Baptist, DO NOT SIGN THE Manhattan Declaration

I received an email invitation to sign the Manhattan Declaration, which, according to their statement is as follows:

We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:

1.the sanctity of human life
2.the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3.the rights of conscience and religious liberty.

There are many well known “evangelical” Christian pastors and teachers that have signed this declaration. With our world in turmoil and the godlessness of our country, leaders want to come together and do something about this lack of morality in our land. For those Christians who have been called into a life of public service, good for you, I pray you are successful. However, this group is not founded in the views of a stated political movement. The Manhattan Declaration’s entire basis of unity is under the flag of Christianity. There is a difference between being a member of a political party (Republican, Democrat, Conservative etc.) with those who disagree doctrinally because of the purpose and unifying statements. By signing and joining, you have, either condoned other denominational practices, or compromised the truth. Those that sign the document and claim to hold to biblical doctrine say that they separate the doctrine and unify in what they share in common against a mutual enemy.

While I am vehemently opposed to abortion and gay marriage, I do not believe that groups like this one will bring about the change they are seeking. Coalitions are not the power of God unto salvation. Political action groups are not the power of God unto salvation. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Godly King Josiah regulated morality in his kingdom, and the egregious sins were put to an end, for a time. However by reading the book of Jeremiah, we see that because it was only outward obedience without salvation, the people fell away soon thereafter. We are not called to get laws passed, but preach the gospel to lost sinners, baptize believers and teach the saved the truth. A national revival of strong preaching, gospel proclaiming, godly sorrow and repentance will put an end to abortion and gay marriage, for good. Now, after all these centuries, we have the document that will bring about liberty, peace and justice; the Manhattan Document? The document claims that the signers are joined together in the gospel, but which gospel? I know the bible teaches justification by faith in Jesus Christ; however Catholic and Orthodox churchmen do not hold nor teach the truth concerning the gospel, so I ask again, which gospel are they uniting in? This brand of ecumenical unity promotes a post-modern world view; your truth is your own and what you make it to be. We see the further development that Christianity is a term to differentiate you from Jew or Muslim or Atheist, rather than what it is, being born again by the power of God, by his mercy and grace.

You WILL compromise if you sign this declaration if you are a Baptist. By signing this manifesto, you are saying that justification by faith, the doctrines of grace and the gospel of Christ and the truth of His church is secondary when faced with such social issues. Simply by signing, you are compromising the truth of God’s word. The premise of the statement is that Christians are standing together to fight social injustice. Standing together on what? They are not standing together in the truth. Certainly not the Word of God. We defiantly cannot stand together in the gospel when some preach another gospel. There can be no fellowship in salvation in Christ if they believe in another Christ. Why stop at interdenominational confederation?

It is unbiblical. How can two walk together except they be agreed? What fellowship do we have with the Devil? What fellowship do we have with the Mother of Harlots? II Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. Do not forget what our Baptist forefathers suffered at the hands of a powerful, political power called the Catholic Church and her Protestant harlot daughters. And as far as supporting, joining in with, and perpetuating their political power; no thanks. It is hard to imagine that the Catholic Church is advocating freedom of conscience. As a member of the Church that Christ love and died for, that is the pillar and ground of the truth, I cannot, in a clear conscience to God, unite with those historic groups who persecute and persecuted my Baptist forefathers, whose sole source of unity during the Reformation, what a mutual opposition to the Anabaptist. By God’s grace, never.



Douglas Newell

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving day. Psalm 96:4 For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised.

A variety of Thanksgiving reads.

For those who want to see what Thanksgiving is in a POST-MODERN USA, here is some of President Obama's Thanksgiving day address. Apparently, this day has turned into thanking the Indians and others in public service. How sad.

Today, we recall President George Washington, who proclaimed our first national day of public thanksgiving to be observed "by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God," and President Abraham Lincoln, who established our annual Thanksgiving Day to help mend a fractured nation in the midst of civil war. We also recognize the contributions of Native Americans, who helped the early colonists survive their first harsh winter and continue to strengthen our nation. From our earliest days of independence, and in times of tragedy and triumph, Americans have come together to celebrate Thanksgiving.

As Americans, we hail from every part of the world. While we observe traditions from every culture, Thanksgiving Day is a unique national tradition we all share. Its spirit binds us together as one people, each of us thankful for our common blessings.

