A rough week is was with a sore back, (very sore), and still getting allot of work done around the place. There’s one larger field that’s just about ready for corn this next week and I just got in from planting a row of peas out in the garden, figuring it might rain this weekend and I want them in before its too late in the season. That didn’t help my slowly mending back much but I can’t sit around waiting for things to get done themselves. And with most of the week spent in the field and this evening in the garden it gives a farmer allot of time to catch up thinking and planning. And over the last few years that means allot about faith matters. Many in the church today take vacations to supposedly clear their head and give them a fresh start, but except for the last seventy five years or so that was an unheard of thing. I was thinking about that this week.
Last spring when searching for information on revival I came across something that totally changed my life, and most of all my view of things. I came across a video called Revival Hymn and it probably back on this blog about a year ago. On the long version is a piece on humanism and after a few months I stumbled on the sermon audio at a site called the Sermon Index. Last November or so I even posted the entire written sermon on a page at the northern Farmer blog including a link to the audio sermon. And of all the hundreds of sermons I’ve heard this sermon changed it all. Afterwards everything is measured by that sermon and that includes my life.
To put it bluntly most things in the modern charismatic church make me want to throw up. The theme song could be, “It’s All About Me!!!” It strikes me like the church is so scared to lose out that people have to be promised everything is going to be just fine, your going to be blessed beyond your wildest material dreams, if you have a problem its from the devil, always blaming someone else, just as this humanistic society does. “We could not be at blame and if your having problems its because your faith isn’t strong enough, speak it and receive it!” And I humbly submit that its a lie. The Apostals and early church wouldn’t even recognize these teaching today. Why wouldn’t they recognize them? Because its pure humanism!
The biggest thing in that sermon which by the way is the most biblical sermon I’ve ever heard, is about saving the lost. The statement, “I don’t want to see anyone go to hell”, is nothing but pure humanism and I here again a person will not find any thinking of this sort in the Bible. Interesting to say the least. Here’s a small part:
Now I ask you; What is the Philosophy of Missions? What is the Philosophy of Evangelism? What is the Philosophy of a Christian? If you’ll ask me why I went to Africa, I’ll tell you I went primarily to improve on the justice of God. I didn’t think it was right for anybody to go to Hell without a chance to be saved. So I went to give poor sinners a chance to go to heaven. Now I haven’t put it in so many words, but if you’ll analyze what I just told you , do you know what it is? Humanism. That I was simply using the provisions of Jesus Christ as a means to improve upon human conditions of suffering and misery. And when I went to Africa, I discovered that they weren’t poor, ignorant, little heathen running around in the woods looking for someone to tell them how to go to heaven. That they were Monsters of Iniquity! They were living in utter and total defiance of far more knowledge of God than I ever dreamed they had! They deserved Hell! Because they utterly refused to walk in the light of their conscious, and the light of the law written upon their heart, and the testimony of nature, and the truth they knew! And when I found that out I assure you I was so angry with God that on one occasion in prayer I told Him it was a mighty little thing He’d done – sending me out there to reach these people that were waiting to be told how to go to heaven. When I got there I found out they knew about heaven, and didn’t want to go there, and that they loved their sin and wanted to stay in it.
