LOTS OF PAGANISM AND LIES SURROUNDING CHRISTMAS AND YET LOTS OF GRAND OPPORTUNITY TOO, RIGHT?
Are you more busy bashing the paganism surrounding Christmas than you are intently building up the body of Christ and evangelizing the lost?
Many specialize in cursing the darkness and yet Jesus chose to come straight into the darkness and die for our sins, for all of us previous pagans.
WHAT could happen if you spent that same energy in prayer, Bible prep, and evangelism?
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15
WHEN is the last time you personally led someone to Jesus?
“He that winneth souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30
SANTA CLAUS IS A LIE BUT NOT THE COMING OF JESUS, THE MESSIAH.
“Thank you for posting this. Excellent biblical explanation. Last year was the first I had heard it was a sin to celebrate Christmas because according to them Jesus wasn’t born on Dec. 25th. And there was so much shaming going on! Just as they did telling people they were in sin because they voted. And I believe the same ones who say in God’s economy you are never to divorce. Somehow they have put themselves above everyone else! Hypocrites.” Karen Cochran | The sin of self-righteousness will damn the soul (Matthew 21:31).
The angels and wise men celebrated the coming of Christ. Since when would it be inappropriate to celebrate Heaven’s KING? Is is okay with you if God’s people celebrate JESUS – every aspect of Him, His life – every days except December 25th? WHERE does the Bible say that if one of God’s people celebrate Christ on December 25th, they are going to hell?
Why shouldn’t God’s people insert His truth into everything, at all times? – EVERY day of the year, including December 25! Isn’t that what Jesus meant when He said we are His light and salt in the earth? (Matthew 5:13-16) God is good and God is able! Ask Him to use you during this period of the year!
“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16
Most of the Christ-mass “celebration” is poisoned with paganism. Yet, what should God’s people be doing during this season? Should they spend their time and energies protesting or should they obey the LORD by preaching His saving Gospel? May God open doors for us to preach His Gospel during this season – Shining His holy light into the sin-darkened hearts of men so they can see the glory of Christ Jesus our LORD and Savior.
From David Taylor:
“Mighty ancient angels, Wise wealthy Pagan magicians, Hebrew Shepherds poor, animals, parents and relatives, were all drawn to this Divinely orchestrated event – the birth of the Messiah into flesh. And even today His truth still sounds, ‘If I shall be lifted up I shall draw all men unto me’. Rejoice!! Our Savior and King is alive forevermore!! Serve Him. Are you and yours ready for His imminent return and judgment? May God continue to bless as you serve the Lord Jesus. In Christ’s love,” David
KINGDOM PERSPECTIVE: True disciples celebrate Jesus 24/7/365. So, why not be wise and use this season, the gatherings of friends and family for whom Jesus died, as a place to shine Christ’s light, instead of cursing the darkness. Perspective: The whole world is pagan 24/7/365. So if you’re going to protest paganism, perhaps it should be year round. Jesus came and died and rose again to save the world which was already under divine condemnation (Luke 9:56; John 3:17). He called the sinners, pagans, to repentance, to follow Him. Our LORD spent little time exposing the details of the sin of the world. When judging, Christ’s central targets were the rich and the religious.
Are lost souls going to hell because they celebrate Christmas OR because they have not yet been saved?
Perhaps we should be more careful not to jump off on someone elses anx, to join their pagan-bashing crusade. Is that what Jesus and His apostles came to do? We do well to memorize and be transformed by the words of our LORD when He stated:
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:17
Later in this same discourse, Jesus says:
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth (remains) on him.” John 3:36
Notice in John 3:36 (above) that divine condemnation is already upon all of the lost, the pagans. It’s ONLY when they believe on Christ that they are saved by His grace – and God sent us to communicate His glorious Gospel, Good News to them.
Didn’t Christ come to save the sinners? Were the world, the pagans, not already in darkness when Jesus came? Wasn’t that why He came? – to bring men out of darkness into His glorious light? (Acts 26:18; 1 Timothy 1:15)
WHY Did Jesus Come to the Earth?
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
QUESTION ASKED:
“Should Christians celebrate Christmas?”