I encourage all the people of the United States to come together, whether in our homes, places of worship, community centers, or any place where family, friends and neighbors may gather, with gratitude for all we have received in the past year, to express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own and to share our bounty with others.

Now that I have ruined your appetite...

For those who want to read what Abraham Lincoln said

Kevin Deyoung wrote a good article, "How Did Paul Give Thanks".


Thank the Lord God for all His blessings.



Douglas Newell

DO NOT SIGN THE MANHATTAN DECLARATION!

Don't sign the Manhattan Declaration. There are many men and women who are notable 'evangelicals' and have suprisinly (perhaps not too surprisinly) signed this Catholic/Orthodox/Protestant declaration.

Here are a few signers:

• Randy Alcorn
  
• Kay Arthur
  
• James Dobson
  
• Josh McDowell
  
• Al Mohler
  
• Marvin Olasky
  
• J.I. Packer
  
• Ravi Zacharias
  

I hope to post a more indepth article on the subject, but the jist of it comes to this. Unite with all of proffessing Christianity to stop abortion, gay marriage and other social and moral issues. Put aside doctrinal differnces, put aside even the truth of the gospel and justification by faith in order to unite in this common cause. Compromise the gospel? No thanks. I HATE abortion, but I love Christ and the truth of His gospel, and will not cannot compromise the truth.

More to come on from the side of the Landmark Baptist.

If you have not heard of it, and want some reading on the sujbect, try:

James White
John MaArthur

Douglas Newell

Mary Jones and Her Bible

Mary Jones was a young Welsh born in the late 1700’s. She was born into a poor, but God fearing family. Mary, saved by God’s Grace at an early age, had a love for God’s word. Being poor and uneducated, her heart’s desire was to learn to read, and then purchase a bible of her own. Bibles were few and far between in Wales thus making them very expensive.



This book chronicles the very long and patient journey of young Mary Jones in her quest to know more of her Saviour, Jesus Christ. In a world where we can so easily access the Word of God, it is humbling and convicting to read of this young girl and the love and sacrifice she made to read God’s word. Her trails and her story lead to the foundation of the British and Foreign Bible Society, which purposed to get the Word of God into the hands of the people who did not have it.

The book brought me to tears, and I highly recommend it to you.


Douglas Newell

Global Warming Fraud?

Man isn't causing the oceans to rise? Really?


Who would have ever imagined that?



Job 38:1-11 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?



Believe GOD'S WORD.




Douglas Newell

Quote of the Week

I read this in Spurgeon's Treasury of David.

Today he puts forth
The tender leaves of hope, tomorrow blossoms
And bears his blushing honors thick upon him:
The third day comes a frost, a killing frost.
And--when he thinks, good easy man, full surely
His greatness is ripening--nips his root,
And then he falls, as I do.
Henry VIII



The next comes from D. Martyn Lloyd Jones from his book Studies in the Sermon on the Mount.

"The world thinks in terms of strength and power, of ability, self-assurance and aggressiveness. That is the world's idea of conquest and possession. The more you assert yourself and express yourself, the more you organize an manifest your powers and ability, the more likely you are to succeed and get on. But here comes this astounding statement, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth'--and they alone. Once more, then we are reminded at the very beginning that the Christian is altogether different from the world. It is a difference in quality, and essential difference. He is a new man, a new creation; he belongs to an entirely different kingdom. And not only is the world unlike him; it cannot possibly understand him. He is an enigma to the world. And if you and I are not, in this primary sense, problems and enigmas to the non-Christan around us, then this tells us a great deal about our profession of the Christian faith."

Read Your Bible

2009 is winding down, and I am almost through the yearly bible reading plan. My plan is not very sophisticated; it consists of starting Thanksgiving weekend rather than January 1st, and reading the Bible. For some reason, starting the plan on January 1st always gave me a feeling of impending failure. I know 12 months is 12 months, but in my mind, when I am 5 weeks into the plan on January 1st I don’t have that sneaking feeling hanging over my head.


Is it wrong to have a reading plan? Of course not. Personally, I am not a fan of the schedules that go back and forth, here a chapter and there a chapter, but that is just me and my personality. When I am in the middle of an account in the Old Testament, I don’t' like to leave in the middle.