(Brother Paris speaks with great passion in this paragraph) I went out their motivated by humanism. I’d seen pictures of lepers, I’d seen pictures of ulcers, I’d seen pictures of native funerals, and I didn’t want my fellow human beings to suffer in Hell eternally after such a miserable existence on earth. But it was there in Africa that God began to tear through the overlay of this humanism! And it was that day in my bedroom with the door locked that I wrestled with God. For here was I, coming to grips with the fact that the people I thought were ignorant and wanted to know how to go to heaven and were saying, “Someone come and teach us!”, actually didn’t want to take time to talk with me or anybody else. They had no interest in the Bible and no interest in Christ, and they love their sin and wanted to continue in it. And I was to that place, at that time, where I felt the whole thing was a sham and a mockery, and I had been sold a bill of goods! And I wanted to come home. There alone in my bedroom as I faced God honestly with what my heart felt, it seemed to me I heard Him say, “Yes, will not the Judge of all the earth do right? The heathen are lost, and they’re going to go to Hell, not because they haven’t heard the gospel. They’re going to go to Hell because they are sinners, who love their sin! And because they deserve Hell. But……I didn’t send you out there for them. I didn’t send you out there for their sakes.” And I heard clearly as I’ve ever heard, though it wasn’t with physical voice but it was the echo of truth of the ages, finding it’s way into an open heart. I heard God say to my heart that day something like this, “I didn’t send you to Africa for the sake of the heathen, I sent you to Africa for My Sake….They deserved Hell! But I love them! And I endured the agonies of Hell for them!!!! I didn’t send you out there for them! I SENT YOU OUT THERE FOR ME… Do I not deserve the reward of my suffering? Don’t I deserve those for who I died?” And it reversed it all!! And changed it all!! And righted it all!! And I wasn’t any longer working for Micah and ten shekels and a shirt! But I was serving a living God! I was not there for the sake of the heathen. I was there for the Savior that endured the agonies of Hell for me, who didn’t deserve it. But He deserved them, (the heathen). Because He died for them.
I put the entire sermon on a page on the sidebar of this blog for anyone interested. There it will be explained when humanism entered the church. Its deep within the church, very deep. And when a person reads the stories of years gone by the faith was totally different than the norm today. People spread the Gospel for their Savior, just as in the Bible. In my eyes there’s no greater problem today than this. When we go out to save the lost it almost always fails, it never comfortable and a person gets poor results. How then did the early believers covert 51% of the Roman Empire in one generation? Meanwhile the church today is week and floundering. Its because of the humanism in our hearts. I want the faith that they had! I want to be sent out for Him! Simple really, but shocking to most in this present age.
Yep.
Now that kind of thinking gets one in trouble. The world is running to hell and all we have is an answer that is no answer at all.
But thank God that there is a remnant that is waking up and making a difference.
Good post Tom. Tell your kids that mine said to tell them hi!
This has been a burden on me for a long while, ever since discovering it for myself almost a year ago. But it sure did answer some tough questions for myself, and took care of that longing and wondering about Christianity, the “is that all there is” feeling is gone. Going out and spreading the Word because Jesus suffered and died for the world is a whole lot different than “me” not wanting anyone going to hell. Being a representative of the King Almighty puts a whole different slant on things and one can do many more things than if it was “me” going out. Writing is no different, on the rare occasions that I write focused on Christ and not even concerned about who reads it, things happen. There’s power in that.
An interesting thought, before mass humanism spread into the church the evangelistic results were staggering! I will just use the old Methodist circuit riders as an example. They went out for Christ, not caring if it would be one or a thousand who would hear them, and they went with a reckless abandon just as in the Book of Acts days. I’ll paste another bit from the sermon here for other readers so they know where I’m coming from with this. This subject was covered by J.C. Smith at our little church one Wednesday evening.
“Two young Moravians heard of an island in the West Indies where an atheist British owner had 2000 to 3000 slaves. And the owner had said, “No preacher, no clergyman, will ever stay on this island. If he’s shipwrecked we’ll keep him in a separate house until he has to leave; but he’s never going to talk to any of us about God. I’m through with all that nonsense.” Three thousand salves from the jungles of Africa brought to an island in the Atlantic and there to live and die without hearing of Christ.
Two young Moravians heard about it. They sold themselves to the British planter and used the money they received from their sale, for he paid no more than he would for any slave, to pay their passage out to his island for he wouldn’t even transport them. As the ship left it’s pier in the river at Hamburg and was going out into the North Sea, carried with the tide, the Moravians had come from Herrenhut to see these two lads off, in their early twenties. Never to return again, for this wasn’t a four year term; they sold themselves into life-time slavery. Simply that as slaves, they could be a s Christians where these others were. The families were there weeping, for they knew they would never see them again. And they wondered why they were going and questioned the wisdom of it. As the gap widened and the housings had been cast off and were being curled up there on the pier, and the young boys saw the widening gap, one lad with his arm liked through the arm of his fellow, raised his hand and shouted across the gap the last words that were heard from them, they were these: “MAY THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN, RECEIVE THE REWARD OF HIS SUFFERING!” This became the call of Moravian missions. And this is the only reason for being, That the Lamb that was slain, may receive the reward of His suffering.”
