May 11, 2004 (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) –

From time to time, I publish some of the goodies from my interesting mailbox, and many people have told me that they enjoy reading these things. Following are some items from the last couple of months:

THEY LIKE MY PREACHING

“Thank you for not being a noodle back preacher and for telling the truth. I appreciate your stands on the issue.”

“I'm a 21 year old Dutch student and I like to read and learn from your emails although I don't agree with everything. I want to thank you and God for the work your doing.”

“What an intelligent article written by David Cloud on birth control. I am quite impressed, and usually can't read the nonsensical rhetoric that spews from the fundamentalist pages.”

“Thank you for always standing for the truth -- our whole family appreciates you and how you are trying to help people to learn the Word of God. We're praying for you.”

“We would like to send this word of encouragement and thanks for your wonderful ministry. We continue to be blessed by your Christ honoring work. The materials from Way of Life are used daily in our home, both in instructing our daughters and in our personal Bible studies. Each new video and book is eagerly anticipated!”

“I have been reading your emails for two months now on the Internet and have grown a great deal from the valuable information on End Times, Apostasy and relevant issues for today's Christian family.”

“I hope all is well with you and your family. I have never written before, but I have received numerous blessings from your website, FBIS, and O Timothy. I appreciate and admire your stand, humble spirit, thoroughness, and love for God and His Word. It hurts to see some of the terrible emails you get from others and I hope this note will be a pleasant change and blessing. I owe you in part for opening my eyes to the SBC. I was raised Southern Baptist and pastored my childhood church for two years. But as I began to research some of the articles you had on the SBC (along with some other sources), I had to cut my ties out of conviction. Not an easy thing to leave lifelong friends and parents, but I aim to please and obey God rather than man. Once again thank you for your ministry and To God be the Glory!”

“Dear teacher, I stumbled upon your ministry page and am glad I did. I am a worship leader of a non-denominational church, and agree with your message. The contemporary worship of today is not spiritual nor true worship, but is a sign of poverty in the spiritual discernment in church leaders today. I am 19 years old and agree with you totally, it is not a matter of age it is a matter of spiritual condition. God bless you.”

“I also want to thank you for your internet article regarding what I must do to be saved. I have struggled with this issue for awhile now. I have believed in God for a long time but the salvation issue has been hard for me to understand. I have committed many sins in my life and broken most of the commandments. ... Today after reading your article I prayed again and told the Lord Jesus that I don't know what else to do to be saved and feel confident in the matter.”

“FIRST, I want to say THANK YOU for your ministry. It is such an encouragement and help to me, especially being a younger preacher and far away on the mission field, to be able to get good literature and information. I am about halfway through your book ‘For Love of the Bible’ and I am really enjoying it. I find it very interesting, very informative and very clearly written and easily understood. I am learning many things that I did not know about the Bible version issue, especially those glorious old time saints that stood for the King James Bible. Just reading their testimonies thrilled my soul.”

“The truth of the scriptures reigns! -- Thank you so much brother for this fine message [“Warnings about Contemporary Praise Music.”] I was a child of the sixties and the seventies and grew up in churches where they encouraged ‘modern’ music to attract the youth. Sure it attracted me but it did not make me a Christian, nor did my non-repentance confession of faith that is encouraged in these world pleasing churches. Praise the Lord, I am now truly born again -- freed from a bondage to alcohol, and a redeemed murderer. My solace is in worshipping our Lord Jesus Christ through lovely hymns and Scottish metrical psalms. My dearest moment was sitting at the graveside of Francis Ridley Havergal (in a gorgeous English country churchyard, where her father once ministered) and singing ‘Take my life and let me be, Consecrated Lord to thee.’ Modern singing with its beat -- and off beat -- massive sounds and the pop stage leadership is totally manwards and not Godwards. Jeremiah 6:16 ‘Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls...’ The modern neo-evangelicals and dog-barkers ignore this as they know better than God. Let’s read the last sentence of that verse, ‘But they said, We will not walk therein.’ What is plainer than that? Bless you for this message. Be bold in the preaching of the word of God.”

“I grew up in a Southern Baptist Church. I was saved and called to ministry in a SBC church. ... I said all that to say this: First I identified with your article on why I’m not a southern Baptist. I very much appreciate the scholarship and research you bring to the table when you present an article on your website. I know God has used your writings to help guide me into His perfect will. We almost got down the wrong road and we would have missed out on God's best for our lives. Not to try and flatter you but your whole operation is by far the best of its kind in Baptist circles. I believe you have presented a lot of subjects backed up by loads of documentation and like my daddy has always said ‘The truth will stand when the world falls.’ So thank you my friend I hope this letter will be a blessing to your heart and a reminder to you that what your doing MAKES A DIFFERENCE! God bless you and your work.”

