Saturday Morning Blog with Pastor Williams (February)
Posted on February 1st, 2007 by TADCCBLOG
Pastor Williams will be active on the blog site this Saturday morning from 10 to 11am immediately following the WRJD 1410AM broadcast of “Christian Perspective Today”. Please suggest topics or questions for discussion.
Filed under: Discussion Topics, Live Blog on Saturday
21 Responses to “Saturday Morning Blog with Pastor Williams (February)”
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Your thoughts on church sponsored Super Bowl parties. This type of recreational activity is going on today all over the nation.
You cannot mix the sacred and the profane. There is nothing sacred about the Super Bowl. As we experienced a few years back when Janet Jackson had her breasts exposed. The interviews are often full of expletives. These should have been a wake-up call to the church.
The half-time entertainments are raunchy, secular music. Today the entertainment is Prince. A man that carries the androgynous symbol for his name.
The church should be about soul winning and not compromising the message of Christ Jesus throuhg lifestyles that are incompatible with a Christian lifestyle.
I agree with your comments Pastor. Satan has so decieved many in the church by effectively blurring the lines between what is spiritually of CHRIST and what is carnal. Just look at the changes in gospel music.
Gospel rap and hip-hop is the music of choice among most believers today, reason for its popularity being its appeal to the younger Christians. The truth of the appeal is not spiritual but carnal. This music appeals to the flesh.
Take a closer look at gospel videos. The attire reflects the unsaved. And the matter of dance, with all of its secular moves. Even the older, established and traditional gospel singers have embraced this style of music, claiming that they too are trying to reach the younger sector and wanting to be more diverse. I suspect that the crossover has more to do with money than the concern for salvation of the world.
I don’t think there is an issue with different types of music as long as it is gloryfying God and lifting up the name of Jesus. I do believe that the use of wordly ideas and songs is poor judgement because after many listen to the Christian psueudo Hip-Hop, they later listen to the real thing.
Some of the gospel videos are distasteful, but I don’t think all contemporary/modern music should be grouped into the same category…because there are some videos and music that are not distasteful. God created us with creative abilities and I think that videos, different lyrical styles, etc are appropriate, again as long as it is Gloryfying God and lifting up the name of Jesus and not gloryfying the flesh. The former may be rare, but I believe God is raising true, bold, steadfast Chrsitians and believers who will not conform to the standards of the world!!
I also believe there is a significant difference between Gospel rap and Hip-Hop. Rap deals with a style in delivering a message, while hip-hop deals with a culture. As Pastor has expressed, the Hebrew language is read in a rhythm, or some could see as rap, so rapping isn’t necessarily a bad thing as long as God is being glorified and Christ is being magnified.
Please join us for the documentary showing on The Truth Behind Hip-Hop on Thursday March 1 at 6:30pm, I believe it will reveal some eye-opening revelations behind the mesasge and culture of Hip-hop, rap and the differences between the two.
Stay Blessed!
I have to admit that I am a lover of traditional gospel and some of the contemporary christian music. I’ve watched gospel hip-hop and rap videos, and I do not recall any of the artists dressed in suits or semi- formal attire. They all looked like they were going to a house party or going somewhere to “hang out.” Its one thing to dress that way because you have nothing else, but these singers obviously have money to dress in a more appropriate fashion.
Many wear do-rags, excessive amounts of jewelry, denim clothes and baggy pants that look like they’re about to fall off. This manner of dress is reflective of secular hip-hop and rap attire and is not reverencing God.
Maybe its the attire and the way they dance that I find objectionable. When watching the videos , I have turned off the volume and it was just like watching a BET secular video.
Christian Rock music gives a simular inference to secular heavy metal rock music. Many of the performers (male) wear eyeliner, spiked hair, tight-fitting or torn pants , lots of body piercings and multiple tattoos all over their bodies. Hip-Hop and Rap artists also display multiple tattoos and body piercings.
Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect Will of God.”
There is no need to mimic the world’s music for the sake of Christ. I grew up during the 60′s and 70′s. Gospel music remained seperate and destinctive from the R&B of my day. In fact, the secular music at times sounded very much like gospel. In other words, secular music was immulating gospel music. What I’m trying to say is, gospel music did not conform to the world in earlier years in order to appeal to youth, so why must gospel music conform now.
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever.”
I appreciate and respect your opinion. As the saying goes, “Its okay to agree to disagree.”
Praise God, for He’s worthy to be praise!!
Pastor Williams,
What is the significance of the “Holy Grail?”
