The other day I was listening to a well known televangelist, Larry Huch, who was preaching about divorce. He stated if you are divorced it is perfectly fine to get remarried as God wants you to be happy. He used the analogy that before he was a preacher he was a drug dealer with a biker gang and committed numerous crimes; if God forgave him for all he has done, he will certainly forgive you just because you don't wish to be lonely. What?...What?!!!
After the televised sermon, he then gave his epilogue from his office. He began slapping his Bible (at least it appeared to be a Bible) and adamantly stated he "Found nothing in this Bible where God condemns getting divorced and remarried". He may not be dealing the drugs anymore, but, he is definitely using them.
To give the evangelist the benefit of the doubt, perhaps he prepared his poorly researched sermon with a tool such as the Blue Letter Bible (online). Literally, there is no mention of divorce in the King James version. It is referred to as "Put Away", which can be found 5 times in The Old Testament, and 7 times in The New Testament. The NIV refers to "divorce". The other alternative, which is highly believable with today's evangelistic 'BIG BUSINESS', is that he is intentionally trying to entertain his audience with the 'warm and fuzzy/ don't feel guilty/ blank check sin' sermon. Intentional or ignorant, he is not a candidate for Heaven, to put it politely. Neither is anyone who believes him.
Here are the scriptures just from the New Testament: Mat,5:31-32; 19:3; 19:9; Mark, 10:2; 10:11; Luke, 16:18; and 1Cor, 7:11. For the most part, they all say the same thing: If you get divorced and remarry, unless you reconcile, it is adultery. If you marry someone who is divorced, it is adultery.
These scriptures are quoting Jesus, himself. I don't know how much more clear it could be. The Bible, as a whole, is written allegorically, so as to present evidence to us morons, it is true. Parables and symbols and references over thousands of years by dozens of Saints and Prophets who had no knowledge of each others books, all come together and are canonized in one book, The Bible; the True Word of God. Whether we choose to believe it, or not, is a result of God's gift of free will to us. Just because you don't believe it...It is still true.
All throughout the Bible, God warns us to beware of false prophets. That includes evangelists, who claim God is talking to them, and teaching the wrong word. This is how Satan deceives, and robs us of our salvation. Ignorance is no excuse for those who listen to them either. Hos, 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge". This means ignorance is no excuse. You won't be able to blame the teacher, as you were responsible to pick up a Bible and check it out. So sin away, it is your choice. You will be keeping the misleading preachers company during the Tribulation.
I am so sick of hearing these preachers by the dozens claim we aren't supposed to feel guilty. Whether intentional, or they're just bad speakers, they have no business telling people they should not feel guilty about sin. In the (former) drug dealers case, he is forgiven for his previous sin, washed clean. As he continues to sin (and blaspheme) and disregards God's commandments, he will go to hell, no matter how much he claims to believe in Jesus. This whole "legalism" argument is getting ridiculous. We still have to obey God's laws to the best of our ability. He forgives sin past, as we repent, and we move on, staying on a path of righteousness. If we slip, and repent right away, He is forgiving. This idea of not feeling condemned for sin we are still committing, consciously, is absurd. You better feel condemned, and correct it; Fast!
Just saying we believe in Jesus and calling ourselves Christians, does NOT guarantee Heaven, let alone the rapture. The rapture is when Jesus brings His faithful up with Him before the Tribulation. His faithful are the ones who have done their level best to keep His Commandments and believe His Word, in its integrity. Pick up a Bible for your own sake; read it, learn it. It is your eternity. The idiots you are listening to won't be an excuse.
Mat, 7:21-23: "Not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in Heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' Then I will declare to them, I never knew you; go away from me you evil doers".
I am no Theologian, but, this is very clear, even to this 'dumb 'ol ranch hand'. That is Jesus' words. You better wake up. Forget about these 'warm and fuzzy' sermons. If you've read my Oprah article, you see Oprah has claimed to be a Christian. Do you think she is going to heaven or the rapture? It is a dangerous thing, this anti-law sermon evangelists came up with to sooth their tithers. True enough, The Old testament, before Jesus paid for our sins, set forth the Law of God. There was no other way to be blessed or stay out of hell, except to adhere to the law. So now you think, because you say you 'believe' in Jesus, you are meeting Jesus in the sky. You think the commandments were smashed, like when Moses was mad. That is a metaphor. The commandments are alive and well.
