Baptism

 

 

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Did the Apostle Paul oppose baptism? No, the Apostle Paul  did not oppose baptism. He was baptized himself, personally baptized several early converts, and spoke highly of the practice throughout his letters. 

The misconception that Paul opposed baptism usually stems from a misunderstanding of a specific passage in his first letter to the Corinthians. 

The Verse Frequently Misunderstood

In 1 Corinthians 1:17, Paul wrote: "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel..." 

At first glance, some interpret this to mean Paul thought baptism was unimportant or separate from his mission. However, biblical scholars point out that looking at the broader context reveals a completely different meaning. 

The Real Context: Fighting Church Division

Paul was addressing a serious problem in the Church at Corinth: the believers were splitting into competitive factions based on who had baptized them. 

• The Cliques: Some believers claimed allegiance to Paul, others to Apollos, others to Cephas (Peter), and others to Christ. 
• Paul's Relief: Paul stated he was glad he had only personally baptized a few people in Corinth (such as Crispus, Gaius, and the household of Stephanas). 
• The Reason: He did this so no one could falsely claim they were baptized in "Paul’s name" or use his name to elevate themselves above other Christians. 

Paul was not downplaying baptism itself; he was protecting the Church from pride and division by prioritizing his core calling as an itinerant evangelist to preach, while leaving the physical act of immersion to his ministry companions. 

Evidence of Paul's Support for Baptism

Paul's own life and theological writings strongly reinforce that he viewed baptism as a standard, essential milestone for every believer: 

• His Own Conversion: According to Acts 22:16, right after Paul's Damascus road experience, Ananias told him: "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name." Paul immediately complied.
• Theological Meaning: In Romans 6:3-4, Paul uses baptism to explain a Christian's spiritual union with Jesus, describing it as being "buried with him by baptism into death" so they can walk in newness of life.
• Unity of the Faith: In Ephesians 4:5, Paul lists baptism alongside the core pillars of Christian theology, writing that there is "one Lord, one faith, one baptism."
• Putting on Christ: In Galatians 3:27, he writes that "as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." 

While different Christian denominations still debate exactly how baptism relates to salvation (whether it is an outward symbol or an effective means of grace), it is clear from the historical and biblical text that Paul viewed baptism as a vital, foundational practice for the Christian community. 

 

You Are Cordially Invited to share your Christian experience with Renew Your Strength Bible Study Group... https://mlf1070.blogspot.com/2021/01/renew.html 

Geofencing

 

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Is there a geofence around your Church? The Israelis claim it is "location-based advertising technology." Yeah, right. 

The Israeli government is funding a multi-million-dollar digital marketing campaign targeting Christian churches in the United States using geofencing technology, but it is a political advertising and influence campaign rather than a physical tracking or espionage operation. 

Public disclosure filings submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) revealed that the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs hired an American marketing firm named Show Faith by Works, LLC. The campaign's goal is to reverse declining support for Israel among younger American evangelical Christians by serving them targeted, pro-Israel digital advertisements. 

What the Campaign Actually Does

• Virtual Boundaries: The marketing firm sets up virtual perimeters (geofences) around selected church buildings and Christian college campuses. 
• Targeted Ad Delivery: When a person enters that area with their smartphone's location services turned on, the system notes the device to serve them pro-Israel and anti-Hamas digital ads. 
• Standard Commercial Tech: This is the exact same location-based advertising technology used by major retail brands, fast-food chains, and political campaigns everyday to send coupons or ads to people nearby. 
• No Espionage or Surveillance: Intelligence experts and targeted organizations, like the Canyon View Vineyard Church, have clarified that this is a public relations blitz, not a covert military or spy surveillance system designed to physically compromise church members. 

Why It Sparked Widespread Outrage

While it is not an espionage campaign, the operation has sparked significant controversy and pushback from privacy advocates and religious organizations: 

• Lack of Consent: The targeted churches and congregations were not notified and did not give permission to be included in the ad-targeting list. 
• Violation of Sacred Spaces: Faith leaders and organizations, including the Christian Life Commission, have publicly criticized the campaign. They argue that using foreign government-sanctioned tracking inside sanctuaries fundamentally compromises the separation between houses of worship and political influence operations. 
• Privacy Concerns: Privacy watchdogs like the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) note that utilizing commercial data brokers to profile churchgoers constitutes an invasive manipulation of personal data.

