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Word for Wednesday

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The Word for Wednesday: Who Gets the Glory?

Welcome to The Word for Wednesday meme! Today I'm asking some of my regular readers to take the next step, and actively participate in this meme.

As my topic this week will show, there are myriads of supposed Christians out there teaching stuff that has nothing to do with Christ. This meme is designed to counter that with the pure Word of the Lord.

C'mon, join us and post what God has put in your heart this week. Just pick a scripture passage that means something to you right now, copy it into a post with as much or as little commentary as you choose, and put your link below in Mr. Linky. It's that easy, and you may never know whose heart God touched because you took the time to share His Word.

* * *

When I was first saved fifteen years ago, an anonymous new Christian friend put me on Joyce Meyer's mailing list. Each month, I'd receive a glossy, full-color magazine with lots of photos and snappy sayings. The Lord must have been protecting me, though, because I never really paid much attention to the content.

With the receipt of my fourth or fifth issue, though, I realized that the cover - for the third month in a row - featured a full-sized shot of Joyce striking a pose before her adoring audience. The question the Lord put into my heart was this: Who gets the glory?

For we do not preach ourselves
but Christ Jesus as Lord,
and ourselves as your bond-servants
for Jesus' sake.
2 Corinthians 4:5

Joyce Meyer was promoting Joyce Meyer, not Jesus Christ. I cancelled my subscription.

Things have not improved since then. In fact, they've gotten much worse. A little tour around A Little Leaven will highlight some of the more blatant nonsense that masquerades as Christianity in America.

Today, though, I'm going to focus on a major proponent of what is called "the social gospel," a deception that's a little more subtle ... and a lot more popular. I did a little digging and found the best commentary on this at The Berean Call, written by T. A. McMahon and titled "The Shameful Social Gospel." If you're not familiar with this concept, I'd encourage you to go read the whole article, but here are a couple snippets, emphasis added.

Although the social gospel is common to many new movements among evangelicals, it is not new to Christendom. It had its modern beginning in the late 1800s, when it developed as a way to address the various conditions in society that caused suffering among the populace. The belief was, and is, that Christianity will attract followers when it demonstrates its love for mankind. This could be best accomplished by helping to alleviate the suffering of humanity caused by poverty, disease, oppressive work conditions, society's injustices, civil rights abuses, etc.

The history of the social gospel is, in nearly every case, a sincere attempt by Christians to do those things that they believe will honor God and benefit humanity. In every case, however, the practical working out of "benefiting humanity" has compromised biblical faith and dishonored God. Why is that? God's Word gives no commission to the church to fix the problems of the world. Those who attempt to do so are starting out under a false premise, "...a way which seemeth right unto a man," not God's way. So where can it go from there? "The end thereof are the ways of death," i.e., destruction (Proverbs 14:12). Furthermore, the problems of the world are all symptoms. The root cause is sin.

Today the most active and "successful" proponent of the social gospel is Rick Warren. While I could write for days about the dangers of his "P.E.A.C.E. Plan" and his purpose-driven movement, it's already been done by Lighthouse Trails, so instead I'm simply going to apply the same standard to him that I applied to Joyce Meyer: Who gets the glory?

If you never understand the social gospel or the purpose-driven movement, if you never read another word by or about Rick Warren, you can still take the measure of this man by the way he is promoting an upcoming baptism and membership at his Saddleback "church." [Hat tip to Slice of Laodicea] Who gets the glory?

EIGHT REASONS TO JOIN THIS SATURDAY & NOT PROCRASTINATE:

1. I'm personally teaching Class 101 for the first time in ten years.
2. I'm personally baptizing after Class and you'll receive a photo & baptism certificate.
3. You'll get a free one year subscription to Purpose Driven Connection magazine. (Never offered before)
4. You'll get free copy of The Purpose Driven Church book.
5. Your name will be included in the historical list of Saddleback Pioneer Members who joined in our first 30 years. (This Easter is our 30th Easter and I want you included in this list.)
6. The class is 1 hour shorter than normal. You can watch session 3 here online now.
7. You'll be a part of making Christian history! The largest membership class ever!
8. We love you & want you in our family. There is no good reason to procrastinate.

Many years ago, I made up my mind that I would never intentionally give glory to any man or woman, or to any church or ministry - not to Joyce Meyer, and definitely not to Rick Warren and his purpose-driven P.E.A.C.E. plan. In your life, who gets the glory?

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the LORD; The humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces will never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the LORD, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want. (Psalms 34:1-9)

Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready." (Revelation 19:6-7)

The Coming Glory

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:14-18)

The Word for Wednesday: Lift up Your Heads

Welcome to The Word for Wednesday meme. Each week, you're invited to post a scripture that has touched your heart, whether it's an old favorite, new light from the Holy Spirit, or something you're pondering.

If you'd like to participate and share what God has written on your heart - and I really wish some of you would ... you know who you are :) - use Mr. Linky below to let us all know you've posted. And your comments would be most welcome.

As we watch our churches disintegrate into apostasy, and the America we once knew crumble into mayhem and injustice, those who truly know Jesus have simple instructions. The Lord recently brought them to mind, so today I will share a snippet, emphasis added. This might also be a good time to re-read Matthew 24-25 and Luke 21 in their entirety.

And He said, "See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not go after them. When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately."

Then He continued by saying to them, "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all because of My name. Yet not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people; and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory. But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Luke 21:8-28)

Hallelujah. Come, Lord Jesus.

This is the Air I Breathe

Draw Me Close to You