I am sure there will be those that oppose such a plan as being legalistic and not very spiritual; however having no plan at all results in never reading the Scriptures through. Sure, a plan is rigid, but isn't that the point? A plan is not a master, but it serves us, keeping us on track. Sermon outlines are not the message, but a guide. They shouldn't be the master behind the pulpit but a help to get us to get where we want to go. When I go and preach at different churches, I go with a message I feel the church needs to hear, one that the Holy Spirit has impressed upon my heart. Even though I trust that I am going to do a spiritual work, I still use my GPS to get me to the building.

Along those lines, what would be the cure for reading the Bible for the wrong reasons? The Holy Spirit’s direction in the Word. You may start the reading because it is time to read, but the Word of God is quick and powerful.

Is it wrong to want to read through the Bible in the year? No, you could do it three times a year if you wanted or maybe once in two years. The point is READ YOUR BIBLE! The goal for yearly reading is set up because it is very easily manageable, if you read your bible every day. Even a very slow reader can read four chapters a day in 20 minutes.

Reading is not a substitute for study. We are commanded to study to show ourselves approved unto God, but it is difficult to study that which we are unfamiliar with. I believe that there are three different types of reading.

1. Reading the bible
2. Devotional reading
3. Study

Each is necessary, each has its place, and none can substitute for the other.

Whatever your plan, read your bible. There is no trick to it, you just have to do it, pick the Bible up, open to page one, and start reading. If you have never read all the way through your Bible, pray that God will help you and prepare to embark on a life changing spiritual journey.

Are You Saved?

Do you profess to be a Christian? How much is your profession worth? If you were to poll this area, I am sure seven out of ten people would profess Christianity. Have you prayed a prayer or made a decision? Perhaps you were told that if you repeated a prayer and you confessed Christ with your mouth, then you were saved. Let me tell you that a profession is worthless.

Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The latter part of the seventh chapter of Matthew deals specifically with those who give false professions, meaning they said they were Christians and they claimed to be followers of Jesus, but in reality, they were not. These people said “Lord, Lord” and yet had never been saved. If you are trusting your soul on a vain prayer that someone told you to repeat, that is not salvation. Many will one day stand before the Lord on the day of judgment that said “Lord, Lord”. You may profess to know Christ, but does Christ know you? To this multitude of deceived Jesus will profess “I never knew you”. They SAID they were Christians, but they were not. Their profession was worthless. God’s Word declares to us that it is not going to be just a few people but MANY will be in this position. If you read polls you would see that the overwhelming majority of this country professes Christianity. However, God’s Holy Word tells us that many will be cast into Hell because they were not really saved.

You have an eternal soul. Are you trusting in the word of some preacher or evangelist that told you that you were saved? Are you trusting in some sort of good works? Jesus said that these professors did many works in the name of God, but they were not born again. Are you trusting that the preacher who told you that you are saved told you the truth? Jesus said that many of the same people that said “ Lord, Lord” were those that preached in His name. Do not trust your soul on what a man said, but what God’s Word says.

What is salvation? There is only one God who is a Holy God. He created man in His own image, man rebelled against Him and now the human race is sunk in depravity. God is Just and will punish all sin. Sin is breaking God’s laws. God, also being merciful, sent His Son Jesus, to take the place of sinners on the cross. Jesus accepted the punishment for the sins of His people, He took their place that they might have eternal life. Jesus shed His blood on the cross for an atonement for sin. He died, and rose victoriously from the grave; and by faith, whoever trusts in the work of Christ, shall not suffer in Hell for their sins, but is born again and has everlasting life. Jesus makes it plain, there is only one way to God, and that is faith in Christ. Any other belief system is rejecting the way, the truth and the life. The consequence of rejecting Christ is an eternity in the Lake of Fire.

Matthew 7:16-20 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Did you make a profession and repeat a prayer, but you are not any different than you were before? Was there a change in your life? We are saved by GRACE through FAITH but God tells us that “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17. Was there a change in your life? This is called the “new birth” in the scriptures. The Holy Spirit of God gives life to the spiritually dead. We are given spiritual life and a desire to follow after Christ. The Holy Spirit indwells the believer, and there are “fruits” or evidences of salvation. We work out in our lives what God has placed in us. These evidences of love, joy and peace are not the reason for salvation, but are because you have been saved. The bible tells men to examine themselves. Are you saved?

Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Is your life built upon your works? Is your life built upon a profession, or saying a prayer? Is your soul anchored to your baptism or church membership? That is sand, a house without a foundation. You would never build a house without a foundation, why trust your eternal soul to something without foundation? “And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.”

Christ has bore all the sins of His people in his own body on the tree, drank the cup of God’s wrath dry taking all the punishment due His people for sin, justifying many, the substitute making full satisfaction and removing our sins as far from us as the east is from the west for the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. Oh, and lest you suspect, that God may one day overlook your sin, and you will take your chances consider that the God whom would not spare His own Son, His Righteousness because of others sin, do not be deceived that He will overlook your sins, which you actually committed, knowing it to be wrong, but did it anyway, despising the God you commanded.


Romans 5:6-9

Are you saved? Have you repented, turned from your sins and trusted in Christ alone for salvation? Do you follow Christ? Have you been born again? Examine your life, not by your profession, not by your friends you also made professions, but by the light of God’s word. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God John 3:3. The book of First John was written to believers that they may know that they are saved. If you are unsure, read First John and be sure. If you are not saved and now see that you are a sinner before the Almighty God, then know that Christ Jesus came to save sinners, repent and believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.

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Creation

Elder David Green is doing a study through the book of Genesis at the Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Mansfield, Oh.

Brother Green is planning on posting the audio from the messages and his study notes each week HERE. I highly recommend it.

In Christ alone,

DPN

Courage of Your Convictions

The following is from an article by Tim Parks, Entertainment Reporter for Digital_Spy.

Roland Emmerich has admitted that he feared a fatwa would be placed on him if he filmed a scrapped scene for 2012.

The filmmaker is well known for decimating famed landmarks on movies including The Day After Tomorrow and Independence Day. He stated that while he decided to destroy the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro because he is "against organised religion", he was fearful of the Islamic religious decree for a sequence that was planned but not shot.

The 53-year-old wanted to demolish the Kaaba, which is a cube-shaped building at the heart of Mecca and is the centre of prayers and the Islamic Hajj pilgrimage.

He told Sci-Fi Wire: "Well, I wanted to do that, I have to admit. But my co-writer Harald said I will not have a fatwa on my head because of a movie. And he was right. We have to all in the Western world think about this.

"You can actually let Christian symbols fall apart, but if you would do this with [an] Arab symbol, you would have a fatwa, and that sounds a little bit like what the state of this world is.

"So it's just something which I kind of didn't [think] was [an] important element, anyway, in the film, so I kind of left it out."

2012 is scheduled to open in cinemas on November 13.

I do not find it odd that this man against "organized religion" would symbolically depict the falling of a statue representing Christ as a statment against Christiantiy. No surprise there. What I find interesting is that his convictions end where his own neck begins. Sure, it is easy to mock, and dispute Christ when (in his own mind) he sees no danger or harm. His convictions come to a screeching halt when it is going to cost him something.

No wants to be persecuted or have a fatwah (read death sentence) pronounced upon them. What is telling is his beliefs serve his own depravity. His heart is enmity against God, and he will shout it from the roof tops, as long as it doesn't cost him anything. This shows a lack of conviction rather than the cutting edge bold truth teller that he must imagine himself.

Roland Emmerich feels that reproaching Christianity is safe because Christ has commanded His servants to be harmless as doves. However, facing the Lord Christ at the White Throne Judgment is far more terrifying than anything man can do to you. Revelation 20:11-15.

Saturday Night

• Saturday night and we are changing the clocks and falling back an hour. There are two schools of thought; you either get an extra hour to use or an extra hour of sleep. I try to use the hour, my family has chosen the extra hour of sleep.



• This would drive me CRAZY



• Seeing Newt and other Republicans playing politics trying to beat Pelosi is the reason that I am fed up with the Republican Party. How about a principled stand? Anyone?



• In hindsight, I regret not going to more fellowship meetings when I was in Kentucky.



• I watched Wall-E with the kids tonight. I am getting sick of having "Green" shoved down my throat. Nothing like being lectured by a cartoon to make me want to burn tires in the yard.

Good night.