REPLY:
There is no question that Christmas is and has been paganized from the beginning. And one thing is for certain: Christians are not to lie to their children by making “santa claus” a part of this season no more than a Christian would make rabbits and eggs a part of Christ’s resurrection (pagan easter). Show chapters and verses where it’s a sin to celebrate any part of the life of Christ please ….. Those who quietly celebrate Jesus during this season don’t need others infringing on their God-given right / liberty to do such – Read Rom. 14. Rom. 14 says that infringing on another believer’s God given liberty is a sin…. This is a non-essential issue and that is exactly what Paul is addressing in Romans 14. BTW: This disciple, by Christ’s grace participates in no paganism involving this season.
Rich Brown writes: “Sadly, while everybody says that Jesus is reason for this season, I observed that santa claus is more popular than Jesus. Some parents lied and fooled their children by teaching them a fictional character who doesn’t exist. If you are a true born again believer and know your Bible, you will not teach your children such foolishness!”
YOU GOING TO WALK AROUND ALL MAD ABOUT CHRISTMAS OR ARE YOU GOING TO PREACH THE GOSPEL DURING THIS SEASON?
A common objection from novices is “Christmas is pagan!” True, yet is the birth of the eternal WORD pagan?
Should we cease cursing the darkness and instead begin to obey Jesus by shining His glorious light right in the middle of that darkness? After all, darkness abounds upon the whole earth, every day for 6,000 years. Think about that. Cursing the darkness benefits no one except satan. Perhaps we should prayerfully consider letting the light of Christ in us to begin to shine brighter and brighter into the darkened hearts of fallen men.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Is getting mad going to help anyone get saved? If so, why not be mad 365 days a year since this whole fallen world is inundated with paganism. Is that how Jesus and His apostles lived? OR, did they simply preach the light of truth into this dark world? The whole fallen world we live in is pagan 365. Glad Jesus didn’t curse the darkness and say “heck no, let them all perish.” We must beware of self-righteousness. Jesus says the harlots will go to Heaven before the religious self-righteous (Matthew 21:31).
THE POINT IS THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO SPEND ALL OUR TIME PROTESTING THE OBVIOUS PAGANISM IN CHRISTMAS AND EASTER, THEN LET’S BE CONSISTENT AND JUST LIVE TO PROTEST EVERYTHING, YEAR ROUND, BECAUSE THIS FALLEN WORLD IS PACKED FULL OF PAGANISM EVERYWHERE WE LOOK AND GO, DAILY. IS THAT WHAT JESUS DID? IS THAT WHAT HIS APOSTLES DID? IS THAT WHAT THEY TOLD US TO DO? NO. NO. NO.
Another common objection: “But we aren’t to partake in the evil of this world!” Yet Jesus said and did a whole lot more about being the salt and light of the world than preaching against paganism, didn’t He? Are we so busy protesting the obvious paganism that we aren’t preaching/communicating the light of Christ?
The true body of Christ worships Jesus Christ 24/7/365! Amen LORD.
Jim Gilles writes:
“I love bashing anti Christmas Nazis who violate Romans 14 with their admitted arguments from silence. The anti Christmas Nazis need to learn that where there is no law there is no sin. That is why your personal opinions and convictions have no weight nor bearing upon anyone else.”
What Jim is getting at in the quote above is the way some get so enraged against the paganism of this season that they don’t afford liberty in the non essential of celebrating Jesus in this time of year.
“The world is dying and going to hell while ‘deep thinkers’ (street preachers) are sending them to hell over celebrating the birth of their Savior. Imagine that.” Dean Roy
What does God’s Word tell us about NON-essentials? Liberty in NON-Essentials.
Where is celebrating ANY part of Christ a sin? Chapters and verses please … also did God rebuke those who celebrated the birth – the prophesied first coming of Christ? Where does Scripture say celebrating any part of Christ is a sin? …. As a non-essential, it’s up to the individual believer and we are in sin to contest such and thereby destroy the work of Christ for a non-essential. We know it’s non-essential because He never named it as a sin. “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” (Romans 14:4) Birthday? nahhhh we are talking about celebrating Christ’s first coming – His prophesied, essential, all-important birth by way of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). Are Matthew 1 and Luke 1-2 in the Bible?
If you are going to protest the paganism in Christmas well you should change the names you call months and days…. right? They are all of pagan origin! Why not use this season to love people into His blessed kingdom?
