Category: Uncategorized

 

 

 A Tale of Two Lawsuits

Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris has been a familiar figure, but he wasn’t nearly as famous as he is now.  All it took was widely disseminated footage of a woman being dragged out of a Republican Central Committee event to tell the entire nation what many local citizens already knew.  Bob lost control, and mayhem ensued.   What has burst upon the national scene is old news for us locals.  What’s largely unknown is that it’s happened before and with far less provocation; it’s just that this time, Bob got caught.

It was nearly one year ago, at a town hall meeting in the small community of Cataldo, that Norris, by his own admission, “called out” a woman named Pennie Collinson.  That’s one way to put it.  Another might be, according to dozens of eye-witnesses, that Norris pointed out a beautifully dressed, quietly observant photographer and announced “That woman likes oral sex and giving blow jobs.”

The ensuing uproar consumed the campaign for Sheriff for months to come.  

You Can’t Make This Stuff Up

I didn’t know Pennie when this happened in April of 2024.  I hired her the following month for a photography job.  She recounted the entire story to me, but I didn’t believe her.  I simply could not.  No reasonable person, much less a county Sheriff, would conduct themselves with such aberrant accusations in a public setting.  The truth became clear when I met several people who witnessed the scene firsthand.

As the citizens of Kootenai County grappled with the dawning knowledge that our Sheriff is a true vulgarian and happily indulges in gross misconduct at will, the denials can be summarized like this:  He didn’t do it.  Nobody saw him do it.  You can’t prove a thing.  The old Bart Simpson defense.  When it became undeniable that a growing crowd of witnesses was coming forward, the rebuttals changed to “They have a history.  She’s driven him crazy for years.  She had it coming.”

Bob’s gutter response to the mere presence of a local photographer is easier to comprehend if you know the backstory.

  • The year was 2019, there was a meeting of the local Pachyderm club.  Pennie was attending to introduce an organization advocating for protection for animals, later named Hank’s Law, after Hank, a dog that was abused to death.  Bob Norris walked through, announced who he was and that he was running for Sheriff, and promptly left.
  • It was months later that a town hall was held, ostensibly to discuss a proposed Re-Entry Facility for released prisoners but that appeared to be just a veneer for an ‘elect Bob Norris for Sheriff’ campaign event.
  • The next encounter was at a local gym where Pennie overheard a group of men talking about a tattoo on the back of Bob’s calf. 
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They knew Bob was from L.A. and were speculating that he had a Viking tattoo on his calf as a sign of White Supremacy and wanted him to show the tattoo on his leg (the tats are there or the shoulder), and Pennie said she would ask about it.  She got on social media and made the query.  Bob posted a video, mentioned Pennie, and showed his leg, but only on the side, not the back where the tattoo would be.  Shortly thereafter, he deleted the video. 

Pennie’s family has lived in Coeur d’Alene since 1972, and for as long as they have lived here, the Aryan Nation organization has been a concern. The family is Jewish. She just wanted to know if she would be safe around Bob.

The Sheriff’s race was hotly contested with three candidates, Richard Whitehead, Kim Edmonton, and Bob Norris.  Pennie supported Whitehead and attended events to take photos.  She noticed that social media attacks were directed her way.

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We need to travel back in time for context. Pennie owned a thriving and recognized business for 23 years, Coeur d’Alene Photography. She was the photographer for Global One News Network, the Events photographer for the Cda Resort, she photographed professional sporting events and for the organizations Wednesday’s Child and The Children’s Village.

This was why, in 2018, a woman named Jennifer Peacock sought her out to photograph a group of people working on animal rights.  Soon, Pennie was helping with marketing, and her son designed and hosted the website. They created brochures and began fundraising.  Since Pennie was the photographer for the Cda Casino and The Cda Resort, she gained support from people attached to those businesses.  She also obtained donations from people involved in the booming real estate market, and funds were pouring in.  Yet, as it does every year, tax season rolled around. The Casino was the first donor to ask for the EIN for a write-off.  Pennie attempted to get that from Jennifer, who failed to provide it.

 

 Jennifer would never provide the tax ID # and now we know why.  Pennie and two others pursued the issue with the IRS and were told it wasn’t a registered 501c3 and she needed to inform the businesses she recruited to warn them of the status. Pennie even went so far as to warn Bob Norris supporters in the Sheriff’s department by private messages on the business page.  Norris had been involved with supporting Hank’s Law.  You’d think he’d be grateful for the warning bark, but no.

 

The Thanks You Get

One day Pennie opened her front door for a deputy, a friend of Jennifer Peacock, who was invited inside and gave her a citation for libel for the ‘offense’ of informing people that Hank’s Law was not a non-profit.  She was informed she could be arrested and jailed.   She hired attorney Craig Zanetti,  and the prosecuting attorney dropped the citation.  Her attorney told her to take the information to the Sheriff’s department and report felony fraud.  They opened an investigation, it even made the paper, which included instructions for people to send their information to the sheriff’s department if they’d given to Hanks Law.  It was sound advice, but the Sheriff’s department took no action except for deputies harassing Pennie.

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Along with the citation,  two different suits were filed for defamation against Pennie.  One was filed by Jennifer Peacock, who had the most to lose if her fake charity was exposed as a corporation.  The other was the delightful D.R. (I’d provide her name but she’s a difficult creature), with the actual complaint stating Pennie had “agreed with others” in social media postings that were exceedingly unflattering.  Jennifer and D.R. are thick as . . . and suffice it to say they worked closely together on Hank’s Law and also the campaign for Bob Norris.

 Here’s where it gets sticky.  Jennifer and Pennie had another partner in the ‘non-profit. Her name was Janice McCune.  The lawsuits were flying around because Jennifer was, well, enjoying the company of Janice McCune’s husband.  So Jennifer sued both Pennie and Janice for defamation for 501c3 and for implying she was sexually involved with the irresistible Mr. Balison.

