Author: elizabethprata

Christian writer and Georgia teacher's aide who loves Jesus, a quiet life, art, beauty, and children.
Posted in theology

Wise precaution, or morbid fear?

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Pastor James Bell

Editor Note: Pastor James Bell has been pastoring Southside Baptist Church in Gallatin TN for nearly 50 years. He sends a weekly newsletter and I am a recipient of it, even though I am not a member of this Tennessee congregation. Pastor James Bell is an example of one of the many, many pastors who labor faithfully in unknown corners of the world, shepherding, teaching, evangelizing persistently. The Lord has many like him, and I take encouragement from that fact every time I read one of his newsletters. I also take encouragement from its contents, always solidly Christian and quite encouraging. The newsletter material below is excerpted. It is Volume 48, No. 32, which means it is the 48th year of this newsletter and the 32nd week is August 15, 2023.

Again, the church is Southside Baptist Church / P.O. Box 1594 / 1028 South Water Avenue, Gallatin, TN 37066 (615) 452-5951.

Grow in grace newsletter!
BY PASTOR JAMES BELL

Poisoned arrows! The Lord’s supper!

I. Faithfulness to Jesus; regardless of poisoned arrows! Years ago, missionary John G. Paton, was warned not to take the gospel among the ‘head-hunters’ in the New Hebrides! Why? They killed with poisoned arrows and had a reputation of never missing their targets! Paton remained focused on taking the gospel to these lost souls! Paton, obviously, believed that living and spreading the gospel must not be stopped because of difficulty or danger!

Trusting God alone and in bold humility, Paton proclaimed: “I am invincible until God calls me home!”  so, Paton went to the New Hebrides; he arrived and proceeded inland! The poisoned arrows began to fly— but all of them missed their target! The head-hunters were so stunned that they listened to the gospel; and the kingdom of God was advanced.

II. What was it— now 3 or 4 years back? We had to deal with a virus, called covid-19. We were bombarded with 24 hour per day ‘official’ information from select elite sources— mostly from ‘authorities’ who were not on the front lines of actually treating patients! However, they and the many who supported them screamed: “Do what we say or you will die; or you might cause others to die!  The positions of Dr. Fauci; CDC, (and others who agreed with them); and the media who was their 24/7 mouth-piece must be believed. All other positions are extreme, radical conspiracy theories. Moreover, these demi-Gods warned: “we will delete your information, which is different from ours; and block you from information which is different from ours.” as a result, many lived in daily fear and isolation!

Iii. There was and still is a virus; and some are warning of worse ones to come! Wake up— history is filled with the accounts of diseases and plagues and much more! Jesus warns of more coming. In the midst, Christians, we have a high calling!

Iv. Faithfulness with the gospel!

Regardless of various diseases, wars, persecutions, financial troubles— Jesus will continue to build his church. [the religious harlot who loves the world and is loved by the world is not what Jesus builds!] The church   which Jesus is and will be building will be built by those, (like John Paton), who know that they/we are free to go forward, advancing the gospel— because, we are “invincible until God calls us home!” the apostle Paul labored with the same spirit: acts 20:21-24!!

Questions I must ask myself:

[1] am I, in all honesty living in morbid fear: forsaking the local church to which I say the holy spirit has joined me— forsaking gathering to worship; forsaking the encouragement of fellow saints; and forsaking going out to proclaim the gospel— because I fear I might die? (or because I fear I might lose friends?)

[2] or… Am I going to go forth in submission to Christ… And in love for Christ and his church; and resting in the reality that I am safe on this planet in the will of God— until Jesus calls me home?

Point number [2], above … Does not mean that God wants you or me to be a ‘dare devil!’ rather, do as most of you have always done: you take personal responsibility. You investigate. You seek to learn and to apply truth. You take precautions, like or similar to those we print every week on the last page of this newsletter.

What ‘point number [2] does mean is that in the same spirit with the apostle Paul, I confess:
“and see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the holy spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 but none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:21-24).

Posted in theology

False piety is a killer

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

“Nothing in my nature is a Godly woman. So every morning I have a challenge ahead. I need prayer.” ~Beth Moore

While true, Moore’s constant emphasis on her unworthiness eventually reveals a pietistic drumbeat similar to Pharisees mumbling long prayers or disfiguring their fasting faces in public. After 50 years as a Christian, one would hope there was something in Beth’s nature that she could acknowledge as good, namely 50 years of progress in slaying sin in her ever forward sanctification. But no.

