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The soul-endangering problem of direct revelation: Exhibit A- Joanna Gaines

Posted on March 17, 2021March 20, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Oprah has made a big splash with her interview of media and real estate moguls Chip and Joanna Gaines.

A few days ago, I’d posted an essay discussing the issue of women who claim to hear direct personalized revelations from God and what a danger that is. The essay was called “Satan whispers, women start a movement.”

For example, stay at home mom Jennie Allen founded the IF:Gathering movement because in her words, “A voice from the sky” told her directly “to gather an equip this generation.” She was assured by a friend that if the voice was from God He would definitely give her all that she needs to accomplish it. Satan can do that, too, a notion that apparently had not occurred to them.

I’d also mentioned Joanna Gaines as negative examples of career-ambitious women who claim to hear from God. Joanna Gaines is not a Christian Bible teacher as the other women I’d mentioned, but she has started a movement (“Magnolia”) which serves to show women that they, too, can have ambitions of celebrity and public platforms outside the Christian home, especially when God directly assures her so.

The Joanna Gaines issue is especially aggrieving to me because she trades on motherhood to grab celebrity and fame. As a self-professed Christian, Gaines insists her priority is motherhood first. In 2016, I wrote several essays about this couple, since they seemed to be climbing to heights of popularity. My essay “The Hypocrisy of Chip and Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper” garnered 131,000 views. I received a lot of push back on the essay, even though I showed from the Bible, used primary documents, and their own words what hypocrites they were, saying one thing and living another, all under the name of Jesus. I’d warned and warned about them.

That essay was followed by a close look at Joanna’s testimony, which was making the rounds and published from Joanna’s Alma Mater, Baylor. In it, Joanna claimed direct revelation.

Mrs Gaines used the video to speak not of sin, grace, redemption, and Jesus, though she mentioned Him once at the end. But instead the video is a testimonial to Mrs Gaines’ ambitions, Mrs Gaines’ dreams, Mrs Gaines’ plans, and how God was going to fulfill them by giving her what she wants- which wasn’t to be a stay-at-home mom. She mentions 4 times in the 4 minute video that God spoke to her. When her two children were young God called to her and said she had to close her store which had been open for two years. In order to salve her disappointment at having her dreams of running a business shattered just so she could perform her biblical function as a mother, God comforted her thus-

“I heard Him specifically say, ‘Joanna, I have a calling for you. You’re going to have a platform one day.'”
I remember hearing God say, ‘Joanna, there’s going to come a time when I’m going to say for you to go, and I’m going to need for you to step out and go.'”
I heard God say very clearly, ‘If you trust me with your dreams, I’m going to take Magnolia further than you even dreamed. Just trust me.’ And I remember hearing that and feeling completely peaceful about it, and I walked away.”

I find it curious that God told her to stay home with her first two babies when they were young but that it was OK to become a business woman a few years later while the second two were young.

Now the TV personality Oprah Winfrey has interviewed Joanna Gaines and her husband about their upcoming tv channel, Magnolia Network. In the interview Joanna related all the times that God has spoken to her. Not only does the supreme Deity give her personalized business direction, individual timing of her business propositions, but directs her on who to marry.

“This is when I heard God’s voice more than ever,” Joanna says. “I heard him say, ‘This is the man you’re going to marry,’ and I’m arguing with God. I said, ‘No it’s not.'”
Source: SF Gate

Apparently Joanna only likes what God has to say when it matches up with her business dreams.

Here are my points:

Point #1 – Claiming direct revelation is exceedingly dangerous. Jeremiah 23:16 says, This is what the LORD of armies says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They tell a vision of their own imagination, Not from the mouth of the LORD. Joanna Gaines’ revelations are abhorrent to God. She is putting words into His mouth He did not say. He hates that.

And you notice that her communication with him is all one-way. God tells Joanna about Joanna and Joanna’s dreams and Joanna’s ambitions and Joanna’s husband. In all her interviews where she stated the communications she’s supposedly received from God, Joanna has not expressed interest in hearing what God has to say about himself.

