THE WAR ROOM--
Personal message from the Editor: Steve Van Nattan
OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH AND DOCTRINE
Based on Bible The Believer's Authorized London Baptist Confession of 1611Steve Van Nattan talks about war:
Every warrior, and every Bible believer, has a special hour, a special day, when they are in the trenches facing the vast forces of evil Satan and perverted men can throw against them. We never know when that hour may come, but we are not permitted to retreat.
We may fear the enemy-- "his power and might are great, and armed with cruel hate..." But, we are told by the Apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:15 "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." And again, in Romans 8:37 "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."
1 John 2:13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
Some will mock at the idea of Christians at war-- We reject such limp wristed timidity as ungodly rubbish. We are under orders from the Captain of our salvation: 1 Timothy 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Our discharge papers will never come in this life. Get used to it, and be always ready for that hour when you will be called on to stand fast against Satan and evil.
I once asked a sheriff in Tennessee, "How do I figure out how much to react to trouble makers?" He said, "Always give them back more than they give you." We live in Texas now where they have the "Castle Domain" law. When an intruder steps into our territory, we OWN them. A rifled slug from a 12 gauge is all they have a right to.
At this site we use a 1611 gauge King Jimmy.
Lastly, to you young warriors-- four suggestions:
1. Don't go into the battle until you are very familiar with your weapon--
The King James Bible.2. When you have an old warrior sitting nearby, see if you can get him to tell you some war stories. There is nothing that will charge your batteries like hearing how the old veterans waged war with Satan.
3. Never go into battle alone if you can help it. Paul, who was fearless, still craved other soldiers with him at all times. At least phone some other warrior, and ask him to be on his knees when you know your battle will be raging.
4. Finally, spend much more time talking to your Captain, Jesus Christ, than on the front lines. There is a thing about being obsessed with war that has lead many godly men to become brutish and cynical.
When we all arrive in the Glory, I believe we will never get bored, for we will have thousands of years of war stories of the saints from Adam to the end of the Messianic Age to fire our imaginations. Most precious will be all those other stories John said could have been told about our Savior and Captain of our salvation.
THE ARTICLES IN THE WAR ROOM DRAW SHORT ROUNDS
AND "FRIENDLY FIRE" :-)LETTER FROM THE TENDER FOOT:
From: Ron B__________
To: steve@balaams-ass.com
Subject: jackboot?
Steve, you are doing a disservice by writing that article. If you have an issue with a certain pastor or brother in the Lord this is not the way to display it!
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My Response:
I used some personal experiences, which came to us with the Lord's permission, because I believe the Lord was trying to wake me up and show me that the Fundamental Independent Baptist movement, along with all of modern Christendom, is now going whole hog into Laodicean decay. This does not include all local churches of course, but there are far too many to now pass off these pig pens as a minority.
I consulted with several pastors and evangelists who were not within my circle of friends, and they encouraged me to do the articles. About 85% of the illustrations in this section are from these men, not me. There are some very evil men who have, I think within the past 20 years, determined that the local churches are a great place to shear sheep close, goof off, and generally play the fool. They have learned, like Benny Hinn in Charis-mania, to say the things and even go to the right schools which give them credibility.
If you think these men should not be exposed, then I must assume you are one of them.
Any man of God in the Lord's Church, who is godly, is groaning over the direction of ALL the fellowships. Pastors are standing back from old associations and "going it alone" with the few in their small church fellowships. A godly pastor avoids almost all associations with pastoral groups and fellowships. He has friends among pastors to be sure, but they are few.
So, your ignorance of reality, or your defense of the wicked, means nothing to me friend. In fact, your complaint does not recommend you very well. This sounds just like another jackboot squealing in pain. I hope that is not the case.
Who did Jesus speak "woe" to the most? The Pharisees, who were the "Fundamentalists" of his day. You who want me to lay off of these Fundamental pastors yell "Amen" if I deal with Benny Hinn and Chuck Swindol, but if I touch your friends like Jack Hyles or Lee Roberson, and expose their adultery and greed, you scream "off sides."
Hmmmmmmmmm
Amos 7:13 (KJV) But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court.
14 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:
15 And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
16 Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.
17 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.Maybe you need to repent of something you read on the Jackboot section. Is that possible? A pastor in Pennsylvania wrote me just after I posted that set of articles and confessed that he had seen, by the conviction of the Holy Ghost, that he was a Jackboot just like what I described. He wanted to leave the ministry and go sell insurance. I told him to confess sin to his people, and if they wanted him to stay, he should go on to by a faithful pastor. He did repent and is rejoicing in fellowship with the people he serves-- a hireling who became a faithful servant of Jesus Christ.
Are you sorry that happened? If so, you must not be born again.
I have also received many e-mails from people attending Jackbooted local churches, and they want to know what to do. I tell them not to tear the church apart. Go to the pastor and lovingly rebuke him. If he rebels, move on. This is happening in Bible believing churches all over the world, from Seattle to Singapore to the Outback of Australia. You are ignorant of this I gather. I deal with it all the time, and your tender mercies for the wicked mean nothing to me. YOU are the one with a problem. Get your Mennonite tender feelings up and into the zeal mode for a change, and DEFEND the flock of God instead of the hireling. Menno Simon was NOT a pacifist with the murderous church leaders of the Reformed movement. He condemned them soundly.
And you? Huh?
REPENT! Get off your defensive high horse and see what Jackboot aspects are in YOU!
Psalms 139:20 (KJV) For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.You don't have to agree with me because I am convinced. I am not your guru. But, you have NO idea what you are talking about. That section was written to expose and correct a problem, NOT for me to vent my wrath. Using that old saw simply shows that YOU are under conviction in this area.
Ezekiel 3:18 (KJV) When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Ezekiel 33:9 (KJV) Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
In Christ
Steve Van Nattan
