The Coming Judgment of God on the Modern American Church

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for moreThe Coming Judgment of God on the Modern American ChurchJEFFMAR 6 READ IN APP All throughout the History of the Church, the Bride of Christ, has stood a harlot who masquerades as the elect but lures people into the depths of darkness with seductive words and practices. But in modern times, Christianity has witnessed the emergence of a progressive American “Church” movement that surpasses anything we’ve seen before. This movement, under the guise of adapting to contemporary standards, has embraced such an idolatrous path that it has abandoned the gospel altogether for such causes as the LGBTQ movement, social justice and Critical theory, and feminism. This movement isn’t limited to the obviously apostate mainline denominations but its tentacles have a grip on even the most “traditional” and “conservative” churches and denominations in our nation. By professing allegiance to Christ while simultaneously contravening His commandments and compromising the gospel to maintain superficial peace with the world, this movement exemplifies a profound disconnect between confession and conduct, invoking God’s name in vain. The Holy Scriptures, unambiguous in their denunciation of sin, offer stark illustrations of God’s wrath against apostasy and disobedience. The verses from Jeremiah 19:9, Leviticus 26:29, Ezekiel 5:10, and Lamentations 4:10 serve not merely as historical records of divine judgment but also as metaphors for God’s enduring abhorrence of sin. These passages depict a horrifying scenario where, under the severe duress of a siege—both literal and spiritual—the people of God resort to cannibalism, a graphic emblem of the depths to which humanity can fall when it turns away from the Lord. In the time of Jeremiah, the people of Israel faced such dire punishment because of their steadfast refusal to heed God’s commands, engaging in idolatry and social injustices that mirrored the actions of the nations around them. In Jeremiah 19:9, God warns, “And I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and their daughters, and everyone shall eat the flesh of his neighbor in the siege and in the distress, with which their enemies and those who seek their life afflict them.” This prophecy was a literal unfolding of events during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, but it also symbolizes the self-destructive consequences of abandoning God’s law—the prophet laments this destruction of the imago dei in Lamentations 4:10. Similarly, Leviticus warns of the ultimate degradation of moral fiber, illustrating the extreme measures to which God is willing to go in order to cleanse His people of their sinfulness. “You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters.” —Leviticus 26:29 Ezekiel’s grim portrayal further accentuates the inevitability of divine retribution within the community, where the familial bond is shattered under the weight of God’s judgment. “Therefore fathers shall eat their sons in your midst, and sons shall eat their fathers. And I will execute judgments on you, and any of you who survive I will scatter to all the winds,” the prophet writes in Ezekiel 5:10. This is a graphic reminder that sin not only estranges us from God but also corrodes the social and familial structures He ordained. Lamentations mourns the unspeakable acts of a besieged Jerusalem, where even the most seemingly “compassionate” hearts are driven to desperation. These historical accounts mirror the spiritual desolation that ensues when those who profess the name of Christ forsake His commandments. The application of these scriptures to the modern false church movement is both fitting and foreboding. Just as Israel and Judah faced severe consequences for their unfaithfulness, so too will contemporary “churches” that distort the gospel for societal approval, political correctness, or personal gain. The false church, by embracing doctrines and practices contrary to the Bible, invites upon itself a judgment as severe as that which befell the unfaithful in ancient times. God’s historic judgments, ranging from the flood in Noah’s time to the fiery destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, to the severe penalties inflicted on His people for their idolatry and faithlessness, serve as solemn reminders. We can conclude from these events that nothing is off the table when it comes to God’s judgment—these are not mere anecdotes from a bygone era but are indicative of God’s immutable nature. His holiness demands justice, and His justice will not spare those who, under the banner of Christ, propagate falsehoods and lead many astray. In our modern church age, the warning is clear and urgent. The modern American “Church,” by diluting the gospel’s power with human ideologies and rejecting the clear teachings of Scripture, stands on precarious ground. The call to repentance is not just a plea but a mandate for survival. For the true bride of Christ, the path forward is one of separation and sanctification—to disentangle from the deception that pervades these false assemblies and to stand firm in the truth of God’s Word. As we face an increasingly hostile world, we must heed the dire warnings of Scripture with both fear and reverence. Remember that our God, who is loving and merciful, is also a consuming fire, intolerant of sin and compromise. May this reflection inspire a return to the unadulterated gospel, prompting a revival within the church that aligns with God’s sovereign will and eternal statutes. The stakes are eternal, and the time for discernment and decisive action is now. The Dissenter is primarily supported by its readers. The best way to support us is to subscribe to our members-only site where you will receive all of our content ad-free, plus you will get member-only exclusive content.   Subscribe to The Dissenter

