You've got questions. Boy, do we have answers. Can't wait to answer your questions right now, right here on the line of fire. It's time for The Line of Fire with your host, activist, author, international speaker, and theologian, Dr. Michael Brown, your voice of moral, cultural, and spiritual revolution.
Michael Brown is the director of the Coalition of Conscience and president of Fire School of Ministry. Get into the line of fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH. That's 866-34-TRUTH. Here again is Dr. Michael Brown.
Well, it's my great joy to be with you today on the line of fire. You've got questions. We've got answers. Anything under the sun you want to ask me about, anything in any area of expertise I have, biblical, theological, spiritual, practical, moral, cultural, Jewish. Give me a call, 866-348-7884.
We'll dig into the word together. We'll give you whatever wisdom and understanding we have, and hopefully we can strengthen you so you can go out changed by God. Then you can go and change your world. Let's start with a question. I'm going to make this anonymous because of the nature of it.
It's a Christian leader. We had a child, preteen, who had a mental breakdown. Had a mental breakdown and has been diagnosed with early onset child schizophrenia. Uh so He's wondering. Is this something demonic?
I mean, he's a spiritually minded man. He's prayed, he's fasted, they've gone through deliverance, praying for the child, gotten him diagnosed professionally, psychiatrically. Is this a demonic thing? How do we deal with mental illness, especially among children? There are some who believe it must be spiritual.
It was, they have no problem. If you break a limb, you go to the doctor. They have no problem with that. They have no problem if you have some kind of physical injury. You get treated.
They have no problem if you have a certain condition, cold, that you take this cold medicine. They have no problem with that. If they had a serious illness like cancer, of course they'd pray, but they'd go to a doctor, they'd get chemotherapy, radiation. But when it comes to emotional things, mental things, the assumption is: well, that must be spiritual, demonic. No, no, there's no basis for that.
Either biblically or logically. The brain is also part of the body. And certain functions in the brain, it is known if you have an injury to a certain part of the brain, that could impair your functions in other areas of life. That could impact your emotions. Obviously, it can impact your ability, your motor skills to do certain things.
Someone has a stroke and they walk with a limp and they can't move an arm. That's because something happened to the brain.
Well, there are things that can trigger these various mental illnesses, and they are actually illnesses. We pray to God, the healer. Certainly, we use the same principles we use in everything else in terms of godly counsel and wisdom to try to help what we can help and work with people to the extent we can through the Word of God, through wise counsel, through wise living, and all of these different things. And parents learn different skills that help, but. There are certain things that require medication that apply to the brain.
It's not ideal, it's not the best any more than chemotherapy is ideal or the best when it comes to cancer.
So we pray, we look to God, we ask Him for help. Yes, certainly demons can be involved in all kinds of things, they can be involved in cancer, they can be involved in emotional problems. Scripture has points to demons being involved in all kinds of problems, but demons are not the only things involved. And to make it only spiritual, or think, oh man, our kid is under Satan's power. Look at the way he's acting, look at the way she's acting, that would be a mistake.
So. Pray Get whatever skills and wisdom you can to help your child deal with these things. But there may be an actual disorder that, for a period of time in their lives, requires professional help and even requires some type of medication. Just look at it like this: again, the brain is part. of the body, just like my hand is part of the body.
And sometimes the brain needs certain physical treatment. Shake the name. It's time to change the world. Change the world. Oh, God of burning, cleansing flame, send the fire.
It's the line of fire with your host, Dr. Michael Brown.
Get into the line of fire now by calling 866-34TRUTH here again is Dr. Michael Brown.
Thanks for joining us today on the Line of Fire. Phone lines are open-866-348-7884. Any question, You want to ask me of any Any kind in any area of expertise I have. 866-348-7884. By the way, if you differ with me on something, if you want to challenge my point of view, I'm not insecure.
Give me a call and we'll talk about it. Let's go to the phones with David in Queens, New York. Welcome to the line of fire. Dr. Brown.
Thank you for taking my call. You're welcome. Verse 52 when describing the events. Yeah. Mm-hmm.
However, some preachers tribulation rapture believers argue that since Uh Matthew 24, 31 does not include a resurrection reference. And 1 Corinthians 15. Uh verse 52 occurs. Yeah. But These events are different.
What are the meaning what are the meanings of the trumpets in these verses? And does uh Matthew twenty four thirty one uh Describe the events of 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Corinthians 15. I appreciate your answer. Yes, sir. David, when I strongly advocated a pre-trib rapture, when I argued for a pre-trib rapture, I Tried to say that the seventh trumpet of seven was different than the last trumpet, and it doesn't really work.
Doesn't really work. What's clear is that Jesus returns with the audible sound of a trumpet, and he visibly appears, and he actually comes to this earth.
So, what we refer to as the rapture and the second coming, they are one and the same event: that he appears in the clouds of glory, that we are caught up to meet him, and that we descend to the earth together with him.
So, Matthew 24, 31 says he'll send his angels with a loud trumpet blast. That's obviously something that is heard. He'll gather his elect from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, as you mentioned, says that the Lord will come. with the trumpet blast.
And again, this is to resurrect the saints who have died previously, and this is to rapture up those of us who are alive and remain. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command. Again, this is something that is heard with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. If it is a secret rapture, then why is it something that is announced loudly and clearly? And why should Paul talk about something loud and clear if it's not going to be heard by anyone?
And with the trumpet of God. And then this very same event, as you rightly ask, this very same event in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul says this at the end of the chapter, talking about the resurrection of the righteous, talking about the transformation of those who are alive and remain when Jesus returns in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. The last trumpet is the last trumpet. And since this event that's being spoken of is something climactic, Revelation 11 places it with the seventh of seven trumpets and says that at this time the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our God, and his Messiah will reign forever and ever.
That's what the sounding of the seventh trumpet.
So, again, it seems pretty clear to me that this is all one and the same event. The second coming and rapture, one and the same event. Jesus appears in the clouds. The righteous are resurrected. We are caught up.
Those who alive remain are caught up together with him, and we descend to the earth. He comes with his saints, with his angels, with the believers, and we descend to the earth with him. An extraordinary picture, but it's actually going to happen. Just quickly, the residue. Reference missing from Matthew 24, verse 31.
That's the argument, basically.
Well well even if I put that aside Even if I put that aside. And say it doesn't mention resurrection.
