Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Religious values stand in the way of the homosexual agenda

Homosexuals wish that all people would accept their lifestyle as legitimate, even attempting to force the rest of us to redefine marriage. As of this date, four states, Iowa, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut, have legalized gay marriage. Forty-one states currently have statutory Defense of Marriage Acts (DOMA), defining marriage as between a man and a woman. It is obvious that the majority of the people of this country do not want to change the definition of marriage. Even the citizens of California passed ballot Proposition 8 in the November 4, 2008 General Election, which, in part reads: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California”. And although homosexuals account for a small minority in America, they have major support and sympathy from liberal media outlets and the entertainment industry. Over the last few decades, they have relentlessly pushed the homosexual agenda in an effort to normalize homosexual behavior and to shift our thinking on what has been considered immoral for thousands of years. It is their hope that one day we will forget thousands of years of what is normal to adopt that which is abnormal. What they fail to realize is that theirs will always be an uphill battle as long as religious people oppose them. 

Christians who regard the Bible as the authoritative Word of God have no choice but to oppose immoral behavior of any kind. That is not to say that Christians should treat homosexuals badly. On the contrary; Christians are to treat all people with dignity and respect regardless of their condition. But it is important for homosexuals to realize that just because Christians reject their lifestyle choice, doesn’t mean that we are being hateful when we state our opinions on the subject. In fact, it is a mandate from the founder of the Christian faith to try to convert all people to Christianity by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which includes admittance and then repentance of sins, one of which is homosexuality. Therefore, in order to accept the homosexual lifestyle as legitimate one would have to reject the authority of the Bible and the Christian mandate to convert the world to Christianity. This is highly unlikely since Christians would rather please God than please man. 

To the homosexual reading this article: 

I have nothing against you. If it were up to me, you could live your life as you see fit. In fact, as a Christian, my only interest in you is that you follow Jesus Christ into eternity, that’s all. Maybe what I have to say is offensive to you. I’m sorry to say that I have no control over the message since it is not I who wrote it. I am merely repeating the message that was given to me by God. I happen to believe the Bible is God’s Word and nothing anyone can say will ever change my mind on that fact. Either you accept it or reject it those are your only choices, just as it is my choice to accept or reject all sexual immorality. As a Christian, if I share my faith with you it is not to be hateful, but it is only because of my love for you. God wants everyone to be saved, therefore so do I. If I believe the Bible is true (which I do) and ignore those that reject it, what does that say about my faith? Do I really believe in God if I believe people who die in a sinful state will go to hell but do nothing to try to prevent it? It is my belief in God and His Word that compels me to try to lead you to Jesus Christ. So-called Christians that say “live and let live” and never share the Gospel with anyone because it is too offensive, either don’t really believe in God, or they have little regard for the Bible. Either way, they are not being true to their faith, and they care as little for their own souls as they do yours. 

To the Christian reading this article: 

It is not our place to condemn sinners, including homosexuals. If they are not Christians, our only responsibility is to share the Good News about Jesus Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to do the rest. If they are willing to listen, it is only by treating them with dignity and respect. If they say that they are already Christians, then their sinfulness should be disciplined by the Church according to Biblical principles with the hope that they will repent and return to the standard of behavior that God expects from His children. See for example 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 and Matthew 18:15-17.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Earl Paulk is in a better place?

Earl Paulk Jr., has died. Someone wrote, “He’s in a better place now”. Is he really? I have my doubts. Throughout his pastoral career, controversy has followed him. Many women have claimed that he manipulated them into sexual relationships, including Jessica Battle who claimed she was sexually abused by Paulk as a young girl. Was he a child molester as well? He would tell the women, “…such bonding relationships were used by God to bring confidence and power to one's spiritual calling”. There’s no doubt that Earl Paulk enjoyed sexual relationships outside his marriage, but is that enough to deny him access to heaven? Aren’t we all in danger of being excluded? Don’t we all fall short of the glory of God? If that’s all there was, I would not be writing about him now, especially so soon after his death. But there is in my mind something greater to consider. What about Earl Paulk’s theology?

Earl Paulk taught
Kingdom Now Theology, which is:

A Heretical teaching. It holds that Jesus can not return unless and until "the Church" subdues and rules the earth. For an extensive overview, see
Kingdom Theology Defined
.

Kingdom Now Theology comes in various flavors, goes by a number of different names, and permeates several related movements. See, for example, Latter Rain Movement, Manifest Sons of God, Dominion theology, and Five-Fold Ministry, as well as the New Apostolic Reformation.

Pat Robertson (CBN, Christian Broadcasting Network, 700-Club) is a major proponent of Kingdom Now theology. Other proponents include Bill Hamon (and other so-called ''prophets),'' Larry lea, Thomas Reid, and many prominent leaders and teachers of today's controversial renewal and revival movements.
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/k00.html

See also, Kingdom Now Theology by Al Dager, for an in-depth study.

Teaching heresies and misleading God’s people is not the way to get on God’s good side.

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 2PE 2:1-3

God’s Word warns us about these people and that we should avoid them (see
MT 7:15
, MT 24:11,MT 24:24, MK 13:22, Gal 2:4, 1 Ti 6:3-5, 1 JN 4:1).

The apostle Paul worked diligently to preach the truth to counter false teaching.

And I [Paul] will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. 2 Cor. 11:12-15

Earl Paulk spent his final years teaching false doctrine. I don’t know if he actually believed what he taught or if he was in it for the power that he could have over others, or if he was in it for the money he could gain, or maybe all of the above. I do know God’s Word is clear. He will be held to a higher standard for his teaching.

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. JAS 3:1

Did Earl Paulk have a deathbed confession? Did he plead on God’s mercy for his sins against those that he was charged with shepherding? Did he plead on God’s mercy for his greed and manipulation, for teaching heresies? Only God knows what was in his heart when he was alive. His death is a sad one for me because the hope I have for him is slim. I have my doubts about Earl Pauk’s salvation.

For more information about Earl Paulk, go to
http://www.iamforsure.com/False Teachers/Paulk/ReasonsPaulk.html

Contact me about this article

Permission is granted to copy and distribute this article in its entirety, provided that it is not sold or used in any publication that is sold. Also, this disclaimer must accompany the article along with the author’s copyright and Zondervan’s copyright. All other uses for this article must be approved by the author in writing.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION(r). Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.