“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write… I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” —Revelation 3:14-16

The Devil is sly and he uses the arrogance, greed and ignorance of religious men to blind them from the truth. Today’s evangelical circles are complacently apostate, completely silent regarding the evils plaguing America. It is tragic. All across America ministers are selling books and hosting pastor’s conventions, but they are virtually silent concerning the wickednesses of our society. It is apostasy. Every church in America ought to be crying aloud publicly against the evils of abortion, homosexuality, pornography, et cetera.

I’m not endorsing Fred Phelps, but his methods come MUCH closer to being right than most pastors in America who hide behind closed doors in their pompous arrogance. America needs more Billy Sundays, John the Baptists, George Whitefields and Jonathan Edwards.

The Damnable World of Joel Osteen

God pity false prophets like Joel Osteen who never take a stand against sin. Mr. Osteen is nothing more than a greedy businessman and motivation speaker, and a disgrace to the name of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist could have trimmed his sermons, turned a blind eye to Herod’s adultery, avoided telling people they needed to repent; but he told the truth. In sharp contrast, Joel Osteen makes one nauseous. He doesn’t mention the word “repent” until after his sermonette is over, as to avoid offending anyone.

2nd Timothy 4:3 perfectly describes Joel Osteen and his congregation… “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.”

Joel Osteen is a greedy televangelist who’s afraid to tell the truth of God’s Word, lest he lose money. Judgment Day is coming… “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”

Joel Osteen deceitfully brags of not taking a salary from his church, while making tens-of-millions of dollars from apostate book sales. Woe unto Joel and Victoria Osteen.

Would to God that Joel Osteen would tell people the truth, i.e., that they’re a bunch of dirty, rotten, hell-deserving sinners bound for hellfire in their sins. They’re GUILTY! Osteen alleges that people already know this; but they do not want to deal with the issue of sin, which is why they come to hear Osteen’s apostate sermons.

In sharp contrast to Osteen’s milquetoast sermons, please read this brief excerpt from Jonathan Edward’s famous sermon, SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD…

“The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked: his wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire; he is of purer eyes than to bear to have you in his sight; you are ten thousand times more abominable in his eyes, than the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours. You have offended him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his prince; and yet it is nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment. It is to be ascribed to nothing else, that you did not go to hell the last night; that you was suffered to awake again in this world, after you closed your eyes to sleep. And there is no other reason to be given, why you have not dropped into hell since you arose in the morning, but that God’s hand has held you up. There is no other reason to be given why you have not gone to hell, since you have sat here in the house of God, provoking his pure eyes by your sinful wicked manner of attending his solemn worship. Yea, there is nothing else that is to be given as a reason why you do not this very moment drop down into hell.”

SOURCE: SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD! by Jonathan Edwards; preached in Enfield, Connecticut; July 8, 1741

If Joel Osteen preached a sermon like that, he’d lose half his congregation overnight. Today’s superior, arrogant, thin-skinned, pompous, selfish, spoiled rotten America is INTOLERANT to the truth. Woe unto America! Souls are Dying Joel.

America’s Dead Churches

It was Billy Sunday, who nearly 100 years ago said…

“It would be a godsend if the Church would suffer persecution today; she hasn’t suffered it for hundreds of years. She is growing rich and lagging behind. Going back.“

-Billy Sunday, The Need for Revivals, From “Billy Sunday: The Man and His Message”, by William T. Ellis, Philadelphia: John C. Winston Co., 1914

Evangelical Christianity today is more resemblant of the 1,200 lb. pig I saw at the Wisconsin State Fair many years ago. It seems that most pastors are only interested in obtaining more money…. gimme, gimme, gimme. It is not fair for a church congregation to have to finance the escapades of a pastor’s selfish interests. And then that pastor heads over to The Holy Land on vacation, while most of his church members can barely afford to drive to the next town. It is apostasy!

“Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42,43).

There were Pharisees who believed on Jesus; but were unwilling to take a stand for God for fear of losing the praise of men. This same cowardliness saturates evangelical circles today in America. The average Christian minister in America is afraid of losing the praise of men, which equates to loss of revenues. Shame on them! God must come first and His Word must be preached to the world.

At Ease On Zion

It is sinful how so many ministry leaders today make frequent trips to Hawaii and the Holyland; while they do little to fight against sin, contend for the Christian faith by exposing false doctrines, and cry aloud against the wickednesses of our time. Sadly, the few pastors who do preach the truth are cowards, afraid to publicly take a stand, and the message never leaves the comfort of their church walls. It is apostasy!

Here is a lengthy list of compromised, apostate, milquetoast, ecumenical, prophets of Baal that I wouldn’t give you a dime for…

Bob Bell, Doug Sager, J. Harold Smith, James Dobson, Chuck Swindoll, Charles Stanley, Alistair Begg, Dennis Rainey, Ron Stewart, Chip Ingram, Mart DeHann, Steve Brown, John MacArthur, David Jeremiah, Steve Arterburn, Sam Polson, Dan Corner, Adrian Rogers, Andrew Wommack, Chuck Bentley, Bil Gephardt, Fredrick Brabson Sr., RC Sproul, June Hunt, Hank Hanegraaff, Joni Eareckson Tada, Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, Ray Comfort, Kirk Cameron, Paul Washer, Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, and hundreds of others.

These ministers are what’s wrong with the church in America today!!! They are wishy-washy and never stick-their-neck-out for God. They don’t dare offend anyone, especially their peers in the ministry. They write scores of worthless books to inoculate people from receiving genuine Christianity. They all look and act like a bunch of spoiled elites. They’re all in the ministry to make a buck.