And hello back to your kids from ours!
God Bless!
I was able to print off the Ten Shelkels and a Shirt, I had heard of this before but never read it, looks interesting! I’m back at work again, vacation done, had a wonderful time being focused only on the farm for a week straight! Tom, your comments about the modern church brings to mind a quote I found in a book on bread I’m reading (Good Bread is Back), the late French baker Lionel Poilane spoke of the decline in quality bread baking in France by saying the bakers were “Reverse Alchemists” who had “transformed gold into mud”. I think the same thing has happened in our churches from the Theologians down to the folks sitting in the pews.
Hey Brent,
I’ll try and put the link for the audio here too. I looked on Northern Farmer and I lost that page in the domain transfer that went on last week with it and the farm site. Durn! Oh well, now to work my mouse finger to death again
That’s an interesting way of looking at it, “transforming gold into mud” and I agree. Now I ain’t some expert at all of this but I get gut feelings and my gut wasn’t feeling all to good for a long time. So much of the church is just a complete waste of time. I always say, “I want what they had” and I mean it. That fire and drive that nothing could stop! Nowadays that’s looked on as just weird and old fashioned. They say we have a new way, a better way, but I have news for them, they’re wrong. Just look at the statistics of the modern American church. Families falling apart, the younger generations leaving the church in droves and I will say here and now that no program on earth will help in the least, none. That’s the problem, modern programs from failing ministries that do not have a heart to change and really live a Christian life as found in the Word. The new way is to shape our faith to allow us to live like absolute heathens and then think we’re going to heaven because we came up at some altar call in front of folks that did the same thing for the same reason. The modern ministries have one goal and that is to live in pure materialism, no different than the world, and still have the supposed comfort of being saved.
Every way I look at it, its false. Churches that have enough brains to realize things are going down the tubes then start programs to help it go down faster, without realizing it. Makes me sad, very sad. But modern day Christians will not give up their self indulgences no matter what. Its easier to develop a religion that is compatible for our lusts and that’s what I see all over.
The most dangerous thing for the modern, materialistic church is to have some of its members actually read the bible, very few do, unless its specific verses that teach a dogma such as “God wants you to be a millionaire”, which is a lie to anyone that reads the entire Bible. Boy, this should make me popular with allot of folks. But the Word has a pull in it, one the carnal modern materialistic church does not want its members to receive because of the conviction that would come on the rest of them, knowing full well in their heart that they worship self first. And God is nothing more than a vending machine distributing the wealth they say is promised them and the spiritual gifts that they want so they can be somebody in the church. But there too, so many want the gifts of the spirit, but refuse to realize the gifts are not the prime product, they are a bi product of the prime product and that is spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ because He is worthy! That is our only mission on earth as Christians and God will dispense gifts freely to those that follow the prime directive of the Gospels. The sermon that I put on a page of this blog and soon to be audio link was a Godsend to me a year ago, to say the least. In one simple sermon almost every question of mine was answered. Because the root of all my problems and questions was this thing I couldn’t up to that time identify correctly. In my heart I knew that something big was missing and this nailed it on the head. And that fired a passion in me to serve the Living God, not man. I know for sure in my own life I have very little problem anymore bringing up Jesus Christ in any conversation with farmers or local folks because I do it for Him, not myself or them. And does that ever change things, big!
Whew, raining here today so I got long winded with my two typing fingers, but hey. this is the first rain we’ve had in May in three years! Glory! Maybe the drought is over!!