What about the “Holy Lance/Spear?”
When non-Christians convert to Christianity, which form of Christianity do the majority follow; Catholicism or Protestant?
Why is Catholicism considered a form of idolatry?
Curious Sister,
The Holy Grail is supposedly the cup our Lord and Saviour drank out of during the Last Supper.
Likewise the Holy Lance/Spear supposedly is the instrument used to pierce Christ Jesus our Lord on the cross.
Catholicism globally has larger numbers of members. Protestant in its original sense are the religions that protested against Catholicism, e.g., Lutheran, Presbyterian, Anglican (Episcopal) …etc.
Charismatic or Pentecostal are now seeing the greatest growth in the world when it comes to believers in the scripture and Virgin Birth of Christ Jesus as Lord. The traditional Protestant churches are loosing members.
The Second of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5) states that you should not make any graven images of God nor bow down to an image. The Catholic Church along with many other churches has images of God. This is called idolatry. The bowing to a statue of the Virgin Mary is blasphemous. There is no record in the Bible or sacred history where someone that was righteous bowed to anyone other than God in worship. Remember this is the reason the Hebrew Boys and Daniel were persecuted in the Book of Daniel.
King Leo, approximately 700 a.d., was called an Iconoclast because he wanted to restore the church back to the place where idols were not a part of the church. However, because the tradition was so deeply rooted in the culture of the people, after his death, idolatry was restored back to the Catholic Church.
The teaching of the church is that Mary is our co-redemptrix. It is Jesus and Jesus alone that secures our salvation to His Heavenly Father. None of the disciples or apostles accorded Mary this honor that many Catholics do.
When the Catholic Church made the decision to sever themselves from the Jewish roots of the Christian faith during the first Ecumenical Council they drifted into the opinion of man rather than the doctrines of God. Judaism, of which Christ Jesus and the Apostles were, never practiced making of idols or bowing to anyone other than God.
So many of the denominations are embracing and accepting of the homosexual lifesytle, to the point of allowing those who practice this deviance into the pulpit, choir and holding positions in the church. What’s happening to our churches, ordaining openly
practicing homosexuals to positions of bishops, pastors and ministers?
Homosexuality has its roots firmly implanted in ancient civilization. In fact, history records that the downfall of the major civilzations of old was, to a larger degree, due to sexual deviance.
This lifesytle was addressed in the Bible (Romans 1) with such clarity that no one can claim ignorance when he stands before God. My belief is that those who indulge in these behaviors think that they are not hurting anyone, that this is their right to live as they please. However; in actuality they are sinning against God.
Recently, I heard a news report that homosexuals were contemplating going on a nationwide strike, to prove how much power in numbers they possessed. The theory goes that most homosexuals hold prominent positions (doctors, teachers, lawyers, politicians, law enforcement officers and athletes)
within the community. The outcome would result in the nation coming to a standstill.
Your comments, please.
Satan is as a roaring lion seeking… If you don’t have attention, the best way to get it is through the media. If you get one of the two controlling news outlet, Associated Press or the United Press International you control what people think.
The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) recently relented and allowed ownership of television network and newspaper in the same media outlet. The reason the FCC was opposed to it before is they realized the media could change the minds of what people think and believe. Is there is only one source of news or information, the distributing media company could bias it or even produce stats to support its way of thinking. This happened recently with the coming New Year. Using the same statistics, one media outlet reported that the outlook for this year is gloomy, while another media outlet reported from the same statistics that the outlook for the year was bright.
Reports of 1% -2% of the population has mushroomed because of the media and the agenda they are pushing which is not Godly. On every ballot that same-sex marriage came up for vote was resoundly beaten back. In some states as much as three-to-one.
Satan is roaring, but who is listening. We the believers in Christ Jesus should have our focus on the things of God. Satan will always try to manipulate the world for his advantage. But we that know the Lord Jesus will not be deceived.
We, the body of Christ, should remain focused on the things of God, however; at the same time we should be cognizant of what’s happening in the world around us.
Too often the church has chosen to “look the other way” because a particular member is a heavy tither, rather than counseling with him about his lifestyle being contrary to the Word of God. Some are allowed to continue, for example, to serve as ushers when they are pregnant and unmarried or co-habitating with someone who is not their spouse. Deacons being allowed to continue to remain on the board despite the fact that everyone knows he’s an adulterer/fornicator and/or has a problem with alcohol. Chain-smoking pastors and trustees making no attempt to kick the habit.