We need some John the Baptists in America to cry aloud against Herod’s adultery (Mark 6:18)! We need some Billy Sundays to cry aloud against booze, dancing and gambling! Rise up oh Christian! Where are the men of God who hate sin and love the sinner? Where are the men of God who walk with God, and get ANGRY over the wickednesses of our society in which we live? Where are the men of God who are willing to be counted as a fool for the cause of Christ?

All I see are these Shirley Temple, milquetoast, girly-boy types, like Joel Osteen who didn’t have enough gonads on the Larry King Show to say that Christ-rejecting Jews weren’t going to Heaven. Truly the love of money is the root of all evil as 1st Timothy 6:10 warns. Joel Osteen couldn’t preach his way out of a paper bag. It makes God vomit… “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15,16). Joel Osteen is lukewarm.

Apostate RBC Ministries

I was recently looking at different contemporary ministries online, including RBC Ministries whose President is Mart DeHaan (Martin DeHaan’s grandson). Sadly, they promote the New International Version [NIV] of the Bible on their website. By looking at their ministries’ webpage, you’d never get the impression that they take a stand for anything. They’re just collecting donations. It makes me sick that hardly any Christians nowadays have anything negative to say about anything. What is wrong with Christians today? We are engrossed in a raging battle in America today against evil and all I see are covetous believers who want to make money. It seems that everyone’s got a “new” book to sell. They’re no better than the “den of thieves” Jesus condemned in Matthew 21:13.

It’s a shame. RBC Ministries didn’t forget the “donate” button though. Don’t any believers care that homosexuals are trying to force their sick culture upon our children? Why doesn’t Mart DeHaan publicly speak out against this rot in America? What about abortion? What about pornography? It is apostasy. They drive their new cars, and live in their big homes, and eat the best of foods, and sit idle while their brothers are on the frontlines fighting the Devil… “Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?” (Numbers 32:6). Repent!

Apostate Moody Ministries

Moody Bible Institute is about as pathetic as you can get nowadays, honoring heretics like John MacArthur at their annual Founder’s Week and teaching the heresy of Lordship Salvation to their students. Their female students dress immodestly, wearing tight pants and halter tops, their bookstore sells so-called Christian Rock ‘N’ Roll music (i.e., the Devil’s music) to the students, et cetera. This is apostasy! Moody today is a spiritual toilet bowl.

Whatever happened to the horses and carriages that Dwight L. Moody used to use to bring poor families to church in the Chicagoland area? Why no bus ministry today? Why has the Moody Memorial Church abandoned soulwinning? God deliver us from church-pew Christianity! The early believers in the Book of Acts DIDN’T have a church building. Their ministry was in the public streets of Jerusalem. They made people very angry with the truth of God’s Word. People either repented towards God or picked up stones to hurl at Jesus’ disciples. How does this compare to the sissy-pants type ministers today who dare not rock-the-boat or offend anyone? Offend Them!

If you’re a believer, and you’re sitting idle on the sidelines during the raging battle today in America against sin, then you ought to be ashamed. Matthew 20:6, “And about the eleventh hour he [Jesus] went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?” Believers today need to Make Some Noise!

Lukewarm Christianity (which is no Christianity at all)

There is something very wrong with America’s Christians today, who are eerily silent concerning the evils which saturate American society. God hates LUKEWARM Christianity (Revelation 3:14-16).

Homosexuals are everywhere and we ought to expose them for the Bible-hating, abnormal, mentally ill and spiritually rebellious sinners they are. Pastor Lon Solomon says homosexuality and abortion are only “minor concerns” in his church of 10,000. Youth Pastor, Tony Jones, says that he believes homosexuals can still live a Biblical lifestyle pleasing to God. Jones is an unsaved heretic. I don’t believe in condemning people, because the Bible condemns ALL OF US; but we need to protect our children from the evils of homosexuality and take an uncompromising stand against immorality! Homosexuality is immoral. No one has a right to teach children that it’s ok to be IMMORAL.

In 1998, Ellen DeGeneres exploited the murder of a University of Wyoming homosexual student named Matthew Shepard, using the boy’s death to demonize Bible-believing Christians. Read some of the hateful and malicious statement Ellen made publicly about Christians…

Ellen DeGeneres declares war

October 23, 1998

Ellen DeGeneres came to Washington last week, joined a bipartisan demonstration led by congressmen and senators on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, and declared, “This is a war.” Who is she fighting and why? She is fighting you because of what you believe…

The “war” that Ellen DeGeneres talked about was a war against Jewish and Christian belief itself.

Listen to what she said to a crowd of several thousand as the beautiful dome of the U.S. Capitol loomed brightly above her on a crisp autumn evening.

“This is what I was trying to stop. This is exactly why I did what I did,” DeGeneres told the cheering throng, referring to the canceled prime-time television show in which she tried to normalize the practice of homosexuality.

She made it clear that her principal enemy in this cause is the “religious right,” Christianity in general, and people who raise their children to think that homosexual activity is wrong.

First, she attacked a series of newspaper ads published last summer by the Christian Coalition, the Family Research Council, the American Family Association and a dozen other Christian organizations-ads that promoted the idea that those who have fallen into a homosexual lifestyle can rise out of it and change for the better.

“I don’t see full-page ads saying `Stop the Hate, Stop the Violence.” said DeGeneres.

“These same evil, idiotic, so-called God-loving people who use the Bible to justify their hate I’m sure still feel deep down that blacks aren’t equal to whites because the Bible was also used to justify slavery.”

She then compared such people to Hitler and those who were complicit in the Holocaust. “When Hitler was killing all the Jews,” she said, “the church was silent, they did nothing.”

Then she made her fundamental point: Children should be taught that the homosexual lifestyle is a good thing.

“Please raise your children with love and not judgment,”

she said.

“Tell them that everybody has the right to love whom they want to love.”

