Great notes from the One Minute Apologist, Dr Bobby Conway
Chuck Smith Evangelized to the End
Chuck Smith went to be with the Lord.
My physician friend who is not a believer (a non-practicing Catholic) had the opportunity to take care of Chuck during one of his surgeries. My friend had been to a Harvest crusade in the early 90’s and remembered Chuck from there and told Chuck about it. He asked Chuck why he became a pastor.
The pastor seized the opportunity to tell him about Christ. A few minutes before surgery Chuck was preaching. For some it is with great restraint that they will muster up the courage to tell an unbeliever about Christ. But not for Chuck Smith.
The dying pastor told the physician that he too wanted to become a physician. It was a dream of his when he was young. A neurosurgeon to be precise. He wanted to be able to perform the most complicated and heroic of surgeries and to save a life in the process.
But then something happened.
He realized there was a much better way of saving people.
There was a way in which he could help save lots and lots of people at once, as opposed to one person, one surgery at a time. So he became a pastor and brought people into the kingdom of God by spreading the gospel. He founded one of the largest system of churches in the world, the Calvary Chapel system. He also mentored Greg Laurie and was intimately involved in building up the Harvest Crusades in the early years.
He continued to preach using an oxygen nasal cannula until the very last week.
He ran the race until the very end. My friend was deeply touched by Chuck’s testimony and I pray that the Holy Spirit will convict him.
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”” Rev 14:13
photo: cn.com
Not of This World
NOTW.
What is the meaning of this phrase? It is even the logo of a popular “christian” clothing line.
In the hours leading up to his arrest and murder, Jesus prayed His amazing high priestly prayer and uttered the following words:
“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” John 17:14 ESV
Jesus is praying for His disciples and the those who will believe in Him in the future. He is praying for the body of believers who will make up His pure, undefiled church.
The things he says here are more than just a prediction, and they are not just a mere prophecy. They are more than a guide, more than a teaching.
This is fundamental truth spoken by Jesus.
It was true 2000 years ago and it is true today. In fact, it is truer today more than ever. The two major pillars of the world system, government and mainstream media, both hate God and his principles. This has been documented in multiple modern societies from those subscribing to Communism to free democracy. I have personally seen it in totalitarian communist Romania and freely democratic USA.
The world hates Christians because of Jesus. It is the message of exclusive salvation that is so repugnant to those who do not believe it. Jesus gave us His word, and as a result, the world hates us.
However, there are many tolerant folks who claim to be Christian who present a watered-down version of the Word of God. The world loves them because they do not present a salvation message that is exclusively through Jesus. This acceptance by the world is in stark contrast with Jesus’s claim that the world hates us because of his word.
Be suspicious of any preacher of the gospel who is loved by the media, Oprah, etc and the rest of the secular world.
We are in the world, but not of this world.
I look Up to God
The class assignment at Lucy Elementary in Millington, Tennessee was to write about an idol.
Erin Shead is a 10-year-old Christian who picked God as her model and proceeded with the above project. She wrote:
“He will always be the #1 Person I look up to”
“I look up to Him because He put me on this earth”
“I love Him, and Jesus is His earthly Son. I also love Jesus”
Delight in Truth is very proud of this young Christian who knows correct doctrine and is not ashamed of it in a world which is unfriendly to Christians.
How unfriendly, you ask?
Her paper was rejected by the teacher. Erin was told that she is prohibited to choose God for her assignment, and to take the paper off school property. I would not have been surprised at all if this happened in communist Romania where atheism was the law in schools. It is however disappointing when this happens in the conservative Bible Belt.
The US is not a Christian country and secularism is the norm in schools. We understand that. But to suffocate the exchange of ideas and the discussion surrounding religion and theology is reminiscent of communist atheistic tactics. The progressive agenda shares some of the same characteristics of the radical islamic agenda. It is their way or the highway.
The same people who preach tolerance are the most intolerant ones. So great is their hate for God and biblical principles that they are willing to break the law to impose their views.
Upon further review, the teacher was wrong in their actions, the school said. But this will become more common as we approach the Second Coming of our Lord.
May God bless Erin Shead for her courage and fortitude.
image credit: WREG-TV
Joyce Meyer and Unsound Doctrine
Unsound doctrine may be a soft statement. Her teaching is in the realm of heresy.
The popular 70-year-old Charismatic speaker and author holds to prosperity teaching which focuses on material wealth as a result of God’s blessing for authentic Christians. Even though such teaching is wrong, this is not the worst of Meyer’s teaching.
Joyce Meyer holds heretical positions with respect to the person of Jesus and His work towards our salvation.
It is a shame when a leftist news site like Huffington Post publishes a piece (with references) on how heretical Meyer’s teaching is when compared to historical Protestant Christianity.
