A Better You?

I got to work today around 655 am and was walking to my desk and just happened to glance over at a co-workers desk to see Mr. Mullet man. When I see Joel; I have to be honest here-he makes my stomach a little sick. I am going to post some stats later about Joel Osteen so you can have a little history on him. Why does Joel make me sick? Simply stated, "He makes a public mockery of the sacrificial work of Christ on the Cross." Osteen makes it seem as if Christ died so that we can have "a better life now." This is light years away from the truth of the Gospel. We are to have our affections set on things eternal not on the temporary futility of this momentary life. Christ suffered the wrath of God so that we could have far more than what this puny world has to offer.

Just a reality check to see how Christian our nation has become; we look at the nations largest churches HERE
Osteen more than doubles the second largest church in America. We are living in a day as to where the reality of the prophetic scriptures are literally coming alive.

2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

1Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

If you even think for a second that Joel is a Christian, I am praying for you to awake from your twice dead state. Hope I don't sound harsh but let us walk down the familiar Galatian road to see how Paul feels about the same topic.

Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Paul holds back nothing here. He at a time preached and brought the unadulterated Gospel to the people of Galatia and before he returned the Judaizers had come in to bring in a addition to the true Gospel. They started to say that as Christians we have to hold the Mosaic Law and this was called by the Great Apostle Paul in the Greek "Anathema" In Greek this word means a man accursed, devoted to the direst of woes.

1 Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

It is interesting that those teaching circumcision were said to have intentionally departed from the truth in order to make money from teaching circumcision or to glory in the flesh of those they deceived while those that innocently believed it is what God wanted were to be reprimanded to make them strong in the faith. It is as though the false teachers, being unwilling to repent of their false teaching, would not be corrected through reprimand as someone who made an innocent mistake would be corrected through reprimand.

Let us examine the 7 things Joel Speaks about is his book in order to become a better you.

1) Keep Pressing Forward
2) Be Positive Towards Yourself
3) Develop Better Relationships
4) Develop Better Habits
5) Embrace the Place You Are
6) Develop Your Inner Life
7) Stay Passionate About Life

I am not going to waist my time articulating why these things that Joel speaks about are not Biblical. Just watch the videos and try to imagine Apostle Paul or Christ preaching messages like this man. God Bless in CHRIST

Which Jesus?

Monergism vs. Synergism

I am currently watching(again) a video called "Amazing Grace", The History & Theology of Calvinism. I have seen it before but I finally bought a copy for myself and a few friends of mine. This video somewhat talks about monergism and synergism and I would also like to delve deeper into these two terms to understand how they are relevant today.

Monergism in Christian theology is the theory that the Holy Spirit alone can act to bring about the regeneration of people. The idea is most commonly affiliated with Calvinism and its doctrine of irresistible grace in essence with the contrariety between that theological system on the one hand and Arminianism on the other. In its simplest form monergism states that salvation is all from God, as opposed to synergism, which, in its simplest form, insists that God performs some action leaving salvation incomplete until man performs some action to complete salvation. According to monergism, a sinner is given pardon for sin by the death of Jesus, acceptance with God by the imputed righteousness of Jesus, and faith in Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Sanctification then begins either instantaneously according to some, or as an on going progressive process according to others. But to remain consistent to monergism, justification must be entirely of God.

Synergism is regarding the doctrine of salvation, this is essentially the view that God and man work together, each contributing in part to accomplish salvation in and for the individual. This is the view of salvation found in Arminianism and its theological predecessor Semi-Pelagianism. Arminians would say that there are two efficient agents in regeneration, 1) The human will and 2) The divine Spirit, which, in the strict sense of the term, cooperate. This theory accordingly holds that the soul has not lost in the fall all inclination toward holiness, nor all power to seek for it under the influence of ordinary motives. "In other words, God has done his part, and man must do his. This is opposed to the monergistic view as held by Reformed and Calvinistic groups where salvation is seen as the work of one—God alone. defined by www.wikipedia.com

First let me acknowledge that Calvin was a mere man and we are not to esteem him anymore than the average man. Yes he was the vessel God used to expound this doctrine(monergism) and GOD bless him for that, but he was just the clay and not the Potter. We acknowledge this in reverence for the Giver of all enlightenment and wisdom.