  There is thankfully an end to this dismal chapter, and mediation concluded the scrap.  Both lawsuits were dropped, and the impression left was that they were filed purely for harassment.

Public Enemy #1

The first few encounters Pennie had with Bob Norris are snoozers.  Bob has won the campaign and is now the Sheriff of Kootenai County, holding regular meetings with constituents as any politician does to maintain favor.  What follows is a distinct foreshadowing of dragging dissident women out of meetings.

The scene is set at a local restaurant on February 22, 2024.  Pennie was there having lunch with a friend, we’ll call her Deanna because that’s her name.

The cast of characters is about to get richer. I’ll be introducing Quincy Franklin, aka thebcpreacher, who is a videographer.  The second introduction is County Commissioner Bruce Mattare, a Bob Norris cohort who has been granted the status of Special Deputy.

So, Pennie and Deanna were having lunch in the main section of the restaurant when they spotted Quincy and spoke briefly with him. He was heading to the Meet and Greet for Norris but was unceremoniously tossed out as no video was allowed. Deanna, a person with a proper sense of moral indignation, went to the door of the meeting and asked, “Why did you throw him out?  Is it because he’s black?”

Bruce Mattare came out to Deanna and Pennie and invited them into the meeting.  Deanna retorted, “I know who you are, and I don’t like you.”  His rational response was, “You don’t have to like me.  We would like to invite you into this meeting”.  The ladies agreed to go in.

There was a Q&A session, yet Pennie’s consistently raised hand was not acknowledged, so as it ended, she approached Bob Norris.  He was flanked by Republican maven Terri Seymour and Bruce Mattare.  Pennie’s burning question had to do with a brochure created to boost an event called Show Your Proof, which was billed as an opportunity for Bob Norris to defend his reputation, seemingly a never-ending task as his payment to Reputation Defender attests.  Pennie perceived it was nothing more than a ruse to attack political opponents.  After the lawsuits and pressure from deputies, she was deeply disturbed and said,  “You’ve ruined my life, and now you’re at it again.  You’re a commissioner; this is wrong.  You’re our Sheriff; this is wrong”.  She began to cry.  In an endearing show of empathy (just kidding), she was asked, “Do you need to be escorted out?”

A waitress, noticing her tearful agitation, offered her a glass of water. Others gathered around her. Special Deputy/ County Commissioner/Norris PR Manager Bruce Mattare approached. She confronted him with the Show Your Proof brochure, and he admitted he “created it with others.”

When the much-touted Show Your Proof event occurred, Quincy attended to obtain video and was blocked by Bruce Mattare’s ever-vigilant wife, who was adamantly opposed to objective exposure.

At this point, Pennie became the enemy.  She thought Bob Norris & company were ‘ruining her life’, but it was just getting started.

 The Slur Heard ‘Round the World

Two months later, Bob Norris stood with mic in hand and issued the slur heard ’round the world.  He asserted that Pennie is obsessed with taking pictures of child porn and then the stunner, that she likes oral sex and giving blow jobs.  Pennie was allowed to respond, but this time, someone had turned on their camera, so there is audio and visual evidence of her outraged response.  She denounced what he’d said as disgusting, she demanded to know “Did you just call me a pedophile?” then proceeded to explain why she was driven to expose the child porn available in the local library.  Her cousin was killed at age 7 by a sexual predator, and Pennie has been a potent child advocate ever since.  Bob didn’t take the time to listen.  He snapped out, “What’s your question?”  Appropriate empathetic responses are not his strong suit.

The Sheriff of Kootenai County has a database of crime records and is now proclaiming that Pennie has criminal proclivities.  Did he know he was lying?  Did his merry band of sycophants know it was false?  The tide of abuse that the Sheriff unleashed was horrifying.

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The essence of these posts was repeated for months and gained traction with each re-telling.  Such is the power of the office of Sheriff.  The offset is in the power of justice; the lawsuit contains the option of including third parties in the course of Discovery, and I can’t wait.  The damage done was much more than emotional or relational; Pennie’s 23-year business was in shambles.  Her bookings tanked, professional connections dissolved, and her income was all but wiped out.

Even under the social media barrage, it is important to retain the true essence:  Pennie lost someone precious to her at a very young age due to a sexual predator.  It made her a lifelong advocate for the helpless, so there’s not a dog or child she will not fight to protect.

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You’d think it would be sufficient for an elected Sheriff to brand a woman as a sexual deviant, but it doesn’t stop there.  The Tort claim was filed, which is how you must proceed when you are suing a government entity.  The County decided not to respond, which was their option.  Bob decided to up the ante, offering $10,000 as a reward to anyone who could provide recorded proof of his slur.  He did this with the time of county employees utilizing county resources to put in the hot seat anyone who stood by their testimony that he had, indeed, verbally sexually assaulted a member of the public. He used the Sheriff’s letterhead and Sheriff’s official social media sites to fight his personal legal battle.    It was the use of County resources that caused the suit to be amended and refiled and this isn’t good news for Bob.  Result: full-blown lawsuit against Norris and Kootenai County and then amended to pursue relief for his use of County assets to paint anyone who varied from his account as liars and hoaxers. 

If Bob were a thoughtful man, he wouldn’t have opened with a Triple-Dog-Dare, of course if he were a deep thinker, he wouldn’t have vented his spleen on Pennie in the first place but now he’s dragged the County into this in full view. It seems he can’t count.  He accused a member of the public of being a sexual predator in front of about 60 witnesses.

It’s just a working theory but think about it.  What if Bob is actually a moron?

 

So here we are, the year-in-the-making lawsuit for slander and defamation is proceeding in the court docket with $500,000 as the starting point.  The scoffers who said she’d never do it out of fear of a countersuit have (thankfully) been silenced as no countersuit is forthcoming. What is forthcoming is yet more bleeding out of the Kootenai County Taxpayers.

