Dr. Christopher Anderson, DMin

Dr. Anderson is a Marine veteran who served in Afghanistan for two tours. He is the author of three Christian living books. He holds a Doctorate in Ministry.

[EndTime Church @EndTimeChurch2]

I AM: A Study of John 8 https://t.co/bWAaEaHqKx

[Dr. Christopher Anderson, DMin @AuthorCAnderson]

@AwaitingChrist I know it is not an easy choice. Trust the Lord to lead you into the right choice for your mother in law and that He will help the family through it all. Assuming she is born again, she is moving from life to eternal life, the desire of all believers everywhere.

[EndTime Church @EndTimeChurch2]

1 Timothy 1:19-20, "Having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme". (NKJV)

In this morning's reading and contemplation, I came across these two verses and spent time pondering the imagery of a shipwreck. How does this apply to our faith, since Paul said the two examples were shipwrecked concerning faith? I began asking a few questions of purpose about the analogy and its intended meaning.

What is the intention and purpose of a ship? To transport people and materials across bodies of water. The ship's purpose is not found in port but is out at sea, which are embarkation and disembarkation points. In the analogy, the ship represents Christian faith. What is the purpose of our faith in this world? To transport one from earthly to heavenly dwelling across seas that buffer against Christ. The transit between worlds is the journey of faith we are embarked on now, which is progressed through progressive sanctification, just as the ship is propelled by the wind in its sails. What happens if a vessel's captain sails too close to land? He runs the great risk of shipwreck if he strikes underwater reefs, jagged rocks, or unseen rip tides. This is why ships push out to sea when a storm comes in, because even in the dock, the ship will suffer damage. Remember Paul's shipwreck while under Roman arrest?

As Christians, we should not be skirting the shores of sin, but sailing in the open seas of sanctification. Too often, we want to be in closer proximity to the world than we should be, sailing too close to shore, only to find that we get caught up in all the hazards, running aground and damaging the ship. You see, too often we play with sin, entertain it in our lives, and reject the call to holiness. Then we wonder why our faith is stagnated, and in some cases, truly declining. At times, we are afraid of what holiness would do to our lives, specifically in that it will take us outside of our comfort zone. But our Christian faith is not intended to straddle the fence between holiness and sin, but to be a definitive declaration of sin's defeat. We are intended to be out at sea.

Many folks seem not to learn their lesson. Instead, they continue to play along sin's coasts, hearing the sounds of debauchery inland and desiring to listen a little more, get just a little closer to see what is happening, desiring even more to be at the party, until eventually they strike rocks, and happily abandon ship to get to the party. They partake in sin's temporal and momentary pleasure only to return to their faith, to find it is wrecked. If we are too close to sin, it's easier to be tempted by it, and thus we should flee from it as would a wise sea captain away from coastlines, reefs, and other hidden dangers near land, which is not a proper port.

Are you drifting too close today? Perhaps you are telling yourself that your faith is still afloat and without damage. But that could change rapidly if you do not heed the warning. Many of us have experienced damaged ships and have learned from our mistakes. Take heed of our warnings. What is so tempting about sin is nothing but smoke and mirrors that will lead to damaged faith that you may not be able to recover from. Turn back to the open sea. It is not always easy. Sometimes there will be rough seas, but your faith is designed to endure the trials, tribulations, and rejection of the world to reach the destination of your eternal, heavenly home. Where we are going is far greater than where we came.

[Dr. Christopher Anderson, DMin @AuthorCAnderson]

Join us now for End Time Church's live, online service.

[EndTime Church @EndTimeChurch2]

Could This Be the Christ: A Study of John 7. https://t.co/F1ErhY4cWz

[EndTime Church @EndTimeChurch2]

A Rejection of God: The LGBTQ+ Agenda in the Church

Each morning, I take time to read one to two chapters in scripture. Beginning in January, I make my way through the New Testament, intentionally reading and contemplating the day's chapters. Often, I find that the scriptures prove themselves just as relevant in the post-modern world as in antiquity. The truth is, though society, culture, and politics may change, the hearts of mankind remain darkened by the same sins introduced to creation when Adam and Eve fell. As many of you may agree, the problem is not culture, society, or politics; it's the sin-corrupted heart. Sin corrupts society, culture, politics, and religion, which are the four pillars of any nation. In June, the sin-corrupted social agenda being championed is the LGBTQ+ movement.

Today's reading came from 1 Thessalonians 4-5. At End Time Church, we are all intimately familiar with the passages regarding the Last Days, Resurrection, and Christ's return in these two chapters. But there is another series of verses that speaks directly to the social, political, religious, and cultural sins of the Pride Movement today.

