God.
Another reason people do not go to church is because their deeds are sinful. John 3:20-21 states: "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." People whose deeds are right do not fear to come to church. They come boldly because all of their sins are covered under the blood of Jesus. People who are guilty of evil deeds are ashamed, and are trying to hide from God and God's Word like Adam and Eve did in the Garden. I have found in my experience of inviting people to church that those who do not come are guilty of immorality, gambling, drunkenness, or some other captivating sin. When a person does not go to church, he is really advertising to Christians that he is engaged in some secret sin. Of course, it is true that sinners will flock to some worldly church where sin is not condemned and where they can continue in their sin with a form of religion to salve their conscience as they go to hell. Rather than this, they should flock to a Bible-preaching church where they can get converted by faith in Christ. A final reason that people do not go to church is because of a lack of Christian character. In Acts 2:46 it says, "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart...." The normal thing for saved people to do is to fellowship with God's people regularly as they go to church. Every saved and spiritual person that I know goes to church regularly. Those who do not go may as well face that they are lacking in character. Good Christian character comes by first being born again and then is developed as we are led by the Spirit to be baptized, join the church, regularly attend church, tithe, pray, read the Bible, and witness.
It all boils down to this: If a person does not go regularly and faithfully to a good sound church, it is because of spiritual disease or even spiritual death. Failure to go to church is a symptom or proof that a person is backslidden or lost. If a person were born again and right with God he would want to go to church. They would not only want to go they would make very effort to get there.
Dr John Waters
Founding Editor of the Bible Trumpet
Excerpt from November 1960
[ http://www.baptistbibletrumpet.com ]
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