To clarify in case you do not know me personally, I am a Reformed. I hold to the Five Solas and the famous acronym TULIP simply because it is Biblical. I in my personal walk I had people coin me as reformed before I even knew what reformed theology was; just because that was what I was learning in my walk and it just happened to be Biblical. God is Sovereign. Yes, God is absolutely sovereign and knows all. Yes, human beings are called to make a genuine decision to place faith in Christ unto salvation. We understand in the book of Ephesians that even faith is a gift from God. So all of the Glory goes to God alone. The problem comes when we ask this question, "Apart from God's divine intervention can we make a decision to follow Christ and can we hear God?" Scripture is clear on this and dead men are exactly that, "dead."

Ephesians 2:1 And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.


Really, what is the question we are asking here? Monergism says God the Holy Spirit is totally sovereign over everything even in the smallest of activities. The sovereignty of God is something we can only see from a limited perspective now and we will soon understand as the Lord returns and when we see him we will be like him.(1John 3:2) There are countless scriptures the speak of the complete sovereignty of God and God alone. Let us take a look at the acronym used earlier TULIP.

T-Total Depravity. Romans 3:10"There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."
U-Unconditional Election-Romans 9:11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad--in order that God's purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls--she was told, "The older will serve the younger." 13 Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
Limited Atonement-John 6:37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
I-Irresistible Grace-2Peter 3:9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
P-Perseverance and Preservation of the Saints-Romans 8:30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Why is this important?
1) If we do not know our history we almost inevitably will repeat it.
2) Calvinism shapes the way we view our relationship and the distinctiveness of a Holy God.
3) It shapes the way we view our self and people who are unregenerate.
4) It allows us to view evangelism properly and one cannot make true progress in sanctification.
5) Most importantly without this truth, people are more susceptible to error.
6) All Truth of any kind is beneficial in the life of a Christian.

In conclusion it is extremely important not to have a misconstrued understanding of God and the Bible. By this many people have been misled and when we confuse 1)The nature of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. 2)Our total depravity., 3)God holiness and distinction from creatures. This is how heresy is started. I encourage everyone to study God's word in detail because if the claims the living Word of God makes are true; it is the most important thing in this life. God Bless

BET Interview 2007 prt2

"A Slap of Heresy"

What is Heresy?

This week at work I had a gentleman come and sit with me from an outside company. He in some way assisted our company in making all of our systems gel together or make them more compatible with one another. As we talked in between my work flow he noticed a book on my desk in which I am reading called "Black and Reformed" by A. Carter. He said, "I see you are spiritual" He also said, "Guess what I have a business partner who is friends with Creflo Dollar!!" He assumed I would jump and clap my hands and maybe do a praise dance. If you know me; that was a slap in the face, he might as well have slapped and spit on me at the same time. I gracefully said, "He is not one of us and preaches a false prosperity gospel" You know how people are nowadays-always running from controversy-so he politely changed the subject. Has this ever happened to you before, is it not the most aggravating thing ever!!!!

Heresy defined: 1) Any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs, customs, etc. 2) Any opinions or doctrines at variance with the official or orthodox position.

Also Defined as: A doctrine contradictory to a point of faith clearly defined by the church is heresy pure and simple, heresy in the first degree. But if the doctrine in question has not been expressly and clearly defined and is not an essentiality to the core of Christianity we cannot define this as heresy. Examples would be eschatology, frequency of church ordinances,(Lord's supper) view of remarriage after divorce, or clothing type. These clearly would not define if we are saved or not when salvation is based on faith in Christ alone. Some of these issues may cause division in the body but even in the division one would not call the other heretical. A modern day example would be what some of the Word Of Faith teachers say, "all who are saved are healed by claiming there healing through the promises of God." This would be heretical because God has not said all who believe in Him will not suffer persecution and you are now defining another Jesus.

