Keruxai.com - Latest Comments

Re: Contact Me

P Helmus — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:04:05 -0000

Just saying hi. I'm still in Maple Ridge.
Peter Helmus
p.helmus@gmail.com

Re: J’adore cette ville

Leeinthejungle — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:50:36 -0000

I wish it were true that there were church planters coming to Quebec city ... there is so much need, but all of the church plantering organizations i have contacted for Quebec are based only in Montreal and there are no future plans for Quebec city. The Quebec culture is hardened and closed against religion, yet their hearts are yearning for something real and true. Please keep praying for Quebec, and for church planters to respond to the silent, yet desparate call to come here.

Re: Bible Study in Ephesians #1 – Featuring BibleWorks 9

StevenLong — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 16:59:17 -0000

Joe,

I concur. God does not produce evil in the hearts of men. Men are evil without God's help (no pun intended) :-)

Anyway, I've enjoyed reading your posts on this series so far. Hopefully, after the New Year during tax season I will be able to invest in Bible Works 9. I have watched all the videos on their web site several times. I can't wait (hopefully) to get my own copy and dig in. God bless.

Sincerely,
Steven Long

Re: The Bud May Have a Bitter Taste But Sweet Will Be the Flower

Randy — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 16:42:27 -0000

thank you for sharing brother. As a fellow pastor who knows something of the bitter bud, my heart and prayer join yours for Christ to be exalted through our weaknesses and (seemingly) bitter circumstances and ministry. May we remain faithful until the end, for neither the praise of men or the temporary comforts that outward success fleetingly promises. All things for His glory and 'smile' ... His divine pleasure in our growing dependence on Him in and through our frailty... may the treasure of Christ become all the more glorious and treasured by us and those we love and serve. May we become nothing... even as His promise to us comes to light - in particular, His promise that we will be spoken falsely of, we will be persecuted for His name, misunderstood and falsely accused... often in the Name of God... In all of these we participate in His sufferings while He continues to reveal our faults and sins to us that He might not only sanctify us I believe, but also receive all the glory in all things.
For Christ
Randy

Re: Parents & Internet Safety

Joe — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:03:44 -0000

On Monday the 28th of November, use promo code "cyber" for $25 off!

Re: Parents & Internet Safety

J.Luesink — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:51:29 -0000

Hi Joe/Heather - I can't seem to find the 20% discount code - is it still active? Jon

Re: The Great Commission: Animated Version

Joe Haynes — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:37:04 -0000

That's just the kind of thing a hypocrite would say. While surfing insignificant blogs like mine.

Re: The Great Commission: Animated Version

Willem — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:34:54 -0000

Animations can teach us important things ... like this animation did. A good animation with a spot on message.

Re: The Great Commission: Animated Version

Greg Tenni — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 03:56:16 -0000

Hmmmm. What if we spent less time making animations ....

Re: Faith Is Not A Law

Joe Haynes — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 02:13:52 -0000

I noticed, after publishing the above blog entry, that the site I quoted the introductory statement from went on to comment that "every man has faith". This was also a key point the evangelist this morning emphasized: that every human being, Christian or not, has faith. It is up to him what to do with that faith.

The site linked at the top of this page gives this Scripture reference as proof:
Romans 12:3 "For l say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." (emphasis in the original quote)

The problem with this argument is that it is not what the verse actually is saying. This is easy to show. And it is typical of the poor Bible study skills employed by Word of Faith teachers and adherents.The portion of Romans 12:3 highlighted above in boldface says, "God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith", which is interpreted by the author of the source web page to mean that God gives every human being some amount of faith. But this isn't what the verse actually means.The verse began, "For I say... to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought..." So here Paul is giving an instruction to who? "To every man that is among you". What is the instruction? "Not to think of himself more highly than he ought." What else? "To think soberly." How should "every man that is among you" ... "think soberly"? The answer is at the end of the verse: "...According as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." In other words, "every man" here does NOT refer to every human being, but rather to "every man that is among you", with regard to how they are to think soberly in light of how much faith they have received from God. This shows us two things that contradict the Word of Faith teachers: 1) that there is no Scriptural basis for thinking every human being has faith, and 2) that nobody has faith unless God gives it to them (since "every man that is among you" to whom Paul was writing had received his faith as a gift from God, "according as God hath dealt" it).

Re: Bible Study in Ephesians #1 – Featuring BibleWorks 9

Joe Haynes — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:08:50 -0000

P.S. - When I argue that God is sovereign in meticulous detail over every act of sin and evil in history, and that such things happen because of the foreknowledge and because of the definite plan (c.f., Acts 2:42) of God, I am IN NO WAY suggesting that God is morally responsible (in other words "guilty") for sin or evil. I have dealt with this troubling question before here: http://historicism.com/blog/?p...

If, after reading the above linked blog article, you still struggle with the idea that God plans and pre-decides all events but is not at all guilty of evil, please let me know by posting a comment below. I'll try and do justice to your question or comment.

