Frank wrote:
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 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?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Mankind can fool themselves and they can fool others, but no one can fool our Lord and Savior. Notice above where Jesus ignored their testimonies and simply told them He “never” knew them. Not that He knew them and then later rejected them.
Note: this comment has nothing to do with the fellow in the article; Hillsong

Good point Frank! I remember someone from very early on in my Christian walk saying that there is a world of difference between "knowing God" and "knowing about God".

Sure Christianity, in its fundamentals, is all about reconciling guilty sinners to Almighty God.

James Thomas wrote:
John 6:45, Isa, 54:13, Isa. 2:3, Micah 4:2 all say He will teach us of His ways. I believe Him!

Isaiah 54:13-17 KJV
(13)  And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
(14)  In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.
(15)  Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.
(16)  Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
(17)  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Now please, everybody, all together now: I BELIEVE THESE TEXTS!

Peace, perfect peace. In the midst of turmoil, peace. Why, good sir, should this be so? Och aye laddie, ye ken that the Lord he is the sovereign God.

Dr. Tim wrote:
1. Well put, John—and no doubt well advised. 2. My point of course is that before we turn to others for their take on scripture, we should first become thoroughly grounded in it ourselves. 3. We can never spot error if we don’t have a firm grasp on the truth.

2. Yes, if it is possible, we ought to do that.

3. Yes absolutely. If I had not got a firm grasp on the truth, I would never have been able to spot the errors of dispensationalism and premillennialism.

Dr. Tim wrote:
It isn’t difficult to get a proper understanding of the end times, John, or of any other biblical doctrine, if one will but take the following steps:
1. Get saved.
2. Read the Bible—not what Dr. Bottlestopper says about the Bible, but the BIBLE—all the way through again and again and again and again and again, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth.
3. In addition to reading the Bible, study the Bible thoroughly.
4. Memorize portions of scripture.
5. Meditate on the Word.
6. Above all, decide beforehand to believe everything in the Bible, whether you understand it or not.
One reason people don’t have a firm knowledge of doctrine is because they are lazy and uncommitted to personally searching the scriptures. They would rather have Spurgeon, Gill, Matthew Henry or someone else tell them what the Bible means than to take seriously their personal duty to learn it for themselves.

Mike wrote:
Because the scenario is extremely rare. Instant media coverage makes the rare seem more common than it is. How many churches are involved in this particular news item, and see how much reaction it has wrought? Likewise real events, though actually rare, bring forth emotional responses, which is the goal of the media in the first place. It's easier to pass legislation when the citizen is in an emotional, rather than a thoughtful state.
18 churches have completed this training, according to the article. Other data shows there are over 300,000 Protestant churches in the US. Their biblical stance is not the issue at the moment, but the overwhelming number that aren't involved in the article issue. But we have been led to "feel" like it's something really big, no?

Thanks Mike for pointing that out.

Christopher000 wrote:
We should all pray that The Spirit within us reveals all of our buried junk, because, trust me, there's much to be found, and it'll be ugly, but it's a required step if we're truly seeking Him. Anyone who feels they're good to go, deceives themselves.

Psalms 139:23-24 KJV
(23)  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
(24)  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Chris G P wrote:
From what I understand the two ends of Nigeria are very different from each other.
The South is majority “Christian”, but (note the inverted commas), this tragically means every variety of prosperity gospel, false doctrine and all that one can think of, both of local origin and of the imported US / European variety. The local pastor sadly is often nothing more than a Christianised version of the old witch doctor, and rules his church as his own personal empire.

What I would like to know is, how many of the posters supporting this move, belong to churches who are now engaging in this training scheme?

The Quiet Christian wrote:
Perhaps, John.
..
Freedom is worth protecting. It is worth pursuing. It is worth dying for.

Just a couple of points.

The Jews in AD30 were men who wished for freedom and were willing to die for the cause. They were awaiting the promised Messiah/Deliverer who would lead them in battle against the Romans and get their land back. But it didn't quite work out that way.

Regarding war and its effectiveness. Back in the day, battles were fought by soldiers against other soldiers, sword against sword. With today's weaponry you can kill an entire city of civilians with nerve gas without even going there.

And then there is the balance of power theory. I don't have access to accurate figures, so bear with me. Imagine all the world guvs getting together in one place with a lot of dosh. The total amount was about 200 trillion dollars. Together, they shoveled all this cash into an incinerator and burnt it.

Running a Christian late night cafe, in which he often began preaching at midnight to extremely colourful characters, one night the Lord told him to take down the 12 ft wooden cross he had illuminated on a wall of the cafe, and prepare to carry it across America, coast to coast, taking the gospel of the cross.

This he did, and on the day, he and a friend were setting off and had not gone far when a crazy man started running towards them, axe in hand. He was shouting, "I am going to chop up your cross, and then you!"

