CARM Newsletter 07-09-08

Devotion Heb. 1:1-2, "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world."

A prophet is someone who stands between God and man and speaks to man on behalf of God.  So, in the Old Testament there were prophets such as Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and others.  They spoke to God's people the words that God had given them to say.

The writer of Hebrews goes on to say that in these last days (the days since the Messiah's arrival) God speaks through the Son.  Jesus is the one who was our mediator (1 Timothy 2:5).  Jesus is the one who is our "prophet" because He speaks to us the words of the Father.  We know that the words of Christ are recorded in the Gospels and we can go there and read what Jesus has said to us.  It is Jesus the eternal Son of God whom the Father appointed as the heir of all things and through whom He made the world that speaks to us the words of truth.  If God the Father made the world through the Son, then the Son necessarily must be of incredible capabilities and importance.  Isn't this all the more reason why we should trust in the words of Christ and devote ourselves to understanding what He has told us in the Gospels and through His apostles with what they have written in the rest of the New Testament?  Of course!

Therefore we must make this understanding of Christ's role and office primary in our prayers and especially anyone else's so called "revelations" whether they come from someone who claims to be a prophet, a teacher, or professor, or someone who sees angels and gets messages from them. 

It is only through Jesus that we can truly know God the Father and it is only through Jesus that we can receive spiritual truth.  Anything else is not of God.
From
Ryan Turner		 I am currently working on a Hinduism section for CARM.  My ultimate plan is to produce a larger Eastern religions section on CARM dealing with the four major Eastern religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.  Anyhow, as I have been researching Hinduism this week, it is truly amazing how diverse this religion of India truly is.  There are over 33 million gods, numerous rituals, and beliefs which often make it difficult to pinpoint what really is "Hinduism."  Anyhow, Hinduism (along with other Eastern religions) has had a huge effect on the Western world through influencing the New Age movement, persuading approximately one-third of Westerners to believe in reincarnation, and contributing to new views on psychology and medicine.  In order to better understand Hinduism, I have to obtain a general understanding of the various Eastern worldviews.  Hinduism, specifically, adopts a view called Monism which believes that all of reality is reduced to one basic substance.  In other words, there really is no distinction between the gods and humans.  As Hindus say, "Atman (self) is Brahman (ultimate reality)."  While this appears to be intellectually titillating, reincarnation and monism are in direct opposition to Scripture which teaches that humans die once and face judgment (Heb. 9:27) and there is a clear distinction between Creator and creation (Genesis 1-2; John 1:1-3).  While many Westerners find this Eastern thinking to be odd, it is necessary that the Church be able to articulate the gospel to the billions of Easterners in our rapidly globalized planet.  It is my hope to be able to provide more information for believers to better share the gospel with their Eastern friends (Matt. 28:18-20).
Mormon Temple Opening Starting on July 11, 2008 in Twin Falls, Idaho, the Mormon Church will be opening up yet another temple.  The opening will last about five weeks.  Twin Falls is about 100 miles from where I live so I will be driving there two or three times a week to help pass out literature on the Mormon church.  We do this to inform people about what Mormonism really teaches and, hopefully, to get people to believe in the true Savior, not the false "christ" of Mormonism.  So, if you could keep Ryan and myself in your prayers, we would greatly appreciate it.  If anyone wants to support our outreach there, including gas and food, I provided a section here in the newsletter for support below.  Thank you.
We need prayer! As I have reviewed the last few months, I've realized how much CARM and my household has come under attack. I don't want to give too many boring details, but it started in April shortly after the atheism conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I needed to help someone out with the atheist debate in Pensacola, Florida and it turned out to be rather expensive. Carm then had to fund the travel and hotel costs for the second debate I was in with a oneness Pentecostal gentlemen regarding baptism and the Trinity.  Add to that a kidney stone attack (amazing pain) and my car's catalytic converter going out (costing me $1400 to fix) while I was driving to Utah to go to Manti and do some ministry work.  I have a constant ringing in my ears so I had to go to specialist which cost over $600.  I was told that the solution (a pair of hearing aids) would be a minimum of $2400.  Ouch.  That'll have to wait for a long time.

When Ryan got here, and I set up his new computer (that had been graciously donated by someone), there was one problem after another and another and another.  Basically, for two weeks I was fighting against network problems and computer hardware failures, etc.  It was extremely frustrating.  Then, just to top it off, a shelf full of computer parts in our storage closet gave way and came crashing down.  The next day I found out we lost our medical insurance.  Add some more typical family problems and some false accusations by some Christians that my character is bad with an attempt by at least one of them to bring CARM down by trying to get people to not support us, and you have a pretty typical segment of CARM life.  Whew!  Boy do I need your prayers.  So, please pray for this ministry.
Flash We need some help with flash, either someone to do flash for us or recommend a good and easy flash program to learn (not complicated).  If anyone has some information that might be helpful, please contact us at [email protected]  Thanks.
Debate Videos The DVD's for the Pensacola debate that I had with an atheist in April are here.  If you are interested in getting the video DVD's, then go to http://shop.carm.org/shop/?shop=1&cat=35&.  We will provide the MP3 (audio format) for download later.

Head in
the Sand		 prairie dogWhat the Heck?