Some people act as if Satan invented December 25 and that he owns it. So, they play right into his evil hands by not celebrating Jesus during this season. Instead of spreading His holy light in the darkness they are over emphasizing and acting as if Satan and paganism are greater than the light of Christ. So, they spend their time policing other Christians on this non-essential instead of praying and preaching the light of truth. No one gets saved by Christians protesting but rather by anointed born again disciples PREACHING – “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:21) So some say the Bible never says we are to celebrate Christ’s birth and yet the Bible also never shows us where Jesus, His apostles, or other Christians rebuked others for celebrating the birth of Jesus which is prophesied by Jesus long before He came – through the prophets (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7, etc.). Christ and His apostles spent little time going on and on about obvious paganism ….. go read how Paul those pagans on marrs hill in Acts 17. He spend little time or energy detailing their error. He simply moved their faith from idols to Christ! Preaching is a million times more the answer than protesting. Preaching the light of truth exposes the darkness better than any picketing. When the LORD saved this wretched soul, I never once returned to the pagan catholic church, not once. I am forever grateful for the Christians who simply preached the holy light of Christ to me. They never once mentioned the paganism and idolatry that is roman catholicism ……
Question: Is your tirade against the obvious paganism of christmas winning anyone to Jesus? … the whole fallen world we live in is jammed packed full of paganism …. so should we protest all that paganism 365 day per year or just start preaching the light of truth/Christ into it all the darkness? Learning this lesson myself, continually.
The prophet Isaiah foretold Jesus the Messiah’s birth! There could be no bigger news except “It is finished.” (John 19:30) Christ could never have died for us, accomplishing redemption, had He not come to the earth. In fact, over 300 prophecies of Christ were given in the Old Testament and several dealt with His first coming, exactly where He would be born (Micah 5:2), that He’d be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), that He’d be divine – “God with us” (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 9:6-7), etc. Did Christ not split time in half when He was born? Oh and what about the joy in Elizabeth, John the Baptist and a whole host of others in the early chapters of Matthew and Luke concerning the birth of the Messiah?
While Christmas is filled with paganism, it is not a sin to celebrate the fulfilled Bible prophecy of Jesus coming to the earth. The angels and shepherds, etc. celebrated and welcomed the coming of the prophesied Messiah without which He could not have been made flesh, dwelt among us, or died to redeem us! God is so good! John the Baptist leaped in his mother’s womb at the announcement of the birth, the coming of Jesus! (Luke 1:41-45)
QUESTION ASKED:
“But does the Bible tell us to celebrate Jesus’ birth?”
REPLY:
Well we can celebrate any and all parts of the life of our LORD Jesus. If He had not be born into the earth (of a virgin) He could never have died, been buried, and raised again for our justification, right? The wise men celebrated His birth and so did the angels, and many others.
Louise Scarborough notes: “The Wise men celebrated HIS BIRTH and brought HIM Gifts. HIS birth is a wondrous event and should be celebrated. Who would not Celebrate the birth of Our Lord and Savior when we celebrate our own! That has nothing to do with the secular world celebration the concept of Santa Claus. That is what needs to be separated and the honor and given to Christ.”
The LORD will lead each of His children in what they do during this season. Some people would have you believe that paganism and Satan are so powerful that the so called Christmas season isn’t even God’s it’s Satan’s. These people act as if Satan is more powerful than the Almighty.
Regrettably, it seems that some people seem to be identified only by what they are against.
Is someone who partakes in Christmas going to hell? Yes or no please? Doesn’t this come under the non-essentials that are addressed in places like Romans 14?
“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:4
In case you are wondering, no this disciple does not participate in Christmas other than celebrating and sharing Jesus. If we just stick to Scripture …. perhaps reading the beginning of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke ….. and celebrating the first coming of Christ as we look forward to His blessed second coming.
One man insisted that it is a sin to celebrate the birth of the very Son of God after He was born. To this I replied:
“Give one Scripture that tells us it’s a sin to celebrate the eternal, divine Word becoming flesh and for that matter, any part of the life of Christ. You sound very self-righteous friend ….. and need to humble yourself and remain teachable. There is no sin in celebrating the Son of God in any aspect of His life…. pre-incarnate, birth, life on earth, mission, death burial and resurrection, ascension, return, etc. Paul spoke of His birth Galatians 4:4… Yes He came for the ultimate purpose of dying to accomplish perfect salvation ….. yet He had to come to do such …. in the fullness of time (Gal. 4:4) … the point is that people seem to be making stuff up … there is no Scripture that forbids appreciating any part of the Son of God’s existence.