My father immediately began praying for this man, and sorted out a suitable tract to give him. Something like that. He and his friend had quickly decided to trust the Lord to protect them, seeing as it was his commission, and they were merely servants.

Just as the axeman came alongside them, he began shaking, dropped the axe, and went running off back where he'd come from.

Frank wrote:
Thanks brother! We have unusual laws here. In my state, if someone "feels" their lives are in danger, then they can use lethal force. Lots of people have concealed carry permits.
I pray that I am never put into a situation where I feel my life or someone I love lives are put in danger. So far, the Lord has not allowed that to happen. Praise His holy name!!
To me the Exodus 22 verse simply means there are circumstances where killing is not murder.

As one who has preached in the open-air many times over several decades, I can testify that the Lord has not permitted any harm to ever befall me, or any of those with me. He is the sovereign God, and Lord over all men.

Frank wrote:
Hey brother! Yes, I was referring to born again believers who refer to themselves as pacifists or who are pacifists. Pacifism is not a proof of Christianity. And as you know, I don't consider Calvinists, Arminists and Baptist to be synonymous with proof of Christianity.
What did you think of my Exodus 22 text?
See how great minds think alike.

We have been considering the Exodus 22 text while you were away, and I guess it is helpful, in a general sort of a way. There's no doubt some of those multitude of OT laws found their way into the UK statute books; many haven't, such as the stoning to death of disobedient children.

We had a case recently in England, of an elderly farmer who was being burgled by an intruder late at night, and while he was climbing the stairs, the farmer shot his shotgun at him and killed him. It was dark, and the law process was lengthy and difficult, with folks on either side of the debate.

Frank wrote:
Taken to an extreme, these pacifists....

Pacifists, Calvinists, Arminists, Baptists?

Let us say you are the pastor of Christchurch, in a small town in Texas. In the wake of mass shootings throughout America, you are considering the best means to protect yourself and your congregation when you meet on Sundays and Wednesday nights.

Now let me imagine you are spiritual enough not to call a "committee meeting" and humanly discuss a human problem without recourse to God.

So instead you have two options:

1. The word of God. Does it give clarity concerning the particular new thing you are considering doing? If yes, you go ahead and either do it or don't do it, accordingly as the scripture teaches. Job done.

If no,

2. The Word of God. Ask him what to do, and wait for his reply. If he replies, do what he says to do. If he does not reply, do nothing.

Is this fair enough?

"I consider trying to emulate Him, a joyful task, as opposed to an unwelcome chore." Amen and Amen!

Mike NY, thanks for your commentary. I am pondering.

Bro US, your "proof text":-

Galatians 6:9-10 KJV
(9)  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
(10)  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

No, really brother, it is a clutching at straws.

Christopher000 wrote:
Hi John,
Snarky side-swipes from anyone will shut me down pretty quick, but until then, I'm always willing to listen, and consider openly and honestly.

I never realised how difficult it is to attain Christlikeness until I started taking it seriously. For an instance, here is Jesus talking to Simon Peter:

Matthew 16:23 KJV
(23)  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

And then you've got his instructions for those who want to come after him:

Matthew 16:24 KJV
(24)  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

This is leaving the world's side in order to die. A person "taking up his cross" is going to his own crucifixion. Romans 6:6, Galatians 2:20, Galatians 6:14.

Matthew 16:25 KJV
(25)  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Christopher000 wrote:
Preservation of human life, is tantamount to being faithless, and trying to thwart God's will? I've never heard such utter nonsense.

Acts 18:9-10 KJV
(9)  Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
(10)  For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

Now Christopher, think about this for a while, all afternoon if need be.

Here is the living Lord Jesus Christ speaking to Paul in Corinth. He told him not to be afraid, but to speak, no holding back.

This is the John 2:5 principle I mentioned.

Jesus tells him, "I am with you, and no-one will be allowed to set on you and hurt you." Sure, he can carry his dirk (Luke 22:36-38, not a sword but a dirk), but he'll never need to use it, because of the total sovereignty of God over all men.

What did the Lord say in the Great Commission? And which hardly a soul believes today?

Christopher000 wrote:
John, the post wasn't directly to you, and was in response to a post shortly before. Don't worry, I'll be sure to address you by name when I have a statement or question for you. I'll be sure of it, because I know how important that is to you.

There has been much time passed, and still no-one seems to be able to find a biblical account of Christians defending themselves with weaponry when faced with great trials. I am still searching the New Testament myself, because if there is biblical warrant I will submit to the truth of God's word.

But the main problem goes far deeper than this little one. It goes back to the roots of Christianity.

Matthew 10:34-39 KJV
(34)  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
(35)  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
(36)  And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
(37)  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
(38)  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
(39)  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

One of the costs of following Christ is antagonism between family members. Jesus is not referring to a literal sword, but a rift, a separation. When it comes to peace, he teaches:

Matthew 5:9 KJV
(9)  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.