It’s been a long time since I’ve posted. I’ve gone through many changes over the past couple of years, because I finally went thru menopause. I almost bled to death for years and then finally, like the lady in the Bible with the issue of blood, I was healed!! God healed me! So how could I ever be a complete cessationist?
I finally know what life is like now without hemorrhaging. I finally have more energy and I’ve not had any more death threats for a while now, which is also miraculous (so far). And strangely, I no longer have to be on a diet to try to keep my weight up. I was so frail and thin my whole life, but now, after menopause, I can just look at food and gain weight it seems. Cool! (I think).
However, I never knew how hard it can be to lose weight until now. It’s really a strange turn of events for me. My whole life seems turned upside down. Maybe my body is still adjusting to no longer being in constant survival mode. Maybe it got exhausted and is resting now, to the point that I’m finally getting some meat on me? Maybe I need the extra weight? I guess it does help fill in some wrinkles!!
I definitely need the extra energy to keep up with my grandchildren who all know me as “Mammoo” with the cow shoes. hehe!! And I’d rather God fill in my wrinkles naturally than to ever do anything like botox.
Anyway, another update I have to disclose is that I’m now working on my third book. It will be more geared toward CoC exiles who have been through the absolute wringer, who have also been in a type of survival mode. I also hope to include a chapter on the dangers of “deconstructionism.” Because, for one, I’m concerned that it has begun to infiltrate the CoC exiles camp. Naturally it would, for many of them are in a very vulnerable state.
Now, I will touch upon this subject just a little bit here, mainly just as an overview to practice for that chapter in my book. But to be clear, I don’t want anyone to just take my word for anything. It grieves me to break certain kinds of news to people. Because some popular personalities are being idolized, who are dishonestly influencing many to turn against the truth. I always dread busting anyone’s bubble about anything or anyone, for I never know how someone may react. But love for God and His people compels me to be brave and leave the results in His hands. So here goes…
We are living in perilous times where many are falling away, and some are calling it “deconstruction,” where people no longer even believe there is absolute truth that is knowable. Many have experimented with different spiritual views and have found them wanting. Some even stumbled across the truth and struggled to accept it and the implications that seemed to be involved if they ever actually submitted to it. So, they end up in cults like the CoC, searching for loopholes and escape routes away from those truths, only to end up even more disappointed than ever.
Jesus said to count the cost, and if one isn’t willing to accept the cost, they might as well not commit at all, or else they could end up like some of the popular Provisionist personalities that couldn’t accept the truth they had once stumbled across. For they now manifest to the whole world that they suffer from atheistic skepticism.
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish” (Lk. 14:28-30).
When someone is deconstructing, God does not call me to have a type of hospice mindset where the focus is just keeping someone comfortable until they die. Instead, He calls me to strengthen the things that remain (Rev. 3:2).
When I ask people’s position on imputed righteousness and double imputation, I often get knee-jerk reactions (which is understandable considering certain influences), rather than them perceiving my true intention.
So now I hope, Lord willing, to clarify even further.
The fact that even though the reformed camp has been entrusted with the task of making biblical truths clearer (thank God for that!), that doesn’t mean they invented novel ideas. Yet, reformers are mocked by those who claim no one would ever believe reformed theology based on a “plain reading of Scripture.”
However, the fact that every true follower of Christ affirms the “calvinistic” phrases of “imputed righteousness” and “double imputation” proves that these are NOT mere ideas of Calvin, as some would have us to believe.
Would I have spiritually comprehended such clarifying phrases with a “plain reading of Scripture”? Of course not!! Because one must first be regenerated by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:14).
Naturally, the Provisionist or Arminian version of “a plain reading of Scripture” (which ignores context), would come from popular personalities that don’t even believe one must be miraculously regenerated to spiritually comprehend what Scripture actually conveys! Just one piece of evidence among many: https://soteriology101.com/2018/06/27/does-regeneration-precede-faith-2/
But I digress.
Anyway, I couldn’t even cognitively perceive such truths when I was in the CoC, because the verses that teach them were being obscured and twisted. Such as 2 Cor. 5:21, which is why I like to ask people to turn there with me, to sum up the double imputation that Scripture reveals. But sadly, it seems that evasion, deflection and projection prevents many from politely allowing me to barely even finish a complete thought after such a request.
To be clear, when I mention doctrine, I’m meaning the doctrine of Christ, because according to 2 John we can’t separate Jesus from what He taught. And when I say “Reformed” I’m meaning “not Romanistic.” Yet, ironically, even the Romanists, the hyper-grace camp, Arminians, Provisionists and many cults, have to borrow from ‘calvinistic phrases’ just to still be considered a believer in Christ at all.
