I guess Satan DOES answer prayers.

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Christian Board is a place to keep away from if you are looking for discussion about Christian thought, theology, and practice.  The forum has degenerated into a haven for pagans, heretics, and atheists to mock God and believers with impunity.  All in the name of “internet decorum” (read ecumenicalism).

Joel Osteen is another feel good preacher that seems to have inspired millions to abandon the faith in the search for self esteem.  If you want to feel good about yourself then go out and DO something, like lead a friend to Christ, or support a Missionary, or just do a good job at work.

Ah, forget it.  There are thousands of places to avoid like the plague if you are searching for Christian meat and nourishment.  I just wanted get a dig in on Christian Board because I remember when it wasn’t a disgusting and offensive forum to Christians.

But the pickings are slim.  Baptist Board is a No Fun Zone and Conservative Life (one of the few GOOD places on the web) was taken down by the owner for personal reasons.

Paul Edwards (in Townhall.com) hits it right on the mark with his take on Joel Osteen’s comments to Byron Pitts of CBS’s 60 Minutes. Joel isn’t just soft on doctrine, he is downright anorexic. Preferring to receive praise and adoration from his “flock” Joel is always anxious to tell someone “they are ok” as opposed to “you are wrong”.

No one likes to be told they are wrong, but when dealing with the eternal soul and our relationship to God in heaven, one had better have got as many I’s and T’s dotted and crossed before being called home and called to account for every word let dropped to the ground.

And maybe worst of all, the hope Joel engenders with his “power of the positive attitude” sermons to his following is a false hope. While scripture entreats us to place our faith and lives into the hands of Jesus Christ, Joel is happy to repeat stories and anecdotes from Dale Carnegie or Tony Robbins.

Christianity isn’t all gumdrops and lollipops. It is serious and God takes very seriously those who put themselves up as teachers amongst His people. Especially if what they are teaching is contrary to His Word, and in Joel’s case, completely lacking His Word whatsoever.

If you must find a media-type personality to follow, try R.C. Sproul. Not only will you be sitting under a teacher who stands head and shoulders above EVERY prosperity gospel preacher, you will have the added benefit of R.C.’s special wit and wisdom.

Anyone who has a front door has had a neatly dressed duo standing there asking about your thoughts about salvation. That duo usually represents the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the LDS represents many things, but especially they represent the Book of Mormon, the “other” gospel of Jesus Christ.

I am not going to get into a long discussion on HOW to debate Mormons. There are many excellent books and websites already out there to do just that. I just want to pass along an online tool that you might find useful if you are one of those Christians that use the opportunity of the unsaved walking right up to your door and asking about salvation. Little to they know that they are about to hear the TRUTH from you!

To that end let me offer this website (rarebookroom.com), and this link in particular: http://www.rarebookroom.org/Control/smimrm/index.html. The actual Book of Mormon published in 1830. From this many are able to demonstrate the changes made to the “most perfect book ever published” over the many years.

This tool alone won’t convince a Mormon to drop everything and worship at the foot of the Cross of Christ. But it will allow you to build some credibility in their eyes because you have access to something they are denied, the actual work of Joseph Smith from the time he penned it. The versions floating around now have revisions and updates that can prove troublesome to those whom Trust the Book of Mormon and what it represents of itself.

Many folks, when I say I am a DOUBLE Predestinarian, achieve a glazed donut look and maintain that appearance for the duration of the conversation. Not quite having a handle on predestination, they have no idea how to approach double predestination. Well, here is Double Predestination in as brief a form as possible without doing mortal violence to the basic concepts involved.

Double Predestination points to the fact in the Bible there are only two places our eternal souls will reside upon our death, heaven or hell. Paul speaks clearly enough on those predestined for heaven and on those predestined for hell, but the mechanisms involved in the final disposition of our souls is cloudy at best.

God choosing some for heaven is a sovereign choice on His part and is an ACTIVE choice that He renders upon those He is pleased to choose. God also chooses some for hell which is a PASSIVE choice on God’s part because (if you are 5 point Calvinist) we ALL inherit our sin nature from Adam and are conceived in sin and BORN condemned to hell. God is merely allowing that choice to come to complete fruition rather than supernaturally intervene.

Double Predestination recognizes that Man is totally depraved from birth and only God can act upon the spiritually dead sinner, to quicken his spirit, and move him to Salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.