While it seems humble to point to one’s sinful state, one must also thank the Holy Spirit at some point for His work. Constant pointing to one’s self, either as a boastful and prideful success, or as a seemingly pitiful sinner, is unbalanced theology and is a worldly focus on self.

@BethMooreLPM preaches Jesus but converts people to dead religion filled with fake piety and false holiness. Be careful not to fall into the trap of the Pharisees, making a show of our piety as a virtue signal instead of pointing to Jesus and reveling in His love and forgiveness.

Read about Esau’s false piety here, from Ligonier where we learn to be wary of seeking “the covenant’s benefits without seeking the covenant’s Lord“.

Fake piety is described in many places in the Bible, like here, 2 Timothy 3:5, holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these.

Jesus gives us the main text against false piety:

Matthew 23:1-12
THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES DENOUNCED
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and keep, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.

But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. And they love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the marketplaces, and being called Rabbi by men.

But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called instructors; for One is your Instructor, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

The Publican and the Pharisee
Posted in theology

I saw a Cardinal. Did I Just Receive a Sign from God?

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

People see things and then decide that is it a sign from God or a particular instance of personal comfort in a person’s grief. Let’s use the “cardinal sighting” as an example.

EPrata photo

It’s said that when you see a cardinal it means angels are near to you and bringing a loving or comforting message from their loved one in heaven. Or that it’s a sign from heaven indicating the loved ones’ spirit is with you. This concept has been around a long time and the thought occurs in many cultures.

But IS It a sign from God? Or, are there other small signs of comfort He sends us that only the person would understand? Some people say they saw a such and such and it was a sign from God, a particular sunset, a certain tree, a rainbow, etc

Let’s go over what we KNOW.

We know that:

— ‘Signs’ as defined in the Bible are actual miracles such as speaking in tongues, visions, healing, raising the dead, and prophesying (having temporary ‘omniscient’ knowledge). A miracle is something that occurs that is outside of or suspends ‘natural’ law. (See Water into Wine miracle, blind-since-birth man sees),

— Signs in the Bible were for unbelievers & Jews as a judgment (i.e. Tongues at Pentecost- Isaiah 28:11–12 & 1 Corinthians 14:21) and also to authenticate the Apostles as having definitely come from God. (Mark 16:20).

EPrata photo

If a person is attributing an object or circumstance to God as a sign, this is dangerous. We must never ascribe a word or deed to God he didn’t say or perform. A cardinal is a naturally and frequently occurring common sight. If we ascribe to this bird “comfort from God” or “spirit of loved one” to it we are in essence putting words in His mouth or a deed He didn’t ordain.

What we do know about Jesus when we are grieving or struggling is:

Here is what we KNOW about Jesus and His operations among the believing populace:

— Jesus is intimately involved with His churches (Rev 1-3),

— Jesus is intimately involved with each individual believer even if they are alone (Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5. see: Hagar in the desert, marginalized Woman at the Well, John exiled on Patmos…),

— Jesus knows the heart and mind of each person on earth. (John 1:48),

— He promised to comfort us- (Matthew 5:4,“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. He is the God of all comfort, (2 Corinthians 1:3–5). He is close to the brokenhearted- (Psalm 34:18 ).

So the question left to ask is, HOW does the God of all comfort give us that comfort? Not by having you see a cardinal or other sign or omen.

One way of course is that we take comfort in His promises in the word. That is the most secure place to seek and receive comfort, to be close to God, to ask for comfort, and even to receive answer to prayer (through illumination of the word to our mind). We take comfort when we pray knowing He is near to us and listening.

Also know that Jesus comforts us. We know He answers prayer according to his will. So, what was that thing I saw if it wasn’t a sign??

EPrata photo

This Q&A from Randy Alcorn’s Eternal Perspective Ministries addresses this question. Though the questioner in this essay thought the ‘sign’ might be her departed loved one sending her a signal. I thought the author worded her answer well: (https://www.epm.org/resources/2017/Jan/13/loved-ones-signs/)

Answer from Shauna Hernandez:

Thanks for your question. Sometimes I think God does indeed give us gifts that remind us of the loved ones we’ve lost. My mom passed away a few months ago, and God has definitely been kind in different areas. For example, my mom had made up pie dough earlier this year and froze it. We used it this past year at Thanksgiving and it felt like she was still able to contribute to our meal! I don’t believe this was any type of sign, but rather, it was God being sweet and, in a way, allowing my mom’s legacy to still be a part of our day.