Morning Tom,
Well, you sure gave me alot to think about with that post. I’d comment, but I never had much thought on it before. I get to do some pondering here over the next couple of weeks, so I’m sure I’ll be getting back to you on this.
Trying to cut hay, but not being very sucessful. It rains pretty good every 2nd or third day here now. Still low for the year, but slowly catching up. Now I’m not complaining and all, I’ll take all the rain I can get. I just hate looking at all that grass waiting to fill the barn and it not filling the barn.
Well, Pentecost Sunday came and went here. I think the Pentecost oought to be one of the major holidays. I can’t think of a better gift than was given to us gentiles on that day. ….well maybe one you eluded to above.
Well, better git on. My fingers are frozen this morning. Hard to type. I’ll tell you why here in the next couple of days.
Have a GREAT day,
Brad
Morning Brad!
Today the last of the cows are getting the boot! Down to two bales left, (kinda gives a person the reason, eh), and the grass is trying to grow so….. Had us over an inch of rain this weekend and things are looking good! Got about 25 acres of corn ground ready yesterday, might not get to it today because of the cattle, but am hoping for tomorrow for sure.
I know the post was a little heavy, but I was in the mood the other day when I wrote it, so, time to write it. That happens after sitting in the tractor all day dwelling on a multitude of subjects, that’s when I get dangerous, or just plain nuts
Well, the back still hurts, but its down from the intense level of a few days ago, on the mend. Finished the last two lessons about the gospels the last couple of days and will look forward to the Book of Acts lessons coming up, although I’ve really slowed down compared to how I’d belt them out in winter.
Take care down there and I gotta get on the run around here and try and get in my 15 hour day!
God Bless!
Morning Tom,
Well, another rain here this morning. I’m beginning to feel like ol Charlie at the end of that book when her was standing out on the porch with his wife realizing the drought was about over and it is time to start again. Now unlike Charlie, my goats are just weed eaters ( and jailbreakers
)and not money makers.
This humanism thing is interesting, I’m still not entirely grasping it. I get the part where people are starting to teach earthly rewards for following Christ. I get that. I mean, near as I can tell even when ol Jesus talked to the poorest of the poor (sermon on the mount maybe oh scholarly one…….), he offered them nothing earthly. Just a reward in heaven.
Sometimes your really good stuff it takes weeks for me to catch on to. I’ll print this thing off and take it with me when I’m mowing later this week and do some pondering and see if any of it sticks.
Well, down to one tractor again. Another ones parts came in, and the third I could use if I had to. The starter I made from two let go. I got smart this time and knew my ol redneck repairin’ wouldn’t last long so I bought a spare. Guess with all the rain movin in, I’ll be able to fix those things before haying starts.
Thats about it here. How’s that back or yours this morning. Ya know there aren’t too many funky bends left in them ol muscles once you get over 45. The other thing I know is that everytime I’ve had a bad back I’ve never been told to go out and ride in a field thats rougher than a cob….. Oh well at least planting should be easy on you. (At least it is here. You can’t go very fast with my raggely ol stuff).
Well, better git on and get repairing.
Have a GREAT day,
Brad
Morning Brad!
, and just generally enjoy what the Lord has given us. I don’t even like getting all complicated, but sometimes the mood strikes me and I write something like that. My best of times are when I just stay simple, and I’m talking about my day to day ways around the farm, and not get overly worried about what’s all going on in the church and society. Now with a little luck today might be one of them days, with sun shine and planting corn, just get downright happy and simple like a child of God should be!
This old fashioned life truly has some of the old fashioned ways such as being beat tired. But today “should” mean planting corn and if everything is working that should mean basically an easy day. I don’t figure I’ll make it to church tonight, but you never know. I got that covered regardless so no big deal.
