Author: Pastor Reno

It has been a little while since I have been on here to blog.  I will try to do better.  As I was thinking about what I might post, the first thing that came to mind was a few prayer requests.  There are about a million that I could put here, but I would like to ask you to pray for just a couple that I have from the past couple of days: 1.  Please pray for Julie...

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; ” (Ephesians 4:14) I am amused at the comments I have received in response to an earlier post on the False Doctrine of Calvinism.  I have received some (which I had to remove) on the blog, some emails, and phone calls by those trying to defend their Calvinistic positions or to criticize me for mine. Many of the arguments are sad distortions of Biblical truth with a cult-like twisting of context and an ignoring of the whole counsel of God.  But to be quite frank, much of what has been said has been silly at best.  I have chosen not to respond to the comments for many reasons, but do want to let all of you know that the intention of my post was to warn the people that I pastor, some pastor friends, and some churches (all who I dearly love), about the resurgence of Calvinism and Reformed Theology in fundamentalism.  I will not engage in debate, regardless of how tempting it may be to do so.  If I personally know you...I will try to help you with the questions you may have.

'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck... How to live in a world that's politically correct? His workers no longer would answer to "Elves", "Vertically Challenged" they were calling themselves. And labor conditions at the north pole Were alleged by the union to stifle the soul. Four reindeer had vanished, without much propriety, Released to the wilds by the Humane Society. And equal employment had made it quite clear That Santa had better not use just reindeer.

Matthew 25:32–33, “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” In reply to some of the colorful responses I have received regarding my recent posts on Calvinism I would like to say a few things… One individual said, “Pastor, I find it rather deceptive that you post an inacurrate description of what Calvinists believe, and then in the sidebar of your blog you have a Tweet where you are quoting the Calvinist Jonathan Edwards.” First of all, I don’t believe my description of Calvinism to be “inaccurate” at all.  I am an opponent of Calvinism, so I expect those in favor of that doctrine to not agree with my take on it.

2 Thessalonians 3:6  - “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.” 2 John 10–11, “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. Romans 16:17 - “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” For years, I have warned the Christians in the churches and ministries I have been involved with and fellow pastor friends about the dangers of not having firm convictions and standards concerning fellowship.  I am grieved at the apostasy I see in fundamentalism and completely frustrated with those who feel that they are somehow immune to ungodly influences.  I have lost so many friends to liberalism, the seeker sensitive, emerging, and reformed church movements…I cannot bear to lose another.

I am saddened and frustrated at the resurgence of Calvinism among Fundamental Baptists.  Simply put, Calvinism is Christianity without Jesus.  All those who believe in it are in error, and all those teach it are even worse.  It is a false doctrine, it should be fought, and it should be kept out of our local churches. Calvinism is a man made philosophy depending on fallible human logic which totally ignores many clear Scriptures, perverts many, and misuses others.  The Roman Catholic heretic Augustine presented this false doctrine long before John Calvin’s time. Here are some Scriptures that soundly refute the errors of the Calvinist TULIP as compiled by a man named John Henry: mailto:KJV@LandmarkBibleBaptist.net T = TOTAL INABILITY (Called in Calvinism, Total Depravity, but actually taught as the Total Inability of man to choose Truth. The Calvinist plays many such word games. The Word of God teaches that God created man with the ability to reason, choose, and receive Truth.):

Mark 6:52 - “For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.” I was recently at a fellowship meeting where a message was brought from this passage of Scripture, the message was very applicable to us preachers in attendance, and it was very illustrative of what that pastor had and is going though in his own life. As I followed along with the message, the Lord (as He seems to frequently do) gave me a few thoughts that I could develop into messages to present to Berean Baptist Church.

Psalm 116:15 - "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." Today a wonderful woman went home to be with the Lord.  Martha Scarberry may have lost her battle with cancer, but our loss is Heaven's gain.  We are praying for her family as they are going through this time of grief and thinking about all of the wonderful memories Amy and I have of her.  She and her husband Rick, who preceded her in death in 2001, have had a tremendous impact on our lives.  Pastor Scarberry and Martha came to Wisconsin to start Twin Ports Baptist Church in 1970 and through God and their influence, our families have been saved, we have been trained,...

Psalm 92:1 - "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD..." As I am writing this note, I have just finished eating a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with my family...deep fried turkey and all of the fixings.  For my family, and all that God has done for me, I am truly thankful.  It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord...is so true.  I love Thanksgiving, because it is at least one time during the year that people will pause and give thanks for what they have.  Sad to say though, there are many people who are "thankful" , but they are not thankful to the Lord.  

II Peter 3:10 - "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." This week we are having lots of snow and very cold temperatures here in the Pacific Northwest.  Last night, when I was leaving the church I thought to myself, "I wish Al Gore was here to warm my car up for me."  I am always curious as to why we don't hear very much from all of the global warming advocates during these unseasonable cold snaps.