It is the responsibilty of “blood-bought, blood-washed” believers to speak out against the atrocities taking place within the church. One must be careful, however; to not alienate but to inspire that person to want to repent and change.
As the saying goes, “Sometimes we can be so heavenly- minded that we are no earthly good.”
We are imperfect vessels living in an imperfect world. It is because of the Sacrifice of Christ Jesus at Calvary that we are saved. We, as believers must live our lives as an example to a lost and dying world.We can not preach/teach God’s Way and live in contradition to His Way. Remember, others are watching to see if we practice what we preach.
KB,
Very well put. However, the Bible calls us to be Heavenly minded. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus”. “We are seated in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus”. “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and loose his own soul”. “Come out from among them and touch not the unclean thing.”
The mistake we make is we do not make the connection. We do not connect being Heavenly minded makes us better as believers and in our lifestyle in Christ Jesus. If we are truly focused on Him we are not easily sidetracked by the machinations of the world. The world has been ungodly for a long time and will continue to be until Christ returns.
Our inspiration comes from the righteousness of God not evil that is in the world. Some of us are so disconnected from God that the only way we can be inspired is by reacting to what the world puts before us. We should instead seek the Lord in prayer and let Him guide us to what causes should be our primary focus.
How can the Kingdom of God COME if our attention is on the world’s problems and not the will of God.
Pastor Williams,
Please explain the Holy Trinity, God in three persons.
Also, explain the difference between man’s soul and spirit.
Trinity is not recorded in the Bible. I John 5:7,8 states these three are one, when referring to the Father, Word and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28, Christ Jesus our Lord said to baptize them in the NAME of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Notice He said NAME, not Names.
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
The word in the above verse is echad in Hebrew. The word means one in plurality. Also, Genesis 1, “let US make man in OUR image.” We see this when speaking about marriage Christ Jesus our Lord said two shall be ONE flesh. John 17 Christ Jesus prays that all believers would be ONE as He and the Father are ONE.
We are one as believers because we are in one Body, the Body of Christ.
“1 Corinthians 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.”
Just like we a member of the One Body, Christ Jesus is the member of the Godhead. He is the Word of God. John 1:1,2; In the Beginning was the Word and the Word was with God…
This is why He could be with God and yet separate. It is as if you recorded a message on a tape recorder. Although you may be in one location, the word you recorded can be in another location. Anyone that knows your voice will know that it is you when they hear the recording. Therefore it will appear that you are in more than one place at a time, when actually you are not. That is what happened when the Word became flesh. (John 1:14)
Christ Jesus is the literal spoken word of God that became flesh. That is why He said He could only do and say what He has seen and heard of His Father in Heaven. He also said the Father is greater than I am. Your words are not greater than you, because you decide what you are going to say. However your words are a part of you since they came out of you and therefore your words are called you. Christ Jesus came out from God and therefore is called God. Not gods but God, being only one.
Sometimes soul and spirt are used interchangebly. The following verse shows that we are three part beings as God is (I John 5:7,8)
1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Spirit is what gives life to the Body and comes from God.
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
The Body is what was created from the dust of the earth. The body is what dies. Combining the Body and Spirit together makes a soul. The Spirit is the eternal part that comes from God and therefore makes the soul eternal.
This is why unbelievers go to hell when they die. It is the only place that can hold an eternal being in eternal torment. Hell was intended for the devil and his angels, eternal beings.
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
The Word breath can also be translated as Spirit in the above verse.
Pastor Williams,
I’ve heard the “Ice cube” analogy to explain the Godhead, ( God=ice cube, Christ=melted ice cube/water and the Holy Spirit=evaporated water/vapor), all from the same ice cube.
I’ve also heard the analogy of the “Wooden box.” You have a box made of 4 planks of wood and 4 nails. When you remove the nails, the box no longer exist. When you hammer the nails and planks back together, the box is re- created/formed (God= box, Christ=planks and the Holy Spirit=nails). I like this analogy the less because it make inference that in order for God to exist, He needs outside assistance to create/ hold Him together.
I heard the “wooden box” story as a child and accepted it with childlike innocence. As I matured in body and faith, possessing a better understanding of God’s written Word, the story actually confused me. God has always been in existence. He created all things when he spoke them into existence by His Word, (Jesus Christ).
The “ice cube” story was told to me years later, and it made more sense to me. Your analogy however; makes for the best explanation of the Godhead because it aligns with scriptures.