Don’t let it worry you all to much what I wrote, it can get pretty heavy, sometimes its best to keep “things simple. Especially for us dirt farmers
I’m reading a book than Jan sent up this way, about a circuit rider in the old days and this book is an absolute treasure for me!Probably the biggest thing about the whole book for me is the fact that they were human, very human, they were simple, and also the fact that home base was a farm don’t hurt matters much for me. I’m about halfway through the book and the circuit rider would be home for planting the crops and he’d leave when things were done, during the off time. I said to myself, “I think God is showing me a way here!” He didn’t have some big Bible school education, just read the Bible all the time, and also read the “Methodist Discipline” which I think I’m going to search for just for my personal library here. He didn’t have a set route, well not at this point of the book anyhow, just went out and stopped all over the place. Just had a burning desire in his gut to go out and spread the Word! No wonder for some reason I’ve been drawn to this subject for months and not really knowing why!
But back to planting time around here. If they had to do it, well I figure I have to do it! But this shows me a person don’t have to be some clean handed soft skinned person to minister the Lord’s Word, nope! Oh by the way, I ain’t got no cows to feed this morning, nor tomorrow either, YEE HAW! Finally made it! And in a few short weeks I’ll be catching up to where you are now and be doing hay!! Thank you Lord for seeing us through!
God Bless!
morning Guys
glad to hear that you like the book, when I read it , I thought you would like it!
take care!
Hi Jan!
Just in a minute for noon and will be heading back out to the field. I tell you, I got so much to think about while working in the fields now after reading some of the book you sent every evening. Its hard to put it down and quit for the night! Talk about well written! I get a funny feeling that allot of my future blogs will have allot of the flavor of that book! Oh boy, I could go on for hours about this, but I’d better get myself back out there and get something done! Thank you my friend and God Bless!
Morning Tom and Jan,
Well Tom, it sounds like your book supplier is better than mine. Someone gave me a book with the word farm in it and thought I would read it. Come to find out, its a book from the early 70’s about an ol hippie commune. I rolled my eyes when I started it, but its kind of interesting how they tried to change human nature and found out its near impossible to change. Plus it has really short chapters so I can almost get one in before my 8PM bedtime. I keep looking for a Tom in there, but no luck so far
.
It kind of tickled me to hear your mood about not feeding. Of course you had to be better than me didn’t ya. Only two bales in the barn to my four. Oh well guess your twice as good at this feed rationing as I am
. It sure felt like a load was lifted when I put all my animals on grass. Looking at in the loft everyday, then the pasture and wondering if I was gonna make it. Of course then I kept watching the grass to make sure it was keepin up. Then once I figured I was gonna make it, I was dancing a jig by the barn. And let me tell ya, dancing a jig is not easy for someone who grew up on disco…….
This year is sure lookin better than last. Grass is green and still growing (Thank you God!!). Last year I would have been one month away from feeding again.
Well if all goes right Tomorrow about noon I should be mowing and not stop till Sunday. Monday I should start baling. First weather window we had all year. Not that I’m complaining…..
Well better get at this office stuff this morning
. I guess its all right, its supposed to rain all day anyhow.
Have a GREAT day,
Brad
Morning Brad!
Well, made er to church yesterday evening. Today butcher three steers and plant 20 acres of corn. Looks pretty decent out there today and I’m in a really good mood this morning with cows on grass and things finally changing for the good. Yup, that book Jan sent about a circuit rider in the olden days is right up my alley. So far this morning I haven’t even felt any back pain so that’s a first in a week!
Last evening we were hanging around after church a while and talking as we usually do with a few folks there and I got the surprise of a lifetime. They have an old piano there, I mean really old. It was there yet from when the church building was an old Methodist church from days gone by. I’ve been interested in it for a while but thought another family wanted it so I just let it go. Well, last night they asked me if I wanted it, I said, “How much?” and they said just take it. I was shocked to say the least! So Friday evening a few of us men from church will load er up and bring it home here. This thing is really special to me. How many people over the decades sang hymns with that piano? How many were saved as the music was playing? See what I’m getting at here? Glory to God!!
So in a nutshell, I’m starting to feel allot better and things are going well now as far as I can see! The meager collection of old Methodist things took a huge jump forward, (and weight wise), with an old piano added to it. The Lord works in mysterious ways, eh
God Bless!