Queue Galactic Lawsuit Number Deux

The opening scene is the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee legislative update town hall meeting on February 22nd.  If the organizers didn’t know that rowdy disrupters would be in attendance, then they should have known. As Vince Lombardi said, “The will to win is not nearly so important as the will to prepare to win.”  If you don’t understand the plan, you can’t create a counter-plan.  This unappealing crew of outraged liberals has demonstrated their craft before, so was there a plan? Because right at the moment, the plan looks to be “How to make Teresa Borrenpohl famous and rich”.

The preferred elements:

  • Large public gathering
  • Master of Ceremonies with the emotional range and razor wit of your average 6th grader
  • Security without badges identifying them as such
  • The sheriff was present, not in uniform.  Civilian or Incident Commander?
  • Agitators with a plan

Adding insult to injury, Bob’s verbal abuse has now escalated into physical assault, and it’s gained national, if not international, attention.  I can hear the outrage already: “Cops have to touch people who are getting arrested!” I see your point, but was she arrested by Bob?  In California, where Bob acquired his vaunted state-of-the-art law enforcement skills, if you grab someone, put them in restraints and Mirandize them, they are arrested.  What is plain as day is that Bob tried to move her up and out of her seat.  No dice.  So he grabbed her with both hands, then let go and backed off, then he physically engaged yet again, to no avail.  In watching the widely available video I was struck by the humiliating ineffectiveness of the Sheriff.  He was hands on – hands off . . . hands on – hands off.  Who taught him law enforcement technique?  Mr. Miyagi??

Within seconds, he bellowed, “You – out of here NOW!” and directed the security team to get her gone. It was not effective containment of someone disrupting a public meeting. Bob has now been cited by Coeur d’Alene Police Department for battery.

The lawsuit for this Charlie Foxtrot has yet to be filed, but the woman dragged out must have a lot of friends because in just a few days her war chest exceeded $300,000.  She has now filed a Tort Claim with the Kootenai County Clerk.

If Bob Norris understood the obligations and limitations of law enforcement, now of this would have occurred.

I’ll close with a summation of a recent My Turn opinion piece in our local paper by Bailey O’Neil:

How much longer can we afford leadership that mistakes brutality for strength?  Sheriff Norris has proven himself not just unworthy of his office but dangerous to the very citizens he swore to protect.  His badge has become not a shield for the vulnerable but a license for the powerful to abuse their authority.  He will be known not for the power he wielded but by the trust he betrayed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Con

 

Choose This Day

I’m one of the few people who has never watched The Chosen.  Not once.  Some may assert that, therefore, I am disallowed from criticizing this wildly popular series.  To that, I will reply that scripture and logic are the basis of my condemnation of The Chosen as unfit for consumption by believers and seekers alike.

Let’s begin with the claim of the creators of the show and its many defenders.

It makes Jesus so appealing and approachable that it’s causing millions of people to seek Him, some for the first time.

Apparently, the Bible just isn’t enough.  We must be spoon-fed from the silver screen but the trouble with that is the devoted audience of The Chosen is being fed a version of Jesus that is wholly man-made.  The show’s creators admit that in the first 4 episodes, NONE of it was drawn from the Bible.  They claim it’s based on the Bible but the dialogue, characters, backstories and details are all fiction.  Once in a while, they quote scripture, but so does Satan.

Presenting the story of Jesus as fiction is a serious mistake.  If God’s word is the perfect standard, what could be the motivation for adding so much filler?  I mean apart from money and fame.  What’s a hallmark of the last days?  Deception, not just the disgusting depravity that we see all around us, but wolves inside the church, feeding off of it and drawing people after themselves.  Do they look like wolves? Or do they masquerade as angels of light?  These are not tough questions.

The American church is being trained to fall head over heels in love with the Anti-Christ.  If we look at the known qualities of that person and then check out the actor who portrays Jesus in the show, there are distinct similarities. 

  • All that dwell on the earth will worship him
  • He is outstanding (Who is like unto the beast?)
  • He is a successful warrior
  • He speaks great things
  • He appears to bring peace

Please understand, I’m talking about Jonathan Roumie, the winsome darling of the media.  I watched his interview on The View, not typically a bastion of Christian thought, and I almost fell for him!  Did you know that the first three seasons of the show captured 600,000,000 views?  Six. Hundred. Million.

Now Jonathan has a prayer app where he’ll lead you into praying the Rosary.  I’ve read on some comment threads that people now envision his face when they pray.  He’s had to make public disclaimers “I’m not the real Jesus” with a charming self-deprecating humbleness that drives his fans to even more delight.

If you’ll fall for Jonathan Roumie in all his skull and bones, grave sucking, Rosary chanting, Pope loving, Knights Templar nonsense, you’ll fall for anything.

Yet he’s just the face of the show.  It gets worse.  The producer of The Chosen, Dallas Jenkins, describes himself as an evangelical Christian.  Ok, let’s take him at his word.  Here’s a quote: “I said that many LDS folks and I love the same Jesus.  I still believe that.   It’s gotten me in a lot of trouble but I still believe that.”

The ‘same Jesus’.  Is there more than one? 

Is your Jesus a spirit that was produced in heaven?  A spirit brother of Lucifer, and his earthly birth was not by a virgin but came about through sexual intercourse with Mary by his father god who resides on a planet near a star called Kolob?  Did your Jesus work toward becoming god by taking Mary, her sister Martha and Mary Magdalene as wives, and producing children necessary for him to become a god?  And that’s how he became the god of this world, taking his place among the multitude of gods ruling over numerous other worlds?

T.A. McMahon

What do you mean “No”? Because that’s the Jesus that the executive producer, Derral Eves believes in, as do most of the other producers of the series, Ricky Ray Butler, and Jeffrey and Neil Harmon of VidAngel, which is Angel Studios.  What communion has light with darkness?