Point #2 – The couple had previously claimed a form of Jesus-Christianity and said they attended Antioch Community Church. Church going people who follow Jesus. But then they drifted away from that, with husband Chip saying he never was that interested in the Bible. Chip Gaines said,

“I’m not a theologian. I don’t understand. We both grew up in pretty conservative Christian families, and we were brought up in Church in the very traditional sense. But I didn’t love to open the Bible and read the Bible for hours a day,” he admitted.

When the husband does not lead, trouble follows. (Genesis 3:6, cf also of interest).

Now Joanna says that religion isn’t for her. She drifted away from church, from the Bible, and now the religion itself. She said that her unique and beautiful relationship with God is outside the bounds of any religion and His connection with people is so relational, she just stays away from religion altogether. (Source).

She seeks experience that confirms her ambitions, not the Deity who should be worshiped.

HERE IS THE DANGER of relying on personalized revelations. In a few years, church is abandoned and the Bible is abandoned, religion is abandoned, and all she seeks now is that voice. Because, if you hear a disembodied voice specifically and clearly telling you what you want to hear, why ruin it with Bible verses that convict your soul of its sin?

Point #3 – Joanna’s style of religion foments a yearning in women that they should not try to fulfill. Joanna’s experiential style of closeness with God is a false road. The Bible is the standard, we should seek His word. It is not boring as was intimated in the interview. The Holy Spirit’s ministry is to point to Jesus, convict hearts through the written word, and encourage us when we need it. Joanna’s brand of personalized audible voice religion denies the Spirit’s work and ministry of His own inspired scriptures!

The “God told me” religion is dangerous in the extreme- especially to women. The Gaines’ will discover this on the last day unless the Spirit intervenes and points them to the God who actually exists and not the one in their vain imaginations. If you want to hear God’s voice, read the Bible out loud.

Further Reading

Below are some resources addressing the closed canon and personal revelations etc.

Josh Buice on the G3 Ministry Network covers the issue of personal revelation on his podcast-

Episode 41 — Beth Moore, Joanna Gaines, and the Sufficiency of Scripture

Does God Talk to Us? by Michel Horton

God Doesn’t Whisper video by Jim Osman and Justin Peters. Part 1 of 3

The Lord told me – I think! By Gary Gilley

The Hypocrisy of Chip and Joanna Gaines of ‘Fixer Upper’ by Elizabeth Prata

A loud voice told her…She heard a whisper… by Elizabeth Prata

theology

Bizarre threats from Los Angeles City Officials against Grace Church. You won’t believe this one…

Posted on March 16, 2021March 16, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

The latest in a series of year-long and increasingly bizarre threats from health officials in the city of Los Angeles to Grace Community Church (GCC) where John MacArthur preaches, was brought to light this week. The church shut down temporarily when the flu-like disease named COVID-19 emerged in March 2020. GCC re-opened a few weeks later, to the chastisement of health officials, who have never stopped hounding the church, in MacArthur’s words. The church is fined weekly, visited often by officials, and taken to court. (The case is making its way through the courts now).

The officials are also making all kinds of other threats, which MacArthur outlines in this short clip below. He was guest preaching at an unnamed church, noting that he has preached steadily and continuously at GCC for a year, but that this was the first time he’d left GCC in all that time.

He said that the city of LA had threatened to gather homeless people from everywhere and make a homeless encampment in their parking lot. The City of Los Angeles has been notoriously opposed to Grace Community Church’s decision to re-gather amid the so-called pandemic.

The clip can be heard **here**, or below

John MacArthur replied to the City’s threat to flood their parking lot with homeless people in an encampment, “Perfect! We will send our seminary students to evangelize them all day long.” MacArthur said he did not hear from them after that.

The idea that the City OFFICIALS would use helpless humanity as pawns in their evil game is grotesque. Rounding up homeless people for the purpose of closing a church helps no one and is certainly not ethical. It was not stated that this proposed ’round up’ was part of a larger plan of the City to help homeless people. It’s clear that the official(s) who cooked up this craven scheme not only don’t care for the Lord Jesus, but care not even a bit for their fellow man.