“You are the ONLY voice so far that I have heard warning against this movie [Mel Gibson’s movie about Christ] ... Please do not grow weary in well doing, but continue being a faithful much needed watchman in these last days for our precious Lord Jesus Christ!!!”

“I thank God for your 'unpopular' views, and only wish that more Christians would be so willing to go against the tide.”

“Watched your video on the Contemporary Christian Music Movement. Found it to be excellent, scriptural, and right! Thank you for your stand for the old-time religion.”

“Thank you so much for all your helpful information. We enjoy it all. We are especially thankful for your stand -- you are not afraid to stand for the truth no matter what and we appreciate that very much.”

“As a music pastor and educator, I am heartbroken by the number of people in our churches today that see no problem with using the worlds' language, dress, and music. My generation and the new generation coming up have been sold a lie by the devil. We should be different than the world, not following the world's lead in how we worship our holy God!”

“I can only imagine how much hate mail you get and how many times you have heard the phrase ‘How dare you judge...’ etc. etc. etc. To which I say, be encouraged, stay the course, and continue in your faithfulness of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“When I first found your website, I was in disagreement with a lot of the information. However, over a period of years, I have continued to come back to it for information on Apologetics, resources, items of interest, church history and of course, the saving work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am not a Baptist but a Reform Anglican. ... I have come to a greater understanding of those in the Baptist faith: You are, indeed, stalwart defenders of the faith. We may not see eye-to-eye on various doctrinal concerns, but one item is true: Your site does not budge, doctrinally, on issues that effect church polity, history or doctrine. I pray that you continue to remain ‘set in your ways’ on this issue! In any event, all my best to you and your staff at Way of Life. Continue to stand firm in Christ.”

“I wanted to thank you again for the Way of Life encyclopedia. The Lord has been using us over the past few months to minister to a friend and we have been fortunate to watch her accept the Lord as her Saviour. ... In addition to her Bible, I leant her your encyclopedia and she is growing quickly. The Lord is truly awesome.”

“I have appreciated your resources tremendously. The Lord recently pulled us out of New Evangelicalism. PTL!!!”

“We appreciate all you do. Please keep up the good work. There are all too few of people like you in these last hours.”

“As you know, when I first started reading your material about 5 or 6 years ago, I challenged you on many issues. Over time tho, my personal beliefs and doctrine have become more and more conservative, and now find myself in agreement with you 90% of the time. I love you writings, insight, and teachings. You've had a profound impact on my walk with the Lord.”

“I am thankful to God for you and the ministry for Jesus Christ you have. We have only come to know of your ministry in the last few months and you have been a tremendous blessing to my husband and I. The days of apostasy are upon us. Oh, how dark the times for America!!! May God grant those that are called by HIS NAME to stand even as those before and be faithful whatever the cost.”

“I guess only in eternity will we realize the impact for God you've made with 'Way of Life Ministries'. May God richly bless you as you continue in the battle. Evil is increasing so very rapidly that it seems like Jesus will be coming again real soon. It's exciting to think about it.”

“I used to attend ------ and this church used to be a fundamental independent Baptist church and now it has a rock band and they have people holding and waving their hands and they preach from various versions of the Bible. It was your website that actually got me thinking about leaving. I knew it was bad, but I was under the same impression many feel, that they were just trying new avenues to bring people in. I just never felt right about a bee bop version of ‘Nothing but the Blood of Jesus’ and watching the singer (teen female) doing a sort of dance as she sang it. That's when I really knew it was time to go.”

“Your ministry has been a HUGE blessing on me, and I'm joyful that you have followed the Lord's leading. Not just in missionary work, but also with FBIS.”

“I just want to thank you for all that you are doing to bring the truth of God's Word against the proliferation of apostasy in these end times. I have only been subscribed to your service for a short time, but I am so thankful whenever I find a man who will speak up for the truth of God's Holy Word and will apply it to today's mainstream blasphemies such as Mel Gibson's movie, same-sex marriage, and the Purpose Driven craze. I have recently viewed your thoroughly researched two-hour video exposing Contemporary Christian Music for what it is and I think you did a masterful job. ... I am not a pastor, just a born-again believer trying to expose apostasy wherever I can. Your service provides so much valuable, always well researched ammunition. I cannot thank you enough! I praise God for His Light that shows through your work and I am lifting you up in prayer.”

“Thank you so much for your recent copy of O Timothy. I appreciate the work you do and recommend you widely. I especially appreciate the expose on Jerry Falwell. I believe that your critique of his current position could not be more accurate. It is amazing how much he has changed and how far he has gone to the left in the last 25 years. Thank you for your stand for the word of God and for fundamentalism in general. I hope the Lord will bless and use you in a special way as you seek to continue to lift up His name and to reach others.”