Have you not read that this show is all about ‘helping people get to know Jesus better and to recognize similarities with the “Jesus of different faiths” ‘?  That’s why the Mormon backers have no problem with pushing multiple versions of Jesus.  Any Jesus will do.

The Bible is the complete, infallible word of God, given to mankind so that we can know God and be saved.  We know that faith comes by hearing the word of God. 

Show producer Dallas Jenkins stated in an interview, “Our intentions are different from the Bible’s intentions”.  The Bible’s intentions are to uplift Christ, so what are his?  He states that the show will be, “what the audience wants or needs to see”.  This show subtly swaps Scripture for mystical Catholic doctrine and cheap humor.  The show’s writer, Tyler Thompson claims the Bible is “good literature” but not infallible.

During a discussion with the Mormon partners,  they joke about the book of Revelation and the instruction to not add to the Bible.  Dallas Jenkins told them it’s okay to ignore what John said and add to the stories in the Bible (for the series) and later stated with a grin -and please do not miss this – “the people who only want to read the bible won’t be watching this series.“

Randall LaCelle

It’s clear to me that the creators of this show haven’t believed the Bible or they would cease joking about Revelation.

I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. ~ Revelation 22:18-19

So at the very least, Dallas Jenkins may need to reevaluate the faith delineated in the Bible and put his trust in the true Jesus—or risk going through the Tribulation and then quite possibly heading to hell. Either way, he’s hardly the guy you should be trusting to get you closer to Jesus.

In the word of God we are instructed to be about “Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought, to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” ~ 2nd Corinthians 10:5-6

Not only has the show and the cast become a ‘high thing’, but they’ve also accomplished that by mocking the truth.  In the show, when Jesus meets Nicodemus he asks him “what does your heart tell you?” and later says “Soon it’ll all be about the heart.”  The word says the heart is deceptively wicked, so maybe the writer of the script has simply seen too many Disney movies. When Nicodemus tries to worship Him, Jesus stops him by saying he doesn’t need to do that.  John the Baptist is arrogant and rude at one point saying “You appear to not be ready to get into the specifics on a lot of things.”  At another point, John is bragging about how he’s planning on marching into Herod’s palace to tell him off adding “My followers will love it.”  Does anyone remember that part in the Bible where Peter called John the Baptist ‘Creepy John’?  Yet when John proclaimed “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” Peter then interjects after “Behold” . . . “I am eating a bug.”  Just going for the laughs, I presume? I think what offends me the most is the portrayal of Jesus as someone who had to rehearse his ‘speeches’ and have his notes corrected by his disciples.  Jesus is portrayed as needing fashion tips from the women who were with him and most painful of all retorting to his mother when she said she was proud of him “Maybe wait to say that until after I’m done, in case I mess up in front of such a big crowd.”

This pathetic twisted mess is NOT the gospel.  It’s NOT Jesus.

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another, but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  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.  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. ~Galatians 1:6-9

“If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him.  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine but the Father’s which sent me.” John 14: 23-24

There’s a great deal of evidence that the writers, directors and producers of The Chosen care nothing for an accurate depiction of scripture.  They care about the show.  Period.  The story of Jesus is merely a vehicle for their ambition, pride and greed. This pretend Jesus serves them so well and they are dishing him up to a worldwide audience.

Do you know who else is a pretend Jesus?  That’s right, the Anti-Christ.  The way is being paved for his horrifying arrival and acceptance of it is being set in place by men who claim they are followers of Christ.

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. ~2nd Corinthians 6:17

 

 

 

 

The Difference Between Ignorance and Indifference?

I Don’t Know and I Don’t Care

Ok, enough with old jokes already, though, when I heard a pastor exclaim this from the pulpit, regarding the account of creation in Genesis, it was my last day in that church. It’s one thing to be obtuse, but openly declaring your ignorance as a point of pride is truly breathtaking.  To state “I tend toward a young earth position but you know what?  “I don’t know and I don’t CARE” was the last thing I wanted to hear.   It’s a church that has made its bones on not fighting about things that ‘don’t matter’.  A corollary to that stance is that most of the Bible doesn’t matter.  

Our indifference to the word of God is bolstered by productions like The Chosen, devotionals like Jesus Calling, and false bibles, like The Passion Translation.  They are all examples of ‘rat poison’ theology.  Rat poison has many harmless ingredients, some of them might even contain some nutrients, but that’s just to make them attractive enough to consume.  Once eaten, the 5% that is poison, kills you.

So it is with sugary, skewed representations of God and His word.

You can read about the great apostasy in II Thessalonians and we know the day of Christ will not come unless the falling away comes first.  I believe all these false presentations of God are part and parcel of the falling away because people will fall away more readily if they are fooled into thinking they are following the truth.  

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. ~ II Thessalonians 2:9-12

We feed on spiritual toxins that softly and insidiously lead us astray because we’re not grounded sufficiently to comprehend the lies.  If we ever knew it, we’ve already forgotten Galatians “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again If any many preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”  It was so important, Paul said it twice!

Why should we be such sticklers for knowing the Word?

All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:12-17
Wise for Salvation Through Faith Which Is In Christ Jesus
Our faith is not blind.  Our faith is not built on vapor.  Our faith is based on rock-solid, demonstrated truths.  It’s vital that we know this and defend it so that more can come to a saving knowledge of Jesus.
If you can prove there is anything of more eternal significance than this, let me know and I’ll drop my Bible and immediately start watching The Chosen.

 

Thy Kingdom Come

And We Mean Now

A vast number of professing Christians are following the sweeping movement of Charismania, activating imaginary power, assuming gifts and claiming riches by declaring their beliefs and living them out.  It’s called Kingdom Now theology also known as Dominion theology.  One of the founding concepts is the Seven Mountain Mandate. While it might seem like a good idea for Christians to control education, government, the arts, etc., it’s simply not God’s plan.