So again, I’m not promoting so-called “Calvinism” any more than any other believer does, and I don’t promote hyper-Calvinism, fatalism or any of the false caricatures of Calvinism. Which many seem to be obsessively preoccupied with avoiding, due to the dishonest slander that’s being maliciously spread about it that causes some to ask “what if” questions.
“And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of” (2 Pet. 2:2).
If there are some questionable tenets mixed in with reformed confessions of faith (such as Sunday Sabbatarianism that has led to hierarchal church systems), the Holy Spirit reveals this to those who love Him. So, there is no reason to fear or remain skeptical about what God makes abundantly clear to believers.
We can’t just sit on the fence forever and live our lives on “what if’s,” while being blown about by “every wind of doctrine” that overwhelms, burns out, overloads and confuses the senses with a smorgasbord of options to choose from, as if God is just a buffet of picking and choosing whatever suits our taste or itching ears at any given time.
Secondly, as for any concerns that I may be holding certain personalities in high esteem merely based on character, my readers can be assured that I will only affirm peoples position as far as they defend the gospel. My doctrinal positions are not personality driven. I also didn’t ultimately leave the CoC over sensational or personal issues, but over gospel issues.
We can’t just base our spiritual decisions on personalities rather than doctrinal positions. Even wolves in sheep’s clothing can present themselves with false humility, pride disguised as pretended passion and syrupy niceness…while God’s sheep can often seem a little rough around the edges, with true passion and humble boldness, like John the Baptist, or Apostle Peter, yet still be entrusted with the gospel.
Jesus warned to not judge by surface level appearances.
This is one reason I think books may be better at clarifying issues than public debates. But only ….IF.. people would actually read them, rather than merely skimming for a surface-level detection of “Calvinistic language,” while they themselves manifest a script that obsessively throws around the word “Calvinism” as if it’s a dirty word, to stir up the ferocious anger that people already have against God, instead of focusing on the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Launching ad hominem attacks upon persons and their character, based on opinions rather than facts, rather than actually engaging their doctrinal positions in depth, is not what God calls us to do. People can make up their own opinions, but they can’t make up their own facts. It takes time and strenuous study, rather than just skimming and surfing social media, to get grounded in the truth.
I’m promoting the gospel, which is what God’s Word clearly conveys. And Jesus IS the Word. Jn. 1 So, there is such a thing as truth. Because Jesus IS the embodiment of absolute truth. And, as He says, He IS the only way. As exclusive as He may sound, we can trust Him.
Even Provisionist/Arminians limit the atonement in its effectiveness AND extent, for they know angels are excluded. Yet, they hypocritically condemn the phrase “limited atonement” and those who know what it actually entails….eternal security, because one cannot exist without the other. Yet, heretics want to hold to one and not the other, which is nonsensical.
Even reformed universalists believe the gospel. But other universalists present another way, apart from Christ. And Jesus warns of those who “climb up another way.” His sheep hear His voice and will not follow a stranger all the way into total destruction (whatever all that destruction entails). Jn. 10
Thirdly, as I’ve expressed before, the gospel is all about what God has done in Christ to save sinners. So regardless as to whether someone may try to put words in my mouth, or pressure me to affirm a minimalist view that lines up with a certain script, I must continue to stand firm and make it clear that the gospel is not just about a mere head knowledge of …Jesus being the Son of the living God…. apart from saving faith that He is our ONLY hope of salvation, minus any deviations added into the equation.
Or else, Mormons could also be included, who also follow a false version of Jesus, a false gospel. Jesus is not only the Son of God, He IS God. He was Jehovah in the O.T. and the O.T. saints knew Him, for He was in them (Num. 27:18, 1 Pet. 1:11, 1 Cor. 10:4, etc.). And we can know Him even more today, for when it comes to divine revelation, there are differences in degree but not in kind. Jesus is the same forever.
Throughout redemptive history, including Bible times, salvation by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone has always been the minority view compared to the broad way (which Jesus warns about), that joins hands with every false religion and false gospel in the world (Ecumenism).
So finally…
Is there really heresy that is damnable (anathema)?
Apparently (e.g. 2 Pet. 2).
“Who decides what heresy is?”
My answer, which is often not courteously allowed full expression, is that God reveals what heresy is. His Word (not a dictionary) clearly conveys that it entails false gospels (Gal. 1), and that we are to count them, and those who promote them, as accursed. Those are not my own opinions; they are God’s factual words.
So thankfully, we don’t have to make things up as we go along, because Jesus is the Word Who guides us, and His words are true and will never pass away. And they apply to us just as much today, as they did to those He verbally spoke them to on earth (Matt. 24:35). Because they are settled in heaven. So, I guess that settles it!
Christ Rescued Me! 