Revised 12/02/2013

Me

I'm a sinner like everyone else. I don't pretend to know everything, and I've been accused of thinking that I'm somehow better than others (you know, holier than thou). I'm a Christian and it is my duty to share the good news with everyone who will listen. I am painfully aware of the fact that I do not always live up to what I know is right and true according to the Bible and even my own conscience. Perfection eludes me, but is is something to strive for, not that I think that it is even possible to achieve. But despite my imperfections, I will continue to share what I believe to be true. I don't expect anyone to take my word for anything, but to investigate everything I say as if your life depends on it, because whether you believe it or not, it really does.

Mission

I'm on a mission. First, I must know the One True God for my own sake, and for the sake of my family. Second, I must share what I know with my Christian family first, then to everyone else who will listen. God has revealed to me the work, which He had prepared in advance for me to do. Part of that work is here in these pages. He has shown me that some of my Christian brothers and sisters are being led astray and misled by doctrine that has no basis in Scripture. He is continually showing me new truths by revealing the true meaning of the Scriptures. He has given me discernment, to know who can be trusted with His Word, and who cannot. So I must examine the Scriptures daily so that I won't be deceived and I must also encourage others to do the same so that they will not be deceived either.

It is my hope that my articles, resulting from my own personal study of the Scriptures, and interaction with anyone who reads these pages, will cause knowledge of the truth to increase, first for myself, second for my family, third for the Church, and fourth for the lost.  If I write anything that is false or misleading, and I am found to be unwilling to repent, may God Himself silence me however He sees fit, because God forbid that I should be found guilty of that which I have come to despise so greatly, which is distortion of the Scriptures, which are able to save everyone who believes
(Eph. 1:11-14). So for my own sake I am seeking the truth, and as God has given me this overwhelming desire, I will share what He reveals to me through His Word, through others who preach and teach His Word, and through those who read what I write, who are able to convince me of my errors so that not only will I be corrected, but so that I will not mislead anyone. 

What I Believe

I believe the Bible is God's Word without error or contradiction, His complete revelation to us for the salvation of all mankind, and for proper Christian living. I also believe that the Bible is the final authority on all spiritual matters. Whatever I write about concerning God and other social issues, is only through understanding the Scriptures that I base my opinions.  I may not always be correct and I challenge anyone to oppose what I write whenever appropriate, but please, in all sincerity, be respectful.  Let your opinions be based on the reality that the Bible is God's Word and make your arguments based on that fact.  I appreciate any and all discussion related to my writing because it allows me to grow as a Christian as I learn more truth.  I write so that you may grow and I challenge you to show me where I'm in error so that I may grow. 

I don’t have a statement of faith because I have found them to be ineffective in determining the beliefs of others.  This is due to the fact that although people might use the same terms, those terms may have different meanings.  As an example of this, it is entirely possible to consider the statement of faith on a Mormon web site as it relates to Jesus, to be in line with orthodox Christianity.  Unfortunately, one must dig deeper into Mormon theology to find out that the Jesus they speak about is not the same Jesus of the Bible.  I’m not necessarily opposed to statements of faith, but I just find them severely lacking. 

Instead of a statement of faith, I will put on this page, certain ideas that I subscribe to such as: 

The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy

The Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics

The Chicago Statement on Biblical Application

The Colorado Statement on Biblical Sexual Morality - By the Council on Biblical Sexual Ethics

I am a cessationist. Cessationists believe that the Apostolic sign gifts (speaking in tongues, new revelations and miraculous healings) have  ceased with the original twelve apostles. For a clear understanding of cessationism, watch this video, A Case for Cessationism by Tom Pennington.

I consider myself to be a Calvinist. However, there is one point of disagreement that I have with some of my Calvinist friends.

I do not believe that God is the creator/originator/cause/author of sin and evil. I do believe that Satan is the first sinner. Satan did not rebel against God because God decreed it. Satan sinned because of the lusts of his own heart.

"You said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." Isaiah 14:13-14

I do not believe that God caused Eve to sin. I do believe that like Eve, all men sin because of their evil desires.

...but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:14-15

I do not believe that Satan caused Eve to sin. I do believe that Satan tempted Eve, but ultimately, it was Eve who was enticed by what she saw and it was by her own desires that she disobeyed God and ate from the tree that was forbidden.

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:6

I do not believe that God's sovereignty is diminished by granting angels and man the ability to make choices, good or bad, that He ordains and controls every detail of his creation, causing some to do good, while causing others to do evil. I do believe that God works in all things for the good of all who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

I do not believe that God elected some to eternal life and some to eternal torment without first giving them the ability to make a choice. I do believe that God extends His election to all who believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

I do not believe that we can love God without His divine intervention. I do believe that God loved us before we loved Him.

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

I do not believe that God forces us to choose Him. I do believe that although He chooses us, we have been given the ability to reject Him.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— Ephesians 1:4-5

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. John 3:36

I do agree with John MacArthur's assessment of the origin of evil.

Election and Predestination: My understanding - By Bruce W. Robida

Free Will Doctrine VS Election Doctrine - Q&A with John MacArthur

The Origin of Evil - Sermon by John MacArthur

Chosen But Free: A Balanced View of Divine Election - ...a cogent and sensible moderate view... The Definitive Work on the Relationship Between Divine Election and Human Choice - By Norman Geisler

Objectives

To educate every believer of the fact that the Bible is the Word of God; that it is complete and without error; that it is perfect for the salvation of everyone who believes; and it is perfect for instructing Christians about how to live a proper Christian life.

To provide every believer a means to identify ideas and philosophies that have been, and are being, perpetuated through the media and by misguided individuals that try to discredit the true God and especially His holy Word.

To supply every believer a means to identify and expose those who misrepresent God and Christ by attributing to them a nature that is inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible.  Those people use the media such as radio, television, and newsprint, but especially disheartening, they even use the pulpits of our very own Churches.

To instill in every believer a desire to learn the truth about God by hearing His Word, but also reading and studying His Word daily and with purpose so that they will always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks them to give the reason for the hope that they have.

To inspire every believer to earnestly contend for the faith because it seems that wherever we turn, someone is out there trying to tear it down.

To encourage every believer to be willing to question those who present questionable doctrine, even when it comes from your very own pastor.

To motivate every believer to be bold enough to stand alone if necessary, for the sake of truth rather than compromise truth for the sake of unity.

To equip every believer to be prepared to give good answers to the questions about the faith we posses, of sincere seekers and skeptics alike.

These objectives are meant to help believers to learn not to be deceived; to counter the attacks on their faith with truth which only comes from the Word of God; and to settle once and for all, myths and lies that have been cleverly disguised as truth for those that mistakenly believe in things that not only give them a false sense of eternal security, but  those things also that might have the effect of condemning their very souls to eternal hell.

You can read all of my articles here.