Former President, Jimmy Carter, Soon to Hear Dreaded Words from Jesus, “Depart From Me…”

Like the author of this article, Jeff Maples, I too have reservations about Jimmy Carter’s faith. Jimmy despised Adrian Rogers and others who boldly and unequivocally stood on the Word of God without apology. He appears to be a liberal Baptist, twisting the Truth to his own liking. Pastor Steve <><

by Publisher | May 15, 2024 | Abortion, Apostasy, LGBTQ Issues, News, Politics, Religion, Social-Issues, The Church, US

According to reports, former President Jimmy Carter is approaching the end of his life, as shared by his grandson Jason Carter at the 28th Rosalynn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum. Jason provided an update on the 99-year-old former president, who has been in hospice care for nearly a year and a half, stating, “He really is, I think, coming to the end that, as I’ve said before, there’s a part of this faith journey that is so important to him, and there’s a part of that faith journey that you only can live at the very end, and I think he has been there in that space.”

As Carter spends his final days in his home in Plains, Georgia, his legacy and the implications of his lifelong advocacies come under renewed scrutiny.

Carter, who has often portrayed himself as a devout Christian, even a Southern Baptist Sunday School teacher at one time, has promoted policies and taken horrific views on key issues that could only be described as completely godless. While Carter has frequently invoked his faith in his public life, his unrelenting support for the LGBTQ movement and abortion, along with every other godless left-wing ideology under the sun, reveals a troubling state of his soul that should leave him in fear of the coming judgment.

Carter’s promotion of sexual immorality in our culture is one of the most glaring examples of his hatred of God. Despite the clear teachings of  Scripture regarding marriage and sexuality, Carter has championed the LGBTQ movement. In a 2015 interview with HuffPost Live, Carter asserted that Jesus would approve of same-sex marriage.

Even more grievously, Carter’s relentless advocacy for the death penalty for unborn children to be carried out on them for the crimes and sins of their parents demonstrates his hatred of the giver of life. As early as 1977, during his presidency, Carter supported federal funding for abortions in cases of rape, incest, and the life of the mother. Over the years, he has maintained a position that allows for unfettered access to abortion, especially under various circumstances. By supporting abortion, Carter endorses a practice that ends innocent human lives, flagrantly violating the sanctity of life as ordained by God.

Carter’s advocacy for these positions has significantly impacted public policy and the broader cultural landscape. His support for LGBTQ rights and abortion has contributed to the normalization and legal recognition of these practices, having profound implications for religious freedom and the ability of Christians to live out their faith in the public square. As these issues become more entrenched in society, those who hold to  biblical principles face increasing pressure to conform to secular values.

Carter’s positions highlight a broader trend among those who claim the Christian faith yet embrace secular ideologies that conflict with  Scripture. This trend reflects a growing tendency to prioritize cultural relevance over  biblical fidelity, leading to a compromised witness in the public sphere. Carter’s example serves as a grave warning of the dangers of allowing personal or cultural preferences to supersede the authority of God’s Word.

In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus delivers a stern warning: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Carter’s advocacy for godless ambitions such as LGBTQ rights and abortion aligns him with those who profess faith but deny its power and authority in their lives.

As Jimmy Carter nears the end of his earthly journey, we lament that he will soon likely hear these chilling words from our Lord. A truly saved person, being sanctified, cannot continue in abject rebellion against his Creator.  Scripture affirms that those who endure to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13). Carter’s legacy serves as a somber reminder of the need for unwavering commitment to  biblical truth and the perils of compromising with secular ideologies.

In these critical times, believers must remain steadfast in their commitment to God’s Word, upholding the sanctity of marriage and the value of human life. We must trust in the authority of  Scripture and reject any cultural trends that seek to undermine the foundations of our faith. Let us pray for true repentance and enduring faith, standing firm in the truth until the end.

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How Did a Southern Baptist Leader Become America’s Top Lobbyist for Corrupt Policies in a Third World Nation

The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission’s (ERLC) Brent Leatherwood’s journey to the center of Southern Baptist policymaking reads not so much as a pilgrimage of faith but rather a trek through the thickets of political activism, where the compass often points left under the guise of “Christian justice.”