Why Israel is Not America's or Christians Friend

 

Try The Spirits

 

 

In 1 John chapter 4, verse 1 there is an important admonition for all Christians. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Now in the context here, when John admonishes us to try the spirits, meaning test the spirits, who is he talking about? Who are we to test the spirits? Truck drivers? Housewives? Nurses? Food service workers?

Well, we could test their spirits, if the need arises. But in this context set forth by the apostle John, it is preachers. In this context, John is explicitly warning us to test the spirits of those who are in the religious arena. Preachers, teachers, and those who claim to be prophets and apostles.

Why? Because John says there are false prophets out there. By the way, that word prophet does not mean only those who foretell the future. It has a much wider application, meaning those who forth-tell the gospel, the good news, the Bible, the Scriptures.

A prophet can be anyone who tells forth, or preaches, or who teaches God’s Word in whatever manner they do, be it as ordained ministers, or as someone leading a Bible study, or as Bible college and university scholars and professors—and sincere men and women who share their experience as a Christian.

So let us first of all apply a little common sense as we test the spirits. And that word spirit, by the way, can mean the motive, or the motivation, or the driving force, the energizing motivation behind a person’s actions. So what are the motives of preachers of organized religion? Is the motive to preach the Kingdom of God and expand on the requirements to enter the Kingdom, or is their motive to expand their Church membership? 

Assess messages by checking if they promote love, align with the Bible, and bring peace rather than confusion. 

Biblical tests include:

The Incarnation Test: Evaluate if the spirit or teaching genuinely confesses that Jesus Christ came in the human form, preached the Gospel of the Kingdom, died in our place to cover our guilt, rose on the third day and ascended to heaven as Kings of kings and Lord of lords. ~ 1 John 4:2
The Fruit Test: Look at the resulting actions, attitudes, and character. Does their teaching promote love, truth, and spiritual growth, or does it lead to deception and confusion? Is the preacher willing to accept correction? Does the messenger become wealthy from preaching? ~ Ezekiel 34:1-2
The Word Test: Do the teachings align exactly with the Scriptures and the foundational truths of the gospel rather than twisting or denying them? Does the preacher use the correct definition of words translated from Hebrew and Greek into English or other languages? ~ 2 Peter 3:14-16 

 

Satan and False Prophets

 

 

You Are Cordially Invited to share your Christian experience with Renew Your Strength Bible Study Group... https://mlf1070.blogspot.com/2021/01/renew.html

 

 

Gratitude

 

Why are humans so ungrateful to God?

God gave His advice to humanity, but we refused to listen.

God showed us examples of good and evil, but we refused to see.

God sent prophets and preachers, but we refused to believe.

God arranged for the Bible to be printed in every language, but we refused read it.

God offered His only Son as as a sacrifice for our sins, but we refused to accept the gift.

God did His part, but we refused to repent.

What is it about human nature that make us so ungrateful to God?  

The core aspects of human nature that drive ingratitude toward God are pride, entitlement, and our psychological tendency to normalize blessings while focusing on what is missing. Theological texts and psychological studies suggest that humans naturally struggle with humility, often mistaking unearned mercies for personal achievements.

The primary internal forces that drive this behavior include:

1. The Trap of Pride and Self-Sufficiency

At the root of ingratitude is the desire for personal glory. Accepting a gift requires admitting that we are dependent on the giver, which inherently bruises the human ego. 

• The "Self-Made" Illusion: Humans naturally prefer to believe that their success, health, and wealth are the direct results of their own hard work rather than divine providence. 
• Refusal of Dependency: Acknowledging God as the source of all blessings forces a person to recognize their own vulnerability and reliance on a higher power, which human pride naturally resists. 

2. Entitlement and the Habit of "Craving"

Human nature easily twists baseline blessings into things we believe we are strictly owed. 

• Shifting the Baseline: When conditions are stable, humans quickly treat daily miracles—like breath, waking up, or food—as standard rights rather than gifts. 
• Focusing on Cravings Over Needs: As warned in theological texts like 1 Timothy 6:6-8, human nature constantly shifts focus toward luxury and unmet desires rather than being content and grateful with basic necessities.

3. Spiritual and Mental Forgetfulness

The human brain is wired to focus on active threats and unresolved problems, which causes past blessings to fade quickly from memory. 

• Habituation: We adapt to positive changes incredibly fast (a concept known psychologically as the hedonic treadmill), causing the initial joy of a answered prayer or blessing to disappear.
• Selective Memory: In times of crisis, humans are prone to forget years of safety and provision, focusing entirely on immediate suffering or perceived deprivation. 