If we would receive a greater portion of God’s grace – His divine influence on our hearts – we would cease making an issue out of these type things and simply use this season and the occasions afforded to minister His Love and truth. As a born again New Testament believer we are “ambassadors for Christ” and celebrate the coming of Christ into the world – and also died on the cross, was buried, and rose again from the dead! (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20) … Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2, etc. 1 Timothy 1:15….. Why not use this season as an opportunity to share the first coming of Christ and preach the second coming. Share the 10 Commandments to convict the sinner and then the saving Gospel (Good News) of Christ! It’s good to be aware of the pagan aspects of this season and avoid them and just use it as an opportunity to spread God’s love and truth by communicating His Word as we are brought together with friends and family. Preach! Use this as a springboard saints – YES, Jesus was born and YES He came to die to give us life! (John 3:16) Preach! Pray for open doors – open hearts to receive His Word! Ask the LORD and He will surely open up many opportunities for you to communicate His Word. Just watch. “Here I am LORD, send me!” (Isaiah 6) WHY DID JESUS COME? Let Holy Scripture answer this all important question! PREPARE: Memorize specific Bible verses and own them – until they just roll off your lips effortlessly! (Proverbs 22:17-21)
No, I do not personally partake of paganism 24/7/365 and will absolutely and prayerfully ask God to open hearts and use me to speak into the hearts of men in this dark world. I want to spend more time celebrating and communicating Jesus than cursing paganism ….. paganism is everywhere Christianity is not and the only solution is to shine Christ’s light into those dark places. Matt 5:13-16
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” 1 Peter 3:15
Here’s the crux: So Satan has perverted the reason for which Christ was born into the earth in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7). If in fact you are so insightful about the paganism in Christmas, why not use that for an occasion to preach the real divine reason that God sent for us His only begotten Son? (John 3:16) Why not use this occasion to show people the real reason Jesus came – to reconcile fallen mankind to our Maker?
Have you ever seen anyone get saved because some Christians protested Christmas? Heck, the Jehovah Witness cult protests Christmas and we know for sure they are hell bound.
Look, in this fallen world we are surrounded with pagan idolatry every single day of the year and yet, did God call us to make that the main issue or did He call us to communicate His holy Law to convict and Blessed Gospel to save? Is God going to judge us for how intricately we knew the work of the enemy or by how we obeyed Him to communicate His truth in love? Great Commission.
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15
If we are so up tight about how pagan Christmas is and not on fire, praying to be able to communicate Jesus, perhaps this just shows how self-righteous and immature we are. Being up tight about Christmas comes from spending too much studying something other than God’s Word.
Jesus calls us to speak His light into the darkness in this fallen world and not to sit in the seat of the scornful by cursing the darkness (Psalms 1). If we are so spiritual that we see how sin and Satan have ravaged people, why not help them by giving them Jesus who is the solution?
“In Season”
Consider this…..BEWARE OF THE CHRISTMAS BASHERS, HEROES IN THEIR OWN MINDS … WHO COME OUT OF THE WOODWORKS EVERY DECEMBER. Many of these same lame novice legalists say nothing of the other obvious, blaring corruptions and yet self-congratulate themselves with their bashing of Christmas… which is pretty much a non-essential (Romans 14). CLUE: There is paganism all around us 24/7/365 – and Jesus came into this same darkness to be the SOLUTION! John 3:17 …. Instead of simply preaching JESUS in and out of season (all the time) they resort to bashing Christmas. Mark this: You won’t find one of these Christmas bashers whose led someone to Jesus in the last year! Fake Watchmen …. Discern ….. They create and sustain their identity by what they are against instead of what they are for … Paul did 2/3rds preaching and teaching and 1/3 warning. See Colossians 1:28 and beware of those who do not lovingly teaching God’s Word but rather just bash everything and everyone! There ARE things and people to be exposed … yet if that’s a person’s whole and only M.O. (mode of operation), beware.
Christians should celebrate Christ every single day they are alive on His earth.
Is this a “season”? Yes. Christmas “season” right? Then what are we instructed to do at all times – in all seasons?
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:2
I wonder what God could do and who He would save if we did less condemning Christmas and more communicating Christ. Jesus commanded us to go preach everywhere and not to go protest everything.
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15
When we are still spiritually immature, we want to make an issue out of error instead of looking past it when speaking with sinners, making sure we don’t cast a stumbling block in their path. Jesus would have us to simply communicate the Law and Good News so they can be saved before it’s too late (Isaiah 55:6-7). God wants the cross in our lives saints (Colossians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12). Many times when we are so adamant about protesting paganism, we are being self-righteous and putting self first instead of the sinners Jesus came and died to save. He has put them in front of us in order to hear the Gospel.
