2011 Newsletters
from Dr.
Stoll
This information is not copyrighted, so that you may freely
distribute.
Permission is granted.
2011
Newsletters
1st Quarter:
WHAT'S GOING ON?
2nd Quarter:
WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THE
CHURCH
3rd Quarter:
THE CONFLICT THROUGH THE
AGES
WHAT'S GOING ON?
John H. Stoll, Ph.D.
Executive Director, ASK, Inc.
In reflecting over the past few decades of our country and the
world, one sees a remarkable decline in almost every aspect of life.
There have been tremendous natural catastrophes, financial
collapses, family and personal problems, along with wars, killings,
fraud, you name it: we have experienced it. What is going on today,
and what has brought this all about?
Most of the offered
solutions, are not only human ideas, but most offer only “bandaid”
solutions, and do not speak to the heart of the problems, and
thereby produce ineffective resolutions to the issues. Wherein lies
the real problem, and what can be done to resolve the multitudinous
conflicts, that are overwhelming us?
To get at the heart
of problems we face, one must acknowledge what God states in
Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked, who can fathom it?” The bottom line lies in the
fact that mankind is totally selfish, and totally sinful. Only the
pressures of society and fear of punishment, deter one from doing
the worst of behaviors (Note: Genesis 6:5, as to why God destroyed
mankind in Noah’s day). In an abbreviated and condensed manner, let
us reflect upon society today, as to the issues we face in these
troublesome times, and how they came about.
The one who is
constantly stirring up wickedness in the world is Satan. And, as he
realizes the soon coming of God in judgment upon him and the world,
he is in a frenzy mood, causing havoc in the world. God is
countering that with natural disturbances to alert mankind to His
sovereignty and soon coming judgment. This is a mortal conflict
between two supernatural forces, with mankind in between.
In
our own country, which was founded upon Biblical principles in our
Declaration of Independence as well as the Constitution, these two
documents are what has allowed the USA to become the leading world
power. As a result of this, Satan has pinpointed our destruction in
four ways.
1. He has undermined our
whole Christian foundation, by directing our major denominations
to a liberal, disavowing of a God inspired Bible, with Pastors not
accepting the plain truth of it, and discounting, “Thus sayeth the
Lord” in which in John 14:6, Jesus Christ said, “I am the way, the
truth, and the life; no one comes unto God, but through me.” This
began in earnest about 150 years ago, and has spread to all major
denominations today, so that Biblical rejection has permeated most
of Christianity today, with the relevant view that there are many
ways to God, if there even is one.
2. Satan, by clever
deception, has captured our public school system, as well as most of
higher education, with what is known as “progressive” education,
which has discounted basic Biblical principles of teaching,
learning, and proper living . In its place, he has brought in
humanism, relativism, evolution, materialism, etc. This has
permeated all public colleges, most Catholic colleges, and most
private colleges, that formerly were associated with a Christian
denomination. All this to enslave the minds and hearts of young
people, so when they become adults, marry, produce children, work
in the marketplace, that their character development and behaviors
are basically self centered, which produces the problems we are
experiencing today. Then, the following generation is automatically
bereft of proper principles for living.
3. The basic element of life
is the family and the home. Life basically revolves around this. So,
Satan has brought discourse and rancor in the home, to divide and
conquer those in the home, fracture parents and children, as well as
destroy the proper character development of children, who need the
example of a Mother and Father, in order to develop and enhance
their own character, both by example, as well as by precept. Society
today, is being destroyed by divorce, bitterness, and all the
negative elements that follow. The primary learned behavior
character of a child’s development comes between birth and puberty,
which then carries on to adulthood. What are young, fertile minds to
think, as they see all this going on, when they need love, guidance,
encouragement, proper discipline, to prepare them to make right
choices, as an adult? One of the reasons we have wrong behaviors
among teens and adults, is the lack of both right example and
precept through poor parenting. We have experienced two generations
of poor parenting to produce what we see in today’s society.
4. Finally, Satan has
viciously attacked our political system. As the Founding Fathers set
up a government of freedom, laws, the manner in which to govern and
elect officials, we see in today’s governmental affairs, an almost
total breakdown of law and order. The two major parties are at each
other’s throats, as it were. There is much rancor, hatred, lack of
respect for the law, and a relativising of our Constitution,
rather than a straightforward taking it at face value. This has been
developing for over one hundred years, and we see today the
devastating results of this, through our elected officials,
especially in the court system, which discounts the Constitution.