4. Comparison and Envy

Human beings rarely evaluate their lives in isolation; instead, they constantly look at what others have. 

• The Comparison Roadblock: When people look horizontally at their peers instead of vertically toward God, jealousy takes root. This makes it impossible to appreciate one’s own unique gifts, turning potential gratitude into resentment.

​God opposes the proud, but shows favor the humble. ~ James 4:6

 

You Are Cordially Invited to share your Christian experience with Renew Your Strength Bible Study Group... https://mlf1070.blogspot.com/2021/01/renew.html 

 

Culture of Death

 

Culture of Death

What does that term “culture of death” really mean and how does it relate to Christianity?

The term refers to a civilization that endorses lethal omissions and even outright killing by doctors to alleviate suffering or resolve life crises, or even what that group or society may euphemistically describe as a “personal choice issue,” and most Churches fall squarely into the "culture of death".

Historically, “culture of death” was most often applied in the context of euthanasia, and assisted suicide. But now, abortion as a “lifestyle choice” must certainly be included. 

At age 87, I can remember how just a few decades ago, most such acts were outlawed and widely scorned; not just by Bible believing Christians, but by everyone. Not anymore. The sad fact is that now most people, including Christians, tolerate —and some even celebrate —the culture of death as necessarily linked to an individual’s right of free-choice and personal liberty.

How did Christians become so indifferent to the sanctity and equality of human life? Well, the easy answer to that is the need for the Church to appear acceptable to Western society where it has suffered major losses to its financial base. So would the fact that abortions generated huge revenues for Church owned hospitals have anything to do with the" culture of death?" 

I also believe that there is a deeper reason, a much deeper spiritual reason as to why Christians accepted the death-culture paradigm into its motif and culture. And that reason is “authority.”

You see, the Roman Catholic Church from its inception, accepted another rule of authority which was not based upon the Bible and used that authority as its ultimate guide. And if you are a Protestant you know exactly where I am going, —and that alone damns you because you are confessing that you already know the truth. The made man Churches accepted false prophets, who in turn, reinterpreted scripture, and did so to give its members a reason to form their own Churches. It is interesting that even the Old Testament describes such false prophets as “lying spirits.”

Whenever you choose to switch authorities, you also choose to switch allegiances. So it is no wonder that main stream Christianity is following a dying, sinful culture to its doom. The irony is that Christianity has been hijacked by Churchianity. I guess you could call that the “mystery of iniquity.”

How the Counterfeit Church Was Formed

 

The New Testament Church

 

When Jesus started His public ministry, He did not call the learned Rabbis. He called fishermen, tax collectors, shepherds, farmers, shopkeepers, inn keepers, seamstresses, homemakers... the common man and woman.

Jesus did not incorporate His Church and hire men to preach. As it is written: The general assembly of God and church of the first-born are registered in heaven (not a corporation registered on earth) ~ Hebrews 12:23. Jesus did not build a "church" building, have altar calls, teach the "sinner's prayer," have a "praise and worship team," teach earthly riches, or observe pagan holidays. God is not confined to Temples or Church buildings. He chose the human heart as His dwelling place. As it is written: "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" ~ 1 Corinthians 3:16 

During the first three centuries of Christianity, the Church met on the Sabbath in small groups in a home, sang hymns (especially the Psalms), read from the Scriptures, and kept the feasts of the Lord. Sometimes someone may have a word to share, or there was group discussions about the letters the Churches would receive from one of the Apostles. In the early Church, breaking bread referred to the everyday act of sharing meals together in one another's homes. The Apostles appointed able men to care for the flock. That was it... no paid clergy, no earthly headquarters, just Brethren seeking the Kingdom of God. ~ Matthew 18:20

Pastors and Elders were chosen from the local congregation. These men did not quit their job to get paid for their service to the Church. Ministry is a service not a payday.

As false teachers begin to creep into the congregations, they led people away from the doctrines of the Apostles. Wolves in Sheep's clothing formed their own Churches with their own doctrines. The main organization that emerged was the Roman Catholic Church. Then in the 16th century came the protestant reformation that spawned thousands of church organizations. Organized religion hijacked Christianity and turned it into a hodge-podge of confusing doctrines and practices.These false teachers turned Shepherds into hirelings - someone who works solely for monetary compensation rather than out of loyalty, passion, or moral conviction.

 

One reason people have a hard time believing the Gospel (Good News) is because it seems too good to be true. A man named Jesus/Yahshua claims to be the Son of God, comes down from heaven and is birthed of a virgin, grows up like any other human, takes all the sins of the world on Himself, dies on a cross, rises from the grave, promises to resurrect all people from the dead, and offers them eternal life!? Yeah, right... that's too good to be true.

