Sacred Cow Saturday - Episode 1 - Spanking Part 1

Pro 13:24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Many people in eastern religions have sacred cows that they refuse to touch. But many in the west are no different. Subjects that are avoided in the name of "unity", diplomacy, political correctness, and ultimately the fear of man.

Here at The Bottom Line we love sacred cows and even think that they taste great on a barbecue. So much so that we plan to grill something every Saturday. In europe, among many churchgoers, the subject of spanking children is a very sacred cow. Due to many governments making it illegal, coupled with being heavily influenced by the secular humanist worldview, spanking is an "Area 51" as far as discussions go. Though Scripture speaks explicitly on the subject it is taboo in the pulpit and generally hushed up in private conversations - BUT NOT TODAY

It's high time this cow got carved up and served with a side of open dialogue. Who better to communicate truth profoundly, fervently and passionately than John Piper. John says that he's willing to go to jail over the issue - click HERE to hear

Pro 22:15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

Continued next saturday - Spanking Part 2 with Tedd Tripp

Go On To Episode 2

Gay Preacher gets Slammed from the Pews

This Episcopalean Bishop (who is a practising homosexual) was visiting the UK and speaking in an Anglican church there. One of the congregation members decided to point out something that should have been obvious to the gay minister - HE'S A HERETIC.



The heckler in the video doesn't look like someone from the typical Anglican demographic does he?

I honestly care for the struggles of people who wrestle with homosexual tendencies. But please - twisting Scripture and making a God in your own image is not the answer to sin. The heckler from the pews is the man with the answer - REPENT. Repentance is a hard road to travel but it heads for eternal life paved with the blood of our wonderful Savior Jesus Christ.

Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?
All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word (Isaiah 66:1-2).

Christian brother and sister - do you tremble at God's word

Amusing Grace

When was the last time you sang "Amazing Grace"? What were you thinking as you uttered those words "that saved a wretch like me"? Did those words ring true or just roll off the tongue never to be pondered.

It's a popular catchphrase in our modern church culture to throw the word grace around like the fifth ammendment. If a sermon didn't seem very nice then someone will be prone to say that it lacked grace. But what does it mean? Is it something other than a warm fuzzy feeling? I can recall recently hearing an hour long sermon about grace without the word ever being defined during the whole message.

We need to be sharp in our witness and how we define what we say. The mormon also says that he is "saved by grace". It is only when you press the mormon on his understanding of "grace" that his works righteous religion is revealed. This issue might confuse the pastor of the "largest church in America" but it need not confuse us. According to websters dictionary "grace" means undeserved favour. This raises the question why is God's grace undeserved - I'm glad you asked.

Last sunday I spoke with a man who is an old work acquaintence of a friend of mine called Rene (yes,I have a friend). They both worked together as teachers at a Christian school and would sometimes preach in their chapel services. I asked the man what he thought about Rene's preaching. The conversation went something like this:

Man: the problem with Rene was that he didn't preach grace.

Cameron: could you elaborate on that?

M: He sometimes talked about sin, hell, judgment and that people needed to repent.

C: Did he ever talk about Christ's work on the cross and the blood He shed for human sin?

M: Yes he talked about that a lot.

C: Do you know what "grace" means?

M: (long pause) . . . . . . .

C: It actually means undeserved favor. Do you know why we don't deserve God's favor?

M: Because of sin??

C: So how is it possible to preach grace without talking about sin?

M: I see your point.

A failure to talk about sin, righteousness, and judgment robs grace of it's meaning. Grace is only ever amusing when we fail to see our guilt. Next time you find yourself singing Amazing Grace, examine yourself in the light of God's moral law and look to the cross and marvel at how a good God would be willing to save a wretch like you.

Tomorrow - Why the Law Must Thunder From the Pulpit

Tony Campolo - Cross Examined Again

A while back I posted (July 9 - Faithful Are the Wounds of a Friend) about how one of my best friends gave me some stern criticism over my post concerning the deceptions of the "social gospel" (July 1 - The Smokescreen of the Social gospel) as preached by Tony Campolo and many from the emergent crowd. Now my friend is not a liberal by any stretch but he tends to be more accomodating than I am (and Todd Friel for that matter).

This friend is a precious brother who has, over the years, patiently watched me while I've ridden hobby horse after hobby horse, mounted soap box after soap box, and continually beaten my fists at the table of negotiation as a reformer looking for something to reform. On reflection I would have to say that my friend has always exhibited greater wisdom, been less impulsive, and exhibited far more courtesy than I ever have to my own discredit. He is a pondering Berean who generally tends to give the benefit of the doubt and always tries to put the best possible construction on things - of which I have been the beneficiary on numerous occasions.

With these things in mind I have taken my time to chew over the criticism's my good friend levelled at myself and at Todd Friel's anlysis of Tony Campolo's social gospel agenda. Todd Friel has even e-mailed me saying how sad he is to criticise Tony Campolo's theology because he is so "likable". No doubt about it - Tony Campolo is involved with doing a lot of good things and helping a lot of people. But in the interest of the truth and the purity of the Gospel, questions must be asked. And the many good things Tony Campolo is involved in can actually serve to wrap the lies of the "social gospel" in a lot of truth - which is exactly the kind of sandwich that a church culture full of undiscerning youth will readily swallow.