Biblically speaking, heresy is a lie. No matter how attractively it may be wrapped or how appealing it may be to our vanity, it is a deviation from the truth of God that promotes or actually produces division the church. In heresy you choose to deviate from the truth of God's word. No-Heresy is not dividing on eschatological positions whether New Covenant(right), Dispensationalism(wrong), or Covenant(wrong LOL). These are essential but not essential to salvation. This is a great mystery to me-We have John Macarthur Jr., R. C. Sproul, and Tom Wells who all disagree on there view of Israel and eschatology and are all Christian. These leads me to believe that we as humans are seriously flawed and have biases in each and every one of us.

This word is found in the New Testament about 9 times. The Greek word for this is hairesis. After doing some research on this word I came to the fact that this word did not have a negative connotation until it was used in the Bible primarily by Apostle Paul in the book of Acts-in which he used it about 6 times. The Word in acts primarily was translated as a sect or a group of people who stayed with a particular crowd of people with one belief. (Acts 5:17, Acts 15:5, Acts 24:5, Acts 24:14, Acts 26:5, Acts 28:22) It was mostly used to refer to a party or a philosophy with which a person had chosen to identify or ally himself. Root word literally dealt with choice or choosing.

Now why would Apostle Paul call this heresy with a new twist to it? These sects were causing division in the body or Christ. In Acts 24:14 when Apostle Paul used the term 'hairesis' in a Christian context, its meaning was pejorative. Pejorative is a disparaging or belittling word or expression or can be harsh sarcasm. Paul was saying his sect was not the typical sect who followed the philosophy of men, rather he followed the Gospel. Paul says; "so worship I the God of my fathers(Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets"

Through the book of Acts is primarily speaking of other schools of thought or false religion. In Galatians Paul mentions the word again. Same word here but here he lumps heresies into a fruit of the flesh. Now based on Paul's definition of lumping in the sects which cause division in the body and it is now so wicked Paul says it is a work of the flesh. In the early centuries of the church such heresies included Arianism, Donatism, Stoicism, Nestorianism, Manichaeism, Monophysitism, and Pelagianism, among others. Their adherents were often punished by excommunication.

Gal 5:19
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Gal 5:20
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Gal 5:21
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

2 Peter 2:1
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Peter also uses the same Greek word here that Paul uses other places. Obviously by this passage this heresy was a really big deal and could be said to be a splinter in the body of Christ. These false teachers Peter says are the messengers of these damnable heresies. We defined earlier who they were above. Who are they in our modern world? In Conclusion heresy from a Christian standpoint is anything that go against the core teachings of the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Example Paul and Barnabas disagreed on taking Mark on a missionary trip. Could Paul call Barnabas a heretic? Of course not because this issue was not in contradiction to the person of Jesus the Christ, God, or the Holy Spirit. This is why we have to make a strong distinction from true Christians and the other sects which teach damnable heresies.

Stand Up Ministries Presents......

Upcoming - Conference

Are you tired of what you see happening with the Church?
If so, come out and join us at our 1st ever conference.

Brothers for the Gospel
Standing Up for the Truth
In an Age of Deception

DATE: November 30, - December 2, 2007
PLACE: Newark, New Jersey

TIME:
Friday - November 30, (7:00 pm) - (11:00 pm)
Saturday - December 1, (2:00 pm) - (6:00 pm)
Sunday - December 2, (9 or 10am) - 2:00pm)

Location:
(Place where out of town guests will stay)
The Holiday Inn Hotel
304 RT. 22 West
Springfield, NJ 07081
(973) 376-9400
Holiday_Inn_Springfield_New_Jersey

(Place where the conference will be held)
The Robert Treat Hotel
50 Park Pl.Newark, New Jersey 07102
(973) 622-1000
Sterling Hotel
Airport: Newark, New Jersey

If you're interested in attending this conference, please contact Pastor
Saiko Woods or Stand Up Ministry to discuss further details. Please
pray that God will indeed bless our efforts in spreading His truth to those
who are searching for it. God bless.

Tel. (832) 887-2908 (Pastor Saiko Woods)
Tel. (516) 564-0058 (Stand Up Ministry)
Email: Saikowoods@hotmail.com or StandupMinistry@aol.com

Women in the Workplace? YES OR NO?