So, organized religion created a "reasonable" Jesus. He loves you, but will send you to an ever-burning hell if you mess up. He will not resurrect you, He will "rapture" you. You must belong to the "right" church or you will burn in hell forever. You must go through certain rituals, wear your collar backwards, pray, light candles, give 10% of your income to a Church, celebrate His birthday, and hunt Easter eggs to honor Him. Now that makes sense to the carnal mind. We can handle that "truth."

Anyone who wants to follow Jesus Christ must go back to the way the early Church worshipped. As it is written: Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. ~ Isaiah 58:12 

In the New Testament, the concept of a "foundation" refers to the core truths, teachings, and spiritual realities upon which the Christian faith and the Church are built.

The writers of the New Testament use the architectural image of a foundation to show how a believer's life and the global community of faith can stay strong against hard times. 

1. Jesus Christ as the Ultimate Foundation

The most important foundation in the New Testament is the person of Jesus Christ Himself. 

• The Only Foundation: In 1 Corinthians 3:11, the Apostle Paul explicitly says that no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 
• The Chief Cornerstone: In ancient construction, the cornerstone was the first stone laid. It had to be perfectly square because every other wall aligned with it. The New Testament calls Jesus the chief cornerstone. Without Him, the structure of the faith would fall apart. 

2. The Apostolic and Prophetic Foundation

While Jesus is the ultimate bedrock, the New Testament also attributes a foundational role to the people who shared His message with the world. 

• Spreading the Truth: Ephesians 2:20 teaches that the household of God is "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone."
• The New Jerusalem: In the Book of Revelation, the vision of the heavenly city features twelve foundation stones, and on them are written the names of the twelve apostles of Jesus. 

3. Obedience as a Personal Foundation

Jesus used the idea of a foundation to teach people how to live out their faith daily. 

• The Wise and Foolish Builders: In Matthew 7:24–27, Jesus told a famous story about two men. One built his house on solid rock, and the other built on shifting sand.* When heavy storms and floods hit, only the house on the rock survived. *organized religion is shifting sand
• Hearing and Doing: Jesus clarified that the person who builds on THE ROCK is the one who hears His words and actually puts them into practice. Mental agreement is not enough; active obedience is what makes a life unshakable. 

4. The Six Foundational Teachings

The New Testament also outlines a list of basic doctrines that make up the "starting line" of Christian learning. According to Hebrews 6:1–2, these elemental foundations include: 

• Repentance from dead works (turning away from sin)
• Faith toward God
• Instruction about baptisms
• The laying on of hands
• The resurrection of the dead
• Eternal judgment 

The author of Hebrews explains that once these fundamental truths are firmly in place, believers should move forward into deeper spiritual maturity. There is no shame in admitting your Church or your pastor does not have all the answers.

Desiring to grow rapidly, the Barley Company Christians leave, or get “disfellowshipped,” from Churches that only preach the milk of the word,  Churches where virtually every sermon ends in an altar call to “get saved.” The Barley Christians strive to “go on to perfection (completion); not laying again the foundational doctrine of salvation." ~ Hebrews 6:1  

Worship is far more than joining a Church, singing hymns, and listening to a preacher. It's a lifestyle of reverence, obedience, and total surrender to God. It takes two primary forms: specific acts of praise (like singing and prayer) and everyday acts of love and service. Meeting with other Believers is a good thing, but don't get the idea God only loves "your Church."

Things Your Church Cannot Do

 

 

Fair Tax

 

 

 

The Fair Tax Act proposes replacing nearly all federal income, corporate, payroll, and estate taxes in the United States with a single, national retail sales tax. First-year enactment (like the proposed 2023/2025 legislation) targets an inclusive tax rate of 23% on all new goods and services. [1]

Core Mechanisms of the Fair Tax Act

• Abolishes the IRS: Eliminates individual and corporate income taxes, payroll (Social Security/Medicare) taxes, and the estate and gift tax, theoretically doing away with the need for the Internal Revenue Service. 
• National Retail Sales Tax: Shifts the tax burden from earning to spending. Consumers would pay a federal consumption tax only when purchasing new goods or services. Used items and previously taxed properties are generally exempt.
• Prebate System: To prevent the sales tax from disproportionately hurting lower-income households, the act includes a monthly "prebate" (a flat advance payment) for every registered household to cover the tax on basic necessities up to the federal poverty level.

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