Notes From A Retired Preacher

By johninnc

By johninnc

From Merriam Webster online:

fan·​tas·​tic

1a: based on fantasy: not real

b: conceived or seemingly conceived by unrestrained fancy

c: so extreme as to challenge belief: UNBELIEVABLE

broadly : exceedingly large or great

2: marked by extravagant fantasy or extreme individuality : ECCENTRIC

3 fantastic: EXCELLENT, SUPERLATIVE

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When I was a little boy, we usually received Life Savers candy at Christmas. My favorites were (and still are) wintergreen and cherry.

The history of Life Savers is interesting to me. Here is an excerpt from ThoughtCo. regarding that history:

In 1912, chocolate manufacturer Clarence Crane of Cleveland, Ohio invented Life Savers. They were conceived as a “summer candy” that could withstand heat better than chocolate.

Since the mints looked like miniature life preservers, Crane called them Life Savers. He did not have space or machinery to make them, however, so he contracted with a pill manufacturer to have the mints pressed into shape.

I also remember from my childhood a show that prominently featured life preservers. It was a fictional account of a man rescued from the sea after having been involved in a shipwreck. He was thrown a lifesaver, and pulled aboard a rescue ship. The rescued man gave his rescuers a harrowing account of his ordeal. I don’t recall the name of the ill-fated shipwreck from which he had been rescued, but let’s just say it was the Titanic. At the end of the show, the camera focused in on the name of the rescue ship. I think it might have been the Lusitania. The point is, the poor fellow rescued was consigned to a fate of being rescued by yet another ill-fated ship. The implication was that this man might have to suffer this fate, from one ship to the next, forever.

This was clearly a fantastic story, meeting definition 1. a. from above.

Last year, I spent the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season recovering from a terrible bout of covid. I definitely don’t want to experience that again. So, I was thinking about the medical advice being given by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for someone like me. It goes something like this:

I have never received the covid “vaccines.” But, I am still at risk, according to the CDC, because the immunity I got from having covid is fleeting, and it does not protect me from new variants.

Accordingly, in order to best protect myself, I need to take shot number 1 of the initial series that was designed for a disease no longer in circulation. Then, I need to wait a few weeks and take shot number 2 of the initial series that was designed for a disease that is no longer in circulation. Then, I need to wait a few more weeks and take a booster that was designed for variants that have largely disappeared. Also, I need to wear a mask when I am around others. If and when I catch whatever illness they are now calling covid, I need to go to my doctor for anti-virals that are designed (in many cases by the same company that developed the shots that are designed to reduce severity of disease) to reduce severity of the disease. If I survive again, continue to wear a mask and wait a couple of months. Get another booster. Then, if I catch covid again, go get some more anti-virals to reduce severity.

It sounds a little bit like the shipwreck scenario to me. Of course, I have been accused of being eccentric (see definition 2, above).

But, I digress…

Which brings me to the false gospel of Lordship “salvation.”

Lordship “salvation” (LS) is the unsupportable and unbiblical belief that the PERFORMANCE of good works, the PROMISE of good works, or the EVIDENCE of good works MUST accompany faith in Christ in order to establish, or provide evidence, that such faith has resulted in eternal life.

LS is taught throughout professing christendom, and is quite popular. But, like the story of the shipwrecked man, it does not offer a very compelling future. LS is like a drowning man grabbing a lifesaver to board another doomed ship.

The truth is that eternal life is available as a free gift to anyone who believes the gospel of Christ. That is FANTASTIC
news (definition 3)!

Don’t grab onto the wrong lifesaver. If you die without Christ you won’t get another shot.

Merry Christmas everyone!

If you would like more information about the gospel of Christ, click here: THE GOSPEL

By johninnc

I have posted a new article on john524promise.com, entitled “A Walkabout with the Whatabout.”

Please see attached link: New Article

By johninnc

I have separated the “Guest Rules – Disclaimer” page into two separate pages.

The “Guest Rules” page has been refined to more clearly describe guiding principles for comments, as well as specific content to avoid, and important changes to comment guidelines.

By johninnc

For anyone who is not yet alarmed by what is going on in the name of COVID safety, I thought a sarcastic title, along with a montage of what is going on in a country that is a current leader in the effort to subjugate its population under medical tyranny might look. The montage includes statements from prominent figures in government and media.

This is a depiction of life with the COVID passport. There are reportedly NO illustrations of life without the COVID passport. The implications are chilling.