She teaches that Jesus literally stopped being the Son of God on the Cross:
“He could have helped himself up until the point where he said I commend my spirit into your hands, at that point he couldn’t do nothing for himself anymore. He had become sin, he was no longer the Son of God. He was sin.”
The truth is that Jesus Christ was, is and always will be God. Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” He does not change. Ever.
Apostle Paul explains that Jesus continued to be God throughout the entire sacrifice on the cross, even His death: “…Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Phil 2:6-8
She teaches that Jesus had to be born again (like a sinner):
“The minute that blood sacrifice was accepted Jesus was the first human being that was ever born again. Now that was real it happened when he was in hell.”
This is impossible. Jesus could not have been born again. John 3 explains that the new birth is necessary to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus did not need a new birth because He was without sin. John says: “You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.” 1 John 3:5
She teaches that one needs special revelation from God to understand her teaching, revelation which is NOT found in the Bible
“The Bible can’t even find any way to explain this. Not really. That’s why you’ve got to get it by revelation. There are no words to explain what I’m telling you. I’ve got to just trust God that He’s putting it into your spirit like He put it into mine.”
The Bible is clear with respect to testing any revelation, prophecy or teaching against the Bible itself. There is no revelation that can supersede the Bible. The Word of God is the ultimate revelation for us (Heb 1:1, 1 Thes 5:21, 2 Tim 3:16).
Delight in Truth has nothing personal against Joyce Meyer, but false teaching must be exposed in order to protect the church. You can read more in the Huff post article.
Then there is the prosperity gospel… a critique of that on a different occasion.
Coming to Christ: Islamic Death Sentence
As you read this words, people across the Muslim world are coming to Christ. At the same time many of them know full well that converting to Christianity means committing the capital offense of apostasy against Islamic law. They have basically signed their death certificate.
From that point forward any Muslim has the Sharia-given right to kill them if they do not convert back to Islam.
There are countless stories online of children being disowned by their families and running away from home to avoid honor killing. In many of these situations their family will make up a story that their child has died in an accident in order to avoid the stigma of having a Christian person in their midst, and to actually avoid violence against themselves.
Jesus was well aware of this tragic situation when he walked the Earth two thousand years ago and spoke very clearly about it. He predicted these things will occur:
“Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”” Luke 12:51-53
All this because of faith in Him.
In the last month I have been made aware of online videos with our brothers in Christ being beheaded in Syria because they are Christian. I have seen church bombings and thousands of Christians killed in Egypt and other African and Asian countries because of Christ.
As you read this, our brothers and sisters are dying for their faith in Christ.
Suffering for faith in Christ to the point of martyrdom is a special way to glorify God. Apostle Peter considers such suffering as a gracious thing. It is a special kind of grace that some have been given the opportunity to suffer for Christ:
“…when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:20-21
“Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.” 1 Peter 4:16
“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” 1 Peter 4:19
To suffer for the glory of God. Such is the fate of Christians in Asia and Africa.
Keep them in prayer so they will be unwavering in their faith.
The Most Nefarious Crime of all Time
On 9/11 when we remember what Islamic terrorism did on US soil, we must turn our attention to the growing problem of Islam-endorsed pedophilia. The rape of a child especially when coupled with her murder is the worst crime imaginable.
It is such a horrific problem that I have been putting it off and dreading to write a post about it. But the world and more importantly the Church needs to know the truth and be embolden even more to bring to the good news to Muslims.
The story of 8-year-old Rawan (pictured above from the Examiner) is a game changer in this nefarious religion.
She was a child bride from Yemen who died on her wedding night after being wed to a 40-year-old man. She suffered fatal internal injuries after being raped by this so-called husband. Her story was carried by multiple news outlets in multiple countries, but surprisingly it received little coverage in the US.
The reason why this type of crime happens is because Islam endorses it. Islam endorses pedophilia.
Muhammad himself married underage women. Aisha was 6 years old when she was married to him, and that marriage was consummated when she was 9-years-old (presented here).
Modern Islamic clerics have issued fatwas to endorse child marriages as the world stood by, and continues to stand by.
The depravity of this practice cannot be put into words. Islam is a religion that is based on deviant sex, and it shows when homicidal terrorists like the 9/11 hijackers are promised 70 virgins as soon as they get to “heaven.” These same terrorists frequented bars, strip clubs and prostitutes leading up to the ultimate act that took them to hell.
Why is Delight in Truth writing about this abomination?
Because the Church needs to be aware about the moderate/liberal forms of Islam which originate in the same theology practiced by these pedophilic criminals. And some claim that the three major monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) share the same God but revealed in different ways.
NO WAY!
The answer to this madness is the Gospel. Only the Gospel can show these people how fallen and depraved they (we all) are, and how much they need Jesus to atone for their sin.
The world continues to ignore Islamic pedophilia.
But if the Church really cares about these little girls, it will increase its effort to spread the Gospel. It is a spiritual solution. It is the only solution.