If you ascribe to this non-Biblical view then you believe that God lost control of the earth to Satan and yet is still so powerful that when His Spirit lives within us, we have all authority in heaven and earth, so we can speak things into existence and usher in the Kingdom Age.  So a god that is too weak to retain authority can give that stolen authority to us?  Now we’re the powerful ones that He needs to help set things right.  That’s like giving a car that was stolen to my grandson so he can drive me to the store.  My head hurts now.

And if that contorted concept hasn’t already robbed you of the power of thought, there’s more!  Listen to Steven Furtick.  

The net result is a god who is weak and men who are deified.

Kingdom Now people believe that the Rapture is just a strong emotion, not the ‘catching up’ as described and supported by numerous scriptures, including Thessalonians 4:17, 2nd Corinthians 12:2-4 and Revelation 12:5.  They get irritated at believers who take these scriptures seriously because they think we’ve stepped off the battlefield and are leaving them to do all the work.  If you follow their line of reasoning, you’d think they’re powered up and could get it all handled, but a certain churlish atmosphere informs us they feel the need for more recruits.

Believers who carefully study the Word, know the difference between “The Day of Christ”(Philippians 2:14-16), “The Day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6), and “The Day of Our Lord Jesus Christ” (Corinthians 1:7,8)  which are all happily anticipated, and the reference in Joel 2:31 “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.”  KJV

I am overcome with a sense of urgency that causes me to speak uncomfortable truths and persist in trying to reach everyone with the news that salvation is here and to take advantage of it while there is time.  Christians living and operating in the knowledge of the Word and the Spirit of Truth are filled with the same imperative.

Now let’s get to the really dangerous part. 

It’s called Replacement Theology which basically asserts that God has replaced Israel in His favor with the Church.  God made a covenant with Israel and it’s irrevocable.  God is all-powerful eternally and his promises to Israel will be kept.  He has not forsaken them, He has simply grafted us in. Could we not simply melt with gratitude over His unmerited favor and not try to claim His sole attention?

If you ascribe to Replacement Theology, you will misunderstand about 70% of the Bible.  I know, I’ve done it myself, and if you don’t know what the Bible says, you have no idea what to do.

Christians are commanded to be salt and light in a stinky dark world.  What Christians aren’t commanded to do is to take over the earth in preparation and as a prerequisite for Christ’s return.    We aren’t to prepare a landing zone for His takeover.  He promised that He goes to prepare a place for us, not the other way around.

We are assured of a few things.  Satan is the ruler of this current world.  Things are not going to improve prior to them getting truly horrifying.  It’s like the days of Noah, when God said, in short, “get in the boat.”  Yet the Kingdom Now folks would’ve had Noah and family running around the earth with corks to plug up those “fountains of the great deep” and giant covers for the windows of heaven pouring out rain.  And yes, that would mean they missed the boat.

Wrath is coming and we’ve no time for a false gospel.  An earthly kingdom is getting set up as we speak, but it will serve the Antichrist.  You know those 7 mountains?  Want to guess who’s going to control them?  Choose this day whom you will serve.

” . . . If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed”.  ~Galatians 1:9

For Pete’s sake, people – the last days are an open book test and the church is failing.

Here’s the deal according to Jesus and how we will know he’s about to end the Church Age by calling us up to Himself.

  • People will stop putting up with sound doctrine -2nd Timothy 4:3
  • There will be a defection from the truth – 2nd Thessalonians 2:3
  • People will be running after false Christs – Matthew 24:4-5
  • Because of the increase of people who are “against Christ” and His teachings, we will know “it is the last hour” – 1 John 2
  • The last church addressed in Revelation is the church of the Laodiceans and it’s known for being lukewarm, feeling rich, and in need of nothing, yet is actually naked and blind – Revelation 3

As many as I love,  I rebuke and chasten.  Therefore be zealous and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

His love and fierce determination to save us absolutely floors me.  You see the church of the Laodiceans literally means “the rule of the people.”  This is a church that has been taken over by people.  Jesus isn’t even inside of it, that’s why he’s knocking on the door.  Some have taken this to mean He’s a supplicant “knocking on the door of your heart”, like a lost puppy on a rainy night.  The wake-up call is simply this – you aren’t so powerful Jesus has to plead with you – this is a warning that you are in danger.

To those determined to pull this world back from the brink, I understand your angst and anger but exercises in futility are just that.  God is on the throne.  When you know His power and plan to save souls, you cannot be indifferent while you also know that He will see it through.  We are steadfast because of trust therefore fear and anger have no place here. 

Remember Satan’s beguiling promise “Ye shall be as gods . . .?”.  

Here’s a hint:  He was lying.

 

Another Jesus

Accept No Substitutes

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.   For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted – you may well put up with it! ~ II Corinthians 11: 3 & 4

Pilgrims’ Lack of Progress

The wife of a pastor friend of mine posted about a trip she took recently.  “What a wonderful weekend in Dallas . . . We toured one site where The Chosen was filmed and attended IF Gathering 2023 soo good”. 

I have touched briefly on the work of fiction which is The Chosen.  This is a Mormon Temple-controlled story of a gentle, attractive, fascinating Jesus.  Just in case the actual gentle, attractive, fascinating Jesus is not entirely to your taste.  There’s plenty to find on real Jesus, but the fake one is so entertaining that “you may well put up with it!”  Heck, you’ll seek it out, soak it up, sell your brain to it and make a pilgrimage to the set where the lie is spun.

The inherent tragedy in feeding yourself Jesus junk food is that the real feast is left languishing.  Any spiritual nutrition you can gain is left alone while your sluggish, weak soul feeds on sugary substances that cannot sustain, and this while the last battle is rapidly approaching us.  A chubby kid on the couch popping M&M’s does not a gladiator make.