Leatherwood’s form of activism, which is a form of “third way-ism,” disguised as “conservatism,” suggests an attempt to straddle the divide between traditional conservatism and progressive ideologies.

Leatherwood’s political trajectory can be traced back to his tenure as the executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party, where his political savvy was honed not on the battlegrounds of polarizing rhetoric but within the more nuanced realms of policy and influence. His ascendancy within the ERLC began under the leadership of far-left political activist and Democrat staffer, Russell Moore, and was essentially a culmination of a career steeped in political strategy and engagement with civic issues.

Yet, it is precisely this background that should lead us to scrutinize the true north of his compass: Does his background point toward a synthesis of justice and Christian ethics, or is he merely using his Southern Baptist platform to advance an ideological agenda out of step with the majority of Southern Baptists.

The crux of the matter is whether Leatherwood’s political activism and policy inclinations harmonize with the chorus of voices within the denomination or is he, and the organization he works for, a rogue entity with no accountability.

In the aftermath of the tragic shooting at the hands of a “transgender” assailant at the Covenant Day School in Nashville—a school that his children also attend—Leatherwood’s response was to wield this moment of vulnerability as a fulcrum for gun control advocacy. It quickly became clear that this wasn’t a measured step toward school safety, it was an exploitation of grief for policy change.

In a letter addressed to Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, and all members of the legislature, Leatherwood presents an appeal from both his personal experience and on behalf of the majority Southern Baptist sentiment, according to The Tennessean. He urged lawmakers to ensure that no school in Tennessee ever has to endure the same nightmare as the Covenant School tragedy again.

Leatherwood told the lawmakers that Southern Baptists make up one-fifth of the population of Tennessee and have repeatedly called for ways to reduce gun violence, a seemingly veiled threat by the former leader of the TN Republican Party that he may use his power of leadership over Southern Baptists to sway the vote. “Other voices are saying there is too little time left in this legislative session to consider such a proposal. Little credence should be given to that,” he said in the letter, according to the Tennessean.

His battle did not end at the doorsteps of legislative reform but continued into the halls of public knowledge, where he sought to keep the assailant’s motives—a matter of clear public interest—shrouded in secrecy. It was only when a media outlet pierced this veil, releasing the manifesto that revealed these motives—the manifesto clearly indicated a motive that debunks the left’s prevalent “white supremacy” narrative, hence the massive orchestrated cover-up led by Leatherwood. After the leak, Leatherwood condemned the media with far greater vigor than he had condemned the attack itself.

Leatherwood’s advocacy doesn’t pause at the nation’s internal strife but extends its hand across its borders. Here in the United States, he has consistently used his SBC platform to lobby for lax immigration policies, an approach unquestionably at odds with the concerns many Southern Baptists have about national security and the rule of law. His open borders and amnesty activism further accentuate the schism between his political advocacy and the sentiments of a significant portion of Southern Baptists he claims to represent.

The dichotomy between his domestic and international policy stances is unmistakable. While Leatherwood speaks for, so he says, Southern Baptists, a body whose majority disagrees with him, he stands on the backs of conservative Americans to push policies that are anti-American while lobbying Congress to defend a corrupt nation halfway around the planet.

Let’s break this down a bit. Brent Leatherwood, speaking on behalf of over 13 million Southern Baptists, asks lawmakers to implement harsh and ineffective gun control policies in the United States which would only benefit criminals while also asking Congress to force the American taxpayer to send unlimited guns and weapons to Ukraine—who knows whose hands that will end up in.

Same with border control. As millions of invaders cross the American Southern border, Leatherwood lobbies for amnesty as he pushes Congress to defend the Ukrainian border at the expense of the American worker.

The greater question here is not only are Leatherwood’s political views unbiblical and progressive but what is the role of the denomination in public policy making? Should someone in such an influential religious position use his platform to push political policies—particularly, really bad political policies?

I’m not sure, but I’m inclined to believe that the Church has a duty to speak  biblical truth to the conscience of the nation, including to lawmakers, that would influence policies that are God-honoring. But the alignment—or misalignment—of Leatherwood’s progressive political activism with the conservative political and Christian views of most Southern Baptists brings to light these questions. Where is the accountability?