“First I want to say that I enjoy reading your articles on the apostasy database. I have purchased your encyclopedia and also have your book contemporary Christian music in the spotlight. I came out of an unsaved home and Rock music was my life. When I accepted the Lord, CCM seemed to be the route to go, but I found that the music was so similar to what I came out of that I would go back to the real stuff. I finally stopped listening to CCM altogether and rock music altogether.”

“My Brother, thank you for a voice of sanity in an insane world. Remain strong for His glory.”

“Thanks for this great article [“Contemporary Christian Music Brings Great Changes”]. It is right on target. When I graduated from Tennessee Temple in 1971, George Sweeting and G. B. Vick were our graduation speakers. Dr. Vick was one of my heroes. He remained firm until the end. The BBF has never been the same. I departed from it, along with Dr. Jewell Smith, Dr, Roy Thompson, Dr. Mickey Carter, Dr. Greg Dixon, and others years ago over the King James Bible issue. I remember these once great churches you mentioned in your article, and it illustrates what the younger generation of preachers are doing.”

“Thank you for ‘contending for the faith once delivered...’ via e-mail. I truly believe that God preserved his word in one book. The e-mails with the scripture references have encouraged me in this greatly. Here's some fruit of the word of God for right now in my life, I've renounced the promise keeper movement before my sunday school class, renounced the different bible versions in that class, apologized for ever encouragement the church in these matters, have since left that church because it seems for right now the pastor seems to think these are non issues. When asked why I left by the pastor I agreed to share my concerns with him. He proceeded in a round about way to tell me that I didn't need to get so worked up about these issues. So I further told him that the mason deacons according to scripture needed to step down or renounce masonry. That seemed to make him uneasy, so I address another issue where at certain times in the year the church would have fellowship with other denominations in town. One of which was the catholic church, this didn't go over very well either, so I addressed the Mel Gibson movie with information I have received from FBNS. After sharing my concerns about 2 Cor. 6:14-18 and biblical separation and other scriptures he didn't agree. I later told him that these issues were the reason me and my family of 5 left. The Lord found me a church just 5 minuets down the road where the pastor preaches from the King James Bible ONLY and shares the same convictions as I about the above issues. I share this with you because you are such an encouragement to me and my family. THANK YOU. Your brother in Christ.”

“I ordered your video on CCM and it was well done, very enlightening, and I will be passing it on to other pastor friends.”

“I really appreciate hearing from you folks, and I hope that all is well. The Lord's work would suffer without your voice crying out against the apostasy and compromise in this world. Your publications are biblically sound and extremely helpful to those of us who are using them. There are several in our local church who get your mailings and we enjoy discussing the changing topics every week. I use the Friday News and Notes as a prelude to our Sunday Bible study hour.”

UNLESS I AM MISTAKEN, THEY DON’T LIKE MY PREACHING

“Satan rejoices when he reads your blasphemous website.”

“The bible is just a book. It is impossible to really know the motives of the people who wrote it since it was so long ago. Lake of fire? That is one of the silliest things I've heard you say so far. Is the boogy man going to jump out of my closet tonight also?”

“Fundamentalist are the most vindictive and judgmental and nasty people in the world ....to people of my belief! ....AND YOU KNOW IT!!!”

“Everything your gospel stands for ultimately ....is the support man in a feel-good type religion! ... Much of your religion is based upon human imagination -- that does not please God!”

“Do not forget that Jesus only surrounded himself (besides the disciples) with prostitutes, thieves, social outcasts, in other words, sinners. Never did he break bread with the pharisees, or with fundamental baptist authors for that matter either.”

“YOU need to repent and change your ways buddy. You should try reading the WORD sometime. It will change your life. Your website is full of arrogance and ignorance.”

“It is so sad you are willing to unfortunately spread misconceptions of the Jesuits to so many others. I dare any of you to give your lives for Jesus like so many in the Society of Jesus have. If you knew even the gift of the Eucharist Jesus gave to us and the extreme ends so many religious people will suffer to give it, you would surely die to have a taste of the heavenly gifts us Catholics receive at every mass. It is sad to know that you are like the Pharisees of today who wish not to see the Kingdom and its riches.”

“The ‘fundamentalist’ movement is slowly dying largely because of asinine ideas such as this. [He is referring to a warning about Regent University, which yokes together Pentecostals and Roman Catholics.] ... Another reason ‘fundamentalism’ is dying is because of anti-intellectualism.”

“These are some of the dumbest arguments I've ever read.”