As we go further and further into apostasy and increasing hatred of Christians, statements like this will become ever more frequent. Christ-haters will ever more outlandishly cook up plots to try and thwart Christians. (Matthew 22:15). Ladies, the world hates us believers. Prepare yourself by staying in the Word, help your husband if you’re married, and nurture your children in the admonition of the Lord. Strength in HIM is our only defense.

Isaiah 26:4– Trust in the Lord forever, For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock

theology

The Man is the Head of the Home: Adam Named Eve

Posted on March 15, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

The other day I wrote an essay about the naming process in the Bible. I find it interesting that God re-named Abram into Abraham, and Simon into Peter. Nebuchadnezzar re-named Daniel and his three friends to retrain their personal identity into being Babylonian and away from being Hebrew. And we all receive from Jesus a new name written on a white stone at the end of the age.

That essay is here.

I think it’s intuitively understood that the one who names another is the one who has authority over the other. I said as much in the previous essay. This explanation from the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary says more:

“The biblical concept of naming was rooted in the ancient world’s understanding that a name expressed essence. To know the name of a person was to know that person’s total character and nature. Revealing character and destiny, personal names might express hopes for the child’s future. Changing of name could occur at divine or human initiative, revealing a transformation in character or destiny (Genesis 17:5, 15; 32:28; Matthew 16:17–18).” Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (pp. 1173–1174).

“The act of naming implied the power of the namer over the named, evidenced in the naming of the animals in Genesis 2:19–20 or Pharaoh’s renaming Joseph (Genesis 41:45; cp. Daniel. 1:6–7; 2 Kings 24:17).” End Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (pp. 1173–1174).

Now, there is another naming convention I’d like to look at.

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encouragement, Kay Cude, poetry

Kay Cude Poetry: See Now Our Beloved Nation

Posted on March 14, 2021 by elizabethprata

Kay Cude is a Texas Poet. Used with permission

theology

Satan whispers, women start a movement

Posted on March 13, 2021March 13, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Have you noticed how many false movements and cults were started by women? And these women started them because they claim a voice told them to? A lot. It’s a pattern.

In the 1830s, Ellen G. White received visions that she claimed were from God and soon were accepted as such. She founded the Seventh-Day Adventist movement that has 18 million adherents today.

In 1901 Agnes Ozman was attending at Charles Fox Parham’s Bethel Bible School in Topeka, Kansas. Parham was teaching that students should seek the gift of tongues so that if they were to become a missionary, they could jump right in to the field knowing the language. One day, Ozman spontaneously began speaking in a tongue that Parham insisted was Chinese. Though language experts examined the writing (her ‘tongue utterances’ had been transcribed and then published in a newspaper) the experts claimed it bore no resemblance to Chinese. Nevertheless, more and more students at Parham’s School claimed tongues, and by 1909 the Los Angeles Charismatic revival led by former student of Parham’s, William Seymour, saw over 50,000 claiming the gift of tongues. Ozman is credited with sparking the modern Pentecostal-Holiness movement.

In the 2000’s, IF:Gathering founder Jennie Allen was busy being a stay at home mom when one day,

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back to basics

Back to Basics: What is Justification?

Posted on March 12, 2021March 12, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Part of a continuing Back to Basics series

There are three parts to being united with Christ. They are justification, sanctification, and glorification.

Let’s talk about Justification.

Justification is not a process, it is an event. It’s a one-time, momentary declaration, momentary meaning it takes a moment for it to happen but it has an eternal effect.