Re: Why I love Victoria – #2

Joe Haynes — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:08:30 -0000

Cheryl, thanks so much for your prayers! Indeed, it is shocking. But the Holy Spirit can change that, and I believe He already has begun to do so.

Re: Why I love Victoria – #2

C1lenny — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 01:38:47 -0000

James Bay was wear I lived, fifty plus years ago. I attended a small brethren gospel hall and was saved at a crusade. I am shocked there is not a evangelical church in James Bay. I have many nostalgic memories of that neighbourhood. I will be praying.
Cheryl Lenny

Re: What a Refuge!

Joe Haynes — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 02:19:46 -0000

Again:
" 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;" (Heb 12:14-15 ESV)

"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you." (Heb 13:17 ESV)

Re: What a Refuge!

Joe Haynes — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 01:58:54 -0000

Hi again Wally.

With all respect, merely implying that I have misunderstood or misapplied Hebrews 13:17 without giving any argument showing in what way I have misunderstood the passage is extremely poor form. You appear to be trying to discredit my use of that passage by casting doubts. If you wish to try and demonstrate how I have misused the verse, please feel free.

"As for the websites..." What? Is it appropriate for people to check out a church by visiting the local, bitter gossips to hear what they have to say about a church? I think not. Nor are those websites appropriate resources to learn about Sovereign Grace Ministries or any of their churches.

"...You are either in denial of would SGM is about or you haven't research the information yourself" [sic]. Again a bad tactic to try and discredit without giving any substantive argument. You seem to imply that because I do not agree with you I MUST be either a) in denial or b) uninformed. What arrogance.

"I am not steering people away from any church..." Yes you did in fact try to steer away from Crossway: you wrote, "I would highly recommend that you find another church in the area." It seems like you are not being honest, since your very own words contradict your claim of not steering people away from any church. If it is not a matter of dishonesty then it could be a matter of simply being very careless with words.

I did not merely say Crossway was "Gospel-centred, Bible preaching, warm and welcoming." I said that Crossway was "a Gospel-centred, Bible-preaching, Jesus-worshipping, Spirit-led, people-loving, welcoming, warm church." If that is true, by definition, then, it can not be a cult. If you wish to demonstrate that Crossway is not these things, that it is in fact a cult, I will allow you to post your argument here after you have talked to Tony, Fred, Pat or one of the elders at Crossway.

Judging from the things you say and the way you say them, I am beginning to see why you are no longer in a Sovereign Grace Church, and why you are bitter toward them.

Re: What a Refuge!

Wally — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:51:42 -0000

Heb 13:17 - One of the most over used (often misunderstood) passage in the bible.

As for the websites... it is important that people understand the organization that a church is apart of before they get involved. It would seem that like many of the churches of SGM, you are either in denial of would SGM is about or you haven't research the information yourself. I am not steering people away from any church, I would only recommend that they research it first before getting involved, whether it be Crossway or any other church. There are a lot of cults out there that are Gospel-centred, Bible preaching, warm and welcoming.

Re: For the Former Things Had Passed Away

Rivwatch — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:04:41 -0000

Unimaginable, but, oh, so much better than here! And to think that God did everything, EVERYTHING that needed to be done so we could go there.The voices of a thousand angels could not express my gratitude.

Thanks Joe for reminding me about Heaven tonight. I needed that focus. Maria

Re: What a Refuge!

Joe Haynes — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:58:24 -0000

Wally,
I can appreciate that your experiences in a Sovereign Grace Ministries church were negative, perhaps even painful for you. I don't intend to minimize that.

The links you suggested in your comment, and which you asked me not to censor, were the same as recommended by Steve240 previously. I removed the links from your comment for the same reasons I gave to Steve240 in my two replies to his comment (see http://historicism.com/blog/?p... ).

I find it shocking that someone who claims to be a Christian would say, "I would highly recommend that you find another church in the area", when I have already shared that the SGM church in question, Crossway Community Church in Langley, BC, is a Gospel-centred, Bible-preaching, Jesus-worshipping, Spirit-led, people-loving, welcoming, warm church. That was our experience. It's scandalous that you would steer people away from such a church. It's also shameful that you commit the same error as Steve240: painting all Sovereign Grace Ministries churches with the same brush based on your personal experience at one particular local church within the network.

Here's what I recommend you do, just as I advised to Steve240:

"...go to your former SGM leaders, apologize, repent and ask their forgiveness. Then, if you cannot fully agree with the policies and doctrines of SGM, go find a local church with whom you can fellowship and ask the elders to shepherd you, committing to them that you will submit to their authority and imitate them as they imitate Christ."

" 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;" (Heb 12:14-15 ESV)

"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you." (Heb 13:17 ESV)

Re: What a Refuge!