One of the Supreme Court’s most notable Justices, Oliver Wendell
Holmes, stated this over one hundred years ago, in relation to
administrating the Constitution, “I see no reason for attributing to
man a significant difference in kind, from that which belongs to a
baboon or grain of sand”. Furthermore, he saw no such element as
absolute truth, for he stated that, “There are no moral limits to
that conflict (i.e between strict construction of the Constitution
and relativism), because no one can know objective truth”. This has
set the stage for the conflict between what is called “natural law
(i.e. the law of God given to mankind – Romans 1:18-20), and
humanistic thinking about the law, which Holmes said in defining
truth as, “The majority vote of the nation”. This simply means that,
what the majority of the people want, becomes the truth. This is
where our country is today, when it comes to the law of the land,
and our regard for an antiquated Constitution. Our Founding Fathers
really didn’t know what is best for us today, according to this
thinking. And, this is what is permeating our judicial system today,
with its devastating effects upon our country, politically, morally,
and spiritually.
In
spite of witnessing a full blown attack by Satan, upon society
today, throughout the world, and especially in our country, the
Christian can take hope, since the Lord has said to us, “I will
never leave you, nor forsake you, so that we may boldly say, I will
not fear.” (Hebrews 13:5, 6). Remember, God is Sovereign over the
universe (Ps. 10;16), and our response should be to keep our mind
and heart on Him, trust Him implicitly, and look for His soon coming
to take us unto Himself. Comforting thoughts, in the midst of a
convoluted world (1 Peter 1:13).
back to top
WHAT'S HAPPENED TO
THE CHURCH
John H. Stoll, Ph.D.
Executive Director, ASK, Inc.
The Church of Jesus Christ is in a seriously declining situation in
today’s society. Why? It is more impotent now, than at any time in
the history of our country. The past half century has seen a decline
not only in numbers, but in influence in society in general, as well
as in the home, the school, and today in political strife. Years
ago, the teachings of the Bible through the Church, had a profound
impact on all these aspects of our culture, but not today, as the
church basically is being ignored on every level. It is important to
evaluate the problem from a Biblical point of view, and all this was
prophesied in Scripture, many years ago (2 Tim. 4:3,4).
Basically, the
authorization of the Church is found in Matt. 16:18, and later the
purpose of it was provided by Jesus in Matt. 28:19, 20 and Acts 1:8.
The primary purpose is twofold: 1) For the Shepherd (i.e. Pastor) of
the flock of Christians in a given locality, is to feed the flock
the truths of God’s word, the Bible (1 Tim. 4:11-16, 6:2, 3; 2 Tim.
4:2-5; 1 Peter 5:2). 2) For the flock (Christians) to then be
evangelists, or a testimony to the world of what it means to be a
Christian and the hope of eternal life.(Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2:15;
Prov.11:30). The Church’s mission has never been to build a
“Theocratic Kingdom”, as some accuse it of, for Acts 15:13-17
explicitly states that God’s purpose today is, to take out of the
world a people committed to Jesus Christ.
How then, are
Christians to be able to carry out Jesus Christ’s commission to the
Church ? It is very direct and simple: The Shepherd of the flock is
to teach and instruct his people, in the profound and absolute
truths of the revealed word of God, the Bible. Christian’s don’t
have the spiritual resources to do so, except they are instructed
through the teaching of the word of God (Rom. 10:14). Herein lies
the problem in today’s Churches: Many Pastors are not teaching the
word of God, as they are supposed to. Listen to what the Apostle
Paul said in 1 Tim. 4:11-16; 2 Tim. 4:2. There are many variables as
to why this is so. Some Seminaries are not properly instructing
potential Ministers in, “Thus sayeth the Lord”; sermons are being
watered down to “feel good” homilies for a few minutes; no need for
the people to bring their Bibles to Church anymore; all kinds of
programs are instituted to try and bring people in and attract them
to the Church; lowering the standards of the Bible, to accommodate
personal desires, rather than elevating Christians to the truths and
principles of the Bible; and replacing the great hymns of the faith
with the “praise songs” (i.e. the 7-11 songs, seven words sung
eleven times over, many of which are ditties, which sometimes have
little spiritual meat, unlike the great hymns). All these combine to
give Christians, “spiritual pablum” that doesn’t help them in
spiritual growth to maturity, like the Bible commands (2 Peter 3:18;
1 Peter 2:2).
What is the Church
of Jesus Christ able to do, not only to rectify the body of
believers, to greater spiritual maturity, but to enable it to have a
more significant impact on society today, given the decline that is
evident on every hand? Again, the Bible itself provides the answer
and remedy to what is evident and needed, while we await the return
of the Lord, for His Church. Most importantly and primarily is for
the Pastor of the flock of believers in the local Church, to preach
and teach the great truths of the Bible, in an expository manner, so
that God’s children, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). As Paul instructed both
Timothy and Titus, when he said, “Preach the Word” (Acts 20:27; 2
Tim. 4:2).