While there really isn’t any Biblical evidence for those in Heaven sending us signs, or even for God giving us gifts to remind us of loved ones, He does say to be thankful for all things. I can’t tell you for sure that the break in the clouds and sunshine you mentioned is from God, but I believe it could be. He is the creator of the skies and the heavens (Nehemiah 9:6, Isaiah 45:12), and the giver of all good things (James 1:17). It could be the Lord giving you a gift as you think about your loved one who is now with Him. Certainly you can seek to be drawn closer to Jesus as you thank Him for the beauty of His creation and for His gift of salvation.

I love that God is so good and gives us reminders of His presence and care, both in our day-to-day lives and in His Word: “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you” (Isaiah 46:4).

If something you notice as you go along in your grief reminds you of God, His love, His promises, then great. The Spirit might be reminding you of comforting verses that remind you of His promises. Or if you see a beautiful sunset and are reminded that God painted it and you used to watch a nice sunset with your mom, then great, as an example.

EPrata photo

I think it is unwise to state with certainty that the THING was definitely a message from God. Unwise because God has said many times in His word that He hates when people ascribe things to Him that He did not do or did not say. I think it is safe to say that you have a positive feeling that God answered that prayer and you can’t wait to find out for sure once you get there.

Philippians 4:4-7 says,

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him, that it would be paid back to him? For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:33-36

Posted in theology

Social Media and Flaming Fingers

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I saw a new book come across my screen and it piqued my interest. It is called “Taming the Fingers: Heavenly Wisdom for Social Media” by Jeff Johnson.

The book blurb says,

“While social media has many benefits, it often serves as a breeding ground for divisiveness and hostility. Hidden behind our screens, we are often tempted to type things we would never say aloud. With wisdom from the Proverbs, Pastor Jeff Johnson offers five practical questions that can help us cultivate heavenly wisdom in our use of social media: • Am I controlled? • Am I calm? • Am I careful? • Am I compassionate? • Am I conscientious? Read Taming the Fingers to turn social media into a tool for God’s glory.”

Intrigued, I purchased it and have read the introduction and first part of chapter 1. It’s a very short book, only 71 pages.

I am old enough to have lived a good part of my adult life prior to the invention of the internet. I was 37 years old when the world wide web came to my house. I wasn’t saved yet but as a life-long writer and a lover of research, I was thrilled I could self-publish and overjoyed not to have to drive 45 minutes in the freezing Maine snowy weather to the library and look stuff up from the card catalog.

Now, information was available at the touch of a button. Communication with loved ones far away was instant. Finding answers to burning questions such as ‘what is the diameter of the sun?’ or even niggling questions like when you’re watching a movie and you can’t quite remember the actor’s name, ‘what was that guys’ name??’ – just go to imdb.com.

It is a huge blessing to have this tool. Don’t take it for granted. It’s become such an embedded part of our lives and several generations have now been born after its invention, that we forget what a boon it is.

Then 6 years later I was saved. What joy! To be able to spread the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ at the touch of a button. To witness, evangelize, proclaim. To hear sermons from long dead or still alive preachers! To read Spurgeon’s sermons. To look up Puritan books online. To make friends with internet Christians.

The internet can be a wonderful tool.

It also can be a satanic tool.

In fact, the first line of “Taming the Fingers” book is:

“Sin does not operate independently of tools.”

It wasn’t long before doctrines of demons began percolating on the www (world wide web). Before long, a mixture of genuine Christians, false Christians, and non-Christians began muddying the doctrinal waters. False teachers like Joyce Meyer or Beth Moore grabbed ahold of the internet right away to spread their brand of evil.

False Christians and atheists know how to push buttons. Righteous indignation rises and before we know it we’re blotching our pure witness with unrighteous anger or secular snark or other behavior we are sorry for later. That’s the flaming fingers, having typed something you realize you either inadvertently worded poorly, or was drenched with some sort of sin you regret exposing to the world.

On Twitter (sorry I just not used to “X” yet, a curious name for a social media) D. Michael Clary, a Reformed conservative pastor of a church in Cincinnati, wrote the following on his Twitter stream the other day and I liked it. I thought it matched well with the above comment about the book Taming the Fingers I was preparing anyway, so I asked Mr Clary if I could repost it. He said yes.

Michael Clary @dmichaelclary said

The Twitter/TikTok generation should take heed of Proverbs 12:16.

“The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.”