If you want your soul thrilled and your mind settled on why you believe, spend more time in the Word.  Another good book is below.  Talk about the lights coming on, this is deeply nourishing.

When it comes to the IF Gathering, I’ve already covered that topic in a post called An Ounce of Prevention.   Jennie Allen looks like a Christian, she simply doesn’t talk like one.  As Charles Spurgeon is noted for saying: 

Discernment - Spurgeon Quotes - Girded with Truth

 

Jennie Allen came to my former church and the large event was billed as the “Be Bold” women’s conference.  I did not go.  If anyone is offering a “Be Discerning” women’s conference, let me know.

Paul wraps up the 11th chapter of II Corinthians by defending the authenticity of his apostleship:  

But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.  For such are also apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.  And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

I keep sensing a pervasive urgency that has nothing to do with being mean-spirited and everything to do with getting souls to shelter in the only safety while there is still time.   If I see another “Above all else, be kind” sticker on social media I will again be overcome by how obtuse we are as a culture.  Kindness, softness, and an overarching drive for unity are greasing the skids for souls to go to hell.  It may offend you that I’m not being nice but I will not assist in consigning souls to hell so that people will think well of me.

Picture a faith that goes far beyond feelings and then ask God to cause you to hunger for it.   He invigorated my shallow, lazy, indifferent soul – yours is no challenge.

Philippians 3:10-14

My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this.  Instead, I am single-minded: forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Stop filling your mind and soul with bits of sand, go for the pearl of great price.

 

Go Ahead – Start Judging

Grown Ups Do It All the Time

Blogger’s Note:  More smart stuff from The Bible In Context

So many are taught to just let God judge, but the Bible says we have an obligation to judge for our own spiritual safety.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 “Test ALL things; hold fast what is good.” This does not mean to only test what “they” allow you to. Because of our freedom in Christ we have a spiritual obligation to test what they say, just as the Bereans tested Paul in what he said, and he commended them.

The Bible says the Spiritual man judges all things (1 Cor. 2:15). If you don’t judge, then you are saying you are not spiritual. To judge or to discern means we have maturity and can recognize truth from error. This is of the utmost importance for us living in the last days. So, the problem is an obvious one, people cannot recognize the difference of error from the truth because they have not been taught the truth.

 

 

That’ll Do Donkey!

When to Stop Being An Ass

There comes a time when you (and by ‘you’ I mean ‘me’) need to stop setting yourself up as the judge, jury and executioner of churches, pastors, flocks and heretics.  Even if you assigned yourself that job with a great deal of vigor.  Even if they have it coming.  Be like Balaam’s donkey rather than Shrek’s.  

If you’re a Shrek fan, you know Donkey and you know he can’t stop himself.  He means well but sometimes you just want to strangle him.

The donkey in the story of Balaam is also like me in that she’s an ass, but I prefer this analogy for reasons you’ll soon understand.  In the book of Numbers, chapter 22 you’ll find the story.

Funny Donkey On Road Stock Photo - Download Image Now - Donkey, Humor, Mule - iStock

  

Balaam was known as someone who had the power to bless and curse.  The king sent messengers with a “diviner’s fee” for him to curse the Israelites, which of course, God was against.  After repeated attempts and increased bribes, Balaam agreed to go to see the king since the pot was so much richer.

So Balaam rose in the morning saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.  Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him.  And he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him.  Now the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field.  So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road.

Then the Angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side.  And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he struck her again.

Then the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or the left.

And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam’s anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

The the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?” And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have abused me.  I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!”

So the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden ever since I became yours, to this day?  Was I ever disposed to do this to you?” And he said, “No.”

Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.  And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times?  Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me. The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times.  If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.”

Numbers 22:21-33

 

The difference between Shrek’s donkey and Balaam’s is that one won’t stop and the other wouldn’t quit stopping.  To keep people safe, I must stop.

1,000+ Free Donkey & Animal Images - Pixabay

Balaam’s ass made the final move and simply laid down.  The good news is, the Angel with the sword was still on duty.  God will protect His church and doesn’t need help from me.

I have a friend. Surprised you, didn’t I?  Think of Queen Boudicea.  You mess with her or her kids and she’ll get you in the night, just for sport.  When she looked at me and simply said “You’ve now crossed the line into being contentious”, I had to listen.  Then I heard a message on the role of women in the church and though it’s an oft-repeated passage it impacted this time.

Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 1 Corinthians 14:34

Another passage I have a difficult time warming up to is:  Titus 2:3-5

the older women, likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things- that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

And THERE it is!  I know I’m not gentle and meek, I am frequently irreverent, it’s one of my favorite pastimes.  And as I sit here composing, I’m sipping wine. To my credit, I’m a pretty good homemaker.

My self-assigned battle has been to contend for the faith, to promote sound doctrine by going to the word and spending my efforts to convince people gullible to false prophets that they should go biblical with no time to waste.  I wanted souls to be safe and I figured the only way was to make sure they understood who God is, what He requires and how to know you’re going to hear “well done, good and faithful servant” instead of “I never knew you.”  Not until recently did I comprehend that my behavior and a certain ‘combat readiness’ were accomplishing precisely what I was fighting against.

Now I’m having to face that women need to be silent and willing to learn.  The fact that a female ass was needed to step in and stop a man from self-destruction is not lost on me and has me inclined to view that as proof of my qualifications.  Still, I must reflect on the might of God, persistent Angels with swords and then just lay my ass down.

 

 

And Another Thing!

 

“Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. Romans 16:17-18

Many professing believers today have not learned right doctrine so they have no basis to know when one has departed from it because they themselves are not walking in it. (2 John 9)

We are in perilous times not because we have too much judging, but too little.

We allow spiritual falsehood to work among us and sometimes we mistakenly (and other times intentionally) call it God’s work.