Justification is the doctrine that God pardons, accepts, and declares a sinner to be “just” on the basis of Christ’s righteousness (Rom 3:24-26; 4:25; 5:15-21) which results in God’s peace (Rom 5:1), His Spirit (Rom 8:4), and salvation. Justification is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ apart from all works and merit of the sinner (cf. Rom 1:18-3:28).
Justification is a legal act, wherein God deems the sinner righteous on the basis of Christ’s righteousness. Unlike Sanctification, Justification is not a process, but is a one-time act, complete and definitive.
God’s act of justification may be seen to involve a double imputation. On the one hand, the sin and guilt of the believer are imputed to Christ. On the other hand, the righteousness of Christ is imputed to the believer, whereby he is declared righteous.
Theopedia (source)

Then we have is regeneration, forgiveness, grace, adoption, (not necessarily in that order or maybe all at once, let’s not argue!), sanctification (the process of the Spirit polishing off our sin nature and increasing our likeness of Christ), and then glorification (made perfect after death at the resurrection, no sin nature in our flesh at all).

Our sins prevent us from going to heaven. Since Adam, we all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:21). Before the moment of justification, we are ‘in Adam.’

When we are declared justified, we are ‘in Christ’, Who is perfect in His righteousness. That means when God looks at us, He sees Christ and His righteousness.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21).

You might notice the word “just” in justification. It is the legal theme of justice, justify, to render a verdict. God is the Judge. The penalty for all sinners is hell. However, those He declares as righteous, (through Christ, not our own righteousness!) He allows into heaven. (Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:22).

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

I like courtroom dramas. I love the intricacies of the law, the back and forth of the defense and plaintiff arguments, how a judge makes a verdict, or a jury if it is a jury trial. The legal process is long and drawn out, and even TV programs or movies show this. And then comes the climactic moment! All rise! The jury stands, the accused stands, all stand…to hear the verdict. All the work of the previous year or years rides on this one short moment.

When the jury delivers its verdict and then the judge says “You have been declared not guilty. You are free to go” almost uniformly, the actor looks around in shock and confusion. That’s it? Just like that? I can walk out of here with these clothes on my back, into the sunshine, and have a life?

Yes. Just like that.

“We the jury find the defendant not guilty.”
“The defendant is discharged. Good luck Mr Lewis. Thank you ladies and gentlemen.”

And then they can go. Amazing.

That is a ‘not guilty’ verdict in a movie, with a lengthy celebration the judge never would allow. But instead, let’s imagine when one sinner is declared righteous by faith alone, through grace alone. (Ephesians 2:8-9). Once we are justified and repent, we understand our sin and what it does to God. If we really knew the import of it at the moment of justification, we ourselves would be celebrating like this defendant. The angels do. Just imagine the celebration in heaven when one more sinner is justified and repents!

Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (Luke 15:10)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How far did they come? How far would you go?

Posted on March 11, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Our pastor preached the section in Acts recently about the Ethiopian Eunuch. I love that scene with Philip. Philip is mentioned a few times in the Bible but we lose track of him soon after this section in Acts. We don’t really know for sure whatever happened to the man. Tradition says he became a bishop of a church in Tralles, and died there, but we are not sure.

The Eunuch is also interesting. He was from Ethiopia, the scriptures are careful to mention. (And won’t it be glorious when we get ‘there’ and learn his actual name!)

So he got ready and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, (Acts 8:27).

Ethiopia covered a larger territory than the nation of Ethiopia we know now. In any case, it was a long way for a man to come. The Eunuch was reading the scriptures in his chariot when Philip approached him at the direction of the Spirit. It was a long way to come, especially since the man knew the scriptures and presumably knew he would not be allowed into the temple. Eunuchs were banned from the assembly.

No one who is emasculated or has his male organ cut off may enter the assembly of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 23:1)

The distance was roughly 2000 miles from the ancient land of Ethiopia to where we find the Eunuch south of Jerusalem. He was not allowed in the temple but he had been in God’s city anyway, to worship, the verse says. (Acts 8:27-28).

When the Eunuch heard the Good News of Jesus that Philip delivered to him and was then baptized, the Eunuch went on his way rejoicing. Would you travel that far? In an open jalopy? Taking weeks to arrive? Banned from entering your ultimate objective? And then leave rejoicing?