Well, first, if he's going to gather us together, So that event of us being gathered together. Is something that's spoken of in these other passages: that we who alive and remain will be caught up to meet him. That's one thing. Another thing is this: that if the last trumpet, 1 Corinthians 15, speaks of, quote, the rapture. then it can't be seven years earlier or three and a half years earlier from the other trumpet, otherwise it wouldn't be the last trumpet.
So it has to be the same event, either way, because it's the last trumpet when this happens. There can't be a trumpet after the last trumpet. I appreciate your answer, sir.
Alright, thanks. 866-348-786. Eight, eight, four. Let's go to Nancy in Queens, New York. Welcome to the line of fire.
Oh, good afternoon, Michael. How are you? Doing well, thank you. I was calling because you when you spoke on the y child that had schizophrenia. it sort of touched my heart.
Um I actually lost a sister to that a couple of decades ago. Um and I wanted to tell you that ever since I was in nursing school way back when the dinosaurs were still on the earth, Uh it was known from the eighteen hundreds that there's brain damage with schizophrenia. It looks like holes. Um, they found it out from autopsies. And so your advice to get it treated medically is one hundred percent spot on.
I wanted to tell you that. And I also believe that when people are weakened by these illnesses, just like everybody else, I think they're vulnerable maybe to the influences of the enemy. And I think things like causing them to take their lives, which is what happened to my sister, kind of come into it. Yeah, I think that's. Yeah, but I believe that you are spot on, and I believe that God's wisdom.
Will Bring people At some point, to a cure for it, but I can't say what it is, and I have been praying over it. ever since my sister came down with it. And I honestly don't know what the cure is, but nobody else does either.
So your advice, I think, is perfect.
Well, thank you. And so sorry to hear about your sister. That's so tragic. Look, the bottom line is God can heal anything.
Someone could be missing a limb and God can heal it.
Someone could be blind from birth. God can heal it. I had a guest on my show a few days ago and he referenced a man that was blinded through acid in his eyes 55 years and did not have normal eye structure, didn't have pupils, and after hours of prayer, he was healed and he could see.
So in that sense, God could physically heal the brain problems and then heal emotional wounds and set people free from demonic influences. But let's recognize the seriousness of this and let's recognize that there are certain brain disorders that cause people to function incorrectly. and to get into different kinds of trouble. And we just look at them as bad, bad, bad people.
Now, there are plenty of bad people doing bad things, but there are things that have a medical explanation and that can be medically addressed. And if we're going to be spiritually minded people, we need to recognize that as well. Hey, Nancy, thank you for calling. I appreciate it. You're welcome.
All right. 866-348-7884. Let's go to Jim in Northern Virginia. Welcome to the line of fire. Hi, doctor Brown.
I just had a quick question. In light of some of the recent, as Christians, in light of some of the recent presidential executive orders. illegal immigrant. we have these folks who've been here for years working. They're Christians, a lot of them good people, working in our businesses, attending our churches, living in our communities.
you know, how are we supposed to I don't know, re respond to all of that. Yeah, well there are different levels of response. And if you'll go to my website, thelineofire.org, and just search for the word Syrian, you'll find there where I address how to handle the Syrian refugee crisis. I wrote this some months back.
So thelineofire.org, search for the word Syrian. And when you're there, you'll see the article where I give several words of wisdom in terms of how to approach this, beginning with the fact that the government needs to major on security and the church needs to major on compassion. In other words, each has a role to play.
So there are laws that must be enforced. If you're going to have a nation, you have to have laws, you have to have borders. That should be self-evident. And we've had a lot of abuses there. And we start here.
That if there are people in the country illegally doing illegal things, troublemakers, in gangs, selling drugs, acts of violence, then the moment that person is apprehended for a crime and they're here illegally, they should be deported. That should be a no-brainer.
So let's enforce that law, which has been on the books. And if I'm correct, in the year 2015, President Obama deported about 43,000 illegals, which was the highest number in years.
So let's not make this a matter of just Obama versus Trump or Democrats versus Republicans. Let's look at these larger issues here.
Now, that being said, when it comes to our response, we want to help anyone that really wants to become a citizen here and has been here for years. If they came in here illegally, is there some way that they can have a path to citizenship? They may have to jump through some extra hurdles, but if they've been here for years, they have family here. Is there a way that they can work towards citizenship? I think that's something that should be looked at in a compassionate way.
And again, let's encourage the government, you major on security, and we will major on compassion. Ain't the world It's fire we want for fire we It's the Line of Fire with your host, Dr. Michael Brown.
Get into the line of fire now by calling 866-34 Truth. Here again is Dr. Michael Brown.
Welcome back, friends, to the Line of Fire broadcast. Hey, just a reminder. Go to my website. Thelineoffire.org. And when you're there, you will find thousands of hours of free resources.
Dig in, take advantage of those, go through our digital library, latest articles, latest videos. Go through those, check them out. As you do, you'll be blessed. We are there to serve you and help you. We also have our whole bookstore with other resources.
So check it out at thelineoffire.org. Let's go to Clinton, Maryland. Eliana, welcome to the line of fire. Hey, Dr. Brown, how are you?
Doing very well, thank you. Good. Listen, I had a question. I wanted to look up the scriptures beforehand and get just distracted. Regarding Regarding the one moment, I'm sorry, can you dispose of my Regarding the um judgment of the s of The Almighty's people.
Mm-hmm.
you know, there's something I read regarding how We'll be judge. you know we'll be judged for every For reward I Um I don't know if it's a very harsh word or or what have you. And of course, there's this talk you know, about the saints, you know, being judged. Um so my question is Amen. you know, being that we have our intermediary.
Um you know, we have Issue with they are making intercession. You know, the blood covering as we Confession for sake. How does, how does, how does, how is that, what is your understanding as far as how that's going to be? Yeah, it seems clear. that believers will stand before a judgment seat.
not what we would refer to as the great white throne judgment in Revelation 20 verses 11 to 15, where those whose names are written, not written in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire. But Paul alludes to it in 2 Corinthians 5 that we're going to stand before the judgment seat of the Messiah. In Romans 14, we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give account. That's clear. You were alluding to Matthew 12, which...
in which Jesus says that we'll give account for every idle word that we've spoken. Is that generic for human beings? Is that for believers? Is that only for unbelievers? That's not defined in the context.
But other parables of Jesus that he gives, the parable of the talents and things like that, indicate that there will be rewards for believers and some receiving more than others. Also in 1 Corinthians 3, Paul either speaking about believers or about those who are building the church and ministers of the gospel leaders, either of those categories, that their works will be judged. And that which is, as it's spoken of there, wood, hay, stubble, that will go up in the fire. And that which is gold, silver, precious stones, that will endure the testing of fire.
Now it says the one whose works go up in the fire is still saved, but as by fire.
So what's he talking about? If we are truly saved, if we're truly born again, then our sins have been paid for. And on the day we stand before God, we will not be giving account for our sins. In other words, God's not going to say to me, well, you shot heroin at 15.
Well, you stole money from your father at 16.
Well, you lied to this one.
Well, you lusted after this one. He's not going to say that, because that's been paid for and cleansed. But I will give account for my life. Let's say my assignment was to do ABC and I did none of it.
Well then I will not receive certain additional rewards. Let's say my assignment was ABC, but I did XYZ, then that's going to be tested by fire and go up in the fire. Let's say my summit was ABC. But I did it through pride and arrogance and self-exaltation.
Well, then that is also going to go up in the fire, yet I'll still be saved.
So some people struggle with that and they think, well, how can that be? I mean, isn't salvation the same for everyone? Salvation is. In other words, that we'll be with God forever if we're truly born into his kingdom. Yes, salvation in itself is the same.
So the parable in Matthew 20 of the workers in the vineyard, that the ones that come in at the end of the day get the same reward as the one, or the same payment as those who started in the early part of the day. That's salvation. It's a free gift, the same for all. And yet, we see throughout Scripture that in God's justice, that He does make distinctions and that there are rewards for serving Him.
Some of the reward can be a deeper maturity, a greater development, greater entrustment with responsibility, whatever it's going to be. But certainly, there will be eternal implications based on how we live in this world.
So, say the Apostle Paul, who served God mightily and was beheaded for his faith according to tradition, will receive a different reward than someone else that was a believer for 60 years and never grew spiritually and tended to be very selfish and died of Of old age, we can be sure of that. It's also a sobering thought, Eliana. When I was in the sales world, a commissioned salesman before I started full-time ministry. Once a week, I would get a call from the sales manager on a Thursday night, and he'd want an update. How many people did you see?
How much did you sell? And if I had a good week, I couldn't wait to talk to him. That phone would ring, I was waiting for it. First ring, I'd pick it up and I would talk to him. But if I had a bad week, I hope he wouldn't call.
It was just an earthly sales matter. I would hope he wouldn't call. I'd wait to see if the phone kept ringing. It was in the days before caller ID anyway. And I didn't want to tell him.
And then when he'd say, how'd the week go? I'd want a small talk. And then I'd want to tell him, well, I got a flat tire and all these other things first.
So it's a sobering thing that one day we will give account to God. You say that messes with me that well Come to God the way where you honestly ask him to give you a sense of security in his love. a sense of assurance it is love. A sense that you are his child and you're cleansed through the blood of Jesus, and then with that assurance. Ask him to give you a sense of holy responsibility because one day we will give account to God.
Hey, I appreciate you calling very much. 866-348-7884. Let me say one other thing. We as God's people have been placed in the world for such a time as this. And maybe you find yourself in a situation in life where you think, my life makes no sense.
You're a follower of Jesus, you love the Lord, but you think my life makes no sense at all. It's not going anywhere. It's not doing anything.
Well, God has you here for a reason.
Sometimes we feel like that, and in fact, that's not the case, because we are blessed by God and called by God and making a difference. At other times, we feel like that because we're stagnating. Let the truth be told. We're not really pursuing God's will. We're not doing what he called us to do.
He has a purpose for each of us. Acts 13 tells us that after David served the purpose of God for his generation, he then fell asleep. He died. We each have a purpose. We may not be known like David was.
People may not even recognize you when you walk down the street, but you have a purpose from God. And it's not just about feeling fulfilled. It's a matter of doing his will.
So go to him earnestly and say, God, I'm here for a reason. If you're shut in because you're sick, if if you're so busy raising kids or working several jobs and you just feel your your head is spinning as you're driving in the car, as you're taking a break between changing diapers, God, Why am I here? Lord, what's my purpose? And he may show you his purpose for you right in the midst of changing those diapers, right in the midst of working those extra jobs, right in the midst of being a shut-in. Look to him.
He has purposes for you. Jesus not only died to forgive you for your sins, but to give you a specific purpose and destiny, doing the will of God with eternal implications. It's the line of fire with your host, activist, author, international speaker, and theologian Dr. Michael Brown.
Your voice of moral, cultural, and spiritual revolution. Get into the line of fire now by calling 866-34 TRUTH. Here again is Dr. Michael Brown.
Thanks so much for joining us on the Line of Fire broadcast. This is Michael Brown. I'm delighted to be with you. Here's the number to call: 866-34TRUTH, 866-348-7884. You've got questions, we've got answers.
Let's go to the phones and we'll start with Steve in Tarrington, Connecticut. Welcome to the Line of Fire. Hey, doctor Brown, thanks for having me on. You bet. And I especially appreciate your ministry as just yesterday I had my first discussion with an agnostic Jew.
Really?
So I'll be I gave him the gospel two hours. It was great. But today, I wanted to ask you about Yeah. potential in real problem of Social offense, and this has to do with your book, your book about food. And and a restricted diet.
I've had a problem with food my whole life. I'm 35 now. And I come from a big Italian-American family, and it's manja, manja, manja. you know, grandma sits down in front of you a big, um, bowl of Italian wedding soup and you don't tell her I can't eat that, Grandma, because uh You know, I uh I I it it won't make sense to her. It it won't ethically make sense.
So I want to find out from you. how you handle family parties, traditions, holidays, meeting a guest in someone's home being given gifts of food by well meaning people Um by Christians. Um the neighborhood block party, Thanksgiving dinner. And, you know, I know of a a Christian teacher who follows a very strict low carb diet. And he goes around in different church churches and teaches.
Yeah, yeah. you know, uh, people kinda get y used to his diet, but they also kind of have to go out of their way for him.
So what do you do about that? Yeah. social offense where you tell someone, Well, look, I don't want to have this sisa, this big plate of french fries, but they're just doing it because They love you in all Christian or familial love. All right, so let's say that, God forbid. You have a medical condition, right?
Yeah. And Uh if you ate pizza. Or if you ate French fries, you were going to die. All right. Yeah.
The doctor's orders, right? Everybody would understand without the slightest hesitation, correct? Right. I mean, grandma with the Italian food might tell you it's good for you. But if you say, hey, grandma, the doctor has me on a special diet.
And your grandson's going to die if he eats this.