ERLC’s Brent Leatherwood Confronted by Media For His Suppression of the Trans Shooter’s Motive at Christian School

Another of the myriad of reasons that our church left the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Leader after leader are afraid to boldly stand on the Word and confront the apostasy of our times. Brent Leatherwood is all about job security, and as far as truth, the Word, and scripture, he has the backbone of a jellyfish. The video below, reveals Leatherwood to be a wolf in sheepskin. His demeanor is that of a secular CEO and does not represent the Christian faith in the least. He is concerned about his position and he is afraid of apostates, and cares not for the Lord’s truth. Personally, I could not stay with such a denomination and sleep soundly. In Christ, Pastor Steve <><

…instead be deadly to Leatherwood’s and the ERLC’s cause. After the release of the Nashville shooter’s manifesto yesterday, Leatherwood held a press briefing with arguably one of the most disingenuous displays of passion I’ve ever seen—it was borderline sociopathic.

Earlier this week, Leatherwood was confronted by Steven Crowder and his team after a court hearing as Leatherwood continues to push for a court order to keep any information regarding the motivation of this attack from the public. Leatherwood, like the weasel that he is, refuses to answer any questions and acts just like any leftist politician who is more concerned about his career than he is about the truth.

On March 27, 2023, a mass shooting occurred at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, which resulted in multiple fatalities. The attack was carried out by a transgender leftist who had written a “manifesto” which has currently been withheld due to public records requests made by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department as well as the activism of Southern Baptist Convention ERLC head, Brent Leatherwood.

Brent Leatherwood, head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s public policy arm, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), is calling on TN lawmakers to back a proposal by Governor Bill Lee for an extreme risk protective order law, also known as red flag laws. The proposal would allow the state to temporarily restrict gun purchases if the state deems one to be a danger to themselves or others, yet the criteria that would be used to make the determination remains unclear.

Brent Leatherwood, who is also a parent of three children at Covenant School where the shooting by a deranged transgender assailant took place, shared his experience of receiving a call that a shooter was at the school. In a series of tweets on April 3, he recounted how the trauma and memories of the tragedy would be with his family for the rest of their lives.

“We’ve become numb to these tragedies as a society,” Leatherwood wrote on Twitter. “Defenseless, innocent lives being taken. We should never accept this as a reality. We need to commit ourselves to finding an answer to this epidemic and not rest until it is solved. Count me as a solution seeker on this.”

Unsurprisingly, Leatherwood has exploited this tragedy and used his platform as a Southern Baptist leader in order to advance stricter anti-Second Amendment gun control laws. In a letter addressed to Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, and all members of the legislature, Leatherwood presented an appeal from both his personal experience and on behalf of the majority Southern Baptist sentiment, according to The Tennessean. He urged lawmakers to ensure that no school in Tennessee ever has to endure the same nightmare as the Covenant School tragedy again.

Leatherwood told the lawmakers that Southern Baptists make up one-fifth of the population of Tennessee and have repeatedly called for ways to reduce gun violence, a seemingly veiled threat by the former leader of the TN Republican Party that he may use his power of leadership over Southern Baptists to sway the vote. “Other voices are saying there is too little time left in this legislative session to consider such a proposal. Little credence should be given to that,” he said in the letter, according to the Tennessean.

In a report at the Epoch Times, it has been further revealed that Leatherwood had not only been advocating for stricter gun laws, but he’s also been working overtime to censor the manifesto written by the deranged transgender activist who killed innocent people on that day. While one would think that a conservative, Bible-believing Christian leader in his right mind could only think of a deranged, transvestite killer as an “unhinged activist,” instead, Leatherwood refers to those who are calling for transparency as such.

The following is from the Epoch Times:

Brent and Meredith Leatherwood, parents of three children who were present that day, echo Kinney in saying their current anguish comes from “unhinged activists, unthinking partisans, conspiracy theorists, and various media outlets that value clicks over their community.”

The Leatherwoods said their family had also received “hints” of threats of legal action in order to intimidate them from trying to stop the release of the records. Leatherwood, through his position with the Southern Baptist Convention, has called on stricter gun laws following the shooting.

In November 2023, copies of the shooter’s manifesto were released by Steven Crowder and his media team. Leatherwood proceeded to attack the media and others who had been pushing for the release.

Leatherwood, along with a minority coalition of other parents in the school, had been seeking every possible way to stop the release of the shooter’s written manifesto to the public, and had been successful in preventing the release for several months.