DeGeneres stomped off to the wings to hug and kiss Hollywood actress Ann Heche. Heche mounted the stage and shouted, “I am so glad to be Ellen DeGeneres’s wife.” [emphasis added]

SOURCE: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3827/is_199810/ai_n8815714

Ellen DeGeneres the degenerate, is an evil “woman” who hates the Bible, hates the God of the Bible and hates Bible-believing Christians. Consider the following two horrible statements made by Ellen DeGeneres from the preceding article quote…

• “These same evil, idiotic, so-called God-loving people who use the Bible to justify their hate…”
• “Children should be taught that the homosexual lifestyle is a good thing.”

Such deranged statements coming from one of America’s most influential lesbians ought to upset every born-again Christian in America. Ellen DeGeneres (or degenerate) calls God-fearing Christians “evil, idiotic and hateful.”

She’s the evil idiot. Only a complete fool would spit in God’s face by condemning Bible-believing Christians for preaching against sin. Homosexuality is a horrible sin which guarantees the judgment of God (Romans 1:24-32).

Children ought to be taught that homosexuality is sick, abnormal, shameful, unnatural, morally reprehensible and most of all… a SIN. What DeGeneres labels as “hate” is obedience to God. Ephesians 5:11 commands all believers to refute (Greek: elencho, which means “to expose”) all works of darkness… “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” This means we are to expose homosexuality for the vile, disgusting, shameful, unhealthy sin that it is. Ellen DeGeneres errantly calls this idiotic and evil. No Ellen, you are a God-hating rebel who chooses to live in unrepentant sin. Proverb 29:27 proclaims, “An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.” This is the root of the matter. Christians are evil in the eyes of homosexuals, and homosexuals are evil in the eyes of Christians. There can be NO harmony between sodomites and born-again Christians who love the Word of God.

Sadly, America’s churches are virtually silent concerning the evils of homosexuality. Ellen DeGeneres needs to be exposed as a threat to America’s children. Several Fortune 500 companies have embraced Miss DeGeneres, featuring her in commercials. This is wickedness. Proverb 26:1 states, “As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.” Ellen DeGeneres is a fool undeserving of any honor; yet Godless heathens who hate Jesus Christ sinfully promote and honor her. Ellen DeGeneres is a disgrace to America and to the name of decency. It’s not about love and acceptance; it’s about obeying God’s morally perfect Law.

God wants His children to rise out of complacency, and not be lukewarm concerning sin. We must not be afraid to speak our opinion in public concerning the awfulness of sin. I complain frequently when I see smut and offensive things in public. I let people know where I stand. Of course, we need to discern each situation and use wisdom accordingly.

The Sad Conclusion

It appears that most believers today have given up on the war against sin and evil. Even America’s Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches (my camp) have become a sorry bunch, increasingly focusing upon making money rather than preaching the truth at all cost. You CAN’T have both!…

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [money].”

Pastor’s are either going to preach the truth and end up struggling financially (like the Apostle Paul did) or else they’re going to sellout, compromise their message, suppress the truth, and appeal to the apostate, thin-skinned, woefully ignorant, carnal believer which saturate our churches today. God is sick of vacationing pastors and church-pew Christianity! If your pastor vacations often, while 95% of his church cannot afford to do so, find another church! A pastor is supposed to be a servant, which is what the word “minister” means. Most pastors today selfishly hound their congregation for more money, but the pastor and his family always seem to come out on top financially in the end. It’s called manipulating people and it’s wrong. God deliver us from shady car-salesman pastors.

Some pastors and evangelists teach bizarre unbiblical ideas concerning money… whatever it takes to brainwash naive people into surrendering their money to finance his own personal ministry agendas. Too many pastors today are enslaved to their own carnal ego, saturated with selfish pride and covetousness; but spiritually in denial, evidenced by their intense desire for financial success and unwillingness to humble themselves to preach the WHOLE truth. Money shouldn’t be an issue in one’s ministry; but sadly, it has become the MAIN ISSUE in most churches today (at the tragic expense of preaching the truth)! It is God’s ministry; not ours! Somewhere along the way believers have forgotten that it’s our duty to seek out, teach and defend THE TRUTH… “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). God expects every believer to contend for the Christian faith (Jude 1:3).

There is a direct correlation between a pastor’s LOVE FOR MONEY versus the AMOUNT OF TRUTH HE PREACHES! Tragically, most of today’s evangelical ministers love money more than truth, which is why they’re so publicly silent concerning sin, the moral meltdown of America and the blatant evils being committed by our government leaders.

“On moral matters where right and wrong are involved, and where the Bible clearly speaks, many preachers have so compromised and sold out, and are so afraid of their congregations, that they cannot give the clear Word of God. God pity the preacher who is afraid to preach against sin just because somebody will cry ‘politics’! “

SOURCE: Dr. Rice… Here Are More Questions; Question: Should politics and religion be mixed?; by Dr. John R. Rice, pg. 250, Sword of the Lord Publishers; 1973, ISBN: 0-87398-157-X

A believer’s love for the Lord Jesus Christ can only truly be measured by one’s hatred for sin and evil… “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil…”

Evangelical Christianity today

EXPOSED! – Kittredge

Cherry: Lesbian, Modernist,

False Prophet, & A Deceiver!

By David J. Stewart & Andrew Friedman

“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.” —2nd Peter 2:1

A popular modernist today is ordained lesbian minister, Kittredge Cherry. According to her blasphemous website at www.jesusinlove.org…

Kittredge Cherry is an author, spiritual director and art historian whose ministry put her on the cutting edge of the homosexuality debates at the National Council of Churches (USA) and the World Council of Churches. She is the motivational force behind JesusInLove.org. Kittredge Cherry was ordained by Metropolitan Community Churches and served as clergy in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community for seven years until health issues forced her into a more contemplative life. She worked extensively with people from every branch of Christianity, including the Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox and Evangelical traditions. She now considers herself a free agent for Christ in the world.

