PTM WEEKLY UPDATE --NOVEMBER 16, 2009
What our readers and listeners say
The Money Tree
• In response to last week's e-Update lead article, we received many donations and encouraging comments from so many places around the U.S., Canada and the world. Here are a few:Happy to Help! -- Virginia
Hi, Greg -- You have been a blessing for many years through The Plain Truth magazine and Christianity Without the Religion. -- Nebraska
Thanks very much for all your services. More power to your ministry. God bless you. -- California
Thank you for your ministry. -- Texas
Keep up the great work!!! -- Australia
Thank you for the great work you people do in the service of our Lord, Jesus Christ! -- Ontario, Canada
H1N1 anointing oil?
A friend gave me a bottle of special anointing oil, which is said to be formulated to protect against the H1N1 flu, when used with prayer. Have you heard anything about this? Does it really work? -- South Dakota
• No it doesn't. Anointing with olive oil was practiced under the old covenant in various ceremonies such as the consecration of priests or kings. A recipe is given in Exodus 30 for this ceremonial oil, but this concoction has no application for Christians. In the New Testament, the sick were prayed for and sometimes anointed with oil (James 5:14) -- but this passage is clear that "the prayer of faith will make the sick person well." God is the one who does the curing when he answers prayers. The oil had no curative powers -- it was simply an illustration for the benefit of the sick person. Beyond that, there is no scriptural evidence of anointing to prevent sickness or of special formulations for certain diseases. The best things you can to do prevent the flu are, if possible, stay away from those who are infected, wash your hands frequently, and consult your doctor about immunization.Money and legalism
For years I have sat in the pews listening to sermons from a whole host of pastors, evangelists and missionaries. Through each and every message ran the same Pentecostal thread: God has priorities and the first two that are important to him are money and legalism. Bible reading, prayer and worship are all well and good but nothing -- and I mean absolutely nothing -- is more important to the church and God than money and legalism. Without legalism there is disobedience and disobedience is sin. God will not bless disobedience no matter how much money you give. If you expect to be blessed in your giving then you must, must, must also embrace legalism. Everything you think say or do is under God's microscope and his extremely intense scrutiny. You can feel it and sense it -- God is watching like a dark, brooding, angry cloud. We must sell everything that we own and live with as little as possible. Don't waste your time procreating -- that just takes money away from the church. Don't waste your time buying real estate -- that just takes money away from church. Find a cheap place to live in the worst part of town and wear a bullet-proof vest. Don't waste your money on restaurants -- that just takes money away from the church. Don't waste your time on social gatherings -- that just takes money away from the church. Don't waste your time visiting family -- that just takes money away from the church. Live like a homeless person and give all you have to the church. Isolate yourself and own nothing but a dollar-store toothbrush. Give all you have the church and die as quickly as possible. -- Email
• We know how you feel -- and this feeling is not the good news of the gospel of grace. The oppressive religion you describe is by no means limited to Pentecostal groups. In fairness, of course, there are many non-legalistic, grace-based, Christ-centered churches and ministries out there (Pentecostals included). They just seem difficult to find.PTM limericks
We've been playing with limericks on the job lately. I thought I'd share a couple with you:
Many kudos to those fine people at PTM
Who tackle religion again and again,
Fussing and fuming over legalist woes,
All the while helping all Christ lovers know
That only with grace do we finally win.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bravely facing and opposing all legalist frights
And shining into religion's darkness a wondrous light,
Those wonderful people at PTM
Are eager to show us again and again
That only by grace, not by works, are we ever made right.
Hope you enjoy them -- Phil, WashingtonRETURN TO PTM WEEKLY UPDATE CONTENTS PAGE
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