The ARGUMENT-I have learned not to speak for God. For one I am a flawed created being and He does not need a creature to speak for HIM-The Creator. Some things HE left somewhat open and I cannot be as dogmatic about things like I want to. My great friend Lionel and I disagree on this issue along with the whole Home School/Public school idea. With a passion I said I would set out to destroy his argument about women in the work place-but I cannot because I submit my life to scripture. Two opposing views. We cannot not conclude from scripture that women are prohibited to work outside of the home or can we say for sure that they should work away from the home primarily. We can agree from scripture that the primary role and he fulfillment is found in her home and in Christ. Should Women Work outside the home?

My Biased View- I have a conviction and firmly hold to the fact that women's first priority is her home and attending to the needs of her family above all else. This I can grasp from scripture and hold firmly to it. Personally I feel women should stay home and the man should be the breadwinner. My mother stayed home with me until I was 10 years old and also contributed to the household. Yes I attended public school. My mother staying home with me completely benefited me more than I can express and I think if is detrimental in the lives of children especially today in 2007.

Personal-My wife works a 40 hour week just like me(I actually work 50+ hours) and I am and always have been against it but gave her the OK(she asked me) since we got tired of being broke. We have our first son in July of 2006. My wife stayed home for approximately 9 months and the bills beat us up like we stole something. So she is back to working against her will and mine. It is as hard as nails to make it on one income but can be done. During those 9months I worked 70 plus hours a week and worked seven days a week. Really I did not bother me even though I had to step away from Bible College due to my workload and of course our family relationship suffered.

2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.

The Problem-We live in a culture where success is in the things of this world versus the things eternal. We could have downsized and went back to an apartment from our house but who likes moving backwards? You see in the eyes of our culture that is considered going backwards when possibly in the eyes of Christ-this may have been pleasing to HIM and could have moved us towards Christ-likeness.

4 Scriptures that speak on this.

1) Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

2) Proverbs 31 - We can see from this text that the woman's primary task was the home.

31:15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. This obviously does not make it a mandate to work from home only but it was her priority.

3) Titus 2:3-5 "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."

4) 1 Tim 5:14 So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander."

We can draw from this a model of what God expects from a godly woman. The topic here is widows. Paul speaks on older women 60+ and says that the younger widows should get remarried and manage their homes. The Greek word for manage is oikodespoteō.

It means to be master (or head) of a house/to rule a household, manage family affairs. Of course in Biblical context we understand she is still under submission to her head which in the husband. Question. How can she manage her house well if her focus and desire is primarily away from the home? She cannot give her full attention to her God given responsibility if her focus is elsewhere. Personally I think if the Lord gives you a child a reward-we do not put our child off on someone else to raise for 8 hours a day. It is our heritage from the Lord not the babysitters. This infuriates me!!!! and I think we as parents are sometimes out chasing paper($$) and casting our children off while neglecting to do our God-given task.

Psalm 127 :3 Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward.

My response is," You selfish, self-centered, egotistical dirt bags!!!! Oh I better stop-I am talking about myself too. Regardless of who it is, I am still mad and think it borders sin when we really examine our motives. We are so far away from Biblical truth that we don't see our self in proper comparison to what God has called us to invest in and we ignorantly find fulfillment in temporary, satisfactory, unfulfilling things. Our wives are called to be our helpmeet's but in that if it goes against her taking care of her number one priority maybe we should do some cutbacks financially speaking. Don't let our culture dictate how we cherish and raise our families. You know we are only her for a short time and our focus is not on the things of this world. We set our affections on pleasing the Lord regardless of the cost.

1. Should we make it a goal to get our wives back in the home? Does this seem even harder in the black culture? I says yes.

2. By women working, your wife is being put under the submission of a male/female boss. Does that take her from your covering and create things such as adultery, temptation, gossip, and other bad influences?

3. Do you think our perspectives are flawed based on the fact that we are so inundated with the commonalities of our culture? Single moms, abortion, bad men, absentee fathers.

4. Because of the culture we live in and the shortage of good men(so they say) should the true church take on the responsibility of assisting single or widowed mothers stay at home?