One of Kitt’s biological and spiritual ancestors is John Donne, the 17th century English poet and clergyman who wrote, “No man is an island.” Kitt was born and raised in Iowa. She met her life partner, Audrey, when they were both students at the University of Iowa. After earning degrees in journalism and art history, Kitt worked as a newspaper reporter and studied in Japan on a Rotary International Journalism Scholarship. She was baptized at age 25 at an interdenominational church in Japan. She went on to earn a Master of Divinity degree from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California.

From looking at Ms. Cherry’s website, you could easily get the impression that she is a Christian if you didn’t know any better.  She speaks of Jesus, love, prayer, and spiritual matters; HOWEVER, the honest truth is that Kittredge Cherry is a modernist, i.e., she falsely gives the impression of being a Christian, but she is not.  Ms. Cherry is an unsaved heathen bound for the lake of Fire without Christ.  Her salvation testimony is non-existent.  Her website mentions that she was baptized in Japan.  This is not salvation.  Ms. Cherry makes no mention of being born-again, or of repentance towards God, or of the condemnation of God’s Law upon sinners.  Our churches are becoming saturated with liberalism, with a shallow social gospel that requires no repentance.  There can be NO salvation apart from God’s Law.

Kittredge Cherry Presents Jesus as a Queer (and that’s the term she uses)

In a deceitful maneuver, Ms. Cherry presents her homosexual views in a hypothetical manner; yet, her work is interpreted by homosexuals as defining the true character of Christ.  This is masterful deception of the Devil.

Kittredge Cherry states…

“Surprising answers come in Jesus in Love, a novel that re-imagines Christ’s legendary life as an erotic, mystical adventure in first-century Palestine. Jesus has today’s queer sensibilities and sexual sophistication as he lives out the Christian story in this novel of spiritual and sexual awakening … He falls in love with people of both sexes. Society doesn’t understand him … Jesus, the narrator, speaks in an engaging, up-to-date tone as he reveals his intimate relationships with John the beloved disciple (a gay man mourning his lover’s death)…” - http://www.jesusinlove.org/newbook.php

There are some horrible people in this world, and Kittredge Cherry is one of them.  I say this, not to be unkind, but to expose her for assassinated the character of my Savior, Jesus Christ.  Hebrews 1:9 tells us that Jesus HATED iniquity!  Psalm 97:10 says, “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil.“  I’ve yet to find one homosexual who speaks out against evil.  The reason why is obvious–they are committing evil themselves.  Homosexuality is a sin.  The entire Chapter of Romans one is dedicated to revealing the origin, cause, and wickedness of homosexuality.  Yet, Ms. Cherry fully rejects the plain teachings of Scripture, and puts forth the notion that Jesus and John the disciple were homosexual lovers.  There’s nothing any more blasphemous and rotten to say about the Savior than what Kittredge Cherry has said.  She ought to be horribly ashamed of herself for attacking the Lord.  Ms. Cherry goes on to state…

“Ultimately he [Jesus] leads disciples of both sexes beyond ordinary human consciousness to a place where sexuality and spirituality are one.” (emphasis added)

- http://www.jesusinlove.org/newbook.php

Blasphemy!  Miss Cherry would lead us to believe that homosexuality is of God, and spiritually good.  Nothing could be further from the Truth of God’s Word… “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them” (Leviticus 20:13).

Cutting-edge theology, medieval mysticism and the latest archeological discoveries undergird this artful page-turner filled with spiritual insights and sensuality. Jesus in Love frees the reader to imagine and experience Christ in new ways. - http://www.jesusinlove.org/newbook.php

You’ve got to be kidding… CUTTING-EDGE THEOLOGY?  Do you see how deceptive Miss Cherry is?  She presents her attack on the Bible as if it’s fiction, but then she claims to have used “cutting-edge theology” to do so.  So the SAME blasphemous work she presents to the homosexual community as a definitive work, is simultaneously presented to the religious right as only being a fictitious novel.  This is the same deceitful tactic which was used by the evolutionists when they began teaching their LIES.  What was originally taught as theories and speculation is nowadays taught as fact and irrefutable science.  Of course, the evolutionists are LIARS.
Today’s Apostate Churches are Filled with Modernists!

Photo to Right: A homosexual painting by artist, Becki Jayne

The artwork to the right is also found on JesusInLove.org (Ms. Kittredge website).  The painting was designed to identify a rejected Christ with rejected homosexuals.  The message is evil, unbiblical, and blasphemous to God Almighty!  This is another master deception by Satan to dupe naive people into believing that homosexuals are equal to Jesus in their sufferings.

Jesus was persecuted because He preached the TRUTH… John 8:40, “But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.“  Jesus was rejected by most people because He spoke the Truth!  Homosexuals on the other hand, are not accepted because homosexuality is unhealthy, unnatural, uncivilized, and ungodly!!!  We’re talking apples and oranges here folks.  How dare Becki Jayne, Kittredge Cherry, and other homosexuals, pervert the meaning of the cross of Christ, by alleging that their rejection is no different than what Jesus endured.  Homosexuality MUST be rejected because it goes hand-in-hand with apostasy, AIDS, the deterioration of society, and the judgment of God.

Marsha Stevens is a professed Christian, who operates the ministry BALM (Born Again Lesbian Music).  Sadly, Bill Gaither has befriended her, singing in concert with her, and has remained silent about the sin of homosexuality.  Apostasy has crept into so many churches that today that a Bible-believing Christian is criticized for speaking out against sin.  Tragically, the average professed “Christian” today is more upset with people like me (who preach against sin), than they are with the rockers, lesbians, abortionists, strippers, and shysters who deceitfully CLAIM to be “Christian.”  Our churches are filled with modernists who aren’t what they appear to be, “…having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.“  That “power” is the Gospel (Romans 1:16)..  Modernists are everywhere today!  They talk about the Bible, spiritual concepts, Biblical teachings, and the principles Jesus taught; BUT, they are unsaved, unregenerated, unrepentant, and on their way to Hell without Jesus Christ.  They will certainly die in their sins if they continue on their present path of destruction.