Okay, so I look at it like that. It's a matter of life and death. It's that simple. And I just tell people I'm on a special diet. Uh or listen, I travel constantly, perpetually.
and I'm dealing with things on the planes, I'm dealing with things in hotels, I'm dealing with things with restaurants, sometimes in people's homes, on and on and on and on and on and on and on. Number one, we found that people Want to accommodate me. They love me, they respect me, and they want to accommodate me.
So that's one thing. And they enjoy accommodating me. They see the radical changes in my life, all the weight that I've lost, and they see how good I look and how good I feel, and they understand that. And Excuse me, for the most part, they are believers, and as believers, they recognize the discipline that I walk in, but I just tell them on a special diet. No, I don't eat this, I only eat this, this, and it's that simple.
I'm on a special diet. And I'm not worried about social offense. And trust me, it's around the world and in many different cultures. But I just tell them, I'm on a special diet. And this is what I eat.
This is what I don't eat. And folks accept that. And if they bring out the wrong food, then just have to skip a meal. That's okay. Say, no, no, thanks.
I appreciate that. But I can't eat that. And just do it like that. Hey, stay right there. We'll be right back.
It's the line of fire with your host, Dr. Michael Brown, your voice of moral, cultural, and spiritual revolution. Here again is Dr. Michael Brown.
Phone lines are open, friends. Number to call 866-348-7884. Let's go to Steve again in Connecticut.
So, Steve, If if um you were in a group of people and they all drank beer. But used to be a drunkard and then got delivered from it, you stay away from it. Or if it comes near you, just say, Hey, I don't drink. If they're all smoking cigarettes and used to, hey, I don't do it.
Well, the effects of obesity The health effects of obesity are far, far, far, far, far worse statistically than the health effects of smoking cigarettes or even being an alcoholic.
So, in a case like that, we just have to make rigid choices, and then once people get used to it, then they're fine with it. And if you don't want to inconvenience anyone, just say, hey, I won't be eating. Or just, hey, just you know, have a you know, if you've got any fruit in the house, I'll have that. And you just have your salad or your other meal before you get to the place where you're going. But uh when when I travel and speak, Churches will often want to know, okay, for the hotel room, what should they have?
You know, because they'll have a snack basket to eat when you're in your room.
So in the old days, it used to be pretzels and it used to be chocolate and things like that, whereas now it's fruits. And then we just tell them, make sure I have some giant salads when I'm out. And then I personally travel with other things. I travel with beans. I travel with, I'm going to Israel, God willing, tomorrow night.
And I'll be packing my one piece of luggage with healthy food stuff that I bring with me.
So you have to make choices because most of the culture is not in harmony with this. But when you do, it's wonderful and life-changing. And if you look at it as a medical thing, a life-and-death issue, then... You make the choices and others will readily accept those choices.
Okay. That definitely helps it. I mean, basically, you're saying Number one, this is my life. I've got to serve God. I have to be healthy.
This is destroying my life.
So that's important that way. And number two, this is a problem in my life, so I knew I would need to avoid it. anywhere I go, just like I would alcohol or any other temptation. That's basically what you're saying. Food addictions are much rougher than other addictions because we have to have food every day to eat.
So it's it's worse than drug addictions, alcohol addictions in certain ways because say when I was doing drugs and I quit doing drugs in 71 by God's grace, when I went to a restaurant, they weren't offering me heroin. When when when I got on a plane to fly, they they weren't offering me L S D. Right? For example, I'm flying back from California the other day. I I got upgraded, so I'm in first class, it's maybe a four and a half hour flight.
So they come by with a little plate of nuts.
So I declined those because they're salted and I have my own nuts that I travel with that are not salted. You say, don't the salted taste better? Yeah, they taste better and they're worse for you.
So I got used to unsalted. All right, so then they serve a meal and it had all kinds of cheese and other stuff that I don't eat.
So I declined the meal. And I had just a small snack, but I didn't need a meal then anyway. But then they come by with rolls.
Well, I used to love rolls and bread, and my favorite in-flight rolls were pretzel rolls.
So they come by with pretzel rolls and they lay right in front of my face. Would you like pretzel rolls? No, thanks. You know, then with, you know, drenched in butter. Boy, I would have loved that.
And then afterwards, after the meal, they come by with a really good-looking piece of chocolate cake. I mean, it looked like it was really delicious. And I said, no, thanks. And the flight attendant looked at me like, are you sure? Are you sure you don't want that?
So I said no, no thanks, and just smiled.
Well, the point I'm making is that. I was saying to myself, I wasn't tempted at all. But I was saying to myself, yeah, this is very different. This is very different than other issues because it's right in front of you. But once you make the lifestyle change and then look at it like an addict, I don't play games with it.
We know so many people that lost weight and gained it back. And Nancy and I were just talking about it. You've got to recognize, okay, I'm a food addict. I have an issue. Because many people say, I know how important this is.
I know how big this is, but I like my food. Think of that with something else. You're a married man, you're tempted to commit adultery with some gal next door. And you see, yeah, look, I love my wife, I love the Lord, I love my kids, but I'm really into this lady. No, not as a believer.
You wouldn't do that. You know, if you steal at your job, you could have access to $100,000 and so on. It's like, yeah, but I'm a believer, I don't do that. When it comes to food, we know it's wrong and we overindulge and we cut our lives short and then the years we have are more difficult to live. One of my friends, a pastor in his 60s, said to me the other day, you know, some people spend the last 20 years of their lives dying.
And it's very sad and it's very tragic when that happens, but it's even more tragic and sad when it's because of choices we made.
So, look at it like that, Steve, and I think you'll do well. And hopefully, the incentive and encouragement in our books will help.
So, God bless you. May God give you grace to live this out. And the book he's referring to: Breaking the Stronghold of Food. We continue to get wonderful reviews from people whose lives have been dramatically and wonderfully changed. And we are deeply, deeply grateful.
Grateful. Breaking the stronghold of food, the name of the book. Nancy and I wrote it together. All right, we go to Middletown, Delaware. Tony, welcome to the line of fire.
Oh, thanks for having me. Yes, this is right on time. I'm glad I was able to get through.
So I just want to give you my situation I have a twenty year old daughter about to be twenty one. Uh You know, she uh You know, Yeah, I think it's a very good idea. Uh in December and now I guess the the the father of the child has doctor into moving into her to his place. Um Yeah, and uh I am totally against that, you know, almost to the point where Uh unfortunately I almost would wa would want to violent with the guy, but I know that you know I gotta fight that that And you know, I spoke to my brother and he said, Well, you know, the story of the prodigal son is about the loving father, not so much the son. Then I read that and it really Doesn't uh Say that the father was in a family.
agreement with the you know the prodigal son as he was out doing his his is wild behavior. And I know I have to show love you know, I just need some guidance on how You know how If you know, this this situation. Yeah, it's difficult, Tony, and I'm sorry that you are going through that. Many of us raising kids watched our kids go through times of rebellion. Our older daughter, who's a delight and just a great member of our family with her husband and their two kids, when she was a teenager, she really gave us a lot of trouble.