The Bible tells us
that in the last days many deceptions will come, that will distort
the truth of the Bible. Today, there are two elements that have
crept into evangelical Christianity, of which Christians should be
aware, that are causing confusion among believers: one is
Replacement Theology and the other the Emergent Church. One must be
careful not to brand those who hold these views as unbelievers, but
to realize that these concepts are not Biblical. Replacement
Theology states that the Church has replaced Israel as God’s chosen
people, and that He is done with Israel in today’s world. There is
an element of truth to this, in that Jesus temporarily set Israel
aside, when he formulated the Church, since Israel never carried out
God’s commission to them (I Kings 8:41-43) in disseminating His
revelation to the world, and so in order to get God’s message to the
world, Christ instituted the Church. However, since God’s covenant
promises to Israel are eternal (2 Samuel 7:16; Deut. 7:9; Isa. 61:8;
Jeremiah 33:20; Romans 11:26,27), it is absolutely true that
someday, God will restore Israel to their rightful place, as His
chosen people. He has not abandoned them in favor of the Church.
A second current distortion of
Biblical truth is seen in what is called the “Emergent Church”, in
that what is meant by that is, that today we know a greater degree
of biblical understanding than did the Apostles in their day, so we
are able to make the Bible more relevant to our day, as to what is
going on, than did the writers of Scripture in their day. This is
somewhat analogous to people saying that we are better able to
rewrite our countries Constitution, than our Founding Fathers, so
instead of strict construction of it, we twist it to suit ourselves.
The Bible is God’s plain truth to all, and we must apply its
principles to life, as plainly stated in His word.
With the great
calamities in our world today (i.e. natural disturbances, political
upheavals, wars, fears, financial collapses, diseases, incivility,
etc.), it is evident that since the Lord will soon bring the world
into judgment (Matt. 24:1-35: Luke 21:20-28), it is incumbent upon
Ministers to preach and teach more prophetic truth as seen in the
Bible (i.e. Daniel, 1 Thess; 2 Thess.; 2 Peter; Revelation, etc.),
coupled with holy living, since Christians are longing for Biblical
truth to enlighten them relative to Jesus Christ’s return, and to
understand how God will bring judgment upon the world. Many Pastors
are quite unprepared to explain the doctrine of the soon return of
the Lord, as plainly and profusely stated in Scripture. In
Ephesians 6:10-18 Christians are instructed to, “Put on the whole
amour of God, that we may be able to withstand the wiles of the
Devil”. How is the average Christian to know how to do that, except
they be taught by the Shepherd of the flock? It is the Pastor’s
avowed responsibility, as an ordained servant of God, to proclaim
His truth through Jesus Christ, and holy men of old, who wrote the
Scriptures (1 Tim. 2:4). There is no excuse for that, and God will
someday hold ministers accountable for their responsibilities as His
steward (Acts 20:27).
Christ is the solid
Rock, upon which the Church stands (1 Cor. 10:4), and Christians are
in the process of being built up in Him, supposedly grounded in
biblical truth. Therefore, the Pastors responsibility is to feed the
flock, over whom God has given them responsibility (1 Peter 5:1,2).
Then it is the work of the Hoy Spirit to engage the Christians in
reaching out to others, with the truth of the Bible, both by example
in Christian living, as well as by precept in witnessing (Matt.
5:16).
back to top
THE CONFLICT THROUGH THE
AGES
John H. Stoll, Ph.D.
Executive Director, ASK, Inc.
In Genesis 3:15 God made the first prophetic announcement, of an age
long conflict between Himself and Satan, with mankind in between. It
was a declaration of war. The immediate result was a curse, by God,
on mankind for his sin of turning from being God centered, to being
self centered. It was also a curse upon Satan, for deceiving
mankind, and bringing him under his control. Though Satan won a
victory here, there was no despair in God’s speech. There would be a
continual struggle between an evil supernatural power and struggling
mankind (John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8). In this conflict both sides would
suffer: Satan’s deception and control over mankind, would result in
the coming of Jesus Christ into the world, to go to the cross and
die for the sins of the world. But, in His resurrection, He would
forever crush Satan’s power and control.