Does anyone else who visits this website have a story(s) to share about what they were told in attempts to explain the Godhead. Please share.
The “ice cube” story fits the doctrine of modalism, which is what some apostolics believe. We must reject it because it does not fit all the scriptures.
They believe that God is in only one place at a time. Therefore when the Heavenly Father spoke to Jesus as He was being baptized, they believe it was Jesus throwing His voice (ventriloquist) into Heaven. This view also believes that God died on the cross. God cannot die. It was the flesh that died. The Spirit of Christ preached unto the ones in prison when He suffered on the cross.
The Bible requires us to trust His word rather than looking for answers in men. Read I John 5:7,8 and and pray for wisdom.
As an individual you are a tripartite being, meaning there are three parts to you – Spirt, Soul and Body. These three make up the one you. As also in heaven the Three make up the One Triune God. As your life cannot exist without either one of the three parts, so is Life in all Three persons of the One God.
Pastor Williams,
With regard to man’s body, soul and spirit, my understandings are: The body is our temple/housing for our soul and spirit, our physical being.
The soul possesses appetites, thoughts, emotions and desires. Our souls contain our mind, heart, personality and intellect. As you said, our souls are immortal. We, as Christians, are commanded to win souls to Christ (Proverbs 11:30, 14:25).
A soul can not be killed, but it can be lost (to Satan). At the physical death of a Christian, the soul and spirit returns to heaven. At the physical death of a non-believer, the soul and spirit goes to hell.
Our spirit is the breath of life given to us by God. The life force that activates our souls is our spirit. Only God is able to put our spirits into action (Revelation 11:11). “And the Lord God formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). When a person dies, his spirit returns to God (believers).
“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the spirit shall return unto God. who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
“His breath goeth forth, he returneth to the earth; in that very day his thoughts perish” (Psalm 146:4).
“And so it is written, the first man (Adam) was made a living soul; the last Adam (Christ) was made a quickening spirit” (1 Corinthians 15:45).
Is this way of understanding in error or lacking? I want to have correct understanding because I have been asked to explain the Godhead and man’s spirit and soul by several persons.
Just one thing. The soul is the marriage of the spirit and body (Genesis 2:7). This is why sometimes the body is referred to as the soul and other times the spirit is referred to as the soul.
Our Heavenly or raptured bodies change the order. Right now our natural bodies dominate. In our raptured bodies the spirit dominates. This is why we are called spiritual bodies in heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body , and there is a spiritual body.
Pastor Williams,
Fact or myth: Was Lucifer really responsible/head cherub for music/worship before he was exiled from Heaven? I couldn’t find any conclusive scriptural references pertaining to this subject.
KB,
Tabret, or timbrel or tambourine is a musical instrument. It was prepared in this anointed cherub the day he was created.
Ezekial 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created
14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
Some disagree that Satan has invaded the music of the church, blurring the lines between secular and gospel. Several contemporary gospel artists have “borrowed” secular songs and re-worded the songs to appear as gospel. Several of the songs were considered disco music back “in the day.”
When I hear these “re-worked” songs,” the first thoughts that comes to mind are where I was, what I was during and who I was with. The music affects and appeals to my flesh because it reminds me of when I was not saved. I feel that this is Satan’s subtle way of influencing our praise and worship.
God’s written Word tells us to be not conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect Will of God (Romans 12:2).
If Satan can influence political affairs, morality and the media, affecting our music(gospel and secular) is only a joke to him.
Secular rap and hip-hop music/videos so raunchy and graphic , they should be X- rated.
I watched a documentary today about the role models of today’s youth. When shown photos of the President and First Lady, Vice President, Sec of State, Colin Powell, Hilliary Clinton and Barack Obama; the vast majority of youth did not recognize any of the photos.
When shown photos of Beyounce, Brittany Spears, Justine Timberlake, Kobie Bryant, Jennifer Hudson, 50-Cent, Kevin Federline and Madonna; practically all of them recognized every one of these photos.
Your comments, please.
Do not be dismayed or surprised at what the world will do. The world is lost. Christ Jesus in John 8:44 said the lust of your father (devil) you will do when referring to the world.
Our surprise should be that more Christians are not energized to preach, teach and spread the Word of God. We see the signs of the times as written in the Bible. The Word of God is being proven over and over again. Yet we are lax when it comes to spreading the Good News that can break men out of Bondagae.
We have become like the church of Laodicea in the Book of Revelations. Oh that God would wake us out of our slumber and make us more excited about the things of God rather than the things of the World.