From the release of the manifesto, the Nashville shooter was revealed, as suspected, to be racially motivated in her attack. In fact, the manifesto clearly demonstrated a motive that was built upon the ideologies of Critical Race Theory and anti-white sentiment. Leatherwood, knowing this, had claimed that the release of the manifesto and the motive for this person’s attack was not important and would “re-victimize” the parents and students at the school.

However, in the 2019 El Paso shooting, the ERLC believed that the motive for the attack was important. But that attack was motivated by “white supremacy,” a narrative they had been pushing as a dangerous and deadly ideology.

But since the motive for the Nashville shooting went against the narrative of “white supremacy,” it became clear that the release of the information wouldn’t be deadly to others, but would instead be deadly to Leatherwood’s and the ERLC’s cause. After the release of the Nashville shooter’s manifesto yesterday, Leatherwood held a press briefing with arguably one of the most disingenuous displays of passion I’ve ever seen—it was borderline sociopathic.

Earlier this week, Leatherwood was confronted by Steven Crowder and his team after a court hearing as Leatherwood continues to push for a court order to keep any information regarding the motivation of this attack from the public. Leatherwood, like the weasel that he is, refuses to answer any questions and acts just like any leftist politician who is more concerned about his career than he is about the truth.

Watch:

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Why America Deserves to Fall, Part II

by Publisher | Apr 8, 2024 | Opinion, Religion, Social-Issues, The Church, US

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In a nation that once heralded the principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, a shadow has fallen, casting a long and dark silhouette over the moral landscape. At the heart of this darkness lies the tragedy of systematic child-murder, a scourge that has not only marred but fundamentally altered the character of America.

The blanket and collective endorsement and normalization of abortion in America are not mere policy failures—they are the stench of a rotting spiritual corpse, symptoms of a deadly spiritual poison, collectively ingested by a nation once alive with the zeal of a people who believe in God. It is a brazen affront to the Creator, an act of rebellion that screams into the heavens, demanding a response. And respond, God will—for He is just, and His justice will not sleep forever.

The Scripture is unequivocal in its affirmation of life’s sanctity, from conception to natural death. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you,” declares the Lord in Jeremiah 1:5. Yet, this divine pronouncement has been met with disdain, as millions of lives have been extinguished in the name of convenience and autonomy.

The blood of the innocent cries out from the ground, and we, as a nation, have covered our ears to the sound.

This is not merely a failing of the left or those who openly champion abortion “rights.” Nor can the blame be laid solely at the feet of progressive politicians like Stacey Abrams or Raphael Warnock, who, while vocally supportive of abortion, are but cogs in a much larger machine of moral decay.

The culpability extends to every corner of American society, from the halls of power to the pews of our churches, where silence and inaction have become the order of the day.

God’s character—His holiness, justice, and righteousness—demands a reckoning. He is a God of love and mercy, yes, but He is also a God of wrath, poised to judge those who lift their middle fingers to Him and His laws while breathing His air and desecrating His creation. America, once the land of hope and a light to the nations, is now a sewage dump where the world flushes its moral sewage and it festers to become what we call “progress.”

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America now stands on the brink of divine judgment, having traded its heritage for a mess of pottage.

Yet, abortion isn’t the root cause of our problems as a nation—it is a symptom of a deeper, spiritual malaise. It is a heart condition, pride, that afflicts the very souls of men. It is a reflection of a society that has turned its back on God, elevating human wisdom, comfort, and desire above divine decree. And in doing so, we have incited the wrath of the God who is sovereign over us, and it would be both right and just for Him to utterly destroy us, to hand us over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that perhaps some might be saved on the day of the Lord.

Yet, even in this, God’s mercy shines forth. For His judgments are not merely punitive. They are redemptive, designed to bring us to our knees in repentance, that we might turn from our wickedness and live. The call to repentance is urgent, pressing, and it is a call to each individual and to the nation as a whole. We must forsake our sinful ways and seek the face of God, acknowledging Him as Lord and King.

This is a matter of utmost seriousness, a spiritual battle that rages around us, demanding our full attention and engagement. The goal is not the salvation of America—America is dead. The goal is the glory of God and the salvation of souls. The church must rise, casting aside complacency and lukewarmness, to proclaim the truth of the Gospel.