People naturally want to talk about the things that make them angry. An insult. A betrayal. An injustice. An evil.

They quickly vent their frustrations online and others will cheer them on in agreement.

This is foolish. Anger can make you irrational and impulsive. Social media rewards our foolish impulses in all the worst ways.

If you’re angry or upset about something, don’t vent about it online. Everything you say on the internet is instantaneous, global, and permanent. There’s nothing good that will come of it, but plenty of bad things that can come of it. “An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips” (V13).

Proverbs urges discretion. Don’t be rash with your words (V18). The “heart of fools proclaims folly” (V23). Ignore the insult (V16).

There are times to speak out about evil in the world, even on social media. But not as a self-serving emotional release. There are many pitfalls. “A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly” (V23).

There are times to speak out about evil in the world, even on social media. But not as a self-serving emotional release.

Jeff Johnson, “Taming the Fingers”

In Proverbs, fools just talk-talk-talk all the time, venting their hot takes, contradicting themselves, lying, slandering, and confidently asserting nonsense. “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes” (V15).

The wise pick their moments. They hold their tongues (or their thumbs), and speak when it is wise to do so. They “conceal knowledge.” They see things and know what’s going on, but don’t weigh in on everything. But in the right time, they’ll speak up and make a meaningful contribution.

“Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment” (V19). ——end Clary comment

I’ve tried to abandon snark entirely online. I know, Paul was sarcastic, so was Elijah once or twice. I’m not them. I think just being nice and polite is enough. Mocking and anger have to go too. They don’t result in a gentle witness. With so much of our lives not on screens, taming the fingers is more important than ever. Proverbs and prayer can help with this.

If social media is getting you down, then there are a few things you can do.
–You can scroll by and not read or engage in comments that rile you.
–You can do a cleanse of the accounts that upset you with their comments by muting or blocking.
–You can say ‘No thank you’ to invites on lists or Groups that will occupy your time negatively.
–You can delete the particular social media that tempts your witness.
–You can take a break from social media for a period of time.
–You can delete social media altogether.

I’ve deleted a few social medias, such as MeWe and Pinterest, mainly because I felt overloaded with too many platforms. I’ve said ‘no thank you’ to invites on Facebook into Apologetics groups and Reformed groups. I don’t join Twitter ‘Lists’ or formulate them. I do not have a Youtube Channel. I haven’t even looked up TikTok or Blue Sky.

For me, I feel Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and my WordPress blog allow me to express my thoughts about Jesus and His word well enough. And that is the point. We can use social media for entertainment, sure. But if you use it for proclamation of the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ, then we should work in taming the fingers so we can maintain witness that satan cannot point to with accusations. God’s glory is the chief end of man.

Posted in joy, prophecy

Studying the Bible brings joy in seeing God as sovereign

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

EPrata photo

Societal, cultural, financial, economic, political collapse. Some say all this collapse is near. It may be, or not. But either way, things seem in disarray.

A prophecy from Peter: “They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:4).

They say such things because they believe them. Satan has blinded the lost to the things of Christ. It has always been so. The Israelites taunted Jeremiah with the same:

“Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word of the LORD? let it come now.” (Jeremiah 17:15)

And why are people willing to believe the Zombie/Mayan/Cayce/Nostradamus apocalypse and not the Christian Revelation of the promised Apocalypse? Because the aforementioned are from satan. Satan, they’ll believe.

Technically, the world has been ending since Genesis 3, but the feeling of chaotic flying apart has increased dramatically in the last few years.

I’m enjoying the Spirit’s sweet presence every day. I enjoy my walk with Jesus in increasing amounts of awe and joy. I am encouraged by knowledge of the sovereignty of the Father. Far from being depressed personally, I am more joyous all the time. Seeing these world events and understanding where we are on the timetable of God’s prophetic clock, (that every day we are one day closer to the culmination of all things) I’m wonderstruck at the vastness of His intelligence and the scope of human history- and grateful that I am a part of His kingdom.

Yes, the days are difficult, and I mourn for people who are lost in sin and for my own sins. But the events we read about here and elsewhere far from saddening me, make me think of Exodus 15:11.

“Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”

In the current phase of Christianity, many have lost that sense of awe. I think it is because many popular teachers and preachers have taught and preached man, not Jesus. “It’s all about you” too many sermons, talks, books, and conferences emphasize. The excessive focus on our prosperity, our self-esteem, our pits, our problems, combined emphasis of His love to us, His friendship with us, His Bridal “romance” of us, has resulted in a lowered God.