"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should konw how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do now know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore, he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit". -1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (NKJV)

This passage of scripture reveals God's will for all our lives: we are to be sanctified. This term comes from the Greek word 'hagiasmos', meaning "set apart". But in a Christian context, especially here, we are set apart unto God for His special purpose in each of our lives. This tells us that without sanctification, we cannot be effectively used by God. Think about that for a moment. Every genuine Christian seeks to be pleasing to God and used to advance His kingdom. Many find themselves hindered, almost like they're facing a brick wall. I know I have experienced this very phenomenon. The reason for this resistance has less to do with being outside of God's timing (as many people claim) and more to do with a lack of sanctification. And the biggest hindrance to sanctification in the Post-Modern world today is sexual immorality, especially within the church.

The divorce rate among church-goers is the same as that of those who do not attend church, per multiple Gallup and Pew polls widely available online. The rate of infidelity among pastors is between 25% and 35%. Well over half of all church leaders view pornography. Movies and television programs have normalized adultery and fornication and are heavily normalizing homosexuality. Elementary schools are hosting sexual education classes, teaching all manner of sexual intercourse and the safe way to engage in such activities. Talks of absence before marriage are viewed as the product of a bygone and uneducated era. Sexual liberation disguises sexual slavery. Progressivism truly is a regression into paganized sexual norms.

To make matters far worse, many denominations and churches have openly embraced the LGBTQ+ agenda, namely the liberal churches. In the name of "love", they host drag queen shows in their fellowship halls, sponsor Pride parades, and fly a tapestry of rainbow colors from their buildings, signs, and clerical garments in a show of "equality, love, and acceptance". Though such religious institutions think they are demonstrating God's love, they are rejecting God openly, brazenly, and boldly. Furthermore, they've codified their divine rejection in church bylaws and plastered their apostasy all over social media.

It is the responsibility of church leaders, regardless of denominational affiliation or ecclesical title, to approach such sinful church leaders one-on-one. If they do not hear, then take a few other church leaders to address the matter. If that does not lead to repentance, then openly address the issue to the collective Body of Christ in whatever fashion or outlet possible. If that does not bring change, then publicly declare such leaders and institutions apostate and outside of Christ. This is a necessary and proper method, biblically prescribed, to confront such sinful matters in the Church. We are One Body under One King, who is Head of all His Church. It's time we start acting like it.

[Dr. Christopher Anderson, DMin @AuthorCAnderson]

Join ETC online now for the live service.

[EndTime Church @EndTimeChurch2]

The Gospel of John 6: Feeding the Body and Soul https://t.co/BboTcOX9nM

[Dr. Christopher Anderson, DMin @AuthorCAnderson]

@AwaitingChrist Of course

[Dr. Christopher Anderson, DMin @AuthorCAnderson]

@Protestia Interestingly, there is a dominant perception that this type of expression must be defended by being "not ashamed." What other Holy Spirit gift or encounter is defended as not "being ashamed" to experience? Yet, this group of believers would not say they "had church" without this

[Dr. Christopher Anderson, DMin @AuthorCAnderson]

Join End Time Church for our live, online service.

[EndTime Church @EndTimeChurch2]

The Well that Never Runs Dry: A Study of John 4 https://t.co/ULsUkEh26i

[Dr. Christopher Anderson, DMin @AuthorCAnderson]

@AwaitingChrist I did four seasons of a podcast a while back, among other things. Its a lot of fun. I had to put it aside to focus on other things as well. But, if you're interested, id be happy to talk about joining you for some episodes.

[EndTime Church @EndTimeChurch2]

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one, we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life." -2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NKJV)

The Apostle Paul compared his ministerial work, evangelism, to incense. It was a fragrance of life and death: life to those who will accept the Gospel and death to those who deny Christ. Everywhere he went, this incense came out of him. His preaching was the fragrant smoke, and he was as the thurible (container that holds the spices burned to create the smoke). The burning incense is itself symbolic in Paul's imagery as the indwelling Holy Spirit that sets fire (zeal) to Paul's reborn spirit. The thurible is as Paul's physical body. In this picture, the Holy Spirit's fire in Paul's regenerated spirit produces the spoke of His message that emanates out of him, impacting everyone around him. In traditional and Apostolic traditions, the thurible is swung by the priest, correctly symbolizing the saint's prayers ascending to God. In Paul's example in this section of scripture, it is God who swings Paul. That is seen in Paul's 3 missionary journeys, where Paul traveled back and forth establishing the Church among Gentiles. Those who accepted the Gospel were impacted by the smoke of Paul's message in life. Those who rejected the Gospel led to death, but also persecution.

