Today's Radio Program: Missions Impossible (Part Two) from the bereancall.org

Tom: Well, we’re in our second session with a man that I’ll simply refer to as “Joe.” The reason for that has to do with security purposes. Joe and his family are in a country that’s…I don’t think I’m understating it by saying they’re hostile toward Christianity, particularly biblical Christianity. So for the sake of keeping him and his family out of harm’s way, I’m using the name Joe.

So, Joe, again, welcome back to Search the Scriptures 24/7!

Joe: Thank you, Tom, and it’s always a pleasure to be with you folks at The Berean Call.

Tom: Yeah. Joe, as I mentioned at the end of our last session, I’m hoping that many of the things that you’ve said will speak to the hearts of those in the mission field. And as I think about them, certainly all countries are different, but I think of those who are in Islamic countries, and they’re there, and they’ve been there for years, and they may not think that they’re being effective for the Lord. You know, that’s the problem with coming from the US: “Hey, we’ve got to be successful! We’ve got to make this happen now!”

Joe: Uh-huh, yes.

Tom: It’s like the line I remember of the five-year-old holding a placard saying, “Instant gratification ain’t fast enough!” Okay? Sometimes that’s our mentality.

So, Joe, could you speak to the issue of patience, and let’s say these individuals, knowing they’re led there of the Lord, but they’re not seeing, as they would like, the fruitfulness. What do you say to that?

Joe: Well, of course there’s always – it’s a two-edged sword in some ways. Sometimes people aren’t fruitful because they’re not doing anything, they’re not doing the missionary work that they’re called to do. I hate to say it that way, but there are examples – I can think of some myself – where I just have seen workers that aren’t working. They’re just there, and maybe they never were trained on what to do, and this is why it’s always good maybe for a new missionary to come and work with them – an experienced missionary to figure out what to do, what not to do. But basically, it’s…you’re going to do here what you should be doing in the United States or wherever you’re from in a local church, you know, all aspects of that.

So first of all, some people don’t have any fruit because they’re just not very effective. But secondly, some people are trying their very best, they’re doing all the right things, and they just have a hard time seeing fruit. Well, yes, you have to be patient. I’ve seen people who kind of like are the “Roman candle” type missionaries. They come and they’re here for one year, two years, and they kind of make a big splash with a lot of money, and, you know, get a lot of people to come. But as soon as they leave, you know, what they’ve so-to-speak established falls apart because it wasn’t laid with a good foundation, it wasn’t founded for the long-term. And you just have to realize that this is a long-haul effort, because you’ve got to build relationships with people, you’ve got to get to know them, their family, visit them, talk to them, and it just – it doesn’t take six months, it takes many, many years as they gain your trust.

For example, I had a man today…I was walking down the sidewalk, he gets out of his car, and he comes up to me. And I kind of recognize him, but I couldn’t place his name, and he says – he knew my name, of course – and he says, “Oh, Joe! I’m so glad to see you! What you said to me five years ago…” Now he’s talking five years ago, and I’m thinking, “What did I say to this guy?” And he’s repeating then some encouragement I gave to him, and that he applied it to his life, and – I think it was about smoking cigarettes. I was saying that that’s a waste of money and it’s not good for your health, and, you know, your life is going to be cut short, and that if you were to die, where would you go? And he remembered all this, and it must have shook him up, and the last five years he’s been thinking about this. So right there is an example. You’ve just got to be patient.

Tom: Right, right.

Joe: Eventually it’ll come.

Tom: One of the verses I love – every time I say that, people say, “Well, wait a minute, that’s not the one you said before.” No, no! There are many that I love, but, Joe, “One man plants, another man waters, God gives the increase.”

Joe: That’s right.

Tom: “Neither he that plants nor he that waters is anything, but it’s God.” He’s the one who’s doing it. So we don’t know where we fit in the picture. Are we planting? Are we watering? You know, where is that person? God knows their hearts. So we just want to be available and be used of Him wherever it might be. And it does take – it does take patience. But it also takes…Joe, I’m a fisherman, and people say, “Well, you know, you have to really be patient to be a good fisherman.” And I say, “No, you don’t! No, you don’t. You need to be relentless!” You need to get cast after cast after cast. And yeah, you’re patient and you’re – the endurance is there. Anyway, that’s the way we need to go about things that the Lord has laid out, those instructions for us in His Word.

Joe: Yeah.

Tom: Now, Joe, again, getting back to missionaries, let me tell you one of my favorite things about interviewing missionaries who have been out in the field: they’re out in the field, and then they come back – whether it be a short term thing, a furlough, whatever it might be – but I like to ask them…I like to get their perspective on the changes they see taking place in the church in America when they return home. Why is that? Because I think that’s a great barometer of the spiritual changes that are taking place. Joe, you know, what is it – the saying that you put a frog in a pot of water, and you just increase the heat gradually, it doesn’t know that it’s being cooked to death. Well, sometimes things happen to us around here that we don’t see, but you see, because you say, “Wait a minute, I was just here three years ago, back in the states three years ago, and whoa! What’s happened?” I mean, what do you think about that?

Joe: Well, that’s a genuine reality, you know. It’s a question that’s, in some ways, Tom, it’s a loaded question, because you ask, “What have we seen over the last 25 years?” And I just put my hand in my head and I think, “Wow, where do I start with this?” You know, there’s so many things to talk about. Well, for example, one thing that comes to my mind is just the worldliness and lukewarmness - they kind of go together. They’re like first cousins. You see that – I mean, you know, there’s always the positive exceptions.

Tom: Sure.

Joe: There’s always churches and groups and individuals that are zealous and going on for the Lord, and I just thank the Lord for people like that. They’re fighting against the tide.

But in general, wow! You go to – you know, maybe you go back to the same place once every five years or something like that, and you think, “Wow, what am I seeing here?” And the second thing maybe that goes with this as well, you know, the first comment was C. H. Macintosh called it the “sin of levity.” And the idea is that things that weren’t done years ago are now freely done. Things that would be shameful, people would never think of doing it, are just done openly now. And just the standard – the moral standard is fallen down a lot, and that might be just moral practices, the dress, the way people act, what they’re involved with, and then also the lack of interest in world missions. Of course, there’s always good exceptions. There’s always a few that have interest, but, you know, I think years ago there was a greater thrust – maybe the churches were promoting it more – but it doesn’t seem as much now as before. And it’s like one of my teachers said: “Sometimes people are willing to do for the corporation,” that is, for money, “what they won’t do for Christ.” And yep, that’s a reality. You know, the corporation, the career, is all-important, and to think of leaving that to go off to some remote place in the world for world missions is kind of remote thinking.

And then this is startling too, Tom: the last point was the rise of Islam. That’s very concerning.

Tom: Mm-hmm, yeah. Joe, we have so much in common. We actually went to the same school – I think I can say that – and the reason I bring that up is because back when we were in school, I wasn’t a believer then, but the thing that caught my attention was the Peace Corps, because I had a sense, even though I loved my comfort, “Man, I want to help change the world! I want to go out and do things!” So that’s a motivation that, wonderfully, after I became a believer, I recognized, Well, okay, that’s good works – maybe has great temporal value, has no eternal value. At the same time, now you are, and certainly your family, you’re involved in something that has eternal value, and that’s incredible. Not only is it a good work and does it affect people – will it affect people – in a temporal sense, but it has eternal value. So that’s a real blessing.