Jesus taught that it is wrong to over emphasize a minor (lesser priority) and under emphasize a major.
“Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.” Matthew 23:24
STOP PROTESTING AND START PREACHING! … Some who pretend to be spiritually mature seem to develop their identity around what they are against instead of taking EVERY opportunity to obey God by “preach(ing) the word” in and out of season! for which we shall all give account (2 Timothy 4:1-4). Please share.
Is God not greater than paganism? Those who spend all their energy coming against Christmas seem to have more faith in paganism than in God Himself – who in your case and that of many others, can and does move anytime, anywhere HE so chooses!!! His Word is always His Word … For example, all that paganism that has crept in has not and never will erode from all the great songs that are Bible songs concerning the birth of the very Son of God and we hear them on even secular radio stations…. many of these songs have no paganism in them … so can God use His Word in those songs that are played during this time? Yes, whether these prudes like it or not. He never asked them either way…. Again, some see only the evil in everything … they seem to vainly imagine that THEY control God instead of vice versa ….. why not just go be the light in this dark world which is dark from Jan-Dec every year. I would ask them when is the last time they actually led someone to Jesus ….. No one gets led to Jesus by our protesting … This is a maturity issue and God is calling His people to ask Him to bless them to “grow in grace” and to let their hearts be established with His grace (2 Pet. 3:18; Heb. 13:9).
Stop Your Protesting and Start Preaching! | God-Less Grinches Busted!
Paganism is infinitely inferior to the power of Christ’s blessed Gospel.
“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.” Romans 1:16
Jesus’ Gospel, when applied, brings forth salvation in those who repent and receive Him. Whether Jew or Gentile (includes all men), God saves those who believe upon Christ (John 1:12; Acts 16:31; 20:21, etc.).…. May God bless each of His children with open doors and a quickened spirit to minister His Word in this late hour. Did Jesus and His apostles spend much of their time campaigning against paganism? No, but they simply offered the Solution. The Law convicts and Christ saves. It seems to me that if we reflect upon and read over what Christ and His apostles spoke to lost sinners, there was little time wasted on exposing paganism. Acts 17 records Paul preaching to pagans and he seems to spend little time arguing with them over their practices and beliefs but rather merely points them to the true and living God through Christ. He called them to repent (v30-31).Any ex-catholics out there? I you are like myself, you got saved because you heard the original Gospel of the grace of God and were saved. No one had to tell me how pagan Catholicism is. Such was never mentioned. What would you think if you were in hospital waiting room and someone with a broken leg was carted in on a stretcher and as soon as the doctors and nurses saw him coming in they ran over and began yelling at him, proving to him he had a broken leg and about how he got the broken leg? Well, such a thought and scene are laughable at best and you will never see that happen in a hospital because the medical community is trained simply to fix people – to smile at them and go directly to solving their problems. It’s only AFTER they are all fixed up with the solution that the doctors and nurses suggest that they be careful so this doesn’t happen again, right? Do you think that we’d see more people saved if we’d simply preach the Gospel and learn biblicly how to evangelize more effectively?
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30
Perhaps we should ask ourselves if we are actually winning lost souls to Christ or are we simply beating up on those in darkness, further sealing their darkness – all so we can feel better about ourselves? Have you ever argued a catholic into being saved? After telling a catholic the 25 greatest evils of the catholic church, did they get saved. No, correct?
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Abiding
Dirty Ox Stalls bring Dividends [podcast]

An intriguing proverb that applies directly to our daily lives and the stewardship of the time our LORD has afforded us in this brief life. Gaining traction via the wisdom of our great God and King Jesus Christ. How to avoid spending our lives “spinning our wheels.”
“Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.” Proverbs 14:4
The blessing of a dirty ox stall…. What’s most important to God is productivity, not neatness, not tidy-ness, not a clean stall.
Here’s a proverb from the Holy Spirit and Solomon which breathe wisdom into our lives. Let’s read it again:
“Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.” Proverbs 14:4
The proverbs of the LORD we have in His Word hold hidden meaning which breathe wisdom into our lives.
A proverb is a figure of speech, words that impart truth by using natural illustrations to convey spirit truths.
Jesus taught in parables. Parables are earthly stories with heavenly meaning, divine wisdom to establish us in our relationship with Him as we love, worship and obey the LORD.