I find the artwork above very offensive and blasphemous.  Jesus was not a “faggot.”  The message being implied by the above picture is that any criticisms or rejection of homosexuality is equal to Christ-rejection..  Talk about REVERSE-PSYCHOLOGY!  Homosexuality is DIAMETRICALLY opposed to everything the Word of God teaches!  The Bible is incontrovertible concerning the sinfulness of homosexuality.  Any child knows that it was Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.  God called homosexuals “sodomites” in the Old Testament (King James Bible), linking their wicked sin with the destruction which fell upon Sodom and Gomorrah.  Is it any wonder why the apostate New International Version NIV translators completely removed the word “sodomite” from the Bible?  To no surprise, the same parent company which publishes the NIV also publishes The Joy of Gay Sex.  A homosexual recently wrote me, alleging that Ezekiel 16:49-50 indicates that Sodom wasn’t destroyed mainly for homosexuality.  Argue as they may, the hideous sin which is spotlighted in Genesis 19:4-11 is homosexuality.  By the way, these same Scriptures in Genesis reveal the violence, lawlessness, cold-heartedness, and vile affections which become more evident in a homosexualized society.  The United States is headed for some dark times as homosexuality saturates our society and churches.

Those Who Seek to Legitimize and Justify Homosexuality are LIARS!

Photo to Left: A popular gay painting of Judas showing homosexual affection to Christ.  This is a sick, twisted LIE!

Anyone who pretends that Jesus was a homosexual is a deceiver! Judas did not kiss Jesus with homosexual affection.  Jesus and John were not gay lovers! Kittredge Cherry’s new book, Jesus In Love, presents Jesus and John as gay lovers.  Kittredge Cherry is unjust towards the Savior.  She admits that she CAN’T prove Jesus was homosexual, but she writes a fictitious novel attacking Him nevertheless.  She has assassinated Jesus’ character!  Woe unto those who attack the Lord, and take His name in vain!  To say that Christ was a homosexual is the same as calling Him a sinner, which is a denial of His deity.  Jesus hated iniquity (Hebrews 1:9).  The Word of God states that homosexuality is an ABOMINATION (i.e., hate coupled with disgust) to God.  Homosexuality is utterly disgusting.

Here’s an enlightening article from World Net Daily about expert liars, who know that the best way to destroy an innocent man, is to tell BIG LIES …

In his 1925 autobiography “Mein Kampf,” Hitler – who actually did lie his country into war, and a whole lot more – explained with remarkable insight the fantastic power of lying:

“… [I]n the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods.. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying. These people know only too well how to use falsehood for the basest purposes. …”

Let’s bring this explanation down to earth with another example: Suppose, right before an election, one candidate accuses his opponent of immoral or illegal behavior. Even if the charges are totally false, and even if the accused answers the charges credibly and effectively, “the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it.” Which means, no matter how effectively the accused candidate answers the charges, some people will still believe he’s guilty, and many others will still retain varying degrees of doubt and uncertainty regarding the accused, who may well lose the election due to the cloud hanging over his head. This, as Hitler said, is the magic of lying that “is known to all expert liars in this world …”

SOURCE (World Net Daily–Why politicians lie, and why we believe them–April 10, 2006)

Liars!  Jesus was NOT a homosexual.  If you listen to all these idiots today who are promoting homosexuality, you’d think everyone was a homosexual.  Homosexuality is a total denial of Jesus Christ!  To deny the clear teachings of the Word of God is to deny Christ, for they are one and the same (John1:1-3,14; Revelation 19:13).  Jesus is the Living Word; the Bible is the Written Word.  Woe unto the fools who despise God’s Law.  Homosexuals are a perverted bunch.  Isaiah 47:10, “For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness… Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee…“  Isaiah 5:20, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!“  “God will not be mocked.” (Galatians 6:7)!

I don’t care if it’s fictitious or not, anyone who even suggests that my precious Savior may have been a morally reprehensible homosexual is a LIAR!

Child Molester and Bank Robber Worship?

Sound crazy?  It is, about as crazy as the title of one of Kittredge Cherry’s books called: Equal Rites: Lesbian and Gay Worship, Ceremonies, and Celebrations.  Even the title of her book is a big lie!  There is NO such thing as lesbian and gay worship… unless you’re worshipping Satan!  Now a lesbian may come to Christ for forgiveness, and be saved, and worship Jesus; BUT, it is NOT “lesbian worship” anymore than king David practiced “murderer worship.”  King David had sinned horribly.  He committed adultery with Bathsheba, and got her pregnant.   To hide his evil, David conspired to have Uriah–Bathsheba’s husband–killed (and he was).  In Psalm 51 we read David’s words of sorrow, regret, and repentance for the evils he had done.  In sharp contrast, homosexuals today have no remorse, regret, or desire to cease from their sinful lifestyle.  In fact, they are trying to JUSTIFY their wickedness, even by corrupting the Bible to do so (Romans 1:25).  King David didn’t write a book titled, Murderer Worship!!! How about a book called, Adulterous Murderer Worship? This is EXACTLY what Ms. Cherry has done with the woeful sin of homosexuality.  David didn’t brag about his sins and defend his innocence; rather, he confessed his woeful GUILT to God in Psalm 51:4… “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.“  David repented.  In sharp contrast, UNREPENTANT religious homosexuals have crept into our churches and colleges, shaking young people’s faith in the Word of God.  Homosexuality is of the Devil.