Now, on the other hand, as we’re talking about what affects those out in the mission field, now, you may know of this from some of the people that you communicate with, but all of a sudden they’re getting the newsletter from the church that is supporting them, and they start to recognize some doctrines that are being altered or changed or something like that. And then when they come back to the church on a furlough or whatever it might be, and maybe it’s more than one church, but they recognize, Wait a minute, the church that I left had sound doctrine! And I know the scripture says, “The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.” We talk about financial gain: they’re not in it for that, but they need to be supported. Now they’re in a position where, “What do I do here? Do I continue receiving support from this church when they’re going south doctrinally?” Well, what about that?

Joe: What about that? Yeah, that’s the question: what should I do in such a situation?

Tom: Yeah.

Joe: Well, Tom, our principle, our policy for the last 25 years, ever since we went to the mission field, is we went out by faith. And it’s not just an expression, but it’s a reality is that we were always taught that the New Testament principle and the New Testament model is that people were commended to the grace of God, and that they were under the care of the Lord Jesus when they went out as, you know, workers, as missionaries. And so we – and this is, you might say, shocking to some people: we never talk about money to any church, we never ask for money or anything like that when we give reports or write prayer letters, we just talk to the Lord about our financial need. I mean, when we go to a church and we see, you know, they’re changing or something like that, you know, maybe bad doctrine…but, you know, it’s like, we haven’t ever asked them for money, so there’s no agreement here where we would have to say, “Oh, don’t send us anymore money,” or anything like that.

But I understand what you’re saying: it’s very concerting when you see a good church that gets waylaid and get involved, and there’s plenty of examples where this happens. But we, for our financial status, we just always look to the Lord, and we don’t really worry about this. So if some church drops us, whatever, well, the Lord takes good care of us and has for 25 years.

Tom: Yeah. Well, it’s kind of sounding like a little bit of George Mueller there – maybe more than a little of George Mueller!

Joe: Yeah, we read his books, so we pattern our lives after him. That’s exactly right.

Tom: Which is wonderful, and honestly, the dilemma for some people: “Oh, wait a minute, now I really have to trust the Lord!” Yes you do! Yes we do! Yes I do! Absolutely. And that takes pressure off. Maybe scary at the beginning, but it takes all the weight of pressure with regard to how then you have to deal with it. So that’s a wonderful response, Joe.

Joe: That’s right. And there have been examples where we have gone to a place, and they have pressed me to say, “Do you agree with our new doctrines that we brought in?” And there will be times where I just say, “No, I don’t agree with this.” And then they would say, “Well, we’re dropping you from our…” you know, maybe it was a monthly support or, you know, a couple times a year. Just say, “ Oh, we can’t do it,” I just say, “Well, whatever! That’s what you feel, and that’s okay.” But the Lord always takes care of us and He always has.

Tom: Absolutely. You know, it’s really simple: we do things God’s way, I’ll tell you: it’s going to turn out well – maybe not a walk in the park at the beginning. We do things our way, our own way, and I can guarantee you the results, and you won’t like it. You just will not like it.

Now, Joe, there’s another thing when we were talking last week about the planting of churches and so on: America, for a century – I know decades – has been known for its support of missions and exporting not just missionaries, but lots of things. Well, today, in this day, here’s my question: what do you do about some of these doctrines that we’re seeing that are spurious at best, yet have now – affecting these young churches that you’ve helped develop, but then turned over to indigenous or to the locals to minister – what about that? We’re exporting some bad stuff, that’s what I’m saying.

Joe: Well, if I have your permission, I can name an example or two.

Tom: Go ahead.

Joe: Okay. Yeah, I mean, every bad doctrine in, let’s say, the United States will eventually appear on the mission field. And I have seen, you know, the prosperity gospel be brought in – not so much to our churches, the ones that we have been involved in, because they’ve been taught pretty well – but some of this worldly thinking about, you know, certain things, that gets brought in. But I’ll tell you, the worst one that I have seen in recent years is Calvinism and Reformed Theology.

Tom: Right.

Joe: Now, maybe this is going to upset some listeners, but I’m just being honest here: I believe definitely in the sovereignty of God and everything, but also in salvation by grace, but there is human responsibility. Like I mentioned last week, Romans 10:13: “Calling upon the name of the Lord.” A person has to understand they’re a Christian, and then call upon Jesus Christ for salvation. So it’s got both elements in there. But we have seen very aggressive groups come in, and when I say aggressive, they have a lot of money behind them and a lot of books they’re publishing, distributing them, conferences and inviting people, websites, you know, everything. And to be honest, there have been examples where people who were clear have gotten confused and kind of taken up by the bigness of this movement: “Oh, it’s big, hence it must be good.” And they forget about how they were saved. You know, they forget that Romans 10:13 was a reality in their life at one point years ago, and now they’re thinking, “Oh, this is all of God, and God is the one who determines who’s going to be saved,” and all this. And this is not healthy, Tom, and it really causes confusion, and then people…go ahead.

Tom: Well, can I add you’re really being kind when you say “confusion?” I would call it “church splits!” Talk about undermining a fellowship! That’s where their aggressiveness comes in, and you know that I know, because I’ve been where you’re talking about, and it’s a heartbreak: you have a young, vibrant church, and all of a sudden what ends up is discord! They’re sowing discord among unbelievers. So…

Joe: And splits do occur and have occurred, and the worst thing is that when you just try to reason with people, and, you know, you think, “Well, let’s think this through: who then is saved?”

And they say, “Well, God’s the one who determines that.”

And you say, “Well, are you saved?” Well, if you press them hard enough, they want to say “yes,” but they can’t say yes…

Tom: Right.

Joe: …because they themselves don’t know. And then, you know, all of a sudden it becomes they’re not even sure of their own salvation. And who can be sure?

Tom: Yeah, and let me add to that: when we look at TULIP, the “perseverance of the saints,” anybody, I believe, looking objectively at the whole Reformed Calvinist teaching, especially the five points of Calvinism: it is works-salvation. They have to look to their performance to recognize or to at least believe that they’re one of the elect.

Joe: Oh, you figured that out, Tom! Well, you’re doing really good! Yeah, well, that’s exactly true!

Tom: Well…

Joe: And it’s like where is Romans 10:13? “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” It’s so simple, so beautiful!

Tom: I know, it really is. You know, along those…

Joe: So that is a real problem.

Tom: Well, let me talk about, you know, just a few more, and we’re kind of winding down here, but, you know, part of what the Lord has put on my heart (and without expecting it) is that certainly I’ve been with The Berean Call from the start, but now part of what the Lord has me do, and it has – it involved you and your ministry and “Country Number One,” as we mentioned last week – it has to do with what I call “damage control.” In other words, you have a young, vibrant church, they get excited, and what happens? Satan comes in and sows these seeds….

For example, I’m invited to Mongolia. Why would I go to Mongolia? Because these young, vibrant churches have been taken in by the prosperity teachers who have translated their books into Mongolian, and I’m there, you know, as, again, damage control! “Hey, wait a minute, let’s get back to the Word of God. What does the Word of God say about these things?” and so on. Something I never expected, even though, you know, with Dave, Dave Hunt, I’ve been involve in apologetics and encouraging people to be Bereans. But who would have guessed I’d pack a bag and go to Country Number One, or to Mongolia, or to South Africa, wherever it might be? But I’m thankful for the Lord that I can be used that way. But it’s important.