My friend has worked a lot with youth and teens and I remain convinced that the philosophy of "eat the fish and spit out the bones" is a suicidal approach to the spiritual diet of the people in one's care, particularly youth. I contend that a far safer approach in this age of biblical illiteracy is "bad fruit therefore bad tree therefore stay away from that thing" and remedy the biblical illiteracy by teaching the Bible expositorally (if that's a word).

So was Todd Friel too hard on Tony Campolo? Well let's welcome theological heavyweight John MacArthur into the fray and see what he has to say about the "social gospel" of Tony Campolo. It's well worth the listen . . .



My friend may be wise, and his words carry weight, but I'm going to side with John MacArthur and Todd Friel on this one. Shepherds beware - of false gospels dressed like sheep.

The Bottom Line "Standing Up" Hero of the Week Award - Franklin Graham

In an age of wimpy accomodating and compromising ecumenism Franklin Graham stands up (and I don't mean in the same way as the preacher in the King James Only video posted several weeks ago) as a real Christian man of conviction unwilling to compromise no matter what the stakes.

At a recent meeting between Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama and "Christian leaders" it was left to Franklin Graham to stick it to Obama on the abortion issue (Obama even supports the grotesque late term abortions) and question him about the authenticity of his Christianity, and his ties to Islam. According to reports Graham then witnessed to Barack Obama. Reverend Graham - The Bottom Line salutes you as a genuine Christian leader - Hey Pastor, when was the last time you were with a public official and took the time to witness to him?

World Net Daily Article by Aaron Klein

JERUSALEM – At a meeting with Christian leaders last month, Sen. Barack Obama reportedly was peppered with questions by Franklin Graham – son of evangelist Billy Graham – about the presidential candidate's ties to Islam, his Christian baptism and whether he accepts Jesus as his savior, it has emerged.

The new accounts, published by the Religion News Service and by the left-leaning magazine The Nation, contrast with major media reports describing Obama's closed-door meeting June 10 with Christian A-listers as friendly.

"I can confirm Rev. Graham did indeed ask Obama about his personal faith. Because it was a private meeting, it is up to Obama if he wants to release any more information," Graham's spokesman, Jeremy Blume, told WND.

Obama's meeting with about 30 Christian leaders took place at a downtown Chicago law office. According to The Nation's Max Blumenthal, quoting sources inside the meeting, Graham, who serves as chief of the Christian aid organization Samaritan's Purse, sat next to Obama.

One meeting attendee, Rev. Eugene Rivers, pastor of Boston's Azusa Christian Community, told the Religion News Service that Graham asked about Obama's Christian beliefs and the senator's family connections to Islam.

Obama's father, described in some reports as an atheist, polygamist and alcoholic, was buried in Kenya as a Muslim. Barack Obama Sr. had three sons with another woman who reportedly all are Muslim. The Illinois senator's brother, Roy, is described as a practicing Muslim.

Rivers said Obama told Graham of this father: "the least of the things he was was Islamic."

According to River's account, Graham went on to ask Obama whether he believed Jesus is the only way to salvation.

Rivers, a declared Obama supporter, recalled: "Obama said, brilliantly, 'Jesus is the only way for me. I'm not in a position to judge other people.'"

Rivers said he was disappointed by some of Graham's questioning, explaining he thought the meeting would focus on domestic policy.

"They focused on abortion, gay marriage, and then Franklin Graham tried to get Senator Obama saved," said Rivers. End quote.

I wonder what it is exactly that the Rev. Eugene Rivers objects to? He obviously doen't place much importance on an individual's salvation.

Stop apologizing - It's not Always Wrong to be a "Single-issue" Advocate

By Joe Belz from World Magazine

It's become an increasingly frequent reminder to us evangelical Christians not to let our cultural identity be framed by "single issues."

It was a reminder implicitly included in the "Evangelical Manifesto," a document whose basic content we at WORLD have applauded but whose political direction I questioned in our last issue. Why are the Manifesto's backers so ready to join the cultural left in suggesting a guilt trip for those evangelicals who have been preoccupied with the evils of abortion and same-sex marriage?

And if some argue that the rising generation of younger evangelicals is a bit embarrassed by what they think is an out-of-balance focus by their elders, and thinks it's time to get equally exercised over issues like racism, economic justice, and the environment—well, if that's the case with our twentysomethings and our teenagers, then maybe we need to go to work and do a better job of explaining to them why we've put the emphasis where we have for the last generation and why we believe that it's time not to lower our voices.

Evangelicals shouldn't be embarrassed to say boldly and clearly: Abortion and same-sex marriage are uniquely heinous sins. They rattle the foundations of a civilized society. They take a culture in a dreadful direction. We haven't been wrong to say so. We aren't fanatics.

And I'm not referring here so much to the young women caught in the anguish of an unexpected pregnancy or folks bewildered by their sexual identity. I'm talking mostly about a society that goes all out to tell such people that what they're doing is just fine. There's forgiveness for individual sinners. There's judgment for societies that lead them astray.