We are not without hope, for we serve a mighty God, sovereign over all the earth. His purposes will stand, and His kingdom will come, on earth as it is in heaven. Yet we must gird ourselves for battle, armed with the full armor of God, that we might stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

America stands at a crossroads, and the path we choose will determine our fate. Will we continue down the road of rebellion and face the righteous wrath of God, or will we repent and return to the Lord, seeking His mercy and forgiveness? The choice is ours, and the time to decide is now.

But if we continue to spurn the Lord and shed innocent blood, we may well find that the God of justice has left us to our own devices, a nation abandoned to the consequences of its sin.

The Sword Of The Lord ~ Dr. Shelton Editor ~ September 20, 2023

Judges 7:20 King James Version (KJV)
And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.

An Independent Christian Publication, Standing for the Verbal Inspiration of the Bible, the Deity of Christ, His Blood Atonement, Salvation by Faith, New Testament Soul Winning and the Premillennial Return of Christ; Opposing Modernism (Liberalism), Worldliness and Formalism.

The Amen Corner

“Rather than complain about the thorns on roses, be thankful for roses among the thorns.”

“Never forget that America is in the shape she is in at this moment because of a sad shortage of John the Baptist prototype pulpiteers.” -Dr. John N. Hamblin

“A Christian increases his stature when he learns to kneel.” -Ivor Powell

“Money never changes our circumstances in the least degree.” -Herbert Lockyer

“God gave the matter, the truth, the thought, in the Bible, and God gave the very words in which these thoughts are expressed.” -Dr. John R. Rice

“When the waiting is over, the struggle ended and the victory won, it will be worth it all.” -Raymond Barber

“We are not what we ought to be; we are nor what we could have been; but we thank God that we are not what we were, and what we are now shall not be when we see HIM face to face.”

“I am often told that what the church needs in order to succeed is to catch the spirit of the age. I reply that the church succeeds only in proportion as she corrects the spirit of the age.” -G. Campbell Morgan

“We do not want a church that will move with the world. We want a church that will move the world. We want one that will move it away from many of the things toward which it is now moving.” -G. K. Chesterton

“Treasures in Heaven are laid up only as treasures on earth are laid down.”

In a hotel room, the management posted this notice: “We have your license number. If you leave something, we will send it to you. If you take something, we will send for you.”

“The more we come to appreciate the sacrifice of Christ, the less we think and talk about our own sacrifices.”

Happy All Saints Day! Let’s Talk About the Martyrs Who Died at the Hands of the Catholic Church

Wycliffe burned at the stake

Today is All Saints’ Day, a day when Roman Catholics around the world pay homage to their canonized saints. But let’s shatter the usual narrative and cast the spotlight where it’s often deliberately avoided—on the indomitable Protestant martyrs who were gruesomely executed by the Roman Catholic Church. These were not mere dissenters or reformers—these were defenders of the gospel who chose excruciating death over compromising their convictions. And while the Roman Catholic Church would love for their stories to be discounted, wiped out, made into mere footnotes in religious history, the reality is that they are monumental testimonies to the enduring power of the Holy Spirit through faith in the face of relentless persecution.

Over the centuries, countless men and women have faced unspeakable horrors and brutal executions, most often at the hands of Roman Catholics, all because they dared to challenge a religious system they believed was corrupt and contrary to the teachings of Scripture. These certainly were not rabble-rousers or anarchists, these were men and women rooted in the Word of God, who held to their convictions with an unyielding resolve that should stir every believing heart.

The bloody era of the Reformation encapsulates the severity of what was at stake. Men like William Tyndale, who was strangled and burned at the stake, gave their lives so that the Bible could be read in the vernacular. Tyndale’s crime? Translating the Scriptures into English so that even the common plowboy could have access to God’s Word. He wasn’t doing this to try to undermine civil order. Rather, his mission was to ensure that the true gospel could be understood by the people, free from the convoluted doctrines and practices of the Roman Catholic Church.

Then there was Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, burned alive in Oxford for their belief in the authority of Scripture over church traditions, the doctrine of justification by faith alone, and the rejection of papal authority. These were educated men who had much to lose in terms of earthly goods and reputation. Yet, when they were given the choice to recant these specific beliefs or die, they chose the latter. Why? Because they understood that allegiance to these core tenets of the gospel was far more important than sparing their earthly lives. Their deaths were not in vain but served as a roaring declaration that such foundational truths could not be suppressed.