And it was very challenging. And she kind of outgrew some of the things, and God reestablished certain foundations in her life. And we have just a wonderful, wonderful relationship with her today. But many go through challenges, some serious challenges. The kids end up on drugs, kids end up in jail, kids end up pregnant out of wedlock and things like that.
But it can all be redeemed, Tony. What you want to look at is the bigger, larger picture, not the temporary situation.
So this is what I would suggest. The the number one issue is your daughter getting right with God. And that is that, and she's old enough to make her own decisions on these issues as well. There was one situation I know of where the daughter was not living for God. The boyfriend that she was going to be marrying was going to live together with her.
And the father said, If you want my blessing on your relationship, get out of there. And he did. I know of a situation like that personally, even though neither of them at that time were serving the Lord. He honored the father's wishes there. But that's not going to be in every case by any means whatsoever.
So, number one, Biggest issue is her relationship with God. What can be done to help her really get right with God? That's number one. Number two, what can you do to preserve God? a good strong relationship with her.
And number three, what can you do to minister to her boyfriend? To try to lead him to the Lord. Those are the biggest things, whether they're living together or not. Is not as big of an issue. I know it's grievous.
I understand that. If they're fooling around and sleeping together and doing what they're doing, they're going to find ways to do that anyway. They're in an environment here where he's taking an interest and wants to be around his girlfriend and child.
So at least he hasn't run away. And he's saying, come to my place.
So there's some level of wanting to support. Even though it's, yeah, they're living together in sin, I understand all of that. The biggest thing I would say, again, is their relationship with God and your relationship with your daughter. if you feel the guy is going to be that bad an influence on her. And it's only going to drag her down.
Then obviously you plead with your daughter. and you do your best to show her why it's not a good idea. But otherwise, uh it's it's not the end of the world if it happens. And the best thing would be. Preserve your relationship with her and try to lead her and him ideally to the Lord.
All right, well, that's uh Gives me some good guidance because I was definitely on. on more of the flesh and anger path and, you know, just cut off and No, that's not. Look, she's not walking with the Lord right now. She had a kid out of wedlock. He's, you know, sleeping with an unsafe boyfriend.
and the way I understand it.
So yeah, get in the spirit. And then if there's a real warning about it, you'll be able to share it with her. Otherwise, this is not the end of the world. Let's pray for redemption. It's the line of fire with your host, Dr.
Michael Brown.
Get into the line of fire now by calling 866-34TRUTH. Here again is Dr. Michael Brown.
Welcome back to the line of fire. Michael Brown, delighted to be with you. 866-34-TRUTH. If you think of it, pray for us.
Next few days, traveling to Israel, God willing, Saturday night, Sunday, and then doing our Israel tour and all going smoothly, coming your way. every night next week from Israel.
some from Galilee, some from Jerusalem, but live from Israel. As live as we can be. We'll have a little live audience.
Some of the folks on the tour that want to sit in and watch the broadcast and things like that. It's always special to do something like this, very special. We hardly ever get to do it.
So join me all next week live from Israel, God willing, 866-34TRUTH. Let's go to Mike in Tampa, Florida. Welcome to the line of fire. Hey, Doctor Brown. Uh thanks for taking my call.
Love the show. Um so my question um is in regards to like free will and predestination and elect. Um A friend of mine and I are having a discussion about it. And just wondering what your take is on those as far as the elect, are we all elect? And then Um you know, we just choose to turn away Or do we have to have a response Both to accept him or decide quote, make a decision for him to follow him.
Or Do we decide to turn away?
So let me ask you a question, Mike. If you're just reading through the Bible... Right. Are you being confronted over and over and over and over with choices that you need to make? This is the right thing, this is the wrong thing.
Do the right thing, don't do the wrong thing. Would you say that that's throughout the whole Bible? Yes, I would. All right. Would you say that there's anything in the Bible that says don't worry about choosing, the choice has already been made for you?
Um I guess I don't think there's a Verse in Romans, I can't think of which one it is, something about. Yeah. Mm-hmm.
that follows along the lines of the predestination Yeah. Right, so anything though that directly tells someone We're not talking about a theological statement. But that tells someone you don't need to worry about making a choice. The choices have already been made. No, I would say there's not.
Certainly not. Certainly not. So let's start there. from the viewpoint excuse me of our responsibility. The Bible's crystal clear.
We have a responsibility to respond, and if we don't, we're judged.
Now, a Calvinist, someone who believes in predestination, would certainly agree with that, okay? They would certainly agree. That we must respond, and that we never tell someone, well, the choice has already been made.
So, from a practical viewpoint, I don't need to speculate about predestination. What I need to do is respond properly. In other words, let's say I actually believed That 10 cars driving down the road are going to fall into a ditch today. and 10 cars driving down the road won't. But we have no idea what cars they are.
All we know is that they're constant warnings: watch out, slippery when wet. Watch out, sharp turve. Drive carefully. And before we get in the car, the voice of God says to us, drive carefully. That's all I need to know.
Right? If I drive carefully, I'll be one of those cars that doesn't fall into the ditch.
So the first thing is overwhelmingly through scripture, we're told to choose, choose, choose, choose, choose, choose. Literally from Genesis to Revelation without exception. Go through the preaching in the book of Acts without exception. Repent. Turn.
Repent. And if you don't, it's your responsibility. Over and over and over and over. Then we know that there are other verses that speak about being elect or being predestined.
So look at it like this. God has chosen to have a people in Jesus. Before the world ever began, he made a plan. We're knowing that people would fall. He didn't make them fall.
But knowing that the human race would fall, he set in motion before the foundation of the world the solution to that, the antidote to that. Namely, that his son would die for the sins of the world, and the Bible is very clear about him dying for the sins of the world, the sins of Jew and Gentile, the sins of all of us, the sins of each person, to use different terms that are used in the Bible. That Jesus died for the sins of the world, so that those that put their trust in him and those that looked to him for salvation would be infallibly saved. And obviously, God extends His love to the whole world, and those who respond are now in Jesus, and those in Jesus have a certain destiny.