The ‘Buddy Jesus’ from the blasphemous movie ‘Dogma’

Too often Western Christianity looks to Him as a friend, (which He is) but in looking at Him only as friend, through that one facet, and not so much as Sovereign King, Judge, and Holy God. This looking exclusively at Jesus through one facet has allowed many to devolve His status in their minds from friend to ‘old buddy, pal o’ mine.’

Realizing that the lower society sinks the higher we can see Him is a balm to the soul. It is as if He is stripping away the layers and revealing us to be the depraved sinners we are and by contrast, we can’t help but see Him as August Holy One. At least, I hope you see it that way.

Quite simply, western Christianity does not have a transcendent view of God anymore, and thus a sense of awe is lost. This particularly applies to prophecy. Only a Sovereign God expressing His will upon the world knows the end from the beginning. Only He at His will and pleasure states what will happen in a thousand years, or six thousand years, and it comes to pass exactly as He said!

We are living in the times of Romans 1. Our nation is being judged, Romans 1 IS the judgment as He gives them over to their depraved minds. This is an awe inspiring thing- to see the Bible pages ripped from its bindings and come to life on earth in the news. It makes me fear Him and it makes me love Him.

That He stays His hand of execution despite seeing the perversity in the world makes me love Him even more.

So when I write of judgments to come, rather than be completely sad, I also focus on how compassionate He has already been. “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.” (Lamentations 3:22).

He has been giving the Spirit time to grow seeds, waiting for us to repent, bringing many sons to come to Glory! (Hebrews 2:10). His wrath is tinged with patience, and I am in awe of this God who loves us despite the perversity and rebellion we see in the world today!! THAT is how I stay positive. I hope you do too.

Habakkuk finally got it, saying in chapter three:

“Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us” and then he said,

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.”

No matter how low the world gets, the Lord makes me tread on high places. My Holy awe of Him is a reverence mixed with fear: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ’God is a consuming fire.’” (Hebrews 12:28-29).

Posted in theology

Early Warning Radar

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Early Warning Radar is, “An early-warning radar is any radar system used primarily for the long-range detection of its targets, i.e., allowing defenses to be alerted as early as possible before the intruder reaches its target, giving the air defenses the maximum time in which to operate.” (Wikipedia).

Closeup of a few of the antenna towers of the U.S. Navy Cutler VLF transmitter facility at Cutler, Maine. By Noelle Keyser – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3790693

This is military talk. But we in the Christian life are in a war, and Paul and Peter used military talk in their letters. We read of battles, fiery darts, victories, armor, ‘fellow soldiers‘. The metaphor is apt.

In the Old Testament God said He stationed Prophets as watchmen on the wall. They were to alert the populace if they saw a raid coming, and blood would be on their hands if they failed to watch and/or raise the alarm. (Ezekiel 3:17, Isaiah 62:6, Ezekiel 33:6). In the New Testament we are not Israel but the Church. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood. The Lord sent His Spirit to endow some in the church with watchman-like abilities who operate similarly to the Old Testament watchmen in their task. It’s called discernment. The folks in the Church who possess this spiritual gift are the Church’s Early Warning Radar.

EPrata photo. Nassau policeman on watch

These people can detect the long-range approach of its targets (false doctrine/false teachers) , i.e., allowing defenses to be alerted as early as possible before the (satanic) intruder reaches its target, giving the ground defenses (pastors) the maximum time in which to operate (refute, defend, excommunicate).

The long range watchers have an ability to ‘see’ a false teacher, spot a false doctrine, know when ‘something is off’. Many people say “I felt something was off with her but I couldn’t put my finger on it.” Well, discerning watchmen know exactly who, how, and what was “off” and warn about it specifically. They can see a false trend begin to coalesce, they can reject what they see is a not a legitimate movement but is in fact a fad, they can warn of incursions.

Remember the “Asbury Revival”? In February 2023 a seemingly spontaneous ‘revival’ broke out at Kentucky’s Asbury University sparked by students remaining in the Auditorium after a regularly scheduled chapel service, praying, singing, pouring out like fervent, excitable college kids do. More joined from local campuses, then more from other states, until it was a religious free-for-all. Your long range warning people early in February said it wasn’t genuine. They knew.

They were dismissed. Their warnings rejected.

And that is the trouble with those in the church who refuse to heed their local, identified discernment people. They are often ignored. Wisdom abounds in the discernment folks and in the learned elders who have trained up in discernment as part of their job. Here is a specific example of an early warning from a long range watcher with discernment.