Joe: That’s right. And I’m thankful that they are asking you to come…

Tom: Yes!

Joe: …because – yeah, you just need a good teaching, clarification, you know, another voice to come in to help neutralize some of these bad things that are coming, you know.

Tom: Yeah. Now, Joe, this might be a little difficult for you, because I’m not exactly sure how we handle it, but how can our listeners support your work in the Lord? I know prayer, absolutely. First and foremost it’s going to be prayer. But, Joe, what else could we do to encourage you, to help you, and not just you, but others out there that we know who are in the mission field? What do you recommend?

Joe: Well, yeah. You mentioned prayer, but that’s kind of general. You know, there’s a lot of specific things that people can pray for. One of the requests that we usually make when we’re with people is pray for the leaders of these challenging countries. You know, they’re just men; they’re souls for whom Christ has died, but sometimes we think that they’re beyond salvation, but they’re not.

Tom: Right.

Joe: And I often pray that I’ll be able to meet the leaders of the country that I’m in now on a personal level and be able to talk to them one-on-one. That would be a wonderful thing that has not happened yet, so you can pray for that.

And also another specific prayer request is pray for the young churches in these countries, particularly in our Country Number One, that they would continue on by themselves. Yeah, they like for me to come and encourage them, but hey, you know, one day I’ll be with the Lord, and they just need to learn to do it all themselves.

Tom: Mm-hmm.

Joe: Have you ever heard of the Three-Self Movement in China, Tom?

Tom: I have, I have.

Joe: Yeah. Now, a lot of people think, “Oh, that’s really, you know, evil,” but maybe how they apply it isn’t so good, but the principles they have there are actually very good and very biblical. One is that they are self-governing, and, yeah, that’s what we want the churches to be: you know, the men, the local men, to rise up and be the leaders, the future leaders…not be dependent always on the missionary with the passage of time. To be self-financing: again, not dependent upon foreign money…I mean, in the beginning that’s a necessity, but with the passage of time you want them to dig in their own pockets and support the work. And then the third point is self-propagating, which means they’re doing themselves the evangelism instead of, “What’s the missionary want to do? Let’s follow him as he does the evangelistic work.” Well, in the beginning, yes. That is the reality. But with the passage of time, you want these local men to do all the work. So pray for that. That is so important.

And then the last thing is, well, we’ve been talking for two weeks now about missions, about the need on the mission field, the need for good teachers. If there’s a listener out there who is thinking about this and maybe he or she will be like what we were, hearing the voice of God: “Who shall go for us? Whom shall we send?” and maybe one of the listeners will say, “Here am I, Lord. Send me.”

Tom: “Send me.” Right.

Joe: So that would be something that people could do is say, “Send me.” Just talk to the Lord about it.

Tom: Excellent, excellent, Joe. My guest has been a veteran of the mission field whom I’ve been calling “Joe,” as I mentioned, for reasons of his safety, the safety of his family, because he’s involved in a country very hostile to Christianity.

Joe, again, I can’t thank you enough for your insights. I’m hoping and praying as we continue to pray here that these interviews that I’ve done with you and with others, that really would touch the hearts and minds of people out there, encouraging them in the Word, and to…

Joe: Yeah, I really appreciate out conversation that we’ve had these last two sessions, and it’s just of the Lord that we were able to connect, because a lot of times I’m not in a position – I’m not physically in a position where I’m able to connect. You know, I’m inside these countries, so it was just of the Lord, and I pray that there would be some eternal benefit to our talks.

Tom: Yeah, amen and amen. So, Joe, thank you for your insights and for being with me on Search the Scriptures 24/7.

Joe: Okay, thank you very much and God bless you all!

Anti-Christianity Ascending - Part Two (bereancall.org)

Anti-Christianity Ascending - Part Two

September 1, 2017

McMahon, T.A.