So look at it like this. There's an ocean to cross. And God has determined that there will be a massive ship filled with people that will cross that ocean. That is their destiny. They are predestined on that ship to cross that ocean.
Who gets on the ship or off the ship is up to the human beings. We can refuse God's grace and we cannot get on the ship. We can refuse God's grace and jump off the ship into the water. But if we respond to God's grace and said, yes, Lord, have mercy on me, save me, forgive me, then that ship will get us infallibly to the other side. And that is being predestined in the Messiah.
And in the Messiah, there is a people. We are elect in him. Outside of him, we are not elect.
So again, on a practical level, it's very simple. We pray for God to save people. We then reach out and do what we know how to do to share the gospel, trusting in God's power. And then we call on people to respond and we ourselves know. that we can say yes or no to God on a daily basis in terms of disobedience or obedience, and we know that he's called us to obedience.
And so then it kind of work went into, you know, well then that response Would be a work or it would be work righteous because you're actually doing something to Nope, not according to Scripture. Because you have to salvation or whatever. Yeah, that's a false Calvinist argument. The Bible categorically teaches against that. If it's faith, it's not a work.
Romans is very clear on that. If it's faith, it's not a work. The work would be: I fasted 40 days and God saved me. The work would be I have now witnessed to 100 people this year, God will save me. That is works.
The work would be, I've kept the Sabbath flawlessly for the last year. That would be works. But to put my trust in Jesus to save me from my sin is grace through faith. And Paul says explicitly: because it's grace and because it's faith, it's not a work.
Okay, great. Thank you so much for the details. Thank you. Sure thing.
Now listen, Mike, what I'd encourage you to do is go to my website, thelineofire.org, and in the digital library, search for White and Bennett. You'll be able to watch several of my debates with Dr. James White on Calvinism and with Pastor Bruce Bennett. You'll be able to watch those debates.
So that's thelineoffire.org. And when you're there, just search for white. and search for Bennett. And if you do it in the video library, if you do it in the video library, then you'll be able to watch the debates that we've had. I've also done radio shows with Dr.
White. We've discussed some of these things as well. All right, thank you for the call. Much appreciated. Hey, friends, if you are blessed and helped by the broadcast, join our support team.
I want to send you a book of appreciation that will equip you and strengthen you to run your race. Every month, as a supporter, we send you a brand new audio message. We also give you 15% discount on our online bookstore, free access to our online classes, which can be $75 a class. You get free access to those. And as well, you get an insider newsletter every single month.
So join our support team. Go to thelineoffire.org and click. donate, become a monthly supporter. Bottom line today, hey, the word is bearing the fruit. You've got questions.
Boy, do we have answers. Can't wait to answer your questions right now, right here on the line of fire. It's time for the line of fire with your host, activist, author, international speaker, and theologian, Dr. Michael Brown, your voice of moral, cultural, and spiritual revolution. Michael Brown is the director of the Coalition of Conscience and president of Fire School of Ministry.
Get into the line of fire now by calling 866-34-TRUTH. That's 866-34-TRUTH. Here again is Dr. Michael Brown.
Welcome to the Line of Fire, friends. It is my joy to be with you. And God willing, when you next hear my voice on the radio, it'll be live from Israel Monday in Galilee, which will be Monday night. uh Israel time but Will be regular time to be live with you, take your calls, talk about latest breaking news, and always broadcasting from Israel to bring something from Israel to the table. 866-34Truth.
I'm going straight to the phones. What do you think of that? We start with Bellini in Greensboro, North Carolina. Thanks for calling the line of fire. Yes, Dr.
Brown, thank you. You're welcome. I got a question in John chapter eight, verse fifty four forty four. And uh The word of peace is saying that you are Mm.
Okay. Your father's nipple. Mm-hmm.
My question is like this. Uh Jews worship God. Yeah. Yeah. So when Jesus says that word to them, And they worship the true God or Not true.
Uh-huh. Yes, very clearly. First thing, Bellini. Uh he's not talking to all Jews. Not talking to all Jews.
He's talking to those who heard his word and rejected him.
So, for example, he would not say that to his Jewish apostles, his Jewish followers, his Jewish disciples, the many, many thousands that followed him. He wouldn't say that. But to those who rejected him, he would say that.
Now, that's in common, Belena, with all human beings. 1 John 5:19 says, We are of God, little children, and the whole world lies under the power of the evil one.
So, lost human beings, the most devoted Muslim. The kindest atheist, the most religious Jew, whoever this person is, if they don't know God through Jesus the Messiah, they are in some way. under the sway of the enemy. in some way captive, some way blinded, so they don't see the light of salvation and maybe have other issues where their lives are being dominated by sin and dominated by the flesh.
So in that sense, yes, A religious Jew Religious Muslim. a sincere atheist. devoted Buddhist, Hindu. that does not know God. because they do not know Jesus the Messiah.
They are of their father the devil in terms of there will be aspects of their lives that will be fleshly and sinful and destructive, and their notions of God will be distorted somehow.
Now, a religious Jew. contrary to a Muslim, does pray to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the God of the Bible is different than the God of the Quran. And contrary to a say a a a f a follower of a Well, say a Hindu, they're not praying to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
So, in that sense, a traditional Jew is much closer. My rabbi friends are sincerely praying to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers. and they believe that my beliefs are wrong and erroneous, I would say that's because they are deceived. That's because in that sense, they're under the sway of the evil one. But it doesn't mean that all their conceptions of God are wrong.
It doesn't mean that all their beliefs about God are wrong. It doesn't mean that when they pray, they're praying to the devil, not to God. No, it doesn't mean that at all. In Paul's words, they have a zeal for God. But not according to knowledge.
And that would be the best way to understand this: a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. And where there are sinful traits in their lives, that is because they, just like all of us outside of Jesus, are of our Father the devil. As far as those traits, if we lie, it's because we're. Descend it spiritually in some way, under the power of some way the father of lies, and on and on it goes from there.
So I appreciate your question. It's a great question. It's the line of fire with your host, Dr. Michael Brown, your voice of moral, cultural, and spiritual revolution. Here again is Dr.
Michael Brown.
I want to address everyone listening all over America. And in particular, all of you listening all over our great stations in North Carolina. We want to talk about something that's affecting the nation. and affecting North Carolina specifically. And it has to do with transgender issues.
It has to do with bathroom laws, HB2. The state of California has now issued a ban if you were at certain public universities like California State University, publicly funded universities. You cannot use public funds to travel to certain states that are supposedly anti-LGBT. Mississippi, North Carolina, other states. Yeah, the NFL and the NBA are threatening the state of Texas.