Supreme Court to Tackle “In the Name of Jesus”
The name of Jesus is without a doubt the most controversial name in human history.
The US Supreme Court, which seems to be the moral compass of a secular, mostly anti-Christian country, will now look at the case of Town of Greece v. Galloway/Stephens.
The court will decide whether it is constitutional for someone to open a public meeting with a prayer addressed to the God of the Bible, and whether this constitutes the endorsement of Christianity by government.
A couple in Greece, NY, have made it a 5-year fight to stop public prayers, especially in the name of Jesus. Even though the town has brought in non-Christian clergy to perform opening prayers, the plaintiffs are still upset that non believers have to hear the name of Jesus mentioned at the start of a city-council meeting when a Christian prays.
They hate God and therefore they hate Jesus. They cannot bear to hear to hear the name of Jesus uttered in their presence. They are rabidly fighting in this spiritual conflict on the side of darkness.
As Gospel-believing Christians we are not surprised nor shocked at this development. In fact there is a good possibility that the Supreme Court will give in and ban the prayer in the name of Jesus at public meetings throughout the US.
Jesus foretold us about these things. He said:
“And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Mark 13:13
He also told us about “bringing you before kings and governors for my names’ sake” Luke 21:12
But no matter how hard the anti-Christian sentiment becomes, the Bible tells us that there will come a point when “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth…” Phil 2:10
In the mean time, when you mention the name of Jesus in a public declaration be aware that you are engaging in spiritual warfare. Assume the entire spiritual armor found in Ephesians 6, and be prepared for controversy and attacks.
You are not alone in this. The Holy Spirit is with you to deliver you to victory.
image credit Heather Ainsworth
Children: Between Life and Death
As a father of three young children I shutter when I read things like this in the Bible.
“They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind.” Jer 7:31
“And you took your sons and your daughters, whom you had borne to me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your whorings so small a matter that you slaughtered my children and delivered them up as an offering by fire to them?” Ez 16:20-21
“And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.” 2 Kings 17:17
So great was the idolatry of Israel that they have resorted to child sacrifices to appease Molek and other gods of the nations surrounding Israel. How can a parent bring themselves to the point of placing their small child on the outstretched arms of a white-hot bronze statue of Molek that has been pre-heated in fire? The child would be roasted alive, perhaps catching fire immediately upon contact with the white-hot metal.
Some say these claim are an invention of Jewish and Christian imagination and that there is no concrete evidence for child sacrifice in the ancient Middle East.
Wrong!
Archeological discoveries of cremated bodies of hundreds of children, baby lambs and goats at a Carthaginian burial site provides substantial evidence for child sacrifice by fire. The Phoenicians have been known to worship deities who demanded child sacrifice in exchange for future fertility.
Dear readers, Molek continues to demand payment even today. The US has aborted in excess of 50 million unborn babies since 1973 and just last week, Iowa Democrats lifted up prayers to Molek in this video:
The abomination of abominations is continuing today in the slaughter of the unborn. They are a helpless third-party with no representation as two other parties (mother and abortionist) independently make a decision for their demise.
As Christians, we must continue to point to this injustice and pray that the Holy Spirit would open eyes and minds to see the priceless beauty of life.
Pray for Christians in Egypt Facing Jihad
Egypt is the country which provided sanctuary for our Lord Jesus during His early life on Earth. Egypt was also a Christian country for centuries before Islam took over, and the remnant of those Christians are called Coptic Christians today, a variation of Eastern Orthodox believers.
It is extremely dangerous to be a Christian today in Egypt. The same goes for many countries in the region where the Arab Spring has swept or attempting to sweep through. The result of the US backed revolt in Egypt had disastrous consequences in Egypt. A counter-revolt by the more secular Army has put the country in a power struggle and the Christians are the ones suffering the most.
Unable to resist the Army, the Muslim Brotherhood and their Islamic affiliates are lashing out at Christians simply for the fact that they are Christian, and they have PUBLICLY announced this. Innocent Christians are slaughtered for their faith and their churches are destroyed without shame.
Delight in Truth readers, please realize that when someone converts to faith in Jesus in that region of the world, it is essentially a death sentence. It is difficult for us to understand that level of persecution because we have not seen it the western world. I remember the words in the Hebrews 12:3-4
“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. “
Christians in Egypt not only have to fight everyday battles against sin and walk the straight ‘n narrow, but they have to resist to the point of shedding their blood.
As we go to sleep in our comfortable houses, go to our nice jobs and sit in our cushy pews, we need to remember to bring these martyrs and their families before God. We need to pray for wisdom to be given to our government to no longer support the Brotherhood and elements who love to do violence against believers.
When we go to church on Sunday we worship in peace without having to worry that the place will blow up. Not in Egypt. Not in the place that was once a cradle for the Son of God.
Delight in Truth 