It used to be that if I wanted a confirmation of what Dave Hunt and I were writing regarding the spiritual changes we observed taking place in the US and, more specifically, in Christendom, I’d talk to missionaries who had returned home on furlough after spending a couple of years ministering overseas. Many were quite shaken by what had transpired here in their absence, especially in their local churches. Among the changes they saw were the strong influences of so-called Christian psychology, the Purpose Driven and seeker-sensitive approach to church growth, militant Calvinism, Replacement theology with its tendency toward anti-Semitism, the Contemplative movement, the Hebrew Roots movements, the Emerging Church movement, kingdom dominionism, etc. Some found themselves in situations in which they had to decide whether or not they could continue fellowshipping in the church that had sent them into the mission field and was their primary support. “Heartbreaking” only partially describes their reactions.
It used to be that their responses were clear indicators of changes that we here in the US often miss or don’t immediately realize because they appear slowly and even stealthily. It’s much like the old “frog in the pot” parable, in which a frog was placed in a pot of tepid water, with the water temperature being very gently increased. The frog adapted to the warmer water until it eventually cooked to death. Now it appears that Christendom is being cooked at a fast-food rate. False teachers have abandoned trying to ease in “new teachings” and are now racing headlong into heresy after heresy. One example among a multitude of shockers that could be given: pews are pushed back in the sanctuaries of many evangelical churches to make room for the practice of Jesus Yoga, Yahweh Yoga, Holy Yoga and Kid’s Holy Yoga, Praise Moves, Yogafaith, or Christoga (see “New Age Mysticism Déjà Vu Part 2”)! Forget subtlety. It’s anti-Christianity, full speed ahead!
How could such a thing happen? Samuel Andrews’s book Christianity and Anti-Christianity In Their Final Conflict gives us answers. But how did he acquire his acute awareness? Simply from the same source that he challenges readers of his book to seek out answers regarding such things—the Bible: “It is only through Scriptural light that we can fully know the character and work of the Anti-Christ; and to this light it is of vital importance that we give heed, for we are forewarned that he will present himself to men under an aspect best fitted to deceive.” Andrews claims no special prophetic insights, and although his approach is somewhat unique, it isn’t complex. Reading the Bible and taking it at its word is the first prerequisite. The Scriptures prophetically declare that apostasy will take place in the last days before Jesus returns, and it begins with what Hebrews 2 warns believers against: “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip” (v.1). That slippage has become a landslide today. Jesus is more specific in Revelation 2 as He addresses the church at Ephesus, first acknowledging their good works, and then: “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”
The departure from one’s love of Jesus, no matter how slight, is still a departure. Good works, regardless of how seemingly good, without the love of Christ included, will result in a slippage. At what cost? Jesus told the “church of many good deeds” that if they didn’t return to their love for Him, He would remove the lampstand (i.e., the light given to them), and they would no longer reflect Jesus, who is that “true Light” (John:1:9
). So began the bride of Christ’s slide into apostasy.
Andrews realized that if there is a departure from the faith it will have serious consequences that will escalate to an awful conclusion resulting in devastating spiritual wreckage. He found this stated, in no uncertain terms, in the Book of Revelation. Andrews’s rather unique approach was to ascertain all that Scripture said about the last days prior to Christ’s return and, in particular, about the man who is the embodiment of wickedness, the Antichrist. Using those characteristics of the “man of sin” and what he is enabled by Satan to do, Andrews searches through the chronology of the Bible and church history, looking for traces and traits of the apostasy and its numerous elements that will contribute to the formation of the religion of the Antichrist.
Andrews provides an example based on this statement: “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians:2:3-4 ). Andrews surmises that the reception by the entire world of someone who claims to be God and who will be worshiped as God is not something that humanity will readily accept without great cause and expectancy. He recognizes that the conditioning of the world by Satan is necessary in order to make his “man of sin” credible: “It need not be said that this man and his kingdom are not the accidents of an hour; there is a long preparatory process.” The world’s rejection of Christ, the only true God manifested in the flesh, demonstrates that there must be more to convince people that worshiping the man of sin (rather than the sinless God/Man) is both advantageous and right. Andrews finds in Scripture what has been referred to as “the lie” (Romans:1:25
), the belief that finite created beings can be as God, or are a part of God. The lie began in heaven when Lucifer declared, “I will be like the most High” (Isaiah:14:14
). The lie came to earth in Satan’s offer to Eve: “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis:3:5
).
Throughout Scripture and history we find examples of people worshiping mortal men, from the Caesars to the Roman and Greek gods to individuals such as Herod Agrippa (Acts:12:22
). Even the Apostle Paul was thought to be a god by the barbarians on the Island of Melita, and the people at Lystra, referring to him, exclaimed: “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men.” Yet those local incidents were a far cry from what will take place regarding the worldwide worship of the Antichrist.
Andrews’s approach to end-times prophecy is not complicated. He read what the Bible declares will take place just prior to the Lord’s return, and then he surveyed his own time (the late 1800s) to see if what was being popularized had any relevance to the fulfillment of latter-day prophecy. Unlike some in our day who turn every news event into a literal prophetic fulfillment, Andrews addressed the big picture conceptually: mankind will universally come to believe in the deification of man and the worship of man. The evidence that this development was well on its way was plentiful in Andrews’s day, primarily due to the belief in pantheism and panentheism. They are the belief that God isn’t personal but a Force, the substance of which everything consists and which is in everything. Thus, man is God or is a part of God.
The teaching that God is an impersonal Force is foundational to Eastern mysticism, especially Hinduism. In the West, Andrews saw that the philosophers who greatly influenced his era (Kant, Hegel, Spinoza, etc.) drew upon Eastern mystical concepts in formulating their views of God. He quotes a well-known historian of the early 1800s who recognized the same: “Among the different systems, by whose aid philosophy endeavours to explain the universe, I believe Pantheism to be one of those most fitted to seduce the human mind in democratic ages….”
The belief in Pantheism was further promoted by well-known literary figures (Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman, Shelley, Browning, et al.), whose writings advanced their belief in the exaltation of nature and the deification of mankind. Many in the sciences joined their ranks based on the endorsements of Huxley and others promoting evolution, especially in the rejection of a Creator.
As the affinity for the pseudoscience of evolution grew, ideas were added that reinforced the belief in mankind’s evolution to a higher state. Darwin predicted that “in the distant future man will be a far more perfect creature than he now is.” Andrews writes, “In this belief as to the future of man, the leading evolutionists…look chiefly to the gradual evolution of humanity under the law of the survival of the fittest…. Philosophy and science in many eminent representatives agree in affirming that there is no personal God, only a universal, impersonal Spirit or Energy, of which everything that exists is a part. This, viewed on the material side, is atheism; on the spiritual, is pantheism [with its deifying affirmations].”
Andrews wrote extensively of the many things taking place in his time period of 120 years ago that advanced the idea that all humanity is God. The abundant information on that one prophetic point alone brought him to a conclusion that was evident in much of what he observed: worshiping the Antichrist will surely include the recognition of one’s own godhood. He further explains: “It is also to be remembered that in rendering homage to one who appears as the rival of Christ, men will not do homage to one who differs in his nature from themselves, and superior to them; but to their own nature as embodied in him. In exalting him, they exalt themselves” [with the only difference being] “that they recognize in him one in whom is a larger measure of Divinity” (emphasis added).
Christianity and Anti-Christianity In Their Final Conflict reads as though it were written today, with two differences: 1) All the things that Andrews identified in his era are found today albeit in widely diverse, yet connected and expanded, versions, and 2) Their exposition and promotion in our day seems to be taking place worldwide at light speed by comparison.
The following brief summary of just some of his insights leaves one in awe of his biblical and historical discernment:
• As a result of the loss of the bride of Christ’s main focus upon Jesus and her love for Him, her desire to please Him through obedience to His commands will decrease, and apostasy will follow.
• Though a remnant will remain steadfast, the end-time church will supplant the headship of Christ with the rule of men, organizations, and the state. All attempts within Christendom to set up Christ’s Kingdom prior to His return will fail.
• The state will rule over the church very likely through some form of socialism, and Christ will be regarded as little more than a model of social and moral correctness.
• The world will look forward to a more highly evolved human instead of looking back to one in the archaic past, like Jesus.
• Biblical Christianity will be ultimately disparaged and rejected, especially with its doctrine of the sinfulness of man in need of salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
• Neo-Christianity will conform to the ways, means, and beliefs of the world.
• Christ, when He is considered, is said to be simply a revealer of the divinity that exists in all mankind.
• Mankind will look to all of its accomplishments in science as proof of its superior human potential.
• Pantheism, as noted above, will be the primary belief that sets the stage for acknowledging and worshiping the Antichrist, as well as humanity’s own divinity.
• The Antichrist will be the chief human adversary of Christ as well as a counterfeit substitute who will set up a false worldwide kingdom. He and his kingdom will be destroyed when Jesus returns to set up His Millennial Kingdom.
Samuel Andrews is clearly a watchman on the wall who, from the Scriptures and his understanding of the times, has set about warning the body of Christ of the evil that is looming and will take its toll on both professing and true Christians. His book was criticized in his day as being too negative, although “proof” of his so-called negativity was drawn from Paul, Peter, Jude, John, not to mention the words of Jesus to the seven churches in Revelation. Some of his detractors thought he should put humanity in a more positive light, recognizing that man is evolving upward, although such an idea had no scriptural support. Prophecy, of course, was disparaged then as it is today. Nevertheless, Andrews forewarned that “Those despising the prophetic word, and not believing in his appearing, will be attracted and fettered by the power of his person: and those whose conception of him is that of an open blasphemer of God, a bitter enemy of all religion, detestable because of his vices, will not discern him should he appear as a saviour of society and a religious leader.”
We believe the Scriptures teach that the Antichrist will not be revealed until after the church has been removed from the world in the Rapture (2 Thessalonians:2:2-8 , John:14:1-3 ), and at Christ’s return His saints will accompany Him (Jude:1:14
) as He destroys the Wicked [one] (2 Thessalonians:2:8
). Yet the acceptance of the kingdom of the Antichrist and his religion, as Andrews well supports through the Word of God and to which the history of the church testifies, involves “a long preparatory process” that finally seduces the entire world. Our succumbing to the accelerating spiritual deception of our day can be prevented only by God’s grace as we put our love for Jesus first, do diligence in reading and doing what His Word says, praying without ceasing, and maintaining the fellowship of like-minded believers.
One of the endorsers of Christianity and Anti-Christianity In Their Final Conflict, James M. Gray, who followed D. L. Moody and R. A. Torrey as president (1904-1934) of the Moody Bible Institute, wrote, “Pastors, missionaries, Sunday-school teachers and social workers, bear with me if I say, you must read [Samuel J. Andrews’s] book…. Here are no wild fancies, no foolish setting of times and seasons, no crude and sensational interpretations of prophecy, but a calm setting forth of what the Bible says on the most important subject for these times. The Christian leader who does not know these things is no leader, but the blind leading the blind. And, oh, there are so many of such leaders!” To that we can only add our “Amen.”

Anti-Christianity Ascending - Part One Berean Call (bereancall.org)

Anti-Christianity Ascending - Part One

August 1, 2017

McMahon, T.A.

When I first began speaking at prophecy conferences years ago, I was intrigued by the fact that during the panel question-and-answer sessions there were always a few questions related to the Antichrist. It was a bit unsettling—probably because I knew little about that end-time biblical figure and cared even less. I therefore avoided adding my uninformed remarks and usually passed the microphone to the speaker to my right or left. Then there came a time when that wasn’t an option, and I had to say something. As I remember it, my comment was something that I now regard as astute sounding but in reality was ignorance verging on stupidity, i.e., some sort of babble about “Why should we concern ourselves with the Antichrist when we believers will be raptured before he comes on the worldwide scene?” I know people who feel that way today, but I gave up that misconception early on, and here’s why.
The Bible is very clear in its pronouncements regarding the Antichrist and what he will accomplish, which includes deceiving the entire world into submitting to him, taking control of world economics, manifesting unprecedented military might, exhibiting supernatural powers, and setting up a religious system that involves the world’s worship of him. In my privileged years of working with Dave Hunt, he addressed, as few others, the increasing apostasy that was seducing Christianity. I then began to realize that the things he was pointing out (such as the information contained in his classic DVD Beyond Seduction) were moving in a direction that would culminate in a condition unparalleled in human history. As I reaffirmed in the June 2017 TBC newsletter, the assorted false religious beliefs, dogmas, and practices, although appearing to differ greatly from one another, have always been rooted together and headed toward the same end. My attitude regarding the significance of the Antichrist and his religion changed with the realization of something that should have been obvious to me: all that entails the Antichrist’s deception of the world and the seduction of Christianity does not wait until after the rapture of the church for their effects to be realized. Those deceits go clear back to Satan’s deception of Eve in Genesis chapter 3, and have continued, and will continue more aggressively, until they climax during the reign of the “son of perdition.”
Obviously, the Rapture has yet to take place. The Apostasy, however, and its impact upon Christendom, is without a doubt growing exponentially, and Scripture gives no indication that the dire effects of the Adversary’s program for his Antichrist will be abated, e.g., that a worldwide revival or some type of collective repentance or reformation will turn things around. Nevertheless, Jesus admonishes and exhorts His bride, the church, as He addresses the seven churches in Revelation chapters one through three, giving them instructions that, if obeyed, will be effective for His glory and their fruitfulness. The Apostasy cannot hinder those laborers in Christ who are steadfast in the faith and empowered by the Holy Spirit. That’s not to say that a spiritual battle won’t ensue, resulting in trials and tribulations as we fight the good fight of faith, but being obedient and persevering by His grace will enable us to accomplish what God will help us to do. I believe the results will be the rescuing of many of those who have been deceived, whether they are among the lost or among our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are now in a rescue operation situation, attempting to reach “any man” who has “ears to hear” with the truth; and, as for the body of Christ, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Mark:4:23
; Revelation:2:17
).
Although I have been addressing at times over the last few years specific aspects of the coming world religion, it’s a great encouragement to have those whom I respect in the Lord confirm my writings on the subject. One of those friends told me to read a book that he believed would be of further encouragement. I got it and read it. To use one of Dave Hunt’s favorite expressions: “Wow!” That would have been his response, without a doubt. The book is what I would call a “pre-confirmation,” meaning it confirms what we’ve been describing regarding the Apostasy with this amazing distinction: It was written in 1898!
Its title is Christianity and AntiChristianity in Their Final Conflict. In this and next month’s article, I hope to present some of the author’s observations and biblical evaluations, which are rather extensive and primarily cover the years during the late 1800s. Yet the issues addressed read as if they were happening today, because they are all part of the Adversary’s scheme to establish the religion of the Antichrist and his kingdom. The author, Samuel Andrews, claims no special prophetic insight. He simply does what he exhorts all Christians to do, and that is—search the Scriptures for its prophetic information, and discern the things that are taking place in our own day. He wants believers to be like the children of Issachar (1 Chronicles:12:32
) who had understanding of the times and knew what Israel ought to do.
The value of this for every believer should be obvious. Andrews writes: “It is in the light of the present that we must re-examine the prophetical problems of the past. As the purpose of God draws nearer to its fulfillment, passing events will tend to show in their distinctive features the nature of that fulfillment. It is, therefore, for us of today to note the religious tendencies of the present, and to consider carefully their bearing upon the Divine purpose in man as it has been made known to us in the Scriptures. To those who believe that God, who knows the end from the beginning, has through His prophets and His Son declared this purpose in its outlines for the guidance of His children, our inquiry is of deepest interest. ‘We ask, To what stage of His actings have we come? What are the religious characteristics of the present time?’”
He continues: “To ignore the Antichrist of whom she has been forewarned, is for the church to expose herself defenseless to his wiles, deceptions, and attacks…. But for all who accept the Scriptures as an intelligible revelation of a Divine purpose, the first duty is to ask what they teach us. Putting away all prejudices and unreasoned beliefs, we must ask what the Holy Ghost, speaking by the prophets of old and by the Lord and His apostles, has told us of the final stages of the great conflict between good and evil so long waged in the earth, and of its chief actors in the time of the end. It is only through Scriptural light that we can fully know the character and work of the Antichrist; and to this light it is of vital importance that we give heed…. It need not be said that this man and his kingdom are not the accidents of an hour; there is a long preparatory process. As with our Lord, so with him. There is a ‘fullness of time’ for his appearing, and this is not till the antichristian leaven has spread through Christendom” (emphasis added).
Although Andrews identifies much of what that “leaven” entails, he underscores the sickly spiritual condition of the church that has initially allowed that leaven to enter and to permeate the body of Christ: “If we now ask for the cause of this change, its deepest root, we find it in the Lord’s words addressed from heaven to the church at Ephesus—the representative of the church of the apostolic age: ‘Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love’ (Revelation:2:4
). Here was the first step in the falling away. In all other respects the Lord highly commends the church. Let us carefully note the significance of this first downward step—the loss of the first love…. Love is the bond of all true spiritual unity and communion, and finds its fullest scope in the relation of the church to her Head. If it fails, there comes estrangement, separation (emphasis added). If the church ceases to be one with the Head through her loss of love, she no longer has full communion with Him, and cannot grow up into Him in all things, and come unto the measure of the stature of His fullness.” He adds, “Let us now note what the Lord said of the spiritual condition of the church just before His return. It would be one of great worldliness. ‘And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold’” (Matthew:24:12
).
In chapter two of Hebrews we find this warning: “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip” (v. 1). Andrews’s emphasis upon believers letting their love of Jesus “slip” as a critical aspect of their diminishing judgment and disobedience to His commands sets his book apart from most others I’ve read that stress biblical discernment. Too often they major on the symptoms (specifics of a false teaching) and miss the root cause. Andrews identifies the cause that begins the process of drifting away from the truth of God’s Word and then describes many of the disastrous consequences as that trend had impacted the church throughout history, and especially during the late 1800s.
What are some of those consequences that he noted one hundred and eighteen years ago? See if you recognize any relationship with the erroneous beliefs, practices, and religious and political agendas of our day.
Here are a few glaring issues that he addresses:
1) The increasing antagonism of the world toward biblical Christianity
2) The apostasy as it grows exponentially within Christendom
3) The [growing] belief that worldwide revival is coming, the world will be converted, and Christianity will take dominion prior to Christ’s return
4) The idea that a “new age” is dawning, with pantheism being its chief doctrine
5) The teaching that God is all and is in all
6) The hope that science will ultimately reveal all knowledge
7) The belief that evolution is how the world came about
8) The concept that mankind is evolving into godhood
9) The argument that these false beliefs will unify humanity
Andrews describes how those concepts were not just in the domain of the religious leaders of his day but worked their way down to the masses from the philosophers and scientists through the literary authors, poets, artists, popular novelists, newspapers, and trendy magazines.
The author’s approach to discerning his times was quite simple and unique yet foundationally biblical. He shows what the Scriptures decree will be the culmination of history prior to the return of Jesus Christ. That end will include the establishment  of that kingdom of the Antichrist followed by its utter destruction. Andrews then draws from God’s Word the many characteristics of that man of lawlessness, who is revealed to be the demonically empowered epitome of deception, and extrapolates those features back to his own era. For example, Scripture tells us that the Antichrist will set himself in the temple of God showing that he is God and is to be worshipped as God (2 Thessalonians:2:4
). Andrews points out that for the world to believe and accept such an idea there must be a previous and perhaps long-term conditioning that precedes the event. He then considered the populace of his own day (118 years ago) in order to see if the deification of a human might be rationally acceptable.
He didn’t have to look very far. The basis of the idea was promoted seemingly everywhere. Unitarians, Transcendentalists, Mary Baker Eddy’s Christian Science, and Helena Blavatsky’s Theosophy spread the word. The enthusiasm for naturalism, socialism, evolution, and pantheism aggressively rejected biblical Christianity and exalted mankind through the various media. The favored writers of that day, such as Thoreau, Emerson, and Whitman, all believed in and advanced their faith in the divinity of humanity. They drew heavily from their readings of the sacred texts of Hinduism, which we recognize today as being central to the beliefs and practices of the New Age Movement. The belief in godhood for humanity was the “new age” hope of Samuel Andrews’s day. He notes, “Philosophy and science in many eminent representatives agree in affirming that there is no personal God, only a universal, impersonal Spirit or Energy, of which everything that exists is a part. This, viewed on the material side, is atheism; on the spiritual, [it] is pantheism” (i.e., God is all and in all). When Andrews uses the term “new age,” however, which he does throughout his book, he means it as a complete change from biblical Christianity: “We have come to a new age, and a new age must bring with it a new religion, not a revivification of the past; one based upon a new conception of God, simple, comprehensive, and fitted to be a world religion.” That “new age” and “new religion” is embodied in the religion of the Antichrist.
Christianity and Antichristianity in Their Final Conflict was quite controversial, and the author addressed his critics in his book’s second printing. Some objected to what they considered the overall “pessimistic tone” of Andrews’s work, and others were upset by the fact that he painted a picture of “the world as growing worse, rather than better.” Professing Christians and some true believers of his day were greatly influenced by evolutionary thought and believed that humanity was evolving upward. Consequently, they could “find no place for any development of evil and an Antichrist.” Andrews’s response: “In all questions as to the future of humanity, we must either picture this future for ourselves, or accept Divine revelation.” And it is “Divine revelation,” God’s written Word, that sets the course for his book.
In Part 2, we will glean more insights from this amazing book that was written more than a century ago yet reads as though it were penned today. Two things come to mind as I begin the follow-up article: 1) God’s prophetic Word has been and is being manifested for each believing generation for the spiritual protection and fruitfulness of those who read it and act in obedience to its warnings. 2) It’s greatly encouraging to know that previous generations were aware of the things we see taking place today. Only the Adversary’s players have changed, as well as the increase and intensity of the apostasy.
Our hope is to reprint Christianity and AntiChristianity in Their Final Conflict and have it available in the Fall. We covet your prayers for that endeavor.