Then we have the Magi. They were from “the East”.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, (Matthew 2:1)

These Wise Men were likely from Persia, from the court there in Susa. It’s about 800 miles from the court to the temple, as the crow flies. The road meanders so it’s likely the distance would have been closer to 900 or 1000 miles. If the caravan traveled 20 miles a day, the usual achievable distance in daylight, it would have taken them 50 or so days to reach the Christ child. It was a long, hot, and dangerous journey. They were not even sure where He was, they had to ask Herod. When they found Him they fell down and worshiped. Would you travel that far, not sure where He even was, and then when you find Him, to fall down and worship a child?

Then we have the Queen of Sheba. It’s thought that her country was Saba, modern day Yemen. Her journey was the longest of all. She traveled over 3000 miles, because she had heard of the wisdom of Solomon and the name of Yahweh.

Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions. (1 Kings 10:1).

The Queen tested Solomon with many questions and riddles, and verified that his wisdom was indeed prodigious. She showered Solomon with many gifts, impressed with this Yahweh who gave such wisdom to men. The scriptures say she was actually breathless, and she blessed the Lord. (1 Kings 10:9).

The Eunuch was concerned with knowing the scriptures of the LORD, the Magi were concerned with worshiping the Christ, and the Queen of Sheba was concerned with the name of the LORD. They traveled many thousands of miles to inquire into these things, all the more impressive because they were not believers. (Though the Eunuch was likely a proselyte).

How far would you go to receive the word of God, to be in a solid assembly, to learn more about this Christ and His resurrection? We have air conditioned vehicles, airplanes, comfort stations, fast food…how far would you go to make sure you were in a good church? (How far would I go?).

theology

Back to Basics series

Posted on March 10, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I wrote several essays examining some of the basics of the faith. There are always new people coming to faith, and I’d wanted some of my articles to look at the issues and concepts of an early walk, as well as reminding my own self of these important topics! We’re never too old in the faith to review the wondrous doctrines that brought us to the sheepfold and the Shepherd!

What is hell?

The Importance of Prophecy

How do I know I’m saved?

What does it mean to be born again?

What is prayer?

How to study your Bible

What is a miracle?

All about Angels

What is The Lamb?

Who is Satan?

What Discernment is

What is The Rapture?

Hello Holy Spirit!

theology

Beth Moore announces she’s leaving the Southern Baptist Convention

Posted on March 9, 2021March 13, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Celebrity ‘Bible teacher’ Beth Moore has identified herself with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) since her earliest church-going days. She has had the support of Lifeway Books, an arm of the Convention, which has paid for half of her private jet travel to venues, including Australia, published her books, and organized her Living Proof events. She has been partnered at events with the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Commission president Russell Moore. She has been a member of SBC churches in the past (but not lately).

But all that is over, as today Beth Moore announced her split from the SBC and her departure from the Convention. This announcement is in-name-only, since she hasn’t adhered to the SBC’s Baptist Faith & Message for thirty years, and hasn’t been a member of any SBC church for a while. Her announcement today only confirms what we have known all along, she is leaving the SBC because she no longer identifies with its core beliefs. More on that in a moment.

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theology

What’s in a name?

Posted on March 9, 2021 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I love names. The Bible is filled with weird sounding names, genealogies, and unnamed people. I will be anxious to learn the Ethiopian Eunuch’s name, the Woman at the Well, the Woman with 12 years of blood, the Gadarene Demoniac, and the Thief on the Cross.

In addition, we will be given a new name after the final judgment of all things:

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it. (Revelation 2:17).

Jesus gave Simon a new name, Cephas which means Peter. So too Levi, he became known as the Apostle Matthew. God renamed Abram to Abraham, his wife Sarai was given the name Sarah. Jacob was renamed by God as Israel. Many more were renamed, went by another name, or had a nickname (like James, Jesus’ disciple, nicknamed Boanerges, Son of Thunder.) The angel Gabriel told Zacharias to name his son John (the Baptist). (Luke 1:13).

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