Remember the demons? They believed in Jesus, that doesn't mean they are going to Heaven. Do you really think our new President Obama will come up missing with the rapture? Do you think anyone who kills babies stands a chance, unless they drop to their knees right now and repent? God says anyone who has hate in their heart for someone is considered a murderer. When you hear these things from the Bible, do you think it was God's suggestion book; He is saying try these things and if they don't suit you I will give you a consolation prize in Heaven???!!!!
This is from The Sermon on the Mount (Mat,7:13): "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
Mr. Huch, do you really think this means if it feels good, do it? Do you really think that because Jesus said this over two thousand years ago, it doesn't apply to us "Gentiles in America"? Yes, you said that. When you come down off your 'high', look back at the tapes. Maybe you'll scratch your head and say, "Did I say that?" You are responsible for giving people that impression, even though they are responsible for finding out you are a tool of Satan, on their own. Satan is just resting his head back, grinning at all this warped evangelism.
If you have read any of my previous articles, you should be getting a feel for my passion by now. It breaks my heart that my assignment (or calling) is to reach out to people which whom profess to be Christians, but don't get it. If there is any chance the rapture is relatively soon, which I believe like so many others, it is, then you really need to start considering getting your head out of the sand. It is not worth gambling your salvation away.
Aside from your salvation, if you are a Christian, you should be seeking the Lord's face, in love with Him. Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion of the Christ" does a better job than any previous production or literature that depicted His suffering for us. Some are squeamish to watch it. I've heard people say it is morbid to watch it. I say keep watching it, until you've embedded it in your mind and heart what your Savior did for you.
Jesus was Innocent, sinless, and loving. He knew exactly what faced Him, but, He willingly went through that, to which no man on this earth would ever subject himself. He was dragged and beaten and humiliated before He was whipped with hunks of steel and glass until His flesh was made like hamburger. A normal man would not have survived that far. Then, He had a crown of thorns forced into his skull and carried the cross to where He would be nailed to it. During all this, He never uttered a word in His own defense. He willingly went through all this for your benefit; and you deny Him?!
Whether, or not, you believe in the end times due to ignorance, are you willing to gamble so many are wrong? Are you that sure it is so far away, you don't have to be concerned, even though, thousands of experts are warning the stage is set...it could be any time? God does not want us to be condemned for past sins, which are forgiven, and forgotten. He never said you shall be forgiven in advance for sins you have not turned away from, or contemplating doing, as so many believe. We cannot do evil works against our neighbor, or brother, or spouse, and be assured we are going to heaven or the rapture, because we utter we are Christians. According to scripture, we are not even faithful to Him if we don't witness to others; and I'm speaking primarily to supposed Christians.
John, 14:15: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments..."
What about non-believers? Most 'Christians' are not full believers, and they are in trouble. If you happen to have read this far and you are not saved, or even think you were saved at one time, but, not quite sure where you would stand if something happened to you today, it is very simple. It is so simple that most people don't even grasp the concept. God (the only true God) wanted fellowship with us. He couldn't just forgive our sins 'across the board' without some effort or commitment on our part, or He wouldn't be a just God. So he sent His Son to be slaughtered for us, and all we have to do is believe in Him and be faithful. We cannot just say we believe, and 'spit' on Him by blatantly disregarding His Word.
All you have to do is open your heart to Him and repent (or turn away from sin) and talk to Him, pray to Him: Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. I repent, and ask you to forgive me. I believe you died for my sins and I thank you Lord. I ask you now to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. Please read "The Four Step Program"
If you prayed that prayer, congratulations, you are now a Christian and when you see me in the rapture you can tell me about it. Once you become a Christian, however, the word Christian becomes a verb (an action word). That means you must do... Do anything. Do everything you can to show people you are faithful to the one true God who saved you. Pick up a Bible, and learn to rely on it. You don't even have to start at the beginning and read it all the way straight through. Start anywhere, just start. The Bible is designed by God in a way that He will speak to you through it. Grow in a relationship with Him, He wants that, and He will never leave you; trust in Him and His Word. He wants to be your Father, but, you must be His child.
Find a church and fellowship with other Christians. Rely on His Word and prayer to discern whether what you hear is 'biblical integrity'.
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