This is exactly what we have in Proverbs 14:4, where an ox and his stall are featured in order to convey the divine truth that productivity is more important to God than the pettiness of cleanliness.
The proverbs often use simple images to convey a deeper moral or practical lesson.
Active, working oxen bring dirt and dividends. Clean ox stalls glitter but produce no gold.
When commenting on this proverb, one man said: “Don’t be deterred by the dung.”
Fruitful saints aren’t known by how clean their house is but rather how full, how abundant their treasure in in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). Their prayer and work is focused upon pleasing their LORD Jesus and not with how clean their temporal living space looks, by how sparkling clean their life looks to mere sinful men.
One pastor notes the following about the divine truth imparted to us in Proverbs 14:4:
“There are some proverbs that stick in our heads more than others and this is one of them for me. The image is memorable and the lesson is unforgettable. Solomon paints the picture of a barn without oxen and because of no oxen, the stalls are clean and pristine. This is a barn that the perfectionist likes; a barn that can be organized, cleaned and maintained without interruption. This is a barn that the neat freak and the clean freak crave; a barn that they can come into and know that everything is clean and tidy. This is a barn that needs no work. This is a barn that, after working in the field, demands no additional time or effort to clean. This is a barn that needs no attending to after hours. It demands no thought when heading out of town. It never smells. It doesn’t even make a sound. There is no sickness in this barn nor does death ever visit its crib. This is a barn that requires no food or water and as such, it doesn’t require any constant removal of dung. It’s clean and pristine! … While that sounds appealing to the average man or woman, the average farmer doesn’t pursue an empty crib. He knows that the tradeoff is well worth it. It’s the cost of doing business in agriculture. He knows that he could farm his land on his own and that he could produce “some” increase on his own. He knows that he doesn’t need oxen to till the ground, to sow the seed or to harvest the crops but if he’s going to have “MUCH” increase, he needs oxen and there are no oxen that clean up after themselves.”
The mess is worth the money.
The dirt is worth the dividends it brings.
Dirty spaces bring special graces.
The progress and productivity are worth the pile of trash.
Men who are dirty from working all day will go home with fruitfulness for their family. They are satisfied and blessed to do so and so we wake up the next morning and gladly go do the same. The trade off that brings wages is worth it.
This proverb also brings into mind the harvest that can being produced by you alone, in contrast with the harvest produced having others to labor with you to bring forth “much increase.”
Also, by not inviting others to join you in doing our LORD’s work, we deprive them from being blessed to lay up treasure in Heaven as our LORD commanded each of us who His children to do (Matthew 6:19-21).
The following is from Josh Denhart:
“In ministry we think, “If you want a job done right, do it yourself.” You may avoid messes, but you have just stepped into the “Trap of the Clean Stall”.
Proverbs 14:4 reads, “Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. “
In the ancient agrarian world, animals brought a massive advantage. To have an animal meant you could accomplish so much more. Today we refer to a car as having a certain amount of “horse power”. In times past, an animal brought with it a certain amount of power. Power to increase the harvest and get the job done. Here, the writer of Proverbs is referring to “Ox Power”. The power and advantage is brought through the strength of an ox.
The writer of Proverbs says that it is really a trade off. On one hand you get a significant increase through the strength of an ox, yet with it you get, poop. Yes, good, ol’ fashioned ox poop.
Goal: Huge Harvest
Let’s compare the alternative. You have no oxen, but you have an amazingly clean manger stall.
More harvest with a poopy stall vs. a perfectly clean stall and a diminished harvest.
Our goal is not a clean stall. Our goal is a huge harvest. A natural side effect of a huge harvests are messes. What do you want? Do you crave a super clean stall over a bountiful harvest? Listen, a tidy stall in and of itself is a bad trade for a compromised harvest.
Let me shoot straight with you. I have a well-managed case of OCD. I crave order. If you serve in children’s ministry, you probably do too. I hate disorder. Yet the calling of the harvest trumps our neurotic desire for order.
Do not fall into the trap of the clean stall.
You Can’t Do It Alone
We must define our goal for the harvest over and over! Our goal is reaching the lost through equipping the fold. Our ultimate goal is not order for order sake. Our goal is the good news of Jesus going deep into the hearts and heads of kids, which brings messes. Get used to it. And get over it.
We can have order as we achieve a large harvest, but uncomfort with messes can short circuit great harvests.