John Huss, a predecessor to Martin Luther, met a similar fate. He was burned at the stake for heresy, a charge leveraged against him for his criticisms of the moral failings and theological errors within the Roman Catholic Church.

Jerome of Prague was not merely a close associate of John Huss but a compelling theologian and philosopher in his own right. He was a master of multiple languages and well-versed in both the Scriptures and the early church fathers. Having studied at the universities of Prague, Oxford, Paris, and Heidelberg, Jerome was an intellectual force to be reckoned with. He was deeply influenced by the teachings of John Wycliffe and his fellow countryman John Huss. Together with Huss, Jerome sought to reform the Roman Catholic Church, challenging its excesses, doctrinal errors, and unbiblical practices.

But Jerome’s brilliance and commitment to the gospel would put him on a collision course with the Roman Catholic hierarchy. He was arrested and charged with heresy, much like his friend Huss. Jerome initially recanted his views under the threat of execution but later revoked his recantation, unable to betray his conscience and the truths he found in the Scriptures. In 1416, about a year after the execution of John Huss, Jerome too was burned at the stake. But even as the flames rose around him, he did not waver. Jerome displayed remarkable courage and composure, reportedly singing a hymn—specifically, the liturgical Latin hymn known as the “Te Deum,” a hymn of praise to God—as he met his gruesome end…

The Sword Of The Lord ~ Dr. Shelton Editor ~ September 1, 2023

Judges 7:20 King James Version (KJV)
And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.

An Independent Christian Publication, Standing for the Verbal Inspiration of the Bible, the Deity of Christ, His Blood Atonement, Salvation by Faith, New Testament Soul Winning and the Premillennial Return of Christ; Opposing Modernism (Liberalism), Worldliness and Formalism.

The Amen Corner

“Be sure you will do God’s will, no matter what His will for your life may be. Many people are curious to know God’s will so they can decide whether or not they will do it. But you must decide you will do His will before you know it. It means you must trust Him completely and know that whatever He leads you to do is the best thing you can do, and wherever He leads you is the best place you can be.” -Curtis Hutson

“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life….” -Ps. 27:4.

“If the average business tried to operate like the average church, it would go out of business quickly. How many businesses could operate with half its employees present on any given working day? Someone has said that a church is like an ailing lung – only a few cells are working! So, it is not faithfulness here that I refer to, but the desire to be in the house of God! “My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord” (Ps. 84:2). By the grace of God, I have missed only a few services in the house of God in the last 25 years, but it is because I earnestly desire to be there and therefore I do not find excuses to lay out but look for reasons to go! When that desire is low, it is an early warning for me!” -Dr. Dan Reed

“Other books pass out of date, but the Bible is never out of date. The Bible fits all men of all ages.” -John R. Rice

“The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts’ (Hag. 2:8). And so we give Him of what we have, not that it might become His but because it is His by creation and by redemption and by every other right.” -Herbert Lockyer

“The faithful dependability of God is beyond question; and happy are the people who trust in His care.” -Ivor Powell

“Our Lord Jesus Christ, who emancipates from the burden and thralldom of sin as a strong and sufficient Saviour, expects in return the loyalty of our love and labor.” -Charles J. Rolls

Less Than Half Of Churchgoers Believe Essential Christian Doctrines

Breaking News Updates – September 05, 2023

Holy Bible and the American flag.

Less Than Half Of Churchgoers Believe Essential Christian Doctrines

By Dan Hart/Washington Stand September 05, 2023

By ensuring that respondents actually attend church, we were able to take the pulse of what active churchgoers truly believe and while some of it was positive, the church has its work cut out for it.

Family Research Council’s Center for Biblical Worldview released the results of an extensive survey Wednesday on the views of adult churchgoers in America on social issues and worldview. While the vast majority of respondents said that it is important for Christians to have a biblical worldview, experts remain concerned about the mixed responses on social issues like abortion and basic doctrinal questions.

The survey was conducted in June by George Barna, a senior research fellow at the Center for Biblical Worldview, and comprised the responses of 1,009 adults who attend worship services at least once a month. Respondents answered 60 questions ranging from their views on political affiliation, elections, abortion, transgenderism, and marriage to their personal Bible reading habits and biblical interpretations, worldview beliefs, favorite ministries, and more.

Center for Biblical Worldview Director David Closson, who served as manager for the project, noted that the survey’s singular focus on regular churchgoers provided uncommon revelations.

