Posted on 05/22/2011 12:24:59 PM PDT by truthandlife
Bishop T.D. Jakes, a Dallas megachurch pastor who will be preaching at Lakewood Church during Memorial Day weekend, is calling out Franklin Graham on his his hesitancy to accept Obama as a Christian and asking he apologize for casting speculation onto the president’s faith.
We didn’t question the Christianity of President Bush when he said he accepted Christ, and I’m disappointed in Rev. Franklin Graham in that regard,” Jakes told Martin. ”…And I would hope that he would see the rationale in apologizing for such statements — because if the president’s faith is suspect, then all of our faiths are suspect, because the Bible is quite clear about what it takes to be saved and the president has been quite open about his accepting Christ and him openly confessing it before men. And if it’s good enough for the Bible it ought to be good enough for the rest of us.”
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.chron.com ...
Nevermind the political angle, this is the problem with the easy-believeism that dominates Protestantism today - and Catholicism for that matter: Say the magic words, all is well.
Does the Bible not also say to "work out your salvation with trembling and fear" and ask the question, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
Grace is not cheap, seeming that it cost the Son of God his life and unspeakable suffering. Sanctification is not easy, either - the lifelong process by which the spirit chisels away layer after layer of remaining filth in the believer up to his/her dying day. We ought not spend a great deal of time judging another's conversion as we should spend more time looking at the person in the mirror and asking him/her these penetrating, soul-searching questions of eternal import.
Nevertheless, we do ourselves grave injustice if we ignore the character and constitution of our leaders. We rightly judge those who would represent us as a people. We know them and judge them by their fruits.
That politician of which you speak is not a Christian. That politician does not stand with the weak and the poor, protecting them from the mighty. That politician does not stand against usurious oppression of the poor by large institutions with powerful lobbying arms.
By their fruits shall ye know them.
Jakes apparently is not familiar with the gospel of John chapter 1:
"But as many received as him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." John 1:12
This chapter also talks about the distinct personage of Jesus Christ, a declaration which flies in the face of the Oneness Pentecostal view of God (who appear to be modalistic). I've dealt with Pentecostals before. If you haven't received the "Holy Spirit" (second blessing, it is sometimes called, or "willing to be lead by the spirit" as Jakes alludes above), you are not demonstrating salvation, or more tolerantly are "immature." The pagans practised glossolalia, so it is not unique to the early church. As practiced today it is a "facade of language" and so-called "interpreters" make up translations. It's deceptive at best, or possibly demon possession (?) at worst.
I'd no sooner apologize to this heretic than BHO who mocks the Bible.
The record so far does not bode well...i am gun shy...just some things you come to accept later in life...a life time of actually getting whopped over the head.
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