And say, if you have laws that a man who identifies as a woman can't use the woman's bathroom or locker room, then we're going to take events out of your state. And Governor Greg Abbott has said, You focus on solving your problems and let us govern the state of Texas. You focus on sports and let us take care of the state. President Obama, with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, have reversed, excuse me, President Trump with Attorney General Sessions, have reversed the ridiculous change of law or the guidance set forth by the Obama administration and Department of Justice, saying that. Biological sex actually equals gender identity in the law, and that if a state would not allow a 17-year-old boy who identifies as a girl to share the girl's locker room and bathroom and play on the girl's sports team, that state could potentially be penalized.
Billions of dollars.
Now, the Trump administration said, let that be decided by each state, and it's pushed things back to where they should be. With that, we go to our friend and colleague Tammy Fitzgerald with the North Carolina Values Coalition. Hey, Tammy, what's going on that's of special interest to the folks in North Carolina?
Well, good afternoon, doctor Brown. Thank you for inviting me on your show today. After standing strong on bathroom privacy and safety, and just for the right of Of people of faith to live and work according to their beliefs for almost a year now. Republicans in the state legislature are starting to crumble and cave in. And what we saw happen last week was a bill that got filed.
to do a full repeal of House Bill two. And replace it with some really a provision that just creates the ability for cities like Charlotte. to pass ordinances like Charlotte all over the state.
So they're calling this a quote unquote compromise, but really it's a capitulation. And North Carolina has led the nation in enacting common sense protections for children's privacy. And now the Trump administration has agreed with our leaders. And because of this new federal stance that Trump just adopted last week, North Carolina's privacy law, House Bill two, Remains more vital than ever because efforts to strip away privacy protections are beginning to shift to the state level under Trump's new policy. All right, so what what How far has this gone?
How concerned should the folks of North Carolina be?
Well, the bill that was filed was filed by two Republicans and two Democrats. And since it was filed, 12 more Republicans have signed on as co-sponsors. And it looks apparent that the Republican, the primary sponsor is a Republican Chuck McGrady. from uh Henderson. Hendersonville, I'm sorry.
And so it looks to me like He's planning to use Democrats to help him get this repeal. Uh voted on and over to the Senate.
So all they really need is about fifteen votes if they had all the Democrats. In order to pass this. And um Um it just looks like I don't know if they're going to get the votes or not because several Democrats have come out against it because it's not strong enough. According to them.
So it will be interesting to see if they can pull together the votes they need. They need sixty one votes. And they have 46 Democrats. And Right now, fourteen Republicans have signed on as co-sponsors.
So if all the Democrats voted for it and they got one more Republican, they'd have enough to pass it.
Alright, so what should folks do living in North Carolina, Tammy? They should immediately call their state House representatives and ask them not to repeal House Bill two and not to vote for this new repeal effort, which is called House Bill one hundred eighty six. We do not want people to vote on this bill or for the bill. Because it's a repeal and uh what they've replaced it with is almost as bad as just A full repeal.
So we're asking people to call their House Representative. Or to email them. And we've made it very easy for people to do this. If you go to religiousfreedom.live. You'll see a way to email or call your state house member very easily.
You won't have to look up who they are. Got it. All right, just give that website one more time. religious freedom dot lives. All right, and then once you're in the middle of the mor Once more, the bill that we're talking about, give that information.
Yes.
Now it's important that people do this this weekend, Monday, Tuesday, because the NCAA has given North Carolina until march first to repeal House Bill two. And even though this is an ultimatum and really extortion on the part of this sports organization that enjoys tax exempt status. Apparently, some Republicans are prepared to heed the instructions of the NCAA. And so it's important that people make these phone calls and send these emails. Uh right away.
Now Tuesday night at 7.30 we have a uh Facebook Live town hall where we started this past week featuring victims of these local sexual orientation and gender identity laws, like the one that was passed in Charlotte. Just to show people real live Stories of real victims of these laws. You know, people in North Carolina tend to get complacent and they sort of think, oh, this. This isn't going on here or this would never happen here. When you hear these stories like we did last week, from Jack Phillips, who is a cake baker.
He's really a cake artist. In Denver. Um he he Has served a lot of gay people in his business, but when a gay couple came in and asked him to do a wedding cake, he said, I can't do it, it violates my faith. He has been sued by the state of Colorado under a law just exactly like Charlotte. And he stands to lose everything.
His case is in the courts right now. And this coming Tuesday, we'll be talking to the Larsons, a couple from Minnesota who are in the videography business. And so what we want people in North Carolina to understand is that there are real victims to these laws. And it's not just something that we keep warning about. It really does happen.
And people who have been attacked by the laws and really bullied and persecuted by their own government. stand to lose a lot. Yeah, and this is to refer to it as bullying is exactly what it is, and it is coming from the government. Hey, one last time, give that website, Tammy. It's religiousfreedom.live.
And this is where you can sign a petition. or to send an email to your legislator, or you can make a phone call to let your legislator know that you want them to vote against House Bill one hundred eighty six. which would be a full repeal of House Bill two. Got it. All right, all clear.
Tammy, thanks for calling in. Folks listening all over North Carolina, do this, get word out to your friends. Let's raise our voices and make a difference. Much appreciate it. Thank you so much, Dr.
Brown. Sure thing.
All right. 866-348-7884. You say, why should we pick on transgenders? We're not picking on transgenders. We're simply saying that if a man identifies as a woman, that does not give him the right to the woman's bathroom.
or to the woman's locker room, or to the women's shower stalls, at say the YMCA. And that we have to be concerned about everyone else. You say, what about the person that identifies as transgender?
Well, they definitely have some issues, and let's see what we can do to help them. but you don't help them by imposing their struggles on everyone else in the society. Clear? 866-34-TRUTH. Let's go to Raleigh, North Carolina.
Mary, welcome to the line of fire. Oh, hi, Dr. Brown. It is such a pleasure to speak to you. I'm so grateful for the work you do.
My question, yeah, my question to you is I I listen to a lot of preachers online. And I ran into this man called Dr. Michael Heiser, S. Heiser. And he said that he had done a study on the Bible talking about A divine council of gods.
In the Bible. As to where in John 34 it says, is it not written in your law, I said you are God's, and it's supposed to correlate with Psalm 82. And I was wondering what your thoughts were, or if you'd heard anything like that. Sure. I'd encourage you first to listen to some of the interviews I've had with Dr.
Heiser on this show.