Today's Radio Program: Missions Impossible (Part One) From the Berean Call Search the Scriptures 24/7(bereancall.org)

Tom: Thanks, Gary. Today and, the Lord willing, next week, I’ll be interviewing a man I will simply address as “Joe.” Joe, as you’ll learn, is not his actual name but rather a name chosen for security purposes. The reason for that is Joe is a missionary, and the places where the Lord has had him minister – and is having him minister today – well, they’re terribly hostile to the gospel. Therefore, the last thing I want to do is to put Joe and his family in harm’s way.

Nevertheless, I’m hopeful that whatever he has to share with us will encourage all who are listening to support our missionaries in prayer, for protection and fruitfulness, through whatever means the Lord puts on our hearts to help them out.

Joe, welcome to Search the Scriptures 24/7.

 

Joe: Well, Tom, thank you for the invitation, as it is always an honor to be with you folks at The Berean Call.

Tom: Yeah. Joe, let’s start with a question that a lot of Christians have, related to missionaries who go to places where it could cost them their lives. Well, here’s the question: Why would you do such a thing? Joe, what’s your answer?

Joe: Well, that’s actually a very good question, and a lot of people have that question when we speak to different groups. And it’s really simple. It’s in the Bible! So if you have a Bible, just go over to Romans 10, and let’s read for just a moment what some people call “the heartbeat of world missions.” It’s in Romans 10, and let’s just start with verse 13, a wonderful verse! It says, “Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”

That’s such a simple verse, isn’t it? Because anyone who senses they’re a sinner, and they’re lost or headed to hell, and they understand what Jesus Christ has done for them upon the cross, dying for their sins, being raised from the dead, it can open up their heart and in faith just call upon the name of the Lord.

This happened in my life when I was about 27 years old. I just was on the wrong road, but there was that moment when I understood that I needed a Savior, and I called upon Him, and He saved me – transformed my life! But the next few verses are verses that just got ahold of us as young Christians, both myself and my wife, and they’re just very . . . they’re very thoughtful verses, because it goes on with a series of questions. It says, “How, then, shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed?” And, Tom, that’s a question that demands an answer.

Tom:  Right.

Joe: And the answer is, “Well, they can’t!” And then it goes on: “And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard?” and the answer is, “They can’t.”

“And how shall they hear without a preacher?” And the answer is, “They can’t.”

“And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” And the answer is, “They can’t.”

Tom, there’s some people who think that people are automatically saved, that somehow God does it all for them – well, in some sense, He has done it all. He has provided the Way of Salvation through the Lord Jesus. But yet there is the personal responsibility side where people need to call upon the name of the Lord. But yet, if we’re not being sent – if churches aren’t sending people out to the remotest part of the earth, you know, the places that don’t have the gospel, we’ll just work backwards. You know, people aren’t sent; no one’s preaching; and no one’s hearing; and no one’s believing; and no one’s calling upon the Lord. So these verses, Tom, when we were young Christians, they just got ahold of our hearts and moved us because we would hear missionary reports and things like that, and so we were very touched by this. It was just like Isaiah, when the Lord was speaking in Isaiah: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

As just new Christians, simple Christians, we just said, “Here I am. Here we are. Send me. Send us.” And we weren’t ready, you know, those first few years, but then as time passed and we grew in the Lord, 25 years ago, the first door of working overseas in one of these challenging countries, as you say, opened up for us, and we left the United States with our young family at that time, and we’ve never come back – because the needs in the world are so great.

