For many centuries the world was bound by a man-centered, godless religion. The ‘Dark Ages’ were a time of true spiritual darkness, yet God was clearly working his purposes even during that time. We believe that even then there remained a vibrant remnant of believers who faithfully kept the faith! In God’s good providence the technology was developed whereby the Bible and other God-honoring literature could be printed for the people. God used “means,” that is, He used technology (the printing press) and the desire of the reformers to create a great literacy movement that changed the world!

As men and women had the opportunity to read and study the Word for themselves they began to question the religious hierarchy of the day. The most significant questions were about the nature of salvation: “Does man initiate or earn salvation through his/her own effort? Is Jesus ‘waiting’ for us to do our part before granting us grace? Or is God truly sovereign even over our salvation?” As the people read and understood the scriptures, and as the Lord gave them spiritual understanding, they rejected the man-centered theology that had kept them captive for so long.

By the mercy of God they were no longer bound to an endless treadmill of trying to be good enough to please God and the bondage of ‘purchasing’ salvation through a system built by the traditions of men … their consciences were now held captive to the revealed and objective Word of God: the Holy Bible.

The current situation is in many ways similar – our culture has forgotten the reformers, embraced weak sentimentality, and elevated ‘experience’ above the written Word. Many find themselves in churches where the Word is neither preached nor read. They are in need of a modern reformation bringing hearts and minds under submission to the Word!

The advent of Christ was undoubtedly the most significant event of history. I believe the Reformation was the second most important event. We never want to presume upon the mercy of God – we should pray and work for this new reformation while at all times giving thanks to the Father, from whom all light proceeds.

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Listen to the speech that started the Reformation (from the 2003 movie “Luther”):

See more at gunbanobama.com

Red Skelton\'s Pledge to the American Flag

General Tomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s Men of the Valley speech.

from the movie, God’s and Generals

Our government wouldn’t violate our rights and invade our homes today? Think again - check this out!

In the past one of the signs of a true church was that it practiced discipline. There is formative discipline that we receive directly through the Word and the Spirit mainly through the preaching of the Word. There are occasions, however, when formative discipline alone is insufficient and corrective discipline becomes necessary.

Corrective discipline becomes necessary when heretical doctrine or disorderly, immoral, or scandalous conduct appears among the members of the church. As a general rule and whenever feasible, an effort must be made to resolve difficulty, correct error, and remove offense through counsel and admonition before more serious steps are taken.

The goals of corrective discipline are:

1. the glory of God,
2. the welfare and purity of the church, and
3. the restoration and spiritual growth of the offender.

One should note that without a clear and comprehensive statement of faith corrective discipline is difficult. Admittedly, one can always go to the Bible and delineate particular ‘sins’ that might merit discipline. But even then, without a systematic statement the elders (or whatever un-biblical leadership a church has) are in real danger of taking their personal preferences and making them ‘law.’ For example, would you discipline a person for smoking? If so would you also discipline a man for gluttony? Which one of those ‘sins’ are mentioned in scripture? A statement of faith (such as the 1689 London Baptist Confession) is a marvelous tool that we can use to guide us in guarding against legalism and capricious and unbalanced judgments.

We ought to strive to be known as a church that knows (and lives) the scriptures and, in addition, has leaders that take seriously their responsibility to the welfare and purity of the church and the restoration and spiritual growth of their membership. If society is to be awakened one day from its deep slumber, it will only be done by Christians who have first woken up themselves to the full splendor of their privilege and who have taken seriously the call to live wholly and entirely for God. Believers ought to be men and women who are fully awake in a world where others are either half asleep or fully drugged.

listen to this audio clip for a short explanation of our desire to follow the Bible

Titus 1:9-16 ESV

Titus 1:9-16 NIV

Refute Those Who Contradict

This Indian weed now wither’d quite,
‘Tho’ green at noon, cut down at night,
Shows thy decay;
All flesh is hay.
Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

The pipe so lily-like and weak,
Does thus thy mortal state bespeak.
Thou art ev’n such,
Gone with a touch.
Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

And when the smoke ascends on high,
Then thou behold’st the vanity
Of worldly stuff,
Gone with a puff.
Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

And when the pipe grows foul within,
Think on thy soul defil’d with sin;
For then the fire,
It does require.
Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

And seest the ashes cast away;
Then to thyself thou mayest say
That to the dust
Return thou must.
Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

PART II.
Was this small plant for thee cut down?
So was the plant of great renown;
Which mercy sends
For nobler ends.
Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

Doth juice medicinal proceed
From such a naughty foreign weed?
Then what’s the pow’r
Of Jesse’s flow’r?
Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

The promise, like the pipe, inlays,
And by the mouth of faith conveys
What virtue flows
From Sharon’s rose.
Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

In vain th’ unlighted pipe you blow;
Your pains in inward means are so,
’Till heav’nly fire
Thy heart inspire.
Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

The smoke, like burning incense tow’rs
So should a praying heart of yours,
With ardent cries,
Surmount the skies.
Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

Go here to read more about the marvelous ministry of Ralph Erskine