“You've certainly wasted a lot of good internet space with the lies you've perpetrated about our beloved brother Wm. Branham. I wouldn't give you much hope of making it after the way you've blasphemed the Holy Ghost and God's TRUE prophet, Wm. Branham. Maybe that's why your name happens to be CLOUD, because that's what you do to all who follow, believe, and support you. You ‘cloud’ their minds and darken their hearts from believing the truth. Shame, deep shame on you.”

“The bible is nothing but propaganda based on ignorance, superstition and fear of mortality. To any rational human being, its own words emphasize what a CROCK it all is.”

“How about you stop criticising and pull the log out of your own eye before you try and find the speck in someone elses. Division is the Devil's biggest tool and he would be happy you are fueling his mission.”

“I looked around at other articles on your site and can't help but believe that the only reason you wrote this [warning about Mel Gibson’s movie] was to attack certain groups of people that you don’t like, if not from a sense of downright jealousy.”

“I’m afraid your contentious disregard for other members of the body of Christ is very disconcerting. I am someone who came out of fundamentalism and now looking from the outside...”

“You are not showing a single ounce of the love of Christ in anything you are involved with, be it email communications or self righteous judgments via your close minded website. ... Just because people do not have your narrow minded legalistic view on Scripture does not mean that people are not Christians. ... I am a songwriter. I write contemporary praise music, music that is used in churches in worship of God. It’s not for your approval or anyone else no matter what denomination or off the wall sect of a denomination they are.”

“I saw the movie Passions of Christ. I did enjoy the movie and feel it as close a Bible based depiction as could have been. Any thing else you have to say against the movie should be kept to yourself. Have YOU seen it. If not are you so narrow-minded as to not have an original thought of your own. God can and does forgive porn stars, whether or not you can does not mean anything.”

“Mr. David Cloud, I was appalled by your judgmental behavior on the subject of this movie. BE VERY CAREFUL sir how you use God's Word and twist it to convey your own agenda. I am a Fundamental Baptist and it blows my mind to see how some of you THINK you have this God given ability to determine the holiness of others. Yes, you use a lot of scripture but you take it out of context. You use the Bible to say whatever you want and then call it biblical. BULL! And how dare you make a judgment call on another persons pastor, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW THEM! DUH! And you talk about false prophets and teachers. Check your own back porch buddy. Have you actually seen the movie that you have all of this ‘knowledge’ about? I doubt it. You probably don't go to movies for fear that Christ may return and catch you in a theatre. What if He returns while your watching t.v.? Oh, my bad, you don't have one of those either. I am very sorry and will pray for you because of the way you have chosen to limit yourself in your relationship with Jesus Christ.” (emphasis his)

“The reason I am writing to you is because I would like to caution you (though I doubt you ever listen to anyone other than yourself) against the type of extremism that I constantly see on your web site. I do not disagree with most of what you say; however, I believe that you have become so blinded by your self-righteousness that you are being used of the devil for his own purposes.”

“Preaching your hatred is not what we as Christians are charged to do. If you want to change the world my brother, start by changing yourself.”

“You, sir, are a legalist that the Pharisees would have been mighty proud of.”

“I presume you are perfect with no sin in your life, and that you believe God can’t use anyone He wants to. Perhaps you should tell God how to act. It sounds to me that if you were God you would have chosen the pharisees and sadusees to spred the good news insted of common people...even someone who persecuted the Church.”

“You deceive yourself and the people you hope to warn. Don’t you realize that any church, or individual in teaching the Trinity doctrine is a daughter of Rome, the great harlot.”

A LITTLE FARTHER OUT

“The angel described in [Pentecostal William] Branham’s book as being well built and having shoulder length brown hair was a fallen angel. These beings are called the Nordics and have been seen in UFOs as having blonde or brown hair.”

“You and your sickie so called ‘ministry’ need to hurry up and die and go to hell. Elvis was kind and good and is with Jesus. When you die, hell will open up to welcome you. ... Why don't you do the world a favor and jump off a high bridge?”

“It is now a well established fact that during this period [between age 12 and 30] Jesus visited several places of India including Himalayas where he studied and learnt ancient Indian and Vedic philosophy. His learning continued through initiation from Yogis and Siddhas for several years and when he appeared again at his birthplace he started preaching in the Vedic language.” [Note from Brother Cloud: I believed this nonsense before I was saved. I was a member of the Hindu Self-Realization Fellowship Society and followed Guru Paramahansa Yogananda. This false doctrine is taught in books such as “The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ.”]

“To know history is the death of Protestantism. Your critique is full of lies, rumors and misrepresentations. Jesus said ‘unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you will have no life within you. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him.’ As recorded in John, chapter 6, this is where Judas turned away because he could not accept it. Judas, the first protestant.”

See Also: