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CSI Good News
(Church of South India Good News)
Vol. 13 / Issue 7 / March 17 2011
Contents of this issue
Editorial
Why John MacArthur is Wrong! - Part 6
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News Items (Common to all issues) :
Through the Valley of Death & other Books
Download Articles in Handheld Computers
Kids Page - Free Tutorials
Hindi / Malayalam/Tamil Bible Online
Your Spam Folder
Your Feedback
Editorial
By Sherly Isaac
As we all know how terrible is the tragedy that took place in Japan first the earthquake then tsunami and now nuclear reactor crisis. The lives of those who are being so carefully cared for and nurtured has been shattered in just five minutes. How much we care for our lives and how much we bother to remain safe and healthy and yet suddenly everything shatters around us. These types of tragedies remind us of the fragileness of our lives. Peter put it very beautifully in 1 Peter 1:24, "All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever."
I remember when I was a child I used to play with building blocks. No matter how carefully you put those blocks above one another, at one point it would all come stumbling down and shatter in pieces.
Some people think that if they gather so much money, they can live happily and that they need not to worry for the rest of their lives. Some think that if they have beautiful houses, big bank balance and good health they will be safe forever. But it takes just a few seconds or minutes when everything shatters around you and those beautiful homes which are so carefully made and maintained breaks in pieces. You need just one sickness and it will not take much time to empty all your bank balance.
About a decade ago when there was a big earthquake in Gujarat, India, many wealthy diamond businessmen's houses were destroyed. Newspapers reported that there was one lady wearing diamond necklace and sitting in front of a completely flattened out house and had no money even to buy a packet of milk.
This is life! Life is not guaranteed to us even the next moment. We just do not know what would happen the next moment, but in the Bible Jesus promised eternal life to those who ask for forgiveness of their sins. Jesus said in John 14:1-4, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know."
In John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Today we can secure eternal life by coming to Jesus. When Jesus comes in He takes away fear from our lives and gives perfect peace in our lives. For this very reason Jesus came in this world and gave His life for us so that we should not perish but have eternal life. We read in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Coming to Jesus is the best decision you will ever take because your future is secure in the shelter of Jesus. All else may fail, all else may shatter around you but if you have given your life to Jesus, He will keep you safe till eternity.
Why John MacArthur is Wrong! - Part 6
By Vinod Isaac
To read previous parts or next parts please click on these links:
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19
Then John MacArthur writes:-
"Some within the framework of evangelicalism will tell you Jesus just wants you well, and if you're not well, it's because you haven't turned to your spiritual lottery ticket."
Well that's another distortion. Let's examine what Jesus wants.
Mat 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people."
Jesus went about healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among people. If Jesus doesn't want people well why he was healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease? Was Jesus just putting up a show for the entertainment of people? No absolutely not. Every where he went He healed the sick.
Mark 7:37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."
Even the people were astonished that He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak. Was He doing it just for one time to show that He is God? No He was doing it because that's the nature of God. In Exo 15:26 God says "For I am the LORD who heals you." then again Psalms 103:3 says He is God who heals all your diseases. He heals because it is His nature.
Psa 103:3, "Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
Psa 103:4, "Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies,
So when John MacArthur is making fun of the statement that Jesus wants people to be well, from where it is coming? Can you find a single passage where Jesus said, "I want you to be sick"? No, there is no such statement, nor is there any indication in the Bible that Jesus wants you sick. So John MacArthur is simply making fun of what Jesus did, and of God's nature and of what is coming from Bible. What John MacArthur is saying is not found anywhere in the Bible.
Then he further writes,
"If you're not rich, it's because you haven't claimed it. Jesus wants you free from debt, and if you send the televangelists enough money, that act of faith will free you from the demon of debt. Your salvation through Christ is a guarantee of health, wealth, prosperity, and happiness."
Again he is making fun of things that are in the Bible.
Here is what God says
Mal 3:10, "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
Mal 3:11 "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the LORD of hosts;
Mal 3:12 "And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land," Says the LORD of hosts."
What God is saying there? Bring tithes into the storehouse. In return following will happen.
1.) God will open windows of heaven and pour out blessings
2.) This blessing will be so much that there will not be enough room
3.) Fruit of the ground will not be destroyed
4.) Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit
That is to have a debt free and prosperous life. Funny thing is John MacArthur himself in 2006 alone got $123,785 for being President of The Masters College and Seminary. And he received $160,363 for being President of Grace To You. That’s $284,148.00, not counting his church salary, book royalties, speaking fees and personal donations from people. So he himself is living in prosperity and that prosperity is coming by fooling people to make them believe against prosperity. So basically he is living a life of prosperity in return of making fun of the Word of God.
He further writes:
"The psychologically man-centered evangelicals tell you that Jesus gives you peace, Jesus gives you joy, Jesus makes you a better salesman, and Jesus helps you hit more home runs. Jesus really wants to make you feel better about yourself. He wants to elevate your self image. He wants to put an end to your negative thinking."
Here he goes again making fun of the very statements of Jesus. Even of very name of Jesus, because Jesus' name itself is Prince of peace. If the Prince of peace doesn't give peace then who else can?
Jesus said that He gives peace.
John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
A preacher of the gospel can pronounce peace.
Mat 10:13 "If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
Jesus says to the woman who was healed of the issue of blood.
Mark 5:34 And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."
Luke 2:14, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
Luke 10:5, "But whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.'
Luke 10:6, "And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.
Even Paul says, God gives peace that passes all understanding.
Phil 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
The more I read John MacArthur's book I wonder if he is really reading the same Bible I am reading. I can't even imagine that how a person can say that Prince of Peace doesn't give peace.
Is he trying to say that Jesus was psychologically man-centered when He said peace I leave with you?
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Through the Valley of Death & other Books
As many of you know that in the year 2005, our dad was very sick even unto death. God miraculously healed him. We have compiled it in a book form. I sure believe that it will inspire you and encourage you greatly.
This book is available for purchase at JasmineCorp Store
Also read these two books by Sherly Isaac "Allah and Elohim - Are they the same God" Available at JasmineCorp Store, and "Is Jesus God?" Available at JasmineCorp Store,
Both books compares the Bible and the Quran and read eye opening facts about Jesus, God of the Bible, Allah and Islamic faith. I am sure that you want to read this.
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Your feedback and comments are Welcome. Please send your Parish news & articles to Editor (Sherly N. Isaac) at this address News@csinewsletter.comThe messages submitted will be checked whether they are correct according to the word of God. Editor reserves the right to accept, reject or edit the messages. The writers are responsible for the contents of their writings.
 
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