Tom: Right. Joe, I remember spending time with you and your wife. It was in a country that I knew the history of it, and had seen what the Lord had accomplished through you, and was just . . . it just blew me away! I mean, I was so excited to see how God had graced you in a country that wasn’t particularly friendly, just to put it that way. But then . . .

Joe:  Yeah!

Tom: . . . I remember asking your wife – because after I knew where else you were ministering – and, folks, without getting into it, it would make the hair stand up straight. So I remember asking your wife, “Why? Why would you do such a thing?”

And her response was, “Well, you know, we think that the people [not naming the country] – we think that the people there need Jesus!”

 

Tom: [laughing] Oh, man! Come on!

Joe: It’s very simple, yeah!

Tom: Of course! Absolutely! At the same time, she said it like, “Well, of course, this is what we do!” But that is so far removed . . . especially for we Christians here in this country, I mean, we’ve got seduction. We don’t have persecution, but . . . and that can be really damaging, but nevertheless, we’re in a comfort zone that a lot of us don’t want to be lifted out of.

Now, based on what you said earlier, Joe, how aware . . . I know you’re a young person, the Lord is really putting these scriptures on your heart, and so on, but did you ever think ahead of time that you’d be entering a mission field that could cause personal harm, not only to you and your wife, but to your kids? Did that thought ever come to you?

Joe: No! I mean, when we were growing up, we never had heard of these places. Maybe one of them we’d heard of, but you know, it was so far removed from our worldly thinking at that time. But I just thank the Lord for being saved in a “missions-minded” church early on. And, yeah, it really helped us to refocus what the Lord would have for our lives instead of just, you know, the things of the world – to have eternal things on our minds.

Tom: Well, when did the first thought come to you guys? Again, I know, by God’s grace, where you have established churches and I won’t go into all the details, but it’s an amazing job. But this was – if I can say this – this was one of the most hostile countries with regard to any religion . . . I mean, is that accurate?

Joe: Right, right.

Tom: So . . .

Joe: No, that’s very accurate. Well, when we first heard about this – let’s say “country number one” – we were in a prayer meeting, and somebody got up and had a “country report,” and it was about this country and said there were no known believers in this country, as far as anyone knew, and it was totally atheistic – by law, it was atheistic. And so on. And no one could get in, or anything like that.

So, we just were touched by that, and we just said, “Lord, if You ever want to send us overseas, send us to a place like that. And little did we know that, in fact, a few years later, there would be an opening in the country, and we stepped through it. So yeah, we – we just didn’t know in the beginning, but God directed us.

You say, “Well, how did this happen?” Well, it was a combination of, as I said, an open door, our inner conviction – just how the Scriptures had been speaking to our hearts; you know, just counsel from older brothers, like the elders of our church. And just everything came together. It was just one of those moments where you just said, “If we don’t do this, it would be sin.” We knew we would be going against God’s will. And of course, we weren’t fighting it . . .

Tom:  Right.

Joe:  . . . we were just agreeing with it. And the local church that we were in got behind us and sent us out into the mission field. That was 25 years ago!

Tom:  Yeah.

Joe: And it’s just been wonderful to see what God has done over the years. But as time went on, one of the goals of a missionary is to work himself out of a job . . .

Tom: Right.

Joe: What we noticed was as long as you’re here, hanging around, the brothers, as good as they are, as faithful as they are, they always defer to you as the older brother. So we just about oh, maybe six or seven years ago, we began to pray, “Lord, show us how to step back (not to go back to the United States, or wherever we were from) but just to show us something else you might want us to do so that the local brothers can assume more and more responsibilities,” you know, for the work.

Tom: Right.

Joe: And, in fact, as we began to pray, within a few weeks another brother, Tom, sent us an email, and it was about country number two, and he said, “You two might want to read this [my wife and I]; you might want to read this, because I think you’d be crazy enough to consider going there.

Tom:  [Laughing]

Joe: Of course, that got our attention, you know, calling us “crazy.”

Tom:  Well, you have to be, Joe! Go ahead . . . in the best sense! [Laughing] Go ahead. I’m sorry!

Joe: Oh no! We opened up the link, and it was an article about this country number two and a way to get in the country. Now, there’s lots of ways to get in the countries. There’s always a “crack,” and sometimes it might be through humanitarian work, it might be through education. And this was an opportunity that – I’m not fooling you, Tom, when I say this – it was like the hand of God reaching out and saying, “Come over and help us!” in country number two. It was like the Macedonian call.

Tom: Exactly.

 

And it was clearly an answer to God’s prayer – you know, to our prayer to God about stepping back in the work in country number one.

And so, we prayed about it and brought it before the brothers, you know, and searched the Scriptures: “What’s Your will, Lord?” And it was very clear He wanted us to go. So about six years ago, we started going to country number two, that is even a more challenging place than country number one.

Tom: Right.

Joe:  But, hey! That’s why we’re here. That's why God sends us to places like this.

Tom:  Yeah. Joe, as I’m listening to you, my heart’s just jumping around, because you have laid out, regardless of whether somebody is interested in the mission field or whatever they want to do, you have – you and your bride have been led of the Lord, supported by prayer. God is speaking to your heart. He’s guiding and directing you! And, Joe, you have been guided and directed by the Lord. That’s what we have as believers. That’s why I’m encouraged to hear you say that – not just with regard to mission work but for our listeners. Look! The Lord will answer your prayer. He will guide and direct you! He will tell you not to go to Bithynia, okay, if you’re not to go there. And He will direct you to Macedonia, as the Scriptures teach. So, the principle is there, and you’re just giving us the reality, the experience, of what the Word of God says. I mean, it’s fantastic.

Joe: That’s exactly right. Yeah, Paul, wanted to go to many places, but the Lord forbade him, wouldn’t allow him, closed the door. But then he got the call to Macedonia. And that’s the same way with us. There’s a lot of needs in the world. But we just waited to hear that voice of God, you know, through, again, through the Scriptures . . . People say, “Do you actually hear the voice of God?”

Well, not really, but through the Scriptures you do!

Tom:  Right.

Joe: How He touches your heart through prayer and just connecting with God, and through counsel . . . I mean, it all comes together . . .

Tom: Right, right.

Joe:  . . . and you know this is of the Lord.

Tom:  Right, and look, whether you call it impressionistic or whatever you want to say about it, God will guide and direct. He’ll get through to you, okay, if that’s your heart. And that’s what we love.

Joe:  Right.

Tom: Again, going back to missionary work, because that’s kind of the theme of this, what’s the most difficult part of your missionary work? And then – don’t leave us with that – tell us what’s the most rewarding part?