The Greatest Love is Rooted in Truth

1st John 3:18 states…

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.“

Kittredge Cherry loves with her words, but not with the Truth of God’s Word.  She certainly is NO Christian.  When speaks of the “spirit,” she is speaking of a familiar spirit (a demonic spirit); not, the Holy Spirit of God.  Jesus clearly said in John 4:24 that God can ONLY be worshipped in truth.  This is why Jesus said that the people in Mark 7:7 were worshipping God in VAIN, because they were following the traditions of men instead of the commandments of God.

Homosexuals today are living in denial, and God allows them to do so to their own demise.  God will not force anyone to repent and come to Jesus Christ for salvation.  The decision is up to each individual (Romans 14:12).  The homosexual community is working relentlessly to pervert the Word of God, twist the truth, and confuse public school children.  They are succeeding; but thank God, the truth is always here for those who care enough to seek for it.

More on Kittredge Cherry

Kittredge Cherry is an author and mystic whose ministry put her on the cutting edge of the international debate on sexuality and spirituality. Her website, JesusInLove.org, offers LGBT Christian resources. Kitt was ordained by Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) and served as clergy in the LGBT community for seven years until health issues forced her into a more contemplative life. One of her primary duties was promoting dialogue on homosexuality at the National Council of Churches (USA) and the World Council of Churches. She worked extensively with people from every branch of Christianity, including the Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox and Evangelical traditions. She now considers herself a free agent for Christ in the world.

Her books include “Equal Rites: Lesbian and Gay Worship, Ceremonies and Celebrations” (co-edited with Zalmon Sherwood; Westminster/John Knox Press, 1995), Hide and Speak:  “How to Free Ourselves from Our Secrets” (HarperSanFrancisco, 1991) and Womansword:  What Japanese Words Say About Women (Kodansha International, revised edition 2002). The New York Times Book Review praised her “very graceful, erudite” writing style and her poetry has won several awards.  She has also written for Newsweek and The Wall Street Journal. -Profile – LGBTRAN

Sad Conclusion

Homosexuality is a horrible sin condemned in Romans Chapter one. Kittredge Cherry “considers herself a free agent for Christ in the world” (SOURCE). A “free agent for Christ,” who goes around portraying Jesus as a homosexual?  Miss Kittredge is clearly an unsaved modernist who propagates religious liberalism.  She ought to be ashamed of herself.  God deliver us from today’s modernists who outwardly appear as Christians, but inwardly are ravening wolves (Matthew 7:15).  We are seeing an increase in UNREPENTANT homosexuals who claim to be “Christians.”  Truly, God is willing to forgive anyone (Isaiah 1:18), including homosexuals.  God wants everyone to come to repentance (2nd Peter 3:9).  However, God will NEVER accept homosexuality or those seeking to legitimize it.  That’s the big difference!  You’ve got many critics today who accuse us Christians of being judgmental.  However, Jesus told us to “judge” in John 7:24… “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.“  1st Timothy 5:20 is very clear, “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.“  What does this Scripture mean?  Are we to gossip and tell everyone about other’s sins?  No, of course not.  This Scripture is speaking of OPEN sin, such as in the case of the man living in fornication in 1st Corinthians 5:1, “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you…” Notice that the sin was “commonly” reported, i.e., it was no secret.  Kittredge Cherry not only commits the sin of homosexuality with her gay lover, but she parades it defiantly in the face of God, twisting the Scriptures, and even portraying the Savior as a sodomite.  Kittredge Cherry’s work, “Jesus In Love” is not about “love”, acceptance, and equal rights–it’s about wickedness, corrupting the truth, and rebellion against God.  Please don’t be deceived by Kittredge Cherry, Marsha Stevens, Anita Cadonau, and other lesbian modernists who exploit Christianity to further the Homosexualization of America and our children.

---

The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) EXPOSED!

Hear The Truth! Audiotape of Massachusetts public employees discussing how teens can fist their sex partners at a GLSEN – sponsored conference at Tufts University in 2000.” Listen for yourself!

NAMBLA EXPOSED!

Homosexuality is a Sin!

Friday May 27, 2005

Question:

“What is the “baptism of fire“?“

Answer:

The “baptism of fire” is only mentioned in two places in the Bible:

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Matthew 3:11)

“John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”” (Luke 3:16)

John the Baptist said that Jesus will baptize people with the Holy Spirit and with fire, and there are several interpretations of what this might mean:

1. Some people believe that Christians will automatically be “baptized with fire” at the same time that they are baptized with the Holy Spirit (such as the “tongues of fire” that came onto the disciples at Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4). In other words, being baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire is essentially one act (one baptism).
2. Another interpretation is that Christians need to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit after salvation, but we also need to receive a separate “baptism of fire” which will “set us on fire” for the Lord (or for evangelism, etc.). In other words, the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the baptism of fire are two separate baptisms for Christians. A similar view says that Christians will be refined by “fire,” which would also mean that the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the baptism of fire are two separate baptisms for Christians.
3. A third interpretation is that Christians will be baptized with the Holy Spirit, but non-Christians will be “baptized with fire” (i.e. the “lake of fire” in Revelation 20:15). In other words, Christians will never receive the “baptism of fire.”

Let’s look at view #1 first.  Notice that when the disciples received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost it was accompanied by “tongues of fire“:

“On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”” (Acts 1:4-5)

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:1-4)

One problem with view #1 is that the “tongues of fire” at Pentecost are never referred to as “the baptism of fire.” In addition, there is never any mention of fire when other people received the baptism of the Holy Spirit:

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers [Jews] who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.” (Acts 10:44-48)

“As I [Peter] began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?” (Acts 11:15-17)

“But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.. … When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 8:12-17)

“While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied.. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.” (Acts 19:1-6)

“Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord–Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here–has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized” (Acts 9:17-18)

The New Testament describes the “tongues of fire” at Pentecost, but this is never referred to as the “baptism of fire.” Further, in all of the other descriptions of people receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, there is never any mention of a “baptism of fire” happening at the same time. Therefore, we have no Scriptural support for the idea that people are always baptized with fire when they are baptized with the Holy Spirit. In addition, we can’t point to any Scripture passages which show that the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the baptism of fire are meant to be interpreted as a single baptism.