On August 9, 2023, Owen Strachan (Provost & Research Professor of Theology, @GBTSeminary) posted the following mini-warning about a particular stance that well-known author Nancy Pearcy made in her new book:

Aimee Byrd is also well-known, but sadly she is known for turning egalitarian, then liberal, then fringe. So it is not a good comparison. Below is the tweet that Nancy made which Dr Strachan warned about:

In typical fashion, there was immediate pushback against this warning.

I’ve seen this often. A warning is given about a trend, false doctrine, or person. Hordes clamor against it, usually saying either the warning is not specific enough, or it is too early to say so and to just hush up and have some grace. ‘You don’t know their heart’ is a common rejoinder.

Then the trend, false doctrine, or person settles into the Christian zeitgeist, and more warnings are given. When it becomes obvious to many that indeed, the person, doctrine, or trends was a harm to the faith, the rejoinders change. ‘It’s too late to do anything about it/her/him’. ‘Just chew the meat and spit out the bones’. ‘Who are you to say anything against them, they’ve helped many despite their misguided interpretations.’ And so on.

A failure in a walk begins somewhere. Some people can spot that beginning and warn. Pearcy’s subtle shift of a previously commonly defined word is an early warning, and matches a trend of later failures. But the early warning was dismissed (at least by the women named ‘going godward’).

Here is another example, this time, of a mourning AFTER a fall. Early warning signs were ignored:

Somewhere, a pastor started heeding a cloaked liberal feminist calling herself a Christian named Aimee Byrd. Her advice was that even married men and women can have close relationships apart from spouses. Somewhere someone might have been concerned of this change in a pastor’s stance, or seen him carrying her book around, and said, ‘excuse me, sir but that book has too many liberal ideas… it’s dangerous.’ An early warning might have been given. If it was not heeded, the result was that this pastor had let the guardrails down, and then his sin got the better of him, and he fell into adultery.

However, the pendulum swing in the other direction in the aftermath of an obvious fall, after the bomb has hit, is that people either blame the messenger (as Beth Moore did to Tom Buck in her reply), or they say, ‘it’s too late, move on’.

The points here today are this:

TAKE WARNINGS SERIOUSLY. Ideas are not just ideas nor are they harmless. Ideas have consequences.

  1. Train yourself in discernment. Even if you don’t possess the actual spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 12:10), you can and must train up in it. (Hebrews 5:14).
  2. As your discernment grows you will be able to spot solid, credible men of the faith (after your own pastor or elders). Once you identify them, learn from them, listen to them, take heed from them.
  3. Heed their warnings. Not blindly, but discerningly. Consult the Bible, consult good commentaries, consult appropriate resources. Be a Berean (Acts 17:11).

In this specific case with Nancy Pearcy, you could go to the website The Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood to seek information on the two big words Dr Strachan used, ‘complementarianism’ and ‘egalitarianism’. And look up the word “ezer” in a good Bible word dictionary or lexicon (like Biblehub.com) and read how the word is used in context.

Or this review of Aimee Byrd’s decent into egalitarianism

Be discerning, wisely heed warnings, and keep your life & doctrine pure!

Posted in theology

Christian women you should know

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Here is some edifying content for you- some Christian women from the Bible and from church history that added to the glory of the name of Jesus with grace and truth. You can read about them in the following:

FROM THE BIBLE

Twelve Unlikely Heroes, by John MacArthur, contains a bio of Miriam, Moses’ sister. Book.

Twelve Extraordinary Women: How God Shaped Women of the Bible, and What He Wants to Do with You, book by John MacArthur. Includes bios of –
Eve: Mother of All Living
Sarah: Hoping Against Hope
Rahab: A Horrible Life Redeemed
Ruth: Loyalty and Love
Hannah: A Portrait of Feminine Grace
Mary: Blessed Among Women
Anna: The Faithful Witness
The Samaritan Woman: Finding the Water of Life
Martha and Mary: Working and Worshiping
Mary Magdalene: Delivered from Darkness
Lydia: A Hospitable Heart Opened
Ruth & Esther: There is a Redeemer & Sudden Reversals

WOMEN FROM CHRISTIAN HISTORY

Reformation Women: Sixteenth-Century Figures Who Shaped Christianity’s Rebirth by Rebecca VanDoodewaard. Book

Katharina von Bora Luther, Katy, Martin Luther’s wife. Online essay.