“FRC’s latest survey is unique because it gives insight into what the nation’s most devout churchgoers believe,” he told The Washington Stand. “To achieve our results, we employed a methodology that screened out those who do not attend church. In other words, we did not rely on religious self-identification. To qualify for our survey, you needed to attend church at least monthly.”

The survey found that 72% of respondents attend church weekly, with 28% saying they attend at least once a month. “By ensuring that respondents actually attend church, we were able to take the pulse of what active churchgoers truly believe,” he explained.

Closson went on to describe the data points that gave him hope. “I was encouraged by a number of findings, including the high percentage of those who indicated that they desire their church to offer additional worldview training on social and political responsibility, abortion, the value of human life, and human sexuality,” he told TWS. 

“I was also encouraged that 88% of adult churchgoers indicated that they believe it is important for Christians to have a biblical worldview. The fact that 94% of churchgoers are registered to vote also demonstrates that efforts to register church members have been largely successful.”

But Closson was also disheartened by some of the results, including “an alarmingly high percentage of churchgoers who failed to answer correctly some basic doctrinal questions.” “For example,” he continued, “only 41% of churchgoers said they believe that people are born into sin and can only be saved from its consequences by Jesus. 

In places like John 14:6, the Bible is very clear that people are only saved from their sin and reconciled to a holy God through faith in Jesus. Findings like this demonstrate that many of our churches need to redouble their efforts at teaching basic doctrinal truths.”

Closson further discussed his reaction to what the survey revealed about churchgoers’ views on abortion.

“I admit that I was surprised,” he acknowledged. “Although it was encouraging to see that an overwhelming percentage of regular churchgoers identify as pro-life (63%), it was surprising to see that only 65% of respondents claimed the Bible identifies when life begins. 

Additionally, among those who believe the Bible speaks to the question of when life begins, only 52% of those folks said that life begins at conception. From reading passages such as Luke 1:39-45 and Psalm 139:13-16, it is clear that the Bible affirms the personhood of the unborn from the moment of conception. Our report indicates that churches need to spend some more time emphasizing these biblical truths.”

Originally published at The Washington Stand – reposted with permission.

The Sword Of The Lord ~ Dr. Shelton Editor ~ August 4, 2023

Judges 7:20 King James Version (KJV)
And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.

An Independent Christian Publication, Standing for the Verbal Inspiration of the Bible, the Deity of Christ, His Blood Atonement, Salvation by Faith, New Testament Soul Winning and the Premillennial Return of Christ; Opposing Modernism (Liberalism), Worldliness and Formalism.

The Amen Corner

“The realities of God, the Bible, Heaven, Hell, Jesus, salvation and the rapture are dismissed by skeptics and scoffers as they dig through the trash bin of history, debating their own doubts and disputing among themselves. Ignoring these obvious realities is, in reality, a dangerous game for them or anyone else to play.” -Dr. Shelton Smith

“Notably, A. J. Gordon prayed, “Be thorough with me, Jesus, be thorough with me.” And that ought also to be our prayer.” -Dr. Curtis Hutson

“Too many churches are little more than four walls and a roof.” -Billy Sunday

“The promise to the church is a promise of persecution, if faithful in this world, but a promise of a great inheritance and reward hereafter. In the meantime, she is to be a pilgrim body, passing through this scene, but abiding in love.” -C. I. Scofield

“When the church finds its members falling into gross and scandalous sins, it is time for the church to awake and cry to God for a revival.”

A man should be like a good cup of tea; his real strength appears when he gets in hot water.”

“I have no light to illuminate the pathway of the future save that which falls over my shoulder from the past.” -Ronald Reagan

“It is not our duty to leave wealth to our children, but it is our duty to leave liberty to them. We have counted the cost of this content, and we find nothing so dreadful as voluntary slavery.” -John Dickinson, Signer, Declaration of Independence

“When sinners are careless and stupid, and sinking into Hell unconcerned, it is time the church should bestir themselves. It is as much the duty of the church to awake, as it is for the firemen to awaken when a fire breaks out in the middle of the night in a great city.” -Charles Finney

“Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books, for they speak with the voice of God.” -George Washington Carver

“Gentlemen, I have lived a long time and am convinced that God governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? I move that prayer imploring the assistance of Heaven be held every morning before we proceed to business.” -Benjamin Franklin

“God is great, therefore He will be sought; God is good, therefore He will be found.”