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.

I am eager to hear The Trumpet. I yearn to hear The Shout! To see the dead in Christ rise towards the heavens knowing the call will summon me next.

Imagine what the rest of world will see! I don’t know if there will be the actual bodies of departed loved ones slowly rising into the air, shimmering and glowing as their dead bones are regenerated and replaced with incorruptible flesh. I don’t know if we, those alive in Christ, will be snatched away and visible to those left on the Earth as we rise to meet our already risen Savior in the air.

But I do know that right now it has not happened. We are waiting. Waiting for the last person who is to be saved by the Blood of Christ and the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We know that there is a point in time when there will be no more souls left to be saved. We see for ourselves the fruits of our labors becoming more and more scarce. There are fewer people responding to the Gospel. There are more and more people who desire to have their “ears tickled” by rhetoric rather than convicted by the Truth.

The Great Delusion is slowly descending upon the face of the Earth. The social cancers of multi-culturalism and situational ethics have so pervaded the mainline denominations of the Christian world that it is often difficult to discern between a Christian Worship Service and a meeting of the Rotary Club or AMWAY.

The anti-Christ has been given every player on his stage. All the actors are cast, all the sets have been built. The script is ready, all we wait for is the anti-Christ to take his spot and begin the final act of the Human Drama.

The final evolution of Man is not going to be as the pagans and atheists imagine. It won’t be the grand and glorious self awareness of their own godhood. On the contrary, it will be the final step of Man’s corruption and avarice. The last step taken into the total depravity of Man’s soul and utter shattering of the Image of God placed into Man. The complete betrayal of God and His providence in exchange for the most ancient lie, “You will be like God.”

The Lord will finally comply with Man and with Satan and give them what they most desperately desire; a world without the Hand of God gently preserving His creation. Man will be at the mercy of Satan and Satan will have free reign over creation. His reign will be a reign of Terror unimagined in the annals of history. Yet Man will continue to curse God rather than turn to Him and be saved.

I wait for The Shout and The Trumpet blast. The World waits for its savior as well. Mr. Anti-Christ, you’re on.

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.

I will be delivering the message at my local church this Sunday, a message entitled “Tears at the Judgment.” It might sound familiar to some of you but that is ok. I will also be bringing the Sunday Evening Message “A Letter From Our Pastor”. I will have a podcast of the first service as soon as I am able to edit out all the non-words like “ahhhh”, “duuuhhh”, “brblbrblbrblbrblbrbl”, and the like.