Susannah Spurgeon: Susie: The Life and Legacy of Susannah Spurgeon, wife of Charles H. Spurgeon. Book

Jonathan Edwards’ wife, Sarah Edwards, in Marriage to a Difficult Man, by Abigail Dodds. Book description-

What was Sarah Edwards doing while her husband navigated ministry difficulties and pressures, traveled often to preach, nursed his delicate health, and spent long hours in his study composing sermons and writing books? She was busy mothering their 11 children, caring for the household, warmly welcoming the many guests who came to talk to and study with her famous husband, and providing a rock of stability and sociability for her introverted husband—one of America’s most influential intellectuals and theologians.

A must-read for any ministry wife or wife who’s husband is necessarily very busy with work or travel, this book gives us an intimate glimpse into the Edwards’s home life, where Sarah shines as a model of motherhood, marital and ministry support, and hospitality.

Lady Jane Grey:

Lady Jane Grey was queen for just nine days, as part of an unsuccessful bid to prevent the accession of the Catholic Mary Tudor. The great-granddaughter of Henry VII, Jane inherited the crown from her cousin Edward VI on 9 July 1553.

She arrived at the Tower of London to prepare for her coronation, but within a fortnight she was back as a prisoner of her Catholic cousin, Mary I who had claimed the throne as rightfully hers. While Mary was reluctant to punish her at first, Lady Jane proved too much of a threat as the focus of Protestant plotters intent on replacing Mary.

“On 12 February 1554 Jane was executed on Tower Green. She was 17 years old. Did she die an innocent victim of the men plotting around her? Or as a willing Protestant martyr? We may never know. This is her story.” From, Tower of London History.

To read more about the faithful Lady Jane Grey, online essay Scott Hubbell at Desiring God, or online essay Who Was Jane Grey, from Ligonier series, women of extraordinary faith.

The Little Woman, autobiography of missionary to China Gladys Aylward, By Gladys Aylward and Christine Hunter. While many lone women going afield on mission seem to have been proto-feminists, Gladys seems not to have been. I recommend her story. Book

Posted in theology

The Time I Almost Died – A Sailing Story

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

EPrata photo. Our sailboat at anchor

This is about the times I almost died. It’s also about being immortal until God sovereignly saves us and finishes His work through us. We all have a number of days.

Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass. (Job 14:5).

God determines who is born, where we are born, IF we are born, and how long we may live after we are born. He decides when we die and how we die. We are totally in God’s hands from eternity past to eternity future.

He chose to tell Peter by what manner he was to die. (John 21:19) In John 21:22 He told Peter about John, “Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!“

I have lived a careful life. Nothing reckless. I don’t bungee jump or skydive or even drive on Los Angeles freeways. I lived on a sailboat for two years, sailing up and down the Atlantic seaboard and across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas. It’s not especially dangerous to live on a sailboat, no more than driving around or slipping in the bathtub. Accidents make only the 4th leading cause of death. Heart attacks is number 1.

I wasn’t saved when I lived on the sailboat. I never thought about death for long. Or Jesus or God or eternity. I didn’t know at all about the Bible or salvation.

We used the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) for part of our journey up and down the coast. This is an “inside” waterway of connected lakes, seas, canals, and rivers that allow for barge traffic up and down the coast. It also allows for mariners on motor or sail vessels to go up and down the eastern seaboard without having to make a foray into the Atlantic Ocean.

Aerial photo of the East End of the Cape Cod Canal & Scusset Beach State Reservation in SE Massachusetts. Public Domain

It’s actually a roadway similar to the Interstate. On any given day, especially in populated areas, all sorts of marine traffic will be plying the Intracoastal waters. In some ways, it’s more difficult to navigate the ICW when it’s crowded because there are so many boats. You have to time it for the tide AND the bridges. (Bridges will lift to allow sailboat masts to go under). There are a thousand ‘rules of the road,’ protocols for travel, right of way, passing, bridge tenders, speed limits, navigation markers, horn or sound signals, ranges…

There are parts of the ICW that are shallower than others. We were on a sailboat and had to be aware of the ‘draft’ under us and be precise about whether there was enough water under our keep for us not to touch bottom and get stuck. Because of the shifting nature of sand, the Army Corps of Engineers are constantly dredging to ensure safe passage for vessels of reasonable draft.