 

Truth confronts error so the truth can be known to the sheep. By pointing out the error you show a love for the truth and you show love for the sheep.

Authentic love means loving people enough to challenge them with the truth of God’s Word in context, despite their rejection”. ~The Bible In Context

Mann’s Word

Defending the Christian faith and promoting its wisdom against the secular and religious challenges of our day.

Monday, April 17, 2023

 

NAR, BETHEL CHURCH, AND THE NEW AGE CONNECTION

 

Are the “apostles” and “prophets” of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), centered at Bethel Church, Redding, California introducing New Age teachings? If so, this alone should discredit their teachings, despite their many claims that God is validating their movement through miracles, even though Satan can also perform miracles:

  • The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:9–10)

 

Perhaps the most profound evidence that Bethel has adopted many teachings of the New Age come from their endorsed book, The Physics of Heaven. Kris Vallotton, an NAR proponent, senior associate pastor, and lead prophet at Bethel has written “Through their collective intelligence, these seers [the many contributors to this book] have emerged with new perspectives never before pondered.”

 

Such a claim is problematic since the Bible instructs us to not go beyond the teachings of the Bible:

  • I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. (1 Corinthians 4:6)

 

Regarding the authors of this book, Vallotton suggests that we should join the authors’ readiness to go beyond what has long been accepted as the final truth:

  • Leaving the safe haven of conventional thinking, they set sail in uncharted waters with a passion to discover new lands…If you are tired of being a settler, existing on the shores of tradition [the Bible] and riskless living, this book is for you.

 

However, the Bible instructs us that the Scriptures are all that we need to live for Jesus:

  • All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16–17)

 

Nevertheless, the author/editors, Ellyn Davis & Judy Franklin of Bethel, claim that the bulk of the Christian world  are missing the:

 

  • …sea of quantum light that undergirds everything, and more importantly, we need to know how to access it.

 

Davis is convinced that we can and must supplement the Bible with New Age thinking:

 

  • I decided to examine New Age thought and practice for anything precious that might be extracted from the the worthless…now… we are hearing more …Christians “taking back truths.”

 

Stalking the New Age for truth is like going to mediums. instead, we should seek truth from God and His Word:

 

  • And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn. (Isaiah 8:19–20)

 

One contributor, NAR Prophet Jonathan Welton, wrote that he had: 

 

  • “…found throughout Scripture 75 examples of things that the New Age has counterfeited …such as having a spirit guide, trances, mediation, auras, power objects, clarivoyance. Clairudience, and more…  These actually belong to the Church but have been stolen and cleverly repackaged…now whenever you see a counterfeit, I hope you’ll ask yourself…what is that a counterfeit of, ‘what is it’s source,’ and how can I have the authentic?’”

 

Although the authors, professed Christians, clearly reject the warnings of the Word of God, they offer no justification for their own “insights” and imaginations other than asserting that others are coming to the same “insights” through their own personal experiences. However, Satan is the master deceiver:

  • For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. (2 Corinthians 11:13–15)

 

How then can we protect ourselves against deception? By “not going beyond what is written” in the Scriptures. Jesus had warned that Satanic deceptions will be so compelling that even believers would be led astray apart from our Savior’s protection:

  • For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24)

 

The NAR is never lacking in “prophesies”:

 

 

Franklin claims that the Spirit will give new revelations to the NAR prophets and their followers, but is there any compelling reason to believe this? Scripture provides a way to discern the true prophet from the false:

 

  • But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:20–22)

 

Unfortunately, Franklin places no time limit on her prophecy. Therefore, if there is no Upper Room experience during the next 20 years, she can conveniently say, “There was no time frame placed on its fulfillment.” Even worse, the Bethel prophets admit that their prophecies have proven wrong. At best, this should disqualify them. They are preaching, “Thus sayeth the Lord.” However, their mistaken prophecies prove that the Lord hasn’t spoken. Therefore, they have prophesied according to their own imaginations, while claiming their prophecies came from the Lord—a serious, careless, arrogant, and presumptuous error—according to the false prophets of the OT:

 

  • Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’” For who among them has stood in the council of the LORD to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened?” (Jeremiah 23:16–18)

 

The NAR prophets are simply asking us to place our trust in them. But do they merit our trust? Not according to the God of the Bible! Even if they are producing miracles, they must not be trusted if they are distorting God’s Word:

  • “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.” (Deuteronomy 13:1–5)

 

Bill Johnson, lead pastor of Bethel, is both a contributor and endorser of The Physics of Heaven. He believes that it is enough to merely “sense” that God “is on the verge of releasing something new”:

 

  • All of the contributors to chapters in this book sense that God is on the verge of releasing something new on the earth and that new thing somehow involves vibrations, frequencies, energy, sound, light, and taking “quantum leaps” by faith. (The Physics of Heaven, Chapter 16: Pulling the Tomorrows of God into Today, http://heavensphysics.com/chapter16/) Also: https://www.youtube.com/embed/weHo7pO6cmQ“

 

Johnson believes that we have the power and authority to prematurely “pull into our day” something that is only reserved for Christ’s return:

 

  • If it’s true that the promises of restored cities and healed nations are actually millennium promises…and if the promise of God’s glory being manifest all over the earth is far off into the future…and if in fact the people of God will not reach a place of true maturity, living like one mature man—then I must ask the question—is there anyone hungry enough for what He has shown us in the Scriptures that we will pull into our day something that is reserved for another? Is there anyone willing to lay themselves down to bring more of God’s promises across another great divide? If you can see God’s coming future promises, and He hasn’t blinded your eyes to His intent, then He is hoping to hook you into the role of calling “into being that which does not exist.” It is the role of the desperate heart of faith. We have the opportunity to affect the direction and flow of history through our prayers and intercessions. This is where we take hold of the future. This is why He wants to show us, “things to come.” The future is now, and it belongs to us. (The Physics of Heaven, p. 178.)