Joe: Yeah, of course, the most difficult part, particularly in the place that we’re at now, it’s kind of a fine line just to know where this line is at, of being as “bold as lion but as wise as a serpent.” There’s certain things we just know we can’t do. If you do too far in being too open, too aggressive, you’ll be taken out of the country or worse. Taken away! But yet, you don’t want to be – how would you say, you know – just paralyzed with fear and not say anything. There’s a fine line just how much we should say, not say, as you build relationships with people. And when to say it! And of course, the reward is when you’re able to say something, able to share something, with people, with a person, and then all of a sudden * ding! * the light goes on in their soul, and you just say, “Wow, this is good! This is why God sent us here – to bring a little light to this dark environment.” That’s the rewarding part.

Tom: Yeah, I’m sure. You know, I overwork – but maybe not “overwork” – the phrase, “This is a taste of heaven.” Joe, I don’t know anything that I can do today in my life that brings more joy than to know that I’m being used of the Lord. And that could be a smile at somebody at the grocery store, and let them react . . . Our demeanor, how we go about things, but sometimes you get to “seal the deal.” You see the light go on, and you can lead somebody to Christ.

Joe:  Yeah.

Tom: Now, that’s our objective, but the point is in that whole process to know that the Lord is using us. As I said, there’s nothing greater in my mind in this temporal side of life than that. It’s like a taste of heaven.

Joe: Yep, that’s right.

Tom:  Well, you told us about how you’re being led of the Lord and how important prayer is, how important fellowship is, which we’ve been talking about for maybe . . . well, forever at The Berean Call, what an important part of that this is.

Now, this is a little aside, but I have a friend who – his expertise is in recognizing what psychology has done to the church, and part of that is many are not allowed to go into the mission field unless they go through psychological testing. What’s with that, Joe, you know, come on!

Joe: Well, that’s a good question! Yeah, what is with that? I’ve heard this myself. I’ve known people who have thought about going to the mission field, and all of a sudden, there are all these – how would you say – requirements put upon them, special testing, seminars. I’ve even been informed that some people have to go through security seminars, you know. It’s almost like military-style training, based on, you know, a hostile environment. And I think, Wow, I guess we were totally unprepared when we went into the mission field. We didn’t do any of this!

But yet, the Lord – it’s so simple, when you think about the New Testament pattern. Here, Paul and . . . I guess his name was Saul at the time, and Barnabas, were ministering in the church of Antioch, and all of a sudden it was clear that God was speaking to them and wanted those two to be sent out to go into these other regions, and, yeah, it was just a simple procedure. Not like what we complicate it with today.

Tom:  Yeah.

Joe:  Maybe there’s benefit in those things, but I didn’t go through any of that.

Tom: Well, you go back and look at the great missionaries in Christian history, you know – you said something earlier: you have to be a little crazy. Well, I use that term in terms of the way the world looks at us. Many of the things, as the world is even maybe listening in on what we’re doing, they’re saying, “What’s with these guys? This is so far removed from the way that we go about doing things.” Well, absolutely! We hope so! But the irony here, Joe, is you have to go through psychological testing. Many today, as a matter of fact, most mission groups that send people out require that. I mean, what’s the objective? The objective is to see whether they are crazy or not. Well, guess what! You have to be, a bit, to do what you’ve done, especially in terms of the way the world thinks.

So it's a sad deal, because the world would look at just what you’ve said [about] being led of the Spirit, praying about it, God opening cracks, letting you get in, showing you how to . . . your demeanor, how you’re to go about things, and so on. You’re going by the instruction manual, right? It’s called the B-I-B-L-E. And that’s . . .

Joe:  On an upside, Tom, you know, you just think about people getting – let’s put it in a positive way, like people getting extra input, extra counsel, maybe questions like, “Do you really understand what you’re getting yourself into if you go to the mission field?” Because, to be honest, there are stresses. There are stresses on your personal life: you go to a place you don’t know the language yet, and that is so important to learn the local language; you go there and all the customs are different, and you make mistakes, and the people laugh at you because you can’t talk right, and all that, so yeah, that’s hard. But also, there are dangers. You go to places, and, you know, some places are more – how would you say it? – more calm. The places that we have been directed to over the years have not been so calm. And I’m not sure anybody warned us in the beginning or counseled us, but yeah, it’s a reality.

And I think one time you and I talked about did we know about potential harm coming to us? Well, yes and no. Of course, you never really know until you go to a place, and then you experience – what is academic in your thinking becomes a reality. But when we first were saved, somebody encouraged us to read missionary biographies, which is something I highly recommend. These are people who maybe went to the field back in the 1800s or early 1900s. There are wonderful books, you know! Jonathan Goforth of China, and many others. Hudson Taylor. And you read these books, and you think, “Wow! These were the real missionaries!” and I look at my life and I think, “Who are we in comparison to these people? These were the real missionaries. And I say the “real missionaries” because they went out on the boats. Do you understand, Tom, when I say “the boats”? It means they got on a ship, and they kissed their family goodbye at the dock, and they would have no idea of when they would come back. There were no telephones, no Internet. These were really dedicated people. And they knew the harm. They knew they might not come back. They knew the perils of the travel – months on the seas, perhaps; weeks, months. The disease, persecution, difficult situations – and, you know, a lot never came back: John and Betty Stam in China – they never came back. So you read these books, and it would leave a good impression upon us that it’s not all fun and games. There’s really dangers when you go to the mission field.

And a question came up in our soul: Are you willing to pay the price, if this would be what God would want you to do? And, of course, you never really can say, 100 percent, how you would react, but you just think of the Lord giving Himself for us, and giving everything for us – dying for us. Well, it’s the least we can do, is give our lives for His cause.

Tom: Right.

Joe:  So, yeah, these things need to be talked about, and that’s why it’s good when we go back to places and talk, we can – not psychological counseling, but just stories, you know . . .

Tom: Right, right. And you underscored it. Maybe some would be overzealous and they’d jump in where they haven’t thought things through, and so on. My big issue with psychological counseling is that’s based on the way the world thinks and their criteria, which is . . . it would be wonderful if it was helpful, but more often than not, it brings about great harm.

Now, Joe . . .

Joe: Well, those people I mentioned – they never went through that.

Tom: [Laughing] That’s right!

Joe:  They were quite successful. We’ve never gone through that, so, yeah, I understand what you’re talking about, Tom.

Tom:  You know, the other thing – we’ve got just a few minutes left in this session, but what I want to do, beginning next week, the Lord willing, is to talk about what we can say to missionaries out there. We’re not going to belabor it, but there are certain things that I believe, Joe, you can be an encouragement to the missionaries who may listen to this, so that’s important.

My guest has been a veteran, as you’ve heard, of the mission fields, whom I’ve been calling “Joe” for reasons that have to be with the country in which he’s ministering, a country that is very hostile to Christianity. But next week, the Lord willing, we’ll expand upon what the Lord has put on Joe’s heart as he ministers and, as I mentioned, in particular as it affects maybe those in the mission field right now. I want to talk about patience – do you need patience? I know, as I’ve interacted and communicated with missionaries, I mean, they’re in places where they don’t even get a smile from the people. They would be blessed that way. But certainly the Lord has them there for a purpose, and, well, we just want to encourage them, and maybe some listeners out there who have been thinking about the mission field. Maybe that would be helpful as well.

Joe, thank you for your insights and for being with us on Search the Scriptures 24/7.

Joe: Well, it was a real pleasure to be with you as well, and I hope that some of my thoughts would be of some help to some future potential missionary.

Tom: Okay! God bless you, brother, and we look forward to next week.

Joe:  Thank you very much.