It's true that we evangelicals sometimes haven't been as zealous as we ought in fighting racism, abuse of the environment, and poverty. But on all those fronts and more, we're at least facing the right direction. We're sometimes slow.

But here's the difference: What evangelical do you know who says insensitivity to the poor should be promoted? What evangelical leader is calling for more racism? Who advocates the uncontrolled plundering of the environment?

That is exactly the kind of cheerleading that is going on for abortion and same-sex marriage. Whole movements and organizations devote themselves to telling us how good abortion and same-sex marriage are for society. It now is expected that Barack Obama feature on his speaking schedule, as he did on June 26, a New York fundraising dinner for the Democratic Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council—where the news account reports casually that Obama helped the homosexual lobby raise $1 million in just one evening.

But here's the core of the matter. To be robustly and consistently anti-abortion is at the very same time to cast your vote for environmental sensitivity, against racism, and for economic justice. These are not independent, isolated packages.

It's hard to see how anyone can claim to be a protector of the environment and not put a high priority on the preservation of human babies. To defend a focus on the future of polar bears and whales, while asking evangelicals to get less noisy about infant humans, is an embarrassing contradiction.

Similarly, keep in mind that abortion is one of the most racist of all social causes in history. Minorities don't just happen incidentally to be targeted by the practice of abortion. The history of Planned Parenthood and similar organizations is racist to the core—as is their current practice.

And no economist can look at the loss of 50 million American babies over the last 45 years and not wince at the impact of such a drain on the economic vitality of our society. Today's poor Americans are poorer than they would have been if we'd taken care to preserve enough consumers—and workers—to fill a state one-and-a-half times as big as California. Tomorrow's elderly will worry about Social Security more than they would have with 50 million more contributors to the system.

So stop apologizing for having focused on a single issue. Don't let the "Evangelical Manifesto" or anyone else shame you into an overly narrow self-image. It's the folks promoting causes like abortion and same-sex marriage who are the real "single issue" fanatics, falsely teaching that you can mess with just one or two aspects of life without upsetting the balance God so wondrously installed in His creation order. We need to expose that lie for the tragic falsehood that it is—and to teach the next generation what a very bad bargain they have been asked to accept.

http://www.worldmag.com/articles/14153

VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM RAY COMFORT AND KIRK CAMERON

Way of the Master is an amazing blessing to those of us in other countries through the radio show, tv show, and their myriad of resources (many of which are copywrite free). I know Ray Comfort personally and can say that he is a man who shuns extravagance and that ethos filters through the whole ministry. Ray has avoided asking for financial support for many years as he cringes somewhat at the thought of doing anything other than preaching the Gospel. But it takes a lot more fuel to run the machine these days and I believe it's high time we give back to a ministry that has given so much to the furtherance of the Gospel, to a ministry that's heartbeat is and always has been evangelism, and to a ministry staffed by people who are the "real deal" and live what they teach. If you want to sow somewhere where you know that the money will get to the frontlines of evangelism/mission then your financial support will be well spent here.

My Umbilical Cord to the Mother Ship of Good Doctrine

Living in Denmark, where finding a church that faithfully preaches the Gospel is extremely difficult and expository teaching went the way of the dodo bird a long time ago, leaves me extremely dependant on the internet to provide Spiritual food. None more so than Wretched Radio. It is my umbilical cord to the mothership of sound doctrine. Hosted by Todd Friel this show is loaded with witnessing encounters, great preaching, apologetics, humor, satire, and a willingness to tackle any subject that most "Christian media" avoids such as exposing and biblically examining false teaching.

This show captivates some and offends others. Todd would have to be the worlds most theologically sound comedian. He gets up the nose of atheists so much that there is even a legion of atheist listeners who want nothing else than to call in and argue with him. Personally, I think he does a great job of articulating biblical truth coupled with a willingness to reason on almost any subject and always marking a clear line of distinction between essential doctrine and secondary issues.

Not everyone agrees with Todd on everything but that has never been the point of this radio show. Listen to it to find out what's happenng in the world with Christianity, how to witness, and where to track down good resources. This show has pointed me in the direction of good preaching and teaching so many times. It is my umbilical cord to the mother ship of sound doctrine.

You can join the "Wretched Club" and download podcasts here

They are currently raising support for the program which has an estimated worldwide audience of 2.5 million. I heartily recommend supporting the program

Here is a sample of the program where Todd Friel reviews the book "UnChristian"

The Bottom Line with Mission - God's Glory

I hear a lot of people, when talking about mission, about having a heart for the lost. But there is one thing that precedes it . . .



Ohhh how worthy is our Creator of all blessing and honor and glory and praise

Preach and preach for His glory

To hear the whole sermon go here:
http://www.onceuponacross.com/sermonaudio.html

New to The Bottom Line - Self esteem Therapy

Just in case you go to a church where your self esteem gets massaged and you're beginning to develop and overly high view of yourself then allow self help guru Paul Washer to minister to you



This is why the blood of the Lamb is so precious.