Now let’s look at view #2. Perhaps John the Baptist meant that the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the baptism of fire are two separate and distinct baptisms for Christians. If that’s the case, then it is strange that there is no record in the entire New Testament of anyone receiving both of these baptisms. The New Testament describes Christians receiving water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but it never describes any Christians receiving a separate “baptisms of fire“

Some people might point out that our faith will be refined by fire, and that our earthly works will be tested in the fire:

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire –may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

“If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)

While it’s true that these passages describe certain kinds of “fire,” notice that the above situations are never referred to as “baptisms of fire.” Therefore, we can’t dogmatically claim that these situations are, or are not, the “baptisms of fire.“ If we say that the above passages are describing the “baptism of fire” then we’re simply making an assumption without any Scriptural support.


The third view of the “baptisms of fire“ is that it refers to sinners being cast into the “lake of fire“ on Judgment Day:

“If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)

The “lake of fire“ is never referred to as the “baptisms of fire“ in the New Testament, but it turns out that there is Scriptural evidence which supports the idea that the “baptisms of fire“ refers to the fire of judgment. To see why, let’s look at the context in which John the Baptist mentioned the “baptism of fire“:

Matthew 3:4: “John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.“

Matthew 3:5: “People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.“

Matthew 3:6: “Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.“

Matthew 3:7: “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?“

Matthew 3:8: “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.“

Matthew 3:9: “And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.“

Matthew 3:10: “The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.“

Matthew 3:11: ““I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.“

Matthew 3:12: “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.””

Notice what this passage says in the context of the “baptism of fire.” First we see one group of people who confessed their sins, and then we see another group of people whom John referred to as a “brood of vipers,” so in John’s audience there were two kinds of people (righteous people and unrighteous people). With that in mind, consider the parallelism in this passage. Notice that we see righteous people and then unrighteous people (verses 6-10), followed by descriptions of a baptism for righteous people and a baptism for unrighteous people (according to view #3) (verse 11), followed by the separation of righteous people and unrighteous people (verse 12), all in the same context. Based on this consistent parallelism between righteous people and unrighteous people, the most likely meaning of “baptism of fire” is that it refers to the fire of judgment for unrighteous people.

Now let’s look at the word “fire” in the above passage. John specifically pointed out that every “tree” which does not produce “fruit in keeping with repentance” will be thrown into the fire. So here we have the fire of judgment (verse 10) followed by the “baptism of fire” (verse 11) followed by the unquenchable fire of judgment (verse 12), all in the same context. Again, this parallelism argues in favor of the “baptism of fire” being the fire of judgment. Since the word “fire” is used in the sense of judgment in verses 10 and 12, the most reasonable meaning of “fire” in verse 11 is for judgment as well. It would be unreasonable to suggest that the second occurrence of the word “fire” has a different meaning than the first and third occurrences without any clear explanation from John. In fact, in verse 12 John gave us an explanation of the word “fire,” and he specifically said that it is the fire of judgment.

Some people argue that if the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a blessing, and the baptism of fire is a curse, then it is strange that John the Baptist changed course in the middle of his sentence when he said, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” However, the parallelism concerning righteous people and unrighteous people, plus the parallelism concerning the fire of judgment, demonstrates that John was not suddenly changing course in the middle of his sentence. Rather, he was simply being consistent in his use of these parallels. What would be strange is if John used the word “fire” in the sense of a curse in verse 10, and then he changed course and used the same word “fire” in the sense of a blessing in verse 11, and then he changed course again and used the same word “fire” in the sense of a curse in verse 12. This would not make sense. Therefore, if we interpret the baptism of fire as being a blessing then we are creating an inconsistency in John’s use of the word “fire.” This type of inconsistency in our interpretation of Scripture tends to happen when we are trying to force certain passages to fit our own preconceived ideas.

Now let’s look at the “baptism of fire” in context again:

“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:11-12)

We can see that John the Baptist was very careful to give us the exact meaning of the “fire” that he was referring to. In this context, fire is a reference to the judgment of sinners. In fact, John used the symbolism of sinners being burned up like “chaff” (such as straw or husks of grain), and notice that this very same symbolism is used in the Old Testament, as in these examples:

“Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent. Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flames, so their roots will decay and their flowers blow away like dust; for they have rejected the law of the LORD Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel..” (Isaiah 5:22-24)

““Now will I arise,” says the LORD. “Now will I be exalted; now will I be lifted up. You conceive chaff, you give birth to straw; your breath is a fire that consumes you. The peoples will be burned as if to lime; like cut thornbushes they will be set ablaze.” You who are far away, hear what I have done; you who are near, acknowledge my power! The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless: “Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?”” (Isaiah 33:10-14)

Again, John the Baptist used the word “fire” in reference to the judgment of sinners, and this view of the “baptism of fire” is supported by various Bible scholars:

“[John's] baptism is water baptism, but the Coming One “will baptize in the Holy Spirit and fire.” “Life in the coming age is in the sphere of the Spirit. Spirit and fire are coupled with one preposition as a double baptism” (McNeile). Broadus takes “fire” in the sense of separation like the use of the fan..” (Robertson’s Word Pictures of the New Testament , emphasis added)