Let’s take this proverbial analogy a step further. You as a ministry leader are essentially the farmer. You can’t and don’t want to do it alone. You need help. Those willing to help you from a staff or a volunteer perspective can bring great strength and accomplish more for the harvest than you by yourself. And, yes, I am equating associates and volunteers to oxen.
The Harvest is Plentiful
Oxen and people are living beings. Both bring messes. Farming, like ministry, is just messy. Jesus said He came not for the healthy but for the sick. Sick people vomit physically and emotionally, have issues and need attention. That is our job. Years ago, someone sarcastically said, “Ministry would be great were it not for all these people!”
Listen, if you want order more than you want the harvest, you may find yourself doing it alone. Doing it alone equals to a field white for harvest with no one to get the job done. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. More workers means more messes. We as farmers must manage the messes and rise above the stall to see the harvest.
Do you want a harvest more than you want order? Absolutely. Therefore, we had better embrace the reality of a poopy stall. Do not fall into the trap of the clean stall.”
One has to roll up his sleeves and get dirty to produce dividends to the glory of the divine.
Ever see construction works at the end of a work day? They are dirty and yet earned dollars, dividends. They will do it the next day also. Why? – because the trade off is productivity, earning that which is desirable.
Lots of work brings movement and a mess.
Lot’s of dirt when you much to diligently do and bring dividends.
A clean workspace brings no coin.
Do you want to work and get dirty, cause a mess, and yet make a profit? Or do you want to keep your place clean with the outcome being no coin?
The blessing of “much increase” comes at the expense of a clean crib, work space. It’s a bless-ed trade-off, right?
Personally, I could care less about a disheveled work place. My goal is to be fruitful, fruit-filled for Christ, bearing – “fruit … more fruit … much fruit.” (John 15)
In your business life, would you rather a disheveled work space and work to do, or a clean work space with no work?
It is better to have dirt to clean up with work that brings wages than to have a clean work place with no work.
Increase in material prosperity, productivity, fruitfulness comes by utilizing the oxen for labor and as a result there will be a mess made. The fruit produced far outweighs having to clean the stall, the work place.
“A barn can be kept cleanly swept where there are no oxen, but isn’t it better to have some dust and dirt around, knowing that the labor of an ox will lead to a bountiful harvest? The rewards of toil more than compensate for its disagreeable aspects.
This proverb is not intended to encourage homes or chapels that look like disaster areas. But it does discourage that passion for order and dustlessness that puts the brakes on progress and productiveness.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
Dust and dirt bring dividends.
Productivity makes for progress.
The grind brings the goods.
Labor brings some loot.
Someone has wisely stated:
“Salons always have hair on the floor.
Garages always have oil on the floor.”
The oxen serve a good purpose and produce productivity.
What is it to have a clean work place? That just means you aren’t being productive, you don’t have work that is bring wages and blessings.
“Straining at a gnat”…. Swallowing a Camel
This idiom Jesus uses means over-emphasizing the minors while under-emphasizing the majors, “the weightier matters of the law.”
Matthew 23
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. “
Martha and Mary – Mary had the Divine Priorities in their Rightful Place
“38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
No, it’s not a sin to keep things clean, to be organized. Yet, at the judgment, Jesus is not going to say “Oh wow, you kept your living and workspace clean! Enter thou into the joy of the LORD.” No, but rather….
“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:21
At the coming judgment what we did for His glory, in His holy name, will be rewarded.
Matthew 25
“And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Read John 15 and underline “fruit” and “more fruit” and “much fruit.” “Fruit” emanates from the life that is soundly grounded in an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.” John 15:16-17
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Abiding
Top 12 Missing Essential Doctrines in the Modern Church World! [podcast]

DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOUR “CHURCH” OR FAVORITE PREACHER? It’s real simple… if they are not preaching the cardinal doctrines of the original Gospel given to us in the New Testament, they are preaching “another gospel” and are “accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9).
“For MANY DECEIVERS ARE ENTERED INTO THE WORLD, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 1:7-11
Modern church wolves refuse to preach the original Gospel of Jesus Christ from the pages of Holy Scripture and in the power of the Holy Ghost. No, instead they preach sermonettes that cater to the self-worshiping idolaters they entertain and collect money from (2 Timothy 3:1-7). They don’t even use the King James Bible but rather some cheap counterfeit. Their ear-tickling topics range from healing damaged emotions, 5 love languages, best life now, recovery, learning to love yourSELF, coping platitudes, loneliness, psychobabble band aids, law of attraction, being a successful single, purpose driven delusionment, etc.