 

Many of the Prosperity Preachers also erroneously believe that we have the power, only claimed by God, to call “into being that which does not exist” (Romans 4:17).

 

There is no provision for the Church to “pull into our day” the Millennial Kingdom nor is there a promise that the Church can “call into being that which does not exist.” The future belongs to God, and only He knows the day and hour of the return of Christ. But Johnson adds:

 

  • All of the promises He reveals to us will be realized in time, but the acceleration of events is largely determined by the desperation of God’s people. (Bill Johnson, The Physics of Heaven, Chapter 16: Pulling the Tomorrows of God into Today, http://heavensphysics.com/chapter16/)

 

Bill Johnson absurdly claimed:

 

 

However, God can and does afflict with disease:

  • Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? (Exodus 4:11)

 

  • Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason, many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. (1 Corinthians 11:27-30)

 

Against the Bible’s warnings, Johnson and the other Bethel leaders assure their naïve youthful followers that there is no danger in giving themselves over to the imaginations of their heart in the place of true prophecy. Consequently, the most loving thing that we can do is to warn. 

 

 

 

 

All or Nothing

There IS No Third Bucket

I attended a very large church in Post Falls, Idaho.  This past Easter, at all associated locations, we had north of 14,000 people attend services.  I don’t mind the crowds, since I do think the goal is to have Heaven be full but I have been forced to question what is being sacrificed to keep those numbers at peak performance.

In our church, there is a concept about Biblical doctrine.  Some things are “salvation” issues known as First Bucket matters.  There are also Second and Third Bucket topics.  I’m not sure what those are.  You’d have to ask one of our pastors.  I am more convinced than ever that the entire Word of God is to be studied, comprehended, and applied.  The minute we start relegating to the third bucket, or the dustbin, we’ve proven we can dismiss all of it.  But of what import is the Word of God, if we’re striving for big tent unity?  That seems to be a question our church leadership has already settled to their satisfaction.

Jesus never once needed to embrace bad theology in order to love people correctly. ~Israel Wayne

The following is from The Bible in Context:

You cannot just believe parts of the Bible and not others. You either believe all of it or none of it. God’s Word is not a buffet where you get to pick and choose.

Notice the “every word”, i.e all of it👇🏼

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4

The Israelite’s were commanded to eat all the Manna and not leave any. We know the manna is a “type” of Christ – our bread of life.
Moses said to them, “Let no man leave any of it until morning.” Exodus 16:19

See the parallel?

Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
John 6:31-35

“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: Luke 6:46-47

Doctrine absolutely matters. The doctrine you believe is the doctrine you will live out. Wrong doctrine leads to wrong practice and wrong belief. The first piece of the armor in Ephesians 6 is the Belt of Truth.

The Trinity: God is one “What” and three “Who’s” with each “Who” possessing all the attributes of Deity and personality.

The Person of Jesus Christ: Jesus is 100% God and 100% man for all eternity.

The Second Coming: Jesus Christ is coming bodily to earth to rule and judge.

Salvation: It is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

The Scripture: It is entirely inerrant and sufficient for all Christian life.

If what you believe differs from what the Word of God says, you are in error in your doctrine. There is no person alive today who does not hold to doctrines. They may pretend to be free of doctrine and just “feeling” their way around the world, but they hold to doctrines just as tightly as you and I do. They just don’t realized how much they have been deceived by the enemy, by others, and by allowing themselves to be deceived.

The sermon just yesterday was basically sound on the topic of giving grace to each other and topping the list of next steps “If you haven’t already, establish a regular routine of being in the Bible’.  The problem is, I’ve delved into the Bible more in the past year than in my entire preceding 65 years on this planet.  The more I absorb, the more I realize I’m not on the same road as my pastors.

Even yesterday, a point made in the sermon was the need to “give grace to God” when He doesn’t respond the way we want.  Well, it sounds kind of sweet, but I kept thinking it was simply a misstatement.  I comforted myself about the vast gulf of a mistaken understanding of the nature of God, Life, Eternity, the Universe, and Biblical inerrancy by excusing it as nerves on the part of the pastor.  Right up until the moment he said it again with even more force and clarity.

The Bible I’ve been reading speaks of Christians needing patient endurance amidst persecution.  It fails to mention extending loving forgiveness to a God who may just have gotten it wrong.

As we veer toward a crowd-pleasing, man-centered faith that puts us in the catbird seat of extending grace to God I realize my options are narrowing.

You might tell me, go to your pastor first, which I had not done prior to making my frustrations known on social media.  Our senior pastor called me and offered a meeting.  The meeting lasted two and a half hours.  I can tell you that the lead pastor is rock solid on doctrine but that the church is veering distinctly into dangerous territory.  Almost like the Titanic with a rudder that is strong but too limited for the size of the vessel.  So next step, speak to the pastor who appears to represent the Emerging church doctrine.  Check.    He’s been sought out, and people have been brushed off.  It’s being made all too clear that any verbalized concerns will be firmly put down with the advice, literally from the pulpit to “ZIP it!”  Another meeting is being requested following this most recent sermon.  

 

After being told we’re to avoid many topics that only start fights, I must rebut that we are attempting to “gently instruct those who oppose the truth”.   Perhaps, in this case, simply ignoring the truth is more accurate.  Failing to learn, present and uphold the truth is the most subtle form of opposition, though.  The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth should be the standard.

“If we can’t have unity and agreement upon The Truth, then we can’t have unity.  True Unity is in the unity of the Spirit of Truth.”  ~The Bible In Context

When we can decide which scripture is crucial and heap the rest of it in a pile of irrelevance, it might give us nothing left to fight over.  On the other hand, it might give us the most strenuous contest ever since many of us recognize that walking away from sound doctrine is deathly serious.  Forget the Third Bucket – it doesn’t even exist.