Why is this important for us today? Just like Paul considered the message he preached to be like fragrant incense, the lives we live before others can also produce life or death to those around us. Are we living in such a way as to reflect the Gospel properly, so that others are drawn into a salvific encounter through faith in Christ, or do we repel through sinful behaviors? Paul's message, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, only had effect when he was "swung" by God. He had to go. Every day, we go into the world. This is how God swings us. Is what the Holy Spirit burns (zeal for Christ) radiating outward in what we say and do?

The triumph of Christ is the victory He won at the Cross over death, Hell, and the grave. It is the reconciliation He paid for by His blood for all who would believe in Him. Triumph in Christ is the daily choice we make to die to sin, for even Paul states that he daily dies to sin (1 Cor. 15:31). I encourage you today to crucify sin. Put to death intentional sin. It is a daily choice, sometimes minute to minute, other times it's situational. But make no mistakes about it. We have the choice every day to intentionally sin or reject it. Christ's triumph at the cross empowers us to be triumphant over intentional sin. And we also have the choice to allow the Holy Spirit to ignite renewed passion and zeal for Christ in us, which will radiate to those around us.

The choice is yours. Who will you serve? Will you, like Paul, radiate the fragrant incense of Christ to those around you, or has the fire in your life burned itself out? Read and apply the bible. Pray daily. Fellowship with other believers. Attend church services regularly. Fast as often as you are able. Participate in corporate and personal worship. Find time for silence and solitude. These, and more, are the spiritual disciplines that will reignite the zeal for Christ in your life again, reigniting the fragrant incense that will come out of you through thought, word, and deed, impacting those around you with the knowledge of Christ.

[Melissa Tate @TheRightMelissa]

Wow. Nigerian Christians DEFIANT in the face of the mass slaughter by Islamists forcing them to convert or die. They will rather pick death than bow.

“We will never submit to Islam”
“Allah is a demon”

The media is refuses to cover the atrocities going on against Christians.

The left completely dismisses this & some even on the right are embarrassing Islam & refuse to speak up about what’s happening to our fellow brothers & sisters in Nigeria.

It’s up to us to Share these stories & pray for the Nigerian Christians

[EndTime Church @EndTimeChurch2]

John 2: Christ's Passion in the Wedding Wine https://t.co/an23rRmh9I

[EndTime Church @EndTimeChurch2]

CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST

Romans 8:28-30 (NKJV): "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He predestined, He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."

There is a lot to consider when we ponder these three verses in Romans 8, as there is with all Scripture. But for today's point, we are looking at the concept of being conformed to the image of Christ. This is what theologians may term Cruciformity. It is living a life that is shaped and formed by the crucified Christ. It defines a life that is self-sacrificing (agape) and is conformed to the death and resurrection of Christ (dead to sin, alive to God through Christ). But there is more to the cruciform life than these things.

As we think about the various aspects of character demonstrated in Christ's obedience in death, we think of humility, sorrow, grief, humiliation, suffering, rejection, betrayal, forsakenness, innocence, and compassion (to name a few). These traits are evident in conformity to Christ's image as well. The Apostle Paul clearly illustrates this both in his personal suffering and the admonition that believers will likewise suffer for the cause of Christ. Just like Jesus when He cried out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me", we may feel at times forsaken by God because of His silence in answering our prayers or in the seeming lack of divine intervention in our circumstances.

But what was our Lord's ultimate response? Trust. He replied at the very end, "into Your hands I commend My spirit." There are times in our walk of faith when we feel forsaken by God, and our faith may be shaken. It is ok to have those feelings. But through the trying of our faith, we can still come out on the other end trusting God fully, even if it means the cost of our lives. Perhaps even doubt, when it leads to ultimate trust, is also cruciformity. Do you trust God?

In today's verses, we see a type of conformity to Christ that explains something deeper. God knows who will ultimately be saved and who will reject the Gospel. Each of us has free will to choose Christ or not. Some folks repent and believe on their deathbeds (I have seen this). It is not for us to judge why God allows this to happen. Yet all Christians are called according to God's purpose. He has a plan for each of us. Even if it is to demonstrate His unfathomable grace through a deathbed conversion. Through our salvation, we become God's children, family with, through, and in Christ Jesus. Through this salvation, we are predestined, called, justified, and glorified. These are stages in the life of a believer. God knew our free will chose for or against Christ (Predestined). Those who would come to faith in Jesus were called, or convicted by the Holy Spirit, and responded appropriately (Called). Those who respond to the Spirit through belief in Jesus and repentance are justified (declared righteous by faith in Jesus. Such a person is no longer guilty of sin, but clothed in Christ's righteousness on their behalf. God doesn't see a sinner, but Christ, when He looks at the justified individual.) The ultimate destiny of those justified by faith in Jesus is eternal life in heaven (Glorified). To be cruciformed is not a singular event, but a progression of daily submission to Christ's cross and also the cross we bear for His name (Matt. 16:24). Are you obedient to Christ?