In this illustration, compliant Lithuanians show their passes to access commercial life. The system eerily resembles the electronic wristband-enabled entry and Fastpass system that has been in use at Walt Disney World for the past several years.

Here, a woman’s phone is electronically scanned.

This sentiment sounds familiar. Dr. Francis Collins referred to a similar measure by US president Joe Biden as a “much more muscular requirement,” which he hopes will make a “big difference” in getting more people vaccinated in the US.

This sentiment, while evil, is at least honest, and is not wrapped up in the “love thy neighbor” shroud of the religious enablers of mounting tyranny in the US.

Here is another loving sentiment (sarcasm alert), this time not wishing the unvaccinated dead, just blaming them for something they didn’t do (anyone, vaccinated or not, can spread COVID-19) and telling people who have been vaccinated to not associate with the unvaccinated.

Another loving note (again, sarcasm), based on the lie that it is only unvaccinated people that can spread COVID-19. The writer should know that this is a lie, but like the others, just doesn’t care.

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So, anyone who is providing cover for the tyrants pushing this madness: don’t try hiding behind “love thy neighbor.” You are a disgrace.

I read with great interest your recent interview with “Religion News Service” entitled “NIH director ‘a bit’ frustrated with evangelicals about vaccine.” I have provided some excerpts from that interview, along with my comments:

A day after President Joe Biden announced sweeping policy changes to continue to address the COVID-19 pandemic, one of his administration’s top health officials said he doesn’t expect widespread use of religious exemptions to get around them.

Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, also acknowledged Sept. 10 he is “a bit” frustrated with fellow evangelicals who have hesitated or refused to get the vaccine, even as the delta variant has led to an average of more than 1,000 U.S. deaths a day.

Collins said he hopes the “much more muscular requirements” will make “a big difference” in reducing the number of unvaccinated Americans, noting the country needs to vaccinate at least five times the 800,000 who are being vaccinated daily in order to overcome the variant.

My comment: “Much more muscular” is code for COERCION, Dr. Collins. You are hopeful that the government’s nefarious goals are successful. You are aiding and abetting the destruction of informed medical consent, and thereby the medical enslavement of your fellow citizens. If these “much more muscular requirements” don’t meet your goals, how much “more muscular” are you willing to go?

President Biden said on Thursday that “this is a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” and you have urged your fellow evangelicals to get vaccinated as an “opportunity to do something for your neighbors.” But studies have shown white evangelicals are among the most resistant and hesitant toward the COVID-19 vaccine. Does this make you frustrated with your fellow believers?

Well, to be honest, it does a bit. But I’m also trying to be sure I’m listening carefully to what the concerns are because I don’t think lecturing is probably the best way to get people to change their minds.

It is odd because evangelicals generally believe strongly in this love-your-neighbor principle. And we do know if we want to get this terrible pandemic to come to an end, it’s going to require all of us to get engaged in getting immune, and the best way to do that is with a vaccination.

My comment: The premise of this question is based on an out-and-out lie. This is not a “pandemic of the unvaccinated,” Dr. Collins, and you know this. Your refusal to correct the lie on which this question was premised is proof positive that you have no regard for the truth, whatsoever. You know that vaccinated people can be infected, and infect others, the same as unvaccinated people. THE VACCINES DO NOT MAKE PEOPLE IMMUNE, DR. COLLINS. YOU KNOW THIS. I KNOW THIS. YOU ARE COMPLICIT IN THE DESTRUCTION OF PEOPLE YOU ARE PROFESSING TO LOVE.

For months, you and other people in the administration have talked about faith leaders of various perspectives as being “trusted partners” in the efforts to get people vaccinated against COVID-19. Has that approach shifted, or do you think those efforts haven’t worked as well as you had hoped?

Oh, I think they have worked in many individual circumstances. I do think faith leaders have been in a tough spot. And some of them, even though they’ve come around, personally, to the view that the vaccine is something they want for themselves and their families, they’ve been reluctant to raise it amongst their parishioners because of the fear this might be divisive.

I’m hoping we’ve now reached the point where the evidence is so strong—where we see people dying around us—that those faith leaders will decide it’s worth taking the risk to get some pushback. To basically say, folks, let’s look at the truth of this. The truth will set you free.

My comment: Yes, the truth will set you free. But, the lies that you are pushing will not set anyone free. Dr. Collins, you are quoting Jesus as cover for your lies and deceit. DR. COLLINS: HAVE YOU NO SHAME?

Dr. Collins, recruiting Christians to participate in your evil deeds will not make you less responsible for your crimes, but more responsible. It doesn’t matter if every last one of them joins you, you are still wrong!