This feature is not so we can make fun of anyone.  This is serious stuff.  It is to show what kind of thinking is out there.  We regularly get stuff like this.  Pray for this ministry.

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I visited your site and found that in one place you believe that there is only one God In all existence!. Another place you believe that the same only One true God who He has created the universe and earth and Adam and Eve is a trinity-(father-son and holy spirit)   In another statement you say that salvation by faith in work of Christ on the Cross and not by anything that we can do to please God?.   In another statement you claim that he is divine in nature as well as a human?.   Does our college knowledge and science and understanding confirm such ridiculous Issues?. Why we do believe in God's forgiveness-salvation and afraid of ever-lasting fire of Hell, and trying to do good and worshipping just one God who Jesus has been Worshipping since his birth and rejecting Jesus salvation-independent power-and his Divinity ?.   Why are believing in such un-acceptable and ridiculous and lie thoughts and trying to deceive innocent people ?. Why we do believe in one True Invisible God-and believe Jesus was ascended to heavens but,- rejecting all his power?.   Are you making fool of yourselves at the time of Space and Innovations?. Jesus is testifying along with me and all other One True Invisible God-that he is a human and a weak servant of his Creator !. He has no power of his own and can do nothing to save us unless-otherwise to surrender before the very same Creator of Adam-Eve and Jesus and the universe.
CARM Needs Staff How would you like to work in the ministry where the rewards are small, the challenges are huge, you get ridiculed, there's spiritual attack, sometimes you don't know if you are going to make it financially, you have to support yourself, and you have to research and write about false systems and compare them with Scripture? 

If that sounds appealing, then maybe you might be interested in working with CARM.

You can be male or female.  You have to agree to the CARM statement of faith, and I prefer (though it is not necessary) people who are educated and/or experienced in their field of expertise.  But I must reiterate; this is not an easy ministry.  It is time-consuming, often unrewarding, frustrating, etc.  But, there are rewards.  You get to know that what you produce will affect thousands of people for years to come.  This ministry is a challenge and it is not for the fainthearted.   Interested?  If so, contact Matt at [email protected]

Love and Hate Mailgraphic

  • Hate Mail
    • You need special help. So do many of us. good luck.
    • you are *********!!! You are a fool. and so are those who support you.  were you abused as a child? let God help you.
    • [this is an older hate mail] hello. i would like to email you on behalf of one of the end time prophpets of the god of abraham. (hard to believe i know) firstly and most importantly, regarding the sabbath, it was not done with in the new testament. jesus made it very clear. when he quoted he is lord of the sabbath, that meant that he is still lord on the sabbath day when he was healing certain people. Traditional christianity has really lost its way. far from what the apostles taught in 31AD  sunday worship came from the catholic church and christianity is so blind to follow the catholic way. the catholic church is the beast power in revelelation and yet christianity follows its teachings. that is exactly why only 144000 will be resurrected on christs return, to be a part of the the new government that is coming to earth in 2011. everyone else who dies will be resurrected at the end of the first 1000 years of christ's rule in a physical body to learn the truths of god. God has not been trying to save anyone. If he has been, he is doing a lousy job. My words are true and you will see for yourself very soon. starting,  on april 17th the 7 th seal of revelation will be taking effect. the first 4 trumpets will bring a total collapse to the united states and her closest allies within a 6 month period. this is the great tribulation that will last for 3.5 years beginning on april 17th 08. it will begin in the united states and by 2011 only 10 million of the population will be left of the usa. For your own good, the correct day for worship of the eternal is on the saturday, sunday was the original worship of the sun god mithris and also the day of worship for the pagan god baal. you need to repent. This is all true and once again, it is not from me but from the end time prophet of the god of abraham. i want you to keep my email address and when these disastrous events begin to take place, u may believe me and contact me again. Good luck and i hope you live in to the new age that is just ahead.
  • Love Mail
    • About the emerging church, I have been looking for information regarding this movement and as you have found out it is hard to pin it all down when there are so many differing statements, ideas and as it appears doctrines. My first encounter with information from this group had me fuming, them going into bat again on another instance found quite the contrary. You have put into place a well researched and balanced view of the group (non-group???). I would like to thank you for your efforts and pray for you and yours as you continue the work God has placed on your heart.
    • I just wanted to write a quick thank you to the staff of this website for putting together such a collective source of answers for me over the years. I’ve had troubles with my own faith over time and this site has been my go to “crutch” whenever I need things answered that I have not been able to get others to answer or felt comfortable asking. My childhood pastor has since retired and I have been searching for another church that I feel comfortable with for years and in my time of need this website has helped keep me grounded in my faith. I hope that you continue to preach the gospel and help others the way you’ve helped me. If for any reason the site has to be shut down please add me to your mailing list and keep in touch with me.
    • Thank you for this site. I have been witnessing to my neighbor. She is Catholic and is searching. My dad's side of the family is also Catholic. I began looking at the Catholic church and always thought they just did thing different. I have come to find out that they are very much off base. I dug into the history of the church and every sacrament. I knew my family was NOT heaven bound. I have been sharing the gospel with my neighbor, she has been very open. My dad has not. I continue in love to reach my family and show Jesus. This site is helping me learn more. Thank you and keep up the great work.

Matt Slick
CARM President

 

 

 

 
 
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