You Tube Pulpit

I have recently taken my wife’s advice (yes… it is getting to be a habit) and started posting (preaching) on You Tube. I have to admit… I was a bit hesitant, but once I got started I really found it is an incredible tool and medium that God certainly can use to His glory. I don’t really think the Reformed theological movement would have as much traction as it does without the internet blogs and videos. It really has fed me in my spiritual growth over the past two years. Where else would I have been blessed to have MacArthur, Piper, Mahaney, Mohler… not to mention commentaries and sermons of our forefathers? Now, God has asked me to step out in faith and preach.

It really is cool because I am a preacher without a pulpit. I have been given the gift of teaching and preaching but at the moment, the Internet is my pulpit. I do get to teach a class at church… the new semester is coming up and I’m not sure the my preacher is going to let me teach again, now that it is clear he does not agree with my theology. It is really beginning to amaze me how emotionally charged this situation can be and at times there is some pretty thick hostility. The Arminian seems to become highly offended that someone would propose anything that would injure the free will of man and the Sovereign Grace man gets really bristled that God’s glory is stolen from Him and that man thinks so highly of himself that he can make a good choice for God.

I get kind of worried lately… get concerned that I am becoming more and more set in my beliefs and there is a fear that I my drift into the extreme of hyper Calvinism. Now HC’s don’t evangelize nor do they believe in holy living… and both of these I believe in steadfastly. What worries me is I am beginning to wonder if someone can misunderstand this core issue and really still be saved… regenerate. Now I know I am not in a position to judge… but I wonder. I mean… we are talking about who God really is and how he saves. This is at the heart whole matter. It is about God’s character. We are to have no idols before God. Who God is… this is a vital issue.

Look… there are “spine issues” and “rib issues.” I know that whether music is ok in worship or not is a rib issue… head coverings for women… rib issue… rapture… a rib issue. The person and work of Jesus Christ, on the other hand, is not… I think that is an issue at the core of the Gospel. When we are unregenerate (lost) the bible says we are “spiritually discerned” or “appraised.” The truth is hidden and scriptures are foolishness to us… we will be ever hearing but never perceiving. When we are saved the lights some on… we understand certain things that we did not before.

Let me give you an example. I was watching and Ergun Caner video the other day. Dr. Caner is the president of Liberty University, a major theological seminary. He was bashing on Calvinism pretty hard (hyper Calvinism actually) but her was dealing with Romans 9 as it is a popular proof text for the Reformed thinker. He said in a very defiant tone:

“… now did God really hate Esau because of who he was, or did God hate Esau because of what Esau did?!”  

I couldn’t believe it… I nearly fell over when I heard this. How else can such blindness to a clear and obvious text printed in plane black and white be explained by anything less than a spiritual blindness. I mean it’s one thing to explain it away… but to simply not be able to acknowledge what is printed… wow. I can only conclude he simply does not see it. The only other option is intentional deception and I cannot believe this of people. I believe they are held captive and deceived.

So that’s what I am burdened with lately. My church feels less like a place that I go to worship and more like a mission field. I keep praying and I keep reading scripture and I keep listening to men I admire. I am afraid to even put my thoughts out here because I fear persecution… but I fear God more. My God is a powerful God that can save… and He does save when it pleases Him. That’s why I keep evangelizing… even inside my church… because I know God will do the impossible when He wishes… and their will be fruit.

Below you will find one of my “breakout” videos entitled “Why Arminians Pray Like Calvinists.” Enjoy.

God bless you all.

Timothy (the clay)

WHY ARMINIANS PRAY LIKE CALVINISTS

~ by thepotterandtheclay on July 25, 2008.