I know you are in deep, Dr. Collins. But, you still have the opportunity to do the right thing. Tell the truth. I would pray that God would expose your evil deeds, but they are already in plain sight.

Now, a note to those Christians who see through these lies: if you are taking an active stand against these mandates, keep it up. If you are keeping your head down, and waiting for this storm to pass, that is not a good option. Let people know that you are not OK with this tyranny. If you are in a church whose leaders are silent or complicit, share this letter with them.

By johninnc

John 10:12: But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

After spending a considerable amount of time last night looking for articles from prominent pastors and evangelists who had taken a public stand against COVID “vaccine” mandates, I came away feeling pretty empty.

I found quite a few articles by pastors promoting the shots, and a few by pastors who were opposed to them. But, I did not find any promoters of the shots willing to strongly, and publicly oppose the concept of “vaccine mandates” to be able to engage in everyday life.

John 12:42-43: Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

The electronic “public square” has become the “synagogue” that the leaders of professing christendom seem to treasure. It is worth noting that US churches received billions of dollars in government handouts for financial hardships associated with various lockdowns, and most also are registered for 501c3 (tax-exempt) status.

In conducting my research, I came across a concerted effort called “Christians ? and the Vaccine”, which is an amalgam of worldly “church” leaders designed to push vaccinations in the “evangelical” community.

The group is led by an outfit called “Redeeming Babel,” in partnership with the National Association of Evangelicals, COVID Collaborative, Values Partnerships, ad COUNCIL, and Public Square Strategies. The site includes testimonials from such notables as Robert Jeffress (Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Dallas, TX),  Bishop Scott Jones (Resident Bishop, Texas Annual Conference, United Methodist Church), Dr. Jamie Aten (Executive Director, Humanitarian Disaster Institute, Wheaton College), Rich Stearns (President Emeritus, World Vision), and A.D. Beacham (General Superintendent, International Pentecostal Holiness Church).

In addition to the toxic, worldly, ecumenical stew that the group represents, the site also includes a “Pastor’s Toolkit” to help pastors to indoctrinate their individual congregations.

Whether or not one chooses to receive a medical treatment should be a matter of informed consent, not propaganda and coercion. 

I am appalled to see so few pastors taking a strong, public advocacy AGAINST “vaccine” mandates and FOR individual medical choice and human dignity.

The complicity of churchianity in the destruction of civil rights throughout this pandemic is sad, but not surprising. After all, there are precious few that even get the gospel straight, and even fewer that are willing to take a stand against tyranny.

I have opened a new website called John 5:24 Promise (john524promise.com), linked below and in the blogroll at the bottom of the right-hand margin of Expreacherman:

https://john524promise.com/

The purpose of the site is to advance and defend the gospel, with particular emphasis on helping visitors to the site learn to spot teaching that undermines the gospel, using the following three clear tenets of scripture:

1. Is it consistent with eternal life by Grace alone through Faith alone in Christ alone?

2. Is it consistent with eternal security?

3. Is it consistent with assurance of eternal life, based on God’s promises alone (i.e., it is not internally-focused on changes in attitudes, behavior, etc.)?

I intend to continue to administer Expreacherman, and I invite you read/follow/share John 5:24 Promise as well.

Thanks. John

Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

We have received comments about the COVID-19 virus that touch on a variety of topics not central to our mission at Expreacherman to advance and defend the gospel.

These comments have included information as to the likely origin of the virus, thoughts on the response by governments to date, the media’s complicity in freezing any dissent to the official public health narrative, the involvement of certain well-known public figures in driving the public health narrative, the ultimate plans of nefarious evildoers, and even God’s role or intent with respect to the virus.

I have prayerfully considered which of these comments to post and which are a distraction. The guiding principles I have tried to follow in making these administrative decisions have focused on a couple of questions:

1. Do I KNOW the information is true (as opposed to being likely, compelling, or plausible)?
2. If the answer to question 1 is an unequivocal “yes,” is the information helpful in advancing or defending the gospel?

Even though I am sympathetic with many of the issues that have been raised, I will continue to disallow any comments that I view as not meeting the above conditions. Please make every effort to consider whether any comment you submit meets the above criteria, and do not take offense if any of your comments are disallowed, in whole or in part.

By way of personal editorial, I agree that the virus is being used as a predicate for the suppression of civil rights, the inculcation of new dehumanizing social mores, the destruction of peoples’ livelihoods, and intolerance for any questioning of public health orthodoxy, all aided and abetted by the world’s most powerful individuals and institutions operating in near lockstep.