As we motored up the river in northern Florida, a tug pushing a barge came up behind us. (Or a tug pulling one, I forget which). I do remember the tug was Tug Green Cove and he was going to take a left at the St. Johns River while we were going to proceed north past Amelia Island up to Georgia.

We knew this because we were in a constricted area, and he contacted us on VHF radio. He needed to pass us since he was motoring at a faster speed than us at our 5mph. We communicated about the complexities of us moving a bit to the side so he had enough room to pass us safely, what speed to do it, and when.

A few of the antenna towers of the Cutler VLF Transmitter. Long range early warning system established by the Navy in 1960. Public Domain

When we saw no southbound traffic coming at us, we started the passing maneuver. We did the maneuver carefully. Steering a boat is not like a car, it is susceptible to currents, waves, and sudden wind gusts to push your vessel where you don’t want it to go. We didn’t want to run into the barge/tug and he didn’t want to run into us.

I stayed above on deck to watch and help if needed. When we finished and the barge was ahead of us and not behind us, I went below to finish making the sandwiches. That’s when I heard a BANG. I though we had run into something. But no, we had run aground. A shoal got us before we could move to the center of the narrow ICW waterway again.

It took a bit of backing and filling and use of an anchor to pull us off but we got off the sandbar.

I thought about this incident long and hard. It happened sometime in 1992 or 1993. So, thirty years ago. I was not saved by the grace of God then. But even before I was saved, it does a soul good to ponder the near death experience one has just undergone. And especially now that I’m saved, I think about death, life, afterlife.

You see, if the timing had been just 15 seconds prior when we went aground, the barge would have run us over. We’d be dead. Just like that. The tug operator certainly wouldn’t have had time to stop. And our grounding was so quick that we wouldn’t have had time even to jump off the boat and swim away.

So now that I’m saved and understand the sovereignty of God, His sovereign election of His sheep, I think about the fact that I am immortal till I am saved and immortal after that till His work through me is done.

EPrata photo. People who come to faith are His sheep from the foundation of the world. We aren’t goats that turn into sheep.

I wasn’t saved until age 43. I am sure that incident on the Florida Intracoastal Waterway was not the first or only time I was nudged from a track of death to near-death. I often chuckle at the angels God must have sent to push me or pull me from this or that oncoming disaster so that I would remain alive until the appointed time of my salvation- and after.

Do you ever think about that? How God in His sovereignty keeps us alive until the appointed day of salvation and then afterward? And he does so for each and every of the 8 billion people on earth, saved or unsaved, future sheep or present goat. He orchestrates the moves of each person so He will receive maximum glory.

I’m sure if we ponder this for a while we will fall down in unabashed humility for God’s greatness.

Posted in theology

Fasting: What is it? How do we do it? Why should we do it?

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

We read much of fasting in the Old Testament. We read a bit in the New Testament. In Matthew (4x), Mark (3x), Luke (5x), Acts (4x). We are told that Anna fasted, the disciples fasted before a big decision, and Jesus mentioned fasting. He explained how to pray, but did not explain how to fast.

EPrata photo

In any narrative, if there are blanks or gaps, people will tend to fill it in with their own notions and opinions. With Bible concepts they fill it in with false notions. A “Daniel Fast” for example is often used as a diet, or it’s used as a way to gain favor with God, or it’s used as a way to lord it over peers. Yet, Daniel fasted because the king’s food was not kosher, and he fasted another time because he was in mourning over the vision given to him.

Fasting is a serious discipline, just as praying is. In fasting, when mentioned in the Bible, it’s always lined with prayer. People seemed to have prayed without fasting, but when fasting, prayer is always mentioned.

Fasting is not a huge Christian book topic. There aren’t many resources explaining what it is or how to do it I’ve found that are solid. Paul Washer did write about fasting, in this book that I own and I’ve read,

Understanding the Discipline of Fasting (Biblical Foundations for the Christian Faith), Part of: Biblical Foundations for the Christian Faith (5 books) by Paul David Washer.

There is also The Doctrine of Fasting and Prayer, and Humiliation for Sin by Arthur Hildersham.

Why Should I Fast? – Cultivating Biblical Godliness Series, by Daniel R. Hyde.

The Duty, the Benefits, and the Proper Methods of Religious Fasting by Samuel Miller, unavailable at present as a short pamphlet but can be read online here.

Paul Washer answers the question “How Should I Fast?” in this 20 minute video.

Fasting is an important spiritual discipline. I hope these few resources and encouragement has prompted you to try it on occasion- and always WITH prayer.