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CHRISTIAN ARSENAL Newsletter |
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June
2001 |
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June's Edition focuses on Discernment |
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Have we stopped thinking? We are living in a world of technology,
information, intelligence and advanced learning. But why are we thinking and using our brains
less? Do you believe everything you see on the television, radio and the internet? Our minds
are being scammed more now than ever before. What does the Bible say about discernment?
1 Corinthians 2:15 says the characteristic of a spiritual person is discernment.
In 1 Timothy 1:3-6 Christians are told to not listen to fables and endless rambling.
1 Thess. 5:21 tells us to prove or discern all things and only hold on to those things
that are found to be good. The internet and email are becoming the best way to spread rumors and scam
people. Recently I read this article where a woman scammed thousands of people from a website about a
dying girl that never really existed. Read this article on the MSN site.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/576899.asp
We get at least one email a day that tells us of some sad child that is "really dying
" and we must forward this email to everyone to get money to buy them a new liver, heart
or whatever. Or, some company like Microsoft or AOL is going to send me a check if I forward
this onto everyone in my address book. Or what about all of the horrible viruses? Well, many of
them don't exist. Do you get these kind of emails too? Well, most of these emails are what we
call "Urban Legends". Urban Legends pop up overnight and are perpetuated by
people who refuse to seek the truth before sending onto everyone they know. Check out our
Urban Legends site and find out...
"What are Urban Legends?", "How do they spread?" and"How to check to
see if they are true?".
http://www.christianarsenal.com/UrbanLegends.htm
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Current Christian Issues and Concerns |
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So Called "Christian Products" May Not Be Biblically Accurate
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/5/182001h.asp
(AgapePress) ...A retail executive says some so-called "Christian products" today
are neither biblically accurate nor culturally relevant. Bill Anderson recently told managers
of Lifeway Christian stores he believes Jesus would reject some products because "not
everything labeled 'Christian' is Christian. Anderson, who is president of the Christian
Booksellers Association, wonders if Jesus would recommend that His disciples skip a specific
song on a CD or if He would go into the home of Mary and Martha and ask them to take a
decorative Christian product off their wall. Anderson tells Baptist Press that throughout
scripture, whatever God put His name on He declared it holy and to be a reflection of Him.
According to Anderson, "The real issue is, are we helping people understand the Word
of God or simply replacing it with something more palatable?"
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New and Interesting on the Site |
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False Prophets
http://www.christianarsenal.com/FalseProphet.htm
Satan's Emissary's....How do you know how to tell what a false prophet is? What is my
responsibility as a Christian? Wow, those are some tall questions. Ones that every Christian
will contemplate in the course of their spiritual maturation. But, the good news is that the
Bible clearly tells us the answers to these questions.
1) False Prophets are those who preach or teach anything contrary to the Word of God.
Matthew 7:15-16 & Galatians 3:1
2) You can distinguish a false prophet's message by comparing it to what is clearly recorded
in the Bible. Sometimes this is easy and other times you must dig deep and get some help from
other's.
2 Timothy 2:14-16
3) The Bible tells us that we, as Christians, must test the word of everyone who claims to be
a prophet of God.
Acts 17:11
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Who is Your Jesus?
http://www.christianarsenal.com/JesusWho.htm
It has been asked, "Why are there so many different churches and so many different
denominations?" and even "Why are their such differences within a denomination?".
These are very good questions. There are a multitude of answers to apply to these questions that
may very well explain some of the different churches and variations in them. There are cultural
differences, social differences, economic differences, doctrinal and theological differences, and
the list could go on and on. Granted, some differences important. For example, a church being
based on sound Biblical doctrine instead of popular opinion and political correctness would be an
important difference. Still, many churches claim to be biblically based but are so different in
some respects to one another. Why is this? There is one reason that can account for many of these
differences. You can tell a lot from a church when you begin digging into the heart of their
reason for existing. Simply ask..... "Who is your Jesus?". Any organization will
directly reflect their thoughts and sentiments about their founder and their leadership.
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Christian Reading for the Month of June 2001 |
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Relativism:Feet Firmly Planted in Mid Air - Francis Bekwith & Gregory Koukl
In the tradition of C.S. Lewis and Francis Schaeffer, the authors consider issues of
fundamental concern for Christians in a straightforward, uncomplicated manner. Beckwith and
Koukl explore the inconsistencies inherent in the relativist position, suggest specific
approaches that can be used in the course of dialog, and consider the everyday implications of
relativism, especially in relation to important issues such as abortion, homosexuality,
multiculturalism, political correctness and tolerance. This book offers commonsense assistance
to all who desire to understand the modern challenges to the Christian faith.
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So What's the Difference - Fritz Ridenour
Fritz Ridenour examines the spiritual beliefs of various faiths, including Roman Catholicism,
Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormonism, and other religions and cults.
Ridenour says Christians need to be equipped to defend their faith and God’s Holy Bible
against an onslaught of false religions. Ridenour says many Christians do not have a firm
understanding of God’s Word and therefore can be easily led astray by the false teachings of a
cult. He says many New Age cults and Eastern-based religions have distinct differences with
Christianity. But Ridenour says other religions, such as Mormonism, take God’s Word out of
context and present confusing arguments.
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Have you Registered for our Monthly Drawing |
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Our winners for May are Mary S. from Cordova, TN and Kim C. from Richmond Hill, GA
We're giving away a Leather bound, gold edged, thumb indexed
Bible each month.
You can't win if you don't register.
Click here to register
www.christianarsenal.com/Register.htm
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