Some of the manifestations of the official response, including the move toward coordinated global governance and the hastening of the removal of physical cash from the financial system, do appear to fit with scriptural prophecy. The rapture of the church has been imminent since its beginning, and remains so now.

Everyone, including Christians, should have a healthy skepticism to what is being purported as truth by our institutions, and what is being received as truth by the overwhelming majority of people.

I am saddened by seeing the fearful responses of my friends and even some of my family to this virus. I am saddened by the pressure being put on my children to conform. I am saddened by the obsequious responses of my fellow US citizens to outrageous demands being promulgated by our state and local leaders with no due process. I am saddened at seeing a free people in my country warmly embracing authoritarianism under the guise of public health. I am saddened, but not surprised, to see many prominent pastors working in coordination with the world system to destroy the reasoning and will of their congregants.

I would be dishonest if I said that I have been impervious to the drumbeat of negative news about this virus, but I have been more disheartened by how little people seem to value freedom or humanity in the vain attempt to ward off any threats to physical life. I have had what seem to be endless conversations with people about the wisdom (or lack thereof) of forgoing life, day after day, for the hope of more existence later. Many of those whom most desire to protect their physical existence have little or no interest in discussing eternal life.

Having said all of the above, the mission of this ministry is to advance and defend the gospel of Jesus Christ. Before COVID-19 came on the scene, most of the world lacked eternal life. That is still the case. Even if all of the conspiracy theories were proven, and they were universally accepted conspiracy facts, it doesn’t change mankind’s biggest need.

To that end, I would encourage each of us to use any opportunity that God gives us to comfort those who are sick, those who have lost loved ones, those who have lost employment, and those who are discouraged. Above all, preach the gospel. Time is short. The need is real.

If you would like to know how to receive eternal life, click here: THE GOSPEL

By johninnc

2 Corinthians 4:3-4: But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

One of the most frequently-viewed articles we have on this site is called “The Gospel According to Internet Comments.” The article highlights some of the false gospel teachings that have imbedded themselves into professing Christendom. Since we posted the article in early 2015, it has been viewed more than 14 thousand times, and has been commented on 1,362 times. There seems to be no end to the perversions of the gospel that we find manifesting themselves in internet comments.

But, from where do these perversions arise? They are all the devices of Satan, whom the Bible calls “the god of this world.” Their purpose is to draw people away from Christ Jesus. It is evident that people are paying rapt attention to false doctrine, even taking copious notes, as they parrot the false doctrine in their comments. The god to whom they ascribe their false attributes is not the God of the Bible.

Following are examples of doctrine of men that people falsely claim are biblical truths. These comments, or excerpts from comments, all came from one internet article about the death of President Trump’s younger brother, Robert:

It is more than that, it also calls for personal repentance for sin. The Gospel of Christ is God’s method of salvation faith.

My comment: The gospel is what Christ did for us, not what we do for Him. Personal repentance for sin is not a requirement to receive eternal life.

WE don’t accept God, He accepts us and gives us faith. It is all God the Holy Spirit’s doing.

My comment: God does not give us faith. That is a false Calvinist teaching. If God did choose who would believe in Jesus as Savior, that would mean that His offer of eternal life was not valid except for those whom He chose to believe. The God of the Bible does not decide who will believe.

I think both are true

My comment: This commenter is trying to “ride the fence” between Calvinism and truth. The truth is that God desires all men be saved. The Bible also teaches that many people will not be, including some who claim to have done many great things in the Lord’s name. If God desires that all men have eternal life, and not all men have eternal life, it is clear that he allows man to choose whether or not to believe the gospel. So, Calvinism and the truth cannot both be true.

Classic Christianity accepts both predestination and free will, without requiring the tension between them be fully resolved.

My comment: Another fence rider. There is no such thing as “classic Christianity.” There is Christianity, and then there are the assaults on the gospel, such as Calvinism, that are tolerated or embraced by much of professing Christendom.

The Bible teaches predestination in Ephesians 1:3-6.

My comment: False. This is a common Calvinist proof text, taken out of context, to support their false doctrine. God predestines that all who believe in Jesus as Savior will be justified and glorified. It does not mean that God predestines who will believe.

Free will is a fantasy. See Ephesians 2:1-3.

My comment: Nowhere does the Bible teach that God chooses who will believe. The Bible teaches that one becomes a child of God by believing in Jesus as Savior.