So to do that, Mary, go to thelineoffire.org. The line of fire and click on listen and then just search for Heiser. He's been on with me for several hours. You can listen to all of our interaction. To be perfectly clear, he believes in one God and one God only.
But there is a spiritual realm, and there are other beings who have been worshipped as gods and looked to as divine beings. How do we deal with that scripture? I'll explain when we come back. God of light, hear our cry, send a fire. It's the line of fire with your host, Dr.
Michael Brown, your voice of moral, cultural, and spiritual revolution. Here again is Dr. Michael Brown.
You've got questions, we've got answers. Phone lines are open 866-348-7884.
So, Mary, just going back to explain a couple of things. Dr. Heise has been on. We've talked about his book, The Unseen Realm. We met face to face the other day.
I was getting on a shuttle train in the Dallas airport with my assistant Dylan. We were between terminals, and there was a tall guy there, about my height, maybe even slightly taller, with a baseball cap on, and said hi to me. And at first, I didn't recognize him. Of course, Michael Heise was the first time we met face to face. But I said to him, What's so funny is that the stuff that we all know, just as Old Testament or ancient Eastern scholars, is kind of a discovery to others.
Think of this, Mary. Exodus 15, after the splitting of the sea and God bringing the children of Israel out, Moses says, Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Right? It was understood that there were many different gods that the people worshipped. Exodus 20, the Ten Commandments, don't have any other gods before me.
So there were other beings that the people worshipped. You might call them fallen angelic powers or demonic powers or just the creation of people's own minds. But those were that weren't creations of people's own minds. There are spiritual beings. Ephesians 6 talks about the warfare that we have with demonic principalities and powers and things like that.
And sometimes these other beings are referred to as Elohim gods with a small G. And behind these gods is demonic power. And on the flip side, the angels could also be looked at as divine beings because they're also spiritual beings and of that nature.
So that's why Job 1 speaks about God and they're the sons of God come before him and then Satan among them. Among them.
So the interpretation of John 10 is interesting. Going back to Psalm 82, what's Jesus actually saying there? And he's saying you're upset. with me being called son of God, but your own scripture calls you gods. In that sense, probably talking about the earthly rulers of the Israelites who have been appointed by God and are also called Elohim, the same word.
So Elohim can mean God with a capital G. Elohim can mean gods with a small G. Uh or Elohim could sometimes refer to earthly judges and and leaders, and that's part of what Psalm 82 is going back to. But God sits in a heavenly council. We know that.
There are opposing spiritual forces in the spiritual realm. But he alone is God. He alone is the creator. He is the only one who is eternal and brought all things into existence.
So he is different in that sense from every other so-called God. Right, right. I mean, I listened to him for a couple of days, and he sounded like he made sense. I remember reading the first time in the Bible where God sent a Lion Spirit. Um Uh but I just was hoping that I wasn't following some Wacko and he.
No, no, he's really good. He seems really good. Yeah, and look with everybody. You listen to me, you listen to him. You don't necessarily believe every last thing we say.
You testify scripture. But again, the key, key thing is: the key thing is there's only one true God, the only one who is eternal and uncreated. Everything else is created and is not worthy of being called God in the fullest sense of the word. As long as we understand that, we're good and we all agree on that. And there's a lot to learn from Dr.
Heiser for sure. Hey, thank you for the call. Much appreciate it. 866-34TRUTH. We go to Greensboro.
No, we don't. We go to, yeah, we'll go to Greensboro. Rob, welcome to the line of fire. Hi, Dr. Bowen.
I really appreciate you taking the call. Yeah, can you uh speak speak right into the phone and speak up? Yeah. Is that any better? Yes, it is.
Can you hear me?
Okay. Um yeah, I wanted to uh just Want to go about the international church of Christ. My wife and I got involved with one a little while back and didn't really know anything about it. And we found out more as we've gone along the way. Yeah, I'm just just kind of curious, maybe if you know some key elements or things that you could maybe bring up with an international third price disciple.
But you know, might begin to head some light on how they could be wrong in certain areas like the the importance that they they put on baptism. Sure. Well, I would I'm not intimately familiar with them. Apparently, they're a breakaway group from the churches of Christ in general. I would ask them a few questions.
Do they recognize that there are other believers? Equally saved. With eternal life, that will be with God forever, that are outside of their. Movement. That's the first thing.
If they say no, obviously they've revealed the cult-like nature of their beliefs. If they recognize that there are those who are outside of their sphere who are genuinely born again, okay, that's that's one, that's positive. Number two. Ask them, how are we justified in God's sight? If they say that we are justified through faith in Jesus followed by baptism, We could say, look, okay, we agree that baptism is important.
But when the Word says we're justified by faith, when the Word calls us to repent and believe, yes, baptism is important. Baptism is essential. Most churches underestimate the importance of it. But you ask them, On what basis are we baptized? If they argue that you're, excuse me, on what basis are we justified?
If they argue that you are only justified when you are baptized, then again, there is a spiritual error that we're dealing with there. And then ask them, are they saved by faith or by their works? Just simple questions to ask, and hopefully you'll find true believers among them. And, you know, I just don't know how extreme they are. They may be fine folks.
I just, I don't know them, okay? But they may also have some of the cult-like tendencies of churches of Christ. There's church of Christ that's totally liberal, that hardly even believes the authority of scripture is, you know, supports, you know, gay marriage and that kind of thing. And then there's the more conservative church of Christ, but they have some other errors that are mixed in in the midst of it. Yes.
Well, this one, as I understand it, was basically a spinoff from, I guess, what you would call more of the main line purchase phrase. back basically in about nineteen seventy nine. a guy named Kit McKean. I don't know if you're familiar with that name or not. He's apparently the one that started what is now known as the International Service of Christ, although that the movement as well.
Uh don't really Yeah. Are you familiar with that name at all? Yeah, not no, not closely. But yeah, just in short, Rob, it's the cult-like tendency of we alone are right. It is what can be an emphasis on works.
And it's what can be an overemphasis on baptism, although I agree with them that baptism is fundamentally commanded, that it should be part and parcel of our salvation experience, that we truly turn to the Lord in faith, that by his grace we turn away from sin, and the first thing that we should do as genuine believers is be baptized. But we do that as genuine believers, and that's why in Acts the 10th chapter, Cornelius and his household, they were saved and speaking in tongues before they were baptized.
So baptism is important, it's essential, but we are saved through the blood of Jesus by faith.
Now through baptism. Hey, thank you for the call. Change the world. It's the line of fire with your host.