Throughout the
history of mankind in the Old Testament, Satan tried to destroy the
line between Adam and Jesus Christ, to thwart God’s plan of
restoring mankind to Himself. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ
stated Satan’s way of fighting once the way of reconciliation of
mankind back to God was accomplished, through Jesus’ death and
resurrection, and Satan’s unsuccessful attempt to destroy Christ.
Today, the manner of Satan’s attack on God and God’s people is,
through deception. In John 8:44,45, Jesus said, “You are of your
father, the Devil, - - he was a murder from the beginning and does
not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.” Satan
tried to destroy the line from Adam to Jesus, and that failed. He
has from then to today, played the role of deceiving mankind. So,
from the cross to today, deception of the world has been the chief
weapon of Satan, against God, and the people of the world.In 1 John
3:8, it states that Jesus came to destroy the workings of Satan,
which were accomplished at Christ’s resurrection. Therefore, what is
left for Satan, but to deceive unsuspecting, sinful, mankind?
Today, Satan has
used three deceptions to lure mankind under his control, and not
seek after God. 1) Matthew 24:4,5 provides us with the understanding
of Satan’s first deception, that of Biblical TRUTH. Jesus stated it,
when He said, ”Many will come in my name saying, I am Christ, and
shall deceive many”. One of the major deceptions of today is to
discount the absolute truth of the Bible, and John 14:6 is probably
the primary attack. The worldview of today is that there are many
ways to Heaven, that all is relative, and my way is just as good as
your way. Anything is promoted to distract one from Jesus’ plain
statement that no one comes to God, except through Him, and what He
has done for the sins of mankind.
2) The second
deception is that in regard to sin. In Hebrew 3:13 it tells us to,
“Encourage one another day after day - - so that none of you will be
hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” The constant rationalizing
and justifying one’s sinful behavior, contrary to Biblical
principles, is all pervasive in today’s world. “Isn’t everybody
doing it”, seems to justify the basest of people’s behaviors,
contrary to God’s principles. So that mankind’s acceptance of each
other’s lifestyle is reduced the lowest level of behavior, and
thereby acceptable in society.
3) The third
deception of Satan is in regard to mankind’s worldview, or
philosophy of life. Note Colossians 2:8, which tells us, “Beware,
lest anyone deceive you through his philosophy and vain deceit,
which is after the ways of the world, after the base elements of
mankind, and not after Christ.” One’s character development is
created by one’s worldview, which is the “track of life” upon which
one orders his personal view of life, and what he designs his life
to be. This is probably the most deceptive design of Satan, for we
see children growing up in broken homes, being drawn into drugs,
etc., attraction into sexual sin, the worldly philosophy all
prevalent in TV, Movies, etc., and probably the most insidiously of
all deceptions, not receiving a proper education, but worldly
indoctrination, as seen in our whole educational system today.
Anything goes today, but not any teaching about Godly development
and Biblical principles. Note the Biblical comment on this in
1Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-7. Satan doesn’t deny the historical
person, Jesus, but he denies that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of
God, the resurrected Savior for mankind’s sin, and he tries to
perpetuate this teaching through many venues in the world.
What is the Christian
able to do, to stem this all pervasive deception today? First,
proclaim the TRUTH (John 8:43-46). Stay close to the truth of God’s
word, when other religions are assumed to be equal with God’s word.
These elements within themselves are deceptive, and only rivet more
firmly the chains of delusion. Ask God to give you wisdom and
spiritual discernment in responding to Satanic deceptions, as seen
in many venues, and especially through people, who have been
deceived and deluded by Satan. Finally, trust and obey, for there’s
no other way, than to keep your mind and heart fixed on Jesus
Christ, who is Sovereign in the universe, and who will someday bring
it all under His judgment.
THE MINISTRY OF ASK, INC.
Our service to Christians over 33
years, has been blessed by faithful contributors, to our
non-profit ministry. With today’s failing economy we have been
touched through the downturn. So, if the Lord lays it upon your
heart to assist us in our service for Him, we would appreciate it.
We are a non-profit, tax deductible ministry. Thank you.