Yet in between Justification and Glorification is Sanctification, where the believer is conformed to the image of Christ. In Paul's words, he assumes the process by terming it conformity to Christ, who through Justification is superimposed (as it were) into and onto the believer. Yet throughout most of Paul's Epistles, all four Gospel accounts, and in the various other letters, we see the importance of choosing righteous living over unrighteous. Why? If the Son of God is "superimposed" into and onto the Justified believer, then the name of Christ is either blessed or cursed by our action. Thus, being conformed to the image of Christ carries a great responsibility to walk in holiness. God is holy, and we must be holy (1 Peter 1:15-17). Cruciformity is a daily choice to live in holy conduct, thought, and intention. Such holiness cannot come through our own efforts, but is dependent on co-laboring with the Holy Spirit, as our own righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Apart from the indwelling Holy Spirit's guidance (and our submission to His lead), we cannot hope to live fully in the cruciformed image of Christ. Are you submitted to the Holy Spirit?

Joshua 24:15 (a,c), "Choose this day whom you will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

[Dr. Christopher Anderson, DMin @AuthorCAnderson]

@awaitingchrist As a hospice chaplain, ive explained this very conceot numerous times, emphasizing that a good death is one with Christ. Though we die physically, that transition is good because it is life into eternal life, for the sting of death is gone.

[Dr. Christopher Anderson, DMin @AuthorCAnderson]

@Taryn0saurus Military folks make good chaplains.

[Dr. Christopher Anderson, DMin @AuthorCAnderson]

https://t.co/ECCKWUUxR0

[Dr. Christopher Anderson, DMin @AuthorCAnderson]

Join ETC now for our live and fully online service

[EndTime Church @EndTimeChurch2]

The Gospel of John: The Word of God Made Flesh https://t.co/nFuaTkRVwW

[EndTime Church @EndTimeChurch2]

"God made me this way..."

As we go about our daily lives, sometimes we hear people justify their lifestyle and behavior with the expression, "God made me this way." Such an expression relieves the individual of their responsibility toward morally and ethically wholesome conduct (in most cases), casting blame on God's design. Of course, Christians often scoff at this notion, but what if there is a measure of truth in the sentiment?

In Romans 9:14-29, we see a very similar question asked regarding Israel's rejection of the Gospel. Specifically, Paul gives the example of Pharaoh's rejection of Moses's demand to let the Hebrew people go (v. 17). What is the implication, then? Pharaoh was raised for the purpose of demonstrating God's wrath to the world, for him to live in infamy as a cautionary tale for people who refuse to obey God, and for the glory of God's holy name in the earth. Israel, as a nation, rejected Christ so that the message would go to Gentile nations freely, where the Gospel is largely accepted (v. 22-26). What would have happened if Israel had not rejected Christ during His first advent, but embraced Him as Messiah and Son of God? Of course, that would be speculative only, as a "what if" question, but not worthy of theological debate since it didn't happen. Instead, we face the question of what if "God made me this way"?

The biblical text in Romans implies that, as the Divine creator, God does create vessels of wrath made for dishonor to demonstrate His glory to the world through their destruction, just as He creates vessels of honor (v. 22-24). Maybe there is some measure of validity in some people's hardened hearts, justifying their LGBTQ lifestyle by boldly proclaiming, "God made me this way." Yet this is not the end of the story.

Peter tells us that God's desire, His will, is for all to come to repentance, revealing God's heart for all people to be saved (2 Peter 3:9). God loved the world so much that Jesus came to be the substitutions sacrifices for sinful man's atonement, so that condemnation would pass to eternal life for those who believe (John 3:16-17). While we were sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Such salvation is blind to ethnicity, previous religious affiliation, nationality, gender, sinful conduct, atrocity, or anything else we could create a label for. This salvation is transformative, whose end result is perfection. Justification, sanctification, then perfection. That is God's desire for us all. He desires it so much that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for it through His death, burial, and resurrection. Who are we to deny so great a salvation to someone else by walking away, keeping silent, or blatantly refusing to share the Gospel with them because of their current sinful condition?

So, does God create people for wrath who reject Him? Yes. Does God desire all to be saved? Yes. How do we know the difference? Perhaps the question isnt how we discern the difference, but that our obligation is to speak and live out the Gospel daily. Perhaps we can respond to folks who say, "God made me this way" by proclaiming, "Maybe He did, but He also desires your salvation. He changes hearts, desires, and intentions," then share the Gospel.

Today, somebody is waiting on you to speak or demonstrate the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Choose to show them Jesus, pointing them to Calvary's Cross, where the ultimate price was paid for sin's atonement and eternal life.