The Sin of Presumption

To presume means to take something for granted.  Presumptuous is taking too much for granted, showing over confidence, arrogance, or effrontery; too bold or forward according to Webster's Dictionary.  The Catholic Church in their official church doctrines calls knowing if you are saved or knowing you are going to heaven "The sin of presumption".  Modern evangelism is the other side of the coin.  No matter how obvious it is you lack what defines a Christian, and you lack the fruits of the Holy Spirit which the truly saved possess, and you never repented biblically, you are saved to the uttermost.  You are taught not to doubt it, you are taught that God cannot lie so if you asked to be saved you are or God is a liar, and you are taught that you will never lose it.

Pastor Farley of Shady Acres Baptist Church in Texas said, "yes, it's once saved, always saved, but heavy on the ONCE SAVED."  This issue I have tried to tackle from various angles, and as I pray what to write, I keep coming back to this topic.  False conversions is a topic constantly on my heart because so much is at stake.  America is literally heading to total self-destruction and the rest of the world is not too far behind.  It is like America is a steamrolling locomotive, going full speed and unable to see the bridge is out.  Other countries are cars America is pulling spiritually.  Preachers stand miles ahead of the big gaping hole that would be obvious if anyone was willing to look.  They are calling the train to put on the brakes, to passengers to get out of the car, for the train master to open his eyes.  The passengers are many, but few take the warnings seriously.  They are busy playing card games with the other passengers or with their heads buried in the newspapers reading about the hockey game last night or who won best picture at the Oscars.  They are laughing and smiling and drinking their morning coffee and do not want anything to deter them or distract them from their destination.

America doesn't care because it's churches do not care.  There needs to be a voice in the wilderness crying out REPENT.  I love the church, but I am a bit disillusioned by what I see.  I see at many churches sparks that something real is going on, but these sparks need to keep building. And we need to continue going in that direction toward total abandonment and total selling out.  I think the church needs to do several things if America has any hope.

1.  We need to get back to the "formula" that brought the Great Awakening.  There may be too much world in us that even if we had all the ingredients, we could still not recreate it.  I like Ray Comfort's Way of the Master approach to evangelism,  and it uses the law so men see their sin.  The concern I have is while everything is legitimate and it produces true Holy Spirit conviction, it is still in the course of a 10-20 minute conversation.  During the Great Awakening, with nothing more than horses for transportation, 14,000 people gathered in a town of 12,000 people and listened to men like John Wesley preach 4 hour sermons on the holiness of God and the righteousness of God.  It seems we will do anything possible to run from God and continue in our sin.  I think most people need long exposure, and need to be completely pulled through over the flames of Hell and be face to face with God for them to truly repent.  5 minutes of the law is better than nothing, but it still seems that is not enough.

2.  We need to sell out and get a movement going of people willing to fast and pray for America and the churches, to witness and give out solid Gospel literature, and lift each other in prayer.  My vision for the End Times Vol Fire Co. is sort of a Pre-Tribulation Force.

3.  Church leaders need to be willing to not be swayed by tears of emotion or excitement and numbers. Instead the barometer of whether we have revival is if the community around us is being affected.  If it is not, then all we did was make a bunch of noise.  I see us all "get on fire" after a week of revival meetings, but in the 10 years since I have been saved I have yet to see it last in me nor anyone else.   Church leaders need to be willing to betray their bible college Alma mater and their favorite

4.  We need to give seekers a longer exposure to the holiness of God before we "let them get saved" and we need to junk the traditions such as the sinner's prayer, raising of hands, Romans' Road, etc that have made salvation into being able to nod at a few places and repeat a man made prayer and accept a man centered gospel.  At the very least sinners in America who are indoctrinated to the false Jesus of Roman Catholicism and the false theory of evolution need a solid bible study on the foundations of Genesis and the book of John.  Then through the book of Romans for the full Romans Highway, not just the Romans Road.  Then they need to be asked if there is any sin in their hearts or lives they would not be willing to give up.  Then true biblical repentance and saving faith can be shown.  Time is needed to convince of the disease as well as explain the TRUE cure and HOW to take the cure!