Wally — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 02:44:24 -0000

I second Steve240 comments. As a former member of the church I experience first hand the negative effects of the authoritarian leadership. It is part of a group of churches called SGM. I would highly recommend that you find another church in the area. See the following sites for testimony of other people who have left or been forced out of the organization. Please try to avoid censoring this information.

[link removed]

Re: The Homeschooler, the Public Schooler, the Controversial Blogger

Jaireidca — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 21:45:04 -0000

Good post - just as an addition, I'm a homeschooler in the GTA region of Ontario, and attend a church with attendance of around 1000 yet we're currently the only family I'm aware of that homeschools (though most people who become aware that we are doing that are very positive towards us about it). Our homeschool association covers an area where at least 500,000 people live, but there would be less than 100 families in that area that we know of who homeschool (we recognize there are lots who aren't part of an association, but I think it is clear that to say that the majority of Christians homeschool in Ontario would be a gross over-statement).

Re: What a Refuge!

Joe Haynes — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:19:48 -0000

Two additional comments:
1. I was blogging about the blessing we as a family have received through attending Crossway Community Church on and off for the past several months. None of the complaints about SGM in general seem to be valid when considered strictly in the light of our experience at Crossway.
2. I did not solicit your link suggestions. You somehow stumbled across my blog, read something positive about SGM and Crossway in particular, and took it on yourself to defame that which has been a blessing from God to me and my family. Shame on you.

When the "scribes from Jerusalem" similarly defamed Jesus' ministry, in Mark 3, Jesus warned them that by so doing they were blaspheming the Holy Spirit in whose power all that Jesus did was accomplished. Be very careful, "Steve."

Re: What a Refuge!

Joe Haynes — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:09:44 -0000

"Steve",

Sorry for the delay in approving your comment. I wanted to thoroughly check out the links you gave before responding. I have decided to censor your links for the reason that the sites you suggest are of no benefit to anyone and are actually detrimental to the cause of Christ.

Some of the stories I read, particularly of abuse and the handling of abuse in SGM churches are tragic, if true. However, I have heard similar stories, during my time as a pastor, from former members of at least 3 other major evangelical denominations. These stories on the sites you listed are not unique to SGM. What is unique is that the poisoned atmosphere "K." has created promotes bitter complaining and slanderous targetting of SGM churches.

Most of the blog posts I read through share similar weaknesses. Citations of sources are lacking. Maligning comments are thrown around on the basis of nothing more than inferences or vague objections to an SGM "leadership attitude", "system of thought", or "organizational culture". "K." is a wolf in sheep's clothing. He claims to have no desire to do harm to Sovereign Grace Ministries, yet that is what his work evidentially exists to do. If he was really interested in the Gospel, he would spend his time teaching the Gospel and witnessing to the Gospel using his blogging skills for that purpose instead of to maintain a breeding ground for bitterness, gossip and slander. He seems to me very similar to other bitter people I have known who tried to gain recognition as leaders in churches but were rejected for one reason or another and then turned against those who rejected them. "K." has turned his bitter attacks on the leadership of SGM not to "air the truth" as he so often claims, but in an attempt to vindicate himself and hold accountable church leaders who are not in fact accountable to "K.".

In order to accomplish his goals, "K." invites gossip and slander from people who have been hurt and deceives them into imagining that the cause of their hurt and mistreatment is something inherent to and systemic through Sovereign Grace Ministries. "K." seems to me to be what Paul was warning the Ephesian elders of:

" I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them." (Act 20:29-30 ESV)

ALL of the complaints I read which appeared to have any legitimacy are all too common to other non-SGM churches as well. What you and "K." should do is go to SGM leaders, apologize, repent and ask their forgiveness. Then, if you both cannot fully agree with the policies and doctrines of SGM, go find a local church with whom you can fellowship and ask the elders to shepherd you, committing to them that you will submit to their authority and imitate them as they imitate Christ.

" 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;" (Heb 12:14-15 ESV)

"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you." (Heb 13:17 ESV)

Re: What a Refuge!

Steve240 — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 15:18:01 -0000

You might find the following blogs of interest about C.J. Mahaney and the group he leads, Sovereign Grace Ministries:
www.*********************.com
www.*********************.com

They tell another side. Hope this helps.

Re: Putting the REACH back in Preach

Joe Haynes — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 21:23:24 -0000

Thanks Glenn. Barton is a friend and an excellent preacher! Dunbar
Heights Baptist is definitely a church I am glad to recommend to anyone.

Re: Putting the REACH back in Preach

Glennandsharon — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 21:11:43 -0000

Joe,
Excellent article about the very core of what the preaching office is about, and its sad areas of lack, eve among the best preachers. I would commend our pastor to you, Barton Priebe, at Dunbar Heights Baptist Church. Theologically sound, practically envigorating, and Christocentric. The Gospel is always preached. That is why we now go to this young, exciting Church. I pray you will add DHBC to your list next year.