LOTS of lying going on when we have counterfeits peddling affirmation without salvation, the “promise” of things “getting better” when their prey are heading straight to hell. Especially certain social media platforms are flooded with this false gospel coming out of “Christians.” There is no sin or repentance in their message which alone identifies it as a false gospel. You see, the things that are happening to the sinners around us are allowed by God in order to lead them to repentance and yet, the counterfeits among us are assuring those sinners it’s all going to get better and never giving them the 10 Commandments to show them they are sinners (Galatians 3:24) and then, leading them to Jesus (Romans 10:9-10, 13, etc.). 10 Commandments Evangelism
In the modern church world, there is …..
No cross. No Jesus. No blood. No judgment. No sin. No repentance. No hell. No readiness for the soon return of Jesus. No Heaven. No equipping preparation for ministry. No Scripture memory. No holiness. No Messianic prophecies and their fulfillment. No Christology. No fear of God. No repentance. etc., all of which are Bible doctrines essential to salvation and/or essential to sound foundation in Christ and are missing in the modern church world.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
THE TOP ESSENTIAL BIBLICAL DOCTRINES NEVER HEARD IN THE APOSTATE MODERN CHURCH WORLD!
- The divinity of Jesus Christ (John 1:1-4, 14; 1 Timothy 3:16). | Jesus Christ is God
- The virgin birth of the only begotten Son of God (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). | The Virgin Birth of Jesus
- The essential precious blood of Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 1:18-19). | The Blood
- The inherent fallen nature of mankind (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:18). | Fallen, Sinful Man
- Worshipping God not idols (Exodus 20:3-5). | Idolatry
- The essential doctrine and necessity of repentance (Luke 13:3). | Repentance
- The Return of Christ and being ready for it (Luke 12:40; 21:34-36). | The Return
- Who Jesus is returning for and who will be shut out of His eternal kingdom (Matthew 25:1-13; Ephesians 5:25-27). | Ready for Christ’s Return
- The essential of enduring to the end to be with Christ eternally, initial and final salvation (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Hebrews 3:6, 12-15; 10:26-30; Revelation 2:26). | Enduring to the End
- The essential daily cross, the crucified life, which Jesus required in following Him (Luke 9:23-24). | Living the Crucified Life
- Forgiving all others from the heart (Matthew 18:21-35). | Forgiveness
- Walking in God’s love (Ephesians 5:1). | The Love Walk
- Holiness – including the necessity of personal holiness (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16). | Holiness
- Judgment (Psalms 9:15-17). | Judgment
- Hell (Matthew 8:12; Mark 3:29; Luke 16:19-31). | Hell
- Fearing God (Psalms 2:11; Luke 12:4-5). | Fearing God
When’s the last time you heard verses like this in the modern church?
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33
“Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” Luke 17:33
The modern church is going down in flames into the flames of hell. It cannot be reformed. Come out from it.
“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4
In 2 Timothy 4:3 to “endure sound doctrine” means to hold oneself accountable to it. WHAT’s at the root of those who refuse to “endure sound doctrine”? – They simply do not love Jesus like He commanded them to (Matthew 22:37-39). They profess Christ as Savior and yet love self supremely and therefore serve the god of self. The Holy Ghost through Paul told us this of those who have a mere “form of godliness” in the last day resumé found in 2 Timothy 3:1-7.
Notice by divine design the very first thing he reveals is that “men shall be lovers of their own selves.” All the following evil comes out of self love, refusal to love God supremely and therefore repent, deny self, take up the cross and follow Jesus:
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:1-7
God is toppling all the heart idols (Ezekiel 14:3)… because He’s Jealous and wants us looking to Him and not these mere men, these vile wolves, these celebrity sinners posing as His representatives (Exodus 34:14).
“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:” Exodus 34:14
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Abiding
Fulfilling Your Calling [podcast]

“And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.” Colossians 4:17
MINISTRY which pleases God is simply helping people know and grow in Christ for themselves – by the cross life and getting into HIS Word for themselves so they can follow HIM, not you! True ministry fosters in the hearers faith in God, not the preacher or local church organization! Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 1:9; 3:5; 4:5.
Your communications and ministry are fed and fueled by your personal daily study and knowledge of God’s Word (Proverbs 22:17-21; 2 Timothy 2:15).
Ephesians 4:1-14
“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting (equipping, maturing) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” Ephesians 4:1-14
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