“And with fire. The term fire is used in verse 10, and there means a destroying agency; it is used again in verse 12 in the same sense; it is used in verse 11, also, the intervening verse, and must be used in exactly the same sense as in the other two verses. It cannot mean a curse in verses 10 and 12, and a blessing in verse 11, without a word of explanation. It is strange, therefore, that all commentators should not agree that the baptism of fire is a baptism of trial and suffering. There were two classes before John. Some would repent and be baptized finally in the Holy Spirit; there were others who would remain impenitent, and be baptized in the awful trials that would come upon Israel. The next verse explains this. John says in it that there is the wheat and the chaff; one shall be gathered into the garner and the other burned.” (People’s New Testament , emphasis added)

“With fire – This expression has been variously understood. Some have supposed that John refers to the afflictions and persecutions with which men would be tried under the Gospel; others, that the word “fire” means judgment or wrath. According to this latter interpretation, the meaning is that he would baptize a portion of mankind – those who were willing to be his followers – with the Holy Spirit, but the rest of mankind – the wicked – with fire; that is, with judgment and wrath. Fire is a symbol of vengeance. See Isa_5:24; Isa_61:2; Isa_66:24. If this is the meaning, as seems to be probable, then John says that the ministry of the Messiah would be far more powerful than his was. It would be more searching and testing; and they who were not suited to abide the test would be cast into eternal fire.” (Barnes, from http://www.e-sword.net/commentaries.html , Matthew 3:11, emphasis added)

“He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire;“ referring, either to the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, to be bestowed on the disciples on the day of Pentecost, of which the cloven tongues, like as of fire, which appeared unto them, and sat upon them, were the symbols; which was an instance of the great power and grace of Christ, and of his exaltation at the Father’s right hand. Or rather, this phrase is expressive of the awful judgments which should be inflicted by him on the Jewish nation; when he by his Spirit should “reprove” them for the sin of rejecting him; and when he should appear as a “refiner’s fire”, and as “fuller’s soap”; when “the day of the Lord” should “burn as an oven“; when he should “purge the blood of Jerusalem“, his own blood, and the blood of the Apostles and Prophets shed in it, “from the midst thereof, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning”; the same with “the Holy Ghost and fire” here, or the fire of the Holy Ghost, or the holy Spirit of fire; and is the same with “the wrath to come”, and with what is threatened in the context: the unfruitful trees shall be cut down, and cast into the fire”, and the “chaff” shall be burnt with unquenchable fire”. And as this sense best agrees with the context, it may the rather be thought to be genuine; since John is speaking not to the disciples of Christ, who were not yet called, and who only on the day of Pentecost were baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire, in the other sense of this phrase; but to the people of the Jews, some of whom had been baptized by him; and others were asking him questions, others gazing upon him, and wondering what manner of person he was; and multitudes of them continued obdurate and impenitent under his ministry, whom he threatens severely in the context.

Add to all this, that the phrase of dipping or baptizing in fire seems to be used in this sense by the Jewish writers. In the Talmud (k) one puts the question, In what does he (God,) dip? You will say in water, as it is written, “who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand?” Another replies, בנורא טביל, “he dips in fire”; as it is written, “for behold the Lord will come with fire”. What is the meaning of טבילותא בנורא, “baptism in fire?” He answers, according to the mind of Rabbah, the root of “dipping in the fire”, is what is written; “all that abideth not the fire, ye shall make go” through the water. Dipping in the fire of the law, is a phrase used by the Jews (l). The phrases of “dipping, and washing in fire”, are also used by Greek (m) authors.” (Gill’s Exposition of the Bible, from http://www.e-sword.net/commentaries.html , Matthew 3:11)

“The baptism “with fire” referred to the judging and cleansing of those who would enter the kingdom, as prophesied in Malachi 3. This symbolism was carried through by John who spoke of the separation that occurs when a winnowing fork tosses up grain, wheat is then gathered into the barn, and chaff is burned up. John was saying that the Messiah, when He came, would prepare a remnant (wheat) for the kingdom by empowering and cleansing the people. Those who reject Him (chaff) would be judged and cast into eternal unquenchable fire (cf. Mal. 4:1).” (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord and Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, p.25)

What it boils down to is that the Scriptural evidence points to the fire of judgment as the most likely meaning of the “baptism of fire.” However, we can’t really be dogmatic about this because there just isn’t that much information about it.

None of the three main views of the “baptism of fire” has overwhelming Scriptural support, but in my opinion the third view has the most evidence to back it up.

Occasionally I receive emails from people who say that they have had experiences of the Holy Spirit in which it felt like a “fire” had come upon them, or that they were “set on fire for the Lord” after having a special experience of the Holy Spirit, and they interpret this as being the “baptism of fire.” I have had similar experiences myself, and they are awesome. But are these things really the baptism of fire? Since the Bible doesn’t give us much evidence, we can’t be dogmatic in saying that those experiences are, or are not, the baptism of fire. Consider that there is no description anywhere in the New Testament of people receiving “the baptism of fire,” so we can’t compare our special experiences of the Holy Spirit with any hard evidence in Scripture concerning such a baptism. We should be careful about allowing our doctrines to be dictated by our experiences, and if we say that what we were “feeling” was “the baptism of fire” then we would be making an assumption without any Scriptural support, and we would be using a label which “sounds” Biblical but which might not be accurate. Personally, I would want to be cautious about grabbing a label from Scripture and then applying that label to an experience when the Bible never applies that label to anyone’s experiences in the New Testament. I would want to have stronger Scriptural support before teaching that a “special experience of the Holy Spirit” is actually the baptism of fire.

Again, the evidence that I see in Scripture points to the fire of judgment as the most likely meaning of the “baptism of fire.”

I hope this has been helpful, and may the Lord abundantly bless you as you study His Word!

Sincerely,

Andrew Friedman

DELTA_flt.1189@yahoo.com