Blessed Mother Mary is the mediator/mediatrix between human race and her SON JESUS CHRIST. Mary leads us to her SON.

My comment: This teaching is indicative of Roman Catholic dogma, and is not biblical. The Bible says that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe.

THAT’S WHY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH has THE REAL PRESENCE of JESUS CHRIST HIS BODY, BLOOD, SOUL and DIVINITY in The HOLY EUCHARIST- OUR LIVING BREAD/MANNA.

My comment: This person is shouting false Roman Catholic dogma. The Lord’s Supper is a commemorative ordinance. Anyone who has ever believed in Jesus as Savior has eternal life that can never be lost or forfeited. The so-called “Holy Eucharist” of the Roman Catholic church has no part in receiving or keeping eternal life.

CATHOLICISM is the fulfillment of JUDAISM because JESUS CHRIST FULFILLED it.

My comment: Huh? The word “Catholic” does not show up anywhere in the King James Bible.

The Catholic Church was the only Christian church until the reformation when others thought they knew the word of God better than anybody else.

My comment: The Roman Catholic church was never the only Christian church. It is a false religion of works. The so-called “reformation” was a failed attempt to fix a false religion. Most of so-called “Protestantism” is Roman Catholicism “light.”

Based on the above comments, and many others I have heard and read through time, it is obvious that people are being taught elaborate hoaxes in their religious training. And, as the old saying goes, “it is easier to fool people than to get them to believe they have been fooled.” That is because the process of being fooled involves a willingness to latch onto a narrative without proper verification.

Whether it is catechism or reform(ed) school, much of what is being taught as biblical truth is not of the God of the bible, but is of the god of this world.

If you would like to know the truth about how to have eternal life click here: The Gospel

By johninnc

This is a follow-up to an article we ran in 2015.

From Wikipedia: Who Said That? is a 1947-55 NBC radio-television game show, in which a panel of celebrities attempts to determine the speaker of a quotation from recent news reports.

The twin “emergencies” of COVID-19 and civil unrest have made strange bedfellows of politicians, public health “experts,” Hollywood luminaries, and prominent pastors. Following are quotes from various organizations and individuals that are attempting to influence contemporary society in one way or another on these issues. I thought it might be both entertaining and thought provoking to guess, and then to reveal the sources of each of these quotes.

I will publish the the answer key as the first response to this article.

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1. Wear a mask. It’s so much easier to wear a mask than to wear a ventilator. Wear a mask. Social distance yourself, even from people you know and love. If they don’t live with you, keep your distance.
2. I think we have to recognize we are in a very special moment right now that the answer is not just for this to go off the radar screen, go back to talking about COVID-19, to talk about world peace, the environment, … politics is going to be coming up here this fall. I believe if we miss this moment we would have failed in our generation.
3. We know that, when you do it properly, you bring down those cases. We have done it. We have done it in New York.
4. What we don’t like is when people protest against things that we’re not that upset about. Then we get kind of bent out of shape and we really don’t like property damage. That’s understandable. There are people all over the world that are being persecuted in ways that are real and violent and bloody, and way worse than losing your favorite Arby’s. So it’s OK, they had insurance, they can build a new Arby’s. Stop staring at what’s happened and look at the issues behind. Ask the question, what would make you so upset that you would be willing to do that? 
5. Now as you would imagine, that was not a casual decision. In fact, back in May when we announced a possible August 9 reopening, the COVID numbers were actually moving in the right direction. That has changed. Consequently we cannot guarantee your safety and that’s a big part of this decision.
6. And, oh by the way, let’s not respond by saying ‘all lives matter. 
7. In any case, the important point is there is not one “expert opinion” from the scientific community on the coronavirus, from which it is “crazy” to depart. There are many studies and many scientists with many opinions. 
8. I don’t think that the people posting ‘All Lives Matter’ should be canceled. I think they should be educated.
9. Science says don’t wear a mask. Except that you absolutely should wear a mask. Even though it isn’t recommended by medical scientists using data from other respiratory disease outbreaks. But it’s still helpful. Or actually it’s not really, according to the Centers for Disease Control in 2017. Yet you should still wear a mask, or else. Who knows?
10. This site is not managed by a medical professional and does not make any claims as to the effectiveness of the resources, suggestions, or other information that is presented herein.

We realize that during times of chaos and confusion people look for leaders and credentialed experts to guide their decisions. Having said that, it is good to be mindful of the possible motivations of those providing advice, or even premises that they may have accepted without challenge. And, it is always good to remember that truth cannot be reliably measured by popularity.