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Morals are not the same as ethics.

There is no difference between the meanings of the two words, ethics and morality from an etymological view. They are from two different languages: ethics being a Greek word, and morality being a Latin word, which means manner and customs of people. Ethics, however, carries the additional connotation of internal standards because of Aristotles’s philosophical treaties on ethics, “Nicomachean Ethics“.   Morals, on the other hand, tends to lean in meaning towards the mores of a people or the outward manners and customs of a people just as the word customs is the root to the word costume.

The technical distinctions aside, words have a predominant meaning by the current usage.  In deed, most words are used by people without regard to the etymological meaning.  For example, the word “blessed”  has moved beyond Christian usage and is used by people of all faiths to mean privileged and favored, with happy circumstances.   The etymology of blessed is uniquely Christian, however, because it literally means “blood-covered”  (bled-sion) and comes from Medieval Catholicism.  To be covered in the blood means to be in covenant with God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Consequently, such a covenant brings favor and privilege in happy circumstances.  But the word is used without any regard to its origin.

Likewise, I wish to elaborate on the deeper differences between our subconscious usage of the words “ethics” and “morality” which merit having two different words from two different languages grafted into English usage.   Ethics, in my opinion, leans more towards decisions of the conscience, whereas morals leans towards accepted public opinions and customs.  As such, ethics are expressions of God’s will, and morals are the expression of man’s will. Read the rest of this entry →

Is WICCA an acceptable faith?

George Barna introduced me to the house church world by his book “Revolution“.  This book greatly excited me about finding believers on fire for God outside the professional clergy system.  Since I bought my copy through Amazon.com, they asked me to review the book.  When I went to review the book I saw that many had reviewed it already, so  I did not.    But in reading the other reviews I learned of Frank Viola who wrote the book, “Pagan Christianity” with whom, in a revision,  George Barna later co-wrote.

Because of this, I subscribed to Barna’s newsletter, which I find a useful resource on getting an idea of American Christianity.  After four years of being involved in the subculture of de-churched Christianity, I have come to realize that there are demonic doctrines that are being embraced unwittingly by many of these believers, who genuinely are seeking a deeper relationship with Christ.

However, these doctrines that have crept in have their base in the rebellion against the professional clergy system.   These doctrines are being accepted and are undermining spiritual discernment in many of these believers.   The most damaging doctrine that is being embraced by them is the undermining of the value and importance of the Bible.  Without the Bible we have no real means of testing the spirits (1 John 4:1),  for they believe that they have no need of the Bible since they have the Spirit.  But as I have said elsewhere, the Scriptures interpret the Spirit, and the Spirit interprets the Scriptures.    It also says in 1 John 4:20 that if any man says that he loves God, but does not love his brother, that man is a liar.  This statement can fairly be modified and be said this way, too: “If any man say that he loves God and loves not the Bible, he is a liar”.  For the Bible is the written expression of God Himself. Read the rest of this entry →

Anyone who casually observes the history of the church will see that Christians are rarely united. Before Jesus was crucified he had a prayer of unity at the Last Supper.

John 17:20-21
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (NIV)

When we compare His prayer with the reality of history, one must scratch one’s head and think that His prayer has never been answered.  And throughout church history man has tried to fulfill this prayer.  It seems by some New Testament verses that we are told to do so. Consider what Paul said to the Ephesians.

Eph 4:3
3    Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (KJV)

That certainly seems like a command to do so.  Even the Old Testament makes similar statements. Read the rest of this entry →

It is a common practice to tell the lost that they have a choice of either living eternity in heaven or eternity in Hell.   While I understand the sentiment, technically that is not true.  In fact, almost all Christians believe they are going to live forever in Heaven, also not true.

There is eternal habitations, but not there for saint or sinner.   Let’s start with heaven. Heaven was created as the home of the angelic beings, and as the seat of God for His oversight of His creation.  God, of course, does not “dwell” in Heaven or His creation, for He inhabits eternity, which is His existence outside the creation.   Heaven is an English word derived from “haven” which is a safe harbor for ships.  As the permanent home of angels, we who die in Christ will have a temporary haven in heaven until Jesus sets up His kingdom on Earth.   Earth is the permanent home of all believers after the White Throne Judgment.  Believers in Christ’s glory will have the ability to go back and forth between Heaven and Earth, but God created the Earth for mankind, not Heaven. Read the rest of this entry →

The blaspheme of the Holy Ghost is revealed in only one scene.  In this story, the scribes have accused Jesus of casting out devils by the power of the Beelzebub, the prince of devils. Jesus responds by saying that a house divided can not stand, and if Satan casts out demons, he can not stand (Mark 3:22-26).  Jesus concludes by saying:

Mark 3:28-29
28  Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
29  But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: (KJV)

The context is very clear: to call the work of God the work of Satan is blasphemy.  And I would say it is possible that calling the work of Satan is the work of God is blasphemy, too. Read the rest of this entry →

The obvious assault upon godliness and morality around the world, and here in the United States forces the conclusion that there is a conspiracy to undermine religion and establish a secular global government. This conspiracy is witting by some and unwitting by many others. But above it all is the conscious machinations of Lucifer and his host of demons who do not sleep and have been alive since Adam.

Lucifer declared, “I ascend unto heaven and exalt my throne above the stars” (Isaiah 14:13).  He wants to be god and to control all the earth. Before the flood he defiled the righteous line by encouraging the sons of God to marry the daughters of men who bore them mighty men of renown (Gen. 6:4). A move intended to defile the line of the Messiah and to birth wicked kings through whom he could rule the earth. Read the rest of this entry →