July 12, 2004, 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

“I am a pastor of a small country church in KY. Every church in our area has went agog over the movie Passion of Christ, buying out movie theaters and so on. I did go and see the movie only because I thought it best in order to take a firm stand against it. I have been blessed to have a radio program on Sunday afternoons and the last two weeks I preached against this movie using a lot of your material and research. Along with my being raised a Catholic until being saved at the age of 23 I recognized much of the error displayed in the movie from the first scene. I was very upset not so much of the movie itself (when has Hollywood ever produces a biblical movie that was correct) but the response from all the preachers in our area who went agog over it. ... No one to date in this area has spoken out against the movie, which includes 2 independent Baptist churches. ... Pastor please pray for me and our church; we pulled out of the SBC 3 years ago under conviction and have been a Fundamental Baptist Church since then. ... We are young and are taking a stand in an area that needs someone to take a stand. Please pray for us.”

“My husband and I love your material and it has truly been a godsend to both of us...”

“Thanks for your faithfulness to our Lord and His word. My wife and I pray for you at least daily and ask God to bless you and encourage you. We have grown to love you because of your scriptural stand on varied subjects especially Mel Gibson's 'Passion'. Keep holding God's banner high and we look forward to seeing you in heaven.”

“I am simply writing to say thank you for your watch and stand for the Biblical Truth. I am a bible believing Chinese Christian residing in Hong Kong. ... Last week a Chinese Christian friend from Los Angeles USA introduced me your website. I am very grateful to God to have carefully read your articles warning against the many unbiblical errors, the ‘Marian’ belief, the catholic mystics, satanic views, and most important of all, the subtlety of the ecumenism, in this film. And with discernment from the Holy Spirit, I agree very much with your sharings and am greatly helped. I have introduced your website to my Christian friends. By sharings, we seek to speak the truth in love. I will spend more time reading your articles on other topics. I am really praying that the Holy Spirit will enlighten my own church, an independent free church, and the Christian friends I know, with the Word of God, and lead us into all the Biblical Truth, and glorifies alone our precious Jesus Christ as Lord. So that when we meet our Lord, we shall not be ashamed. May the Lord Himself be your all Reward. God bless you, and your co-workers of this website. Remember you in prayers.”

“A friend told us about your website, and perusing it, the material you are posting deserves a loud AMEN. I got converted in an independent church that later went C&MA, and down the Wheaton College, rock and roll, psychology chute into oblivion. Of the perhaps 50 to 100 young people who were in that church, there may be a handful who haven't gone liberal, married somebody divorced, committed suicide, turned away from the Lord or fallen in some other pit but I know of none. We were fed cheap grace, easy believism and generous helpings of ‘christian rock’ and it was deadly. There was no separation and it did affect how people lived.”

“I would just like to say how much I have enjoyed your website www.wayoflife.org. I have enjoyed it so much I have purchased the Way of Life Encyclopedia and Fundamental Baptist Library on CD. I have given the Encyclopedia to all of the men on staff at our church at my own expense.”

“My wife and I really appreciated the reply you gave in the article ‘What should I teach my children about the movies.’ Thank you. ... A quick word of encouragement for you; a very fine evangelist friend of mine managed to arrange with two of his sons -- (one in his late teens and the other in his early twenties) to invite round to his home a group of their young black friends. My friend asked me to talk with them and give them a ‘word’ I decided to give a talk on the biblical way of life and contrast it with the phony new culture; particularly the rap music that has a strong grip on the lives of many young black males. I used all the information that you have on your web site about rap artists and their music. The following day after the talk one of the young men called and said that the group was deeply challenged and they have a lot to think about. None of them have professed faith in Christ yet, but I do believe that the Lord will use that evening to His glory.”

“Wow... you are right on the money. Sadly, I used to be one of those who called Fundamentalists ‘pharisees.’ I rejoice that God has opened my eyes to the fact that they (most of them) are not, and because of your uncompromising stand, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I myself am numbered among the ranks of what some call ‘fundamentalists.’ I have been engaged in several conversations on Christian forums online... and have been called a pharisee for my strong stand for obedience to the Word of God. It's amazing how challenging people to holiness (which is exactly what Jesus and Paul did!) can cause such verbally violent reactions among those who profess Jesus as ‘Lord.’ How can anyone call Him ‘Lord’ when they don't even accept Him as Lord in practice? I'd like to know what their definition of the word ‘Lord’ is to these poor souls! Keep up the good work, Bro Cloud.”

“I commend your stand in your study of the Word of God. I do have a variance in understanding in some areas, yet I have come to agree more and more with your explained stand in many areas. I initially came from a ecumenical, and then a Pentecostal background. The pentecostal church caused us to be exhausted and wary. I now seek truth in God's Word to test everything. I do agree totally that God's Word is all authoritative and living. God stays the same yesterday, today and forever and He does not shift His doctrine or Word with every wind, or trend, that comes. I praise Him for His foundations laid so long ago. Keep standing in love and truth, and sharing with the rest of us, especially those like me with much to learn. We all have much to learn and should do so in love and truth.”

“Bro. Cloud, just a word of encouragement from Arkansas -- don't quit doing what you are doing. You are as loving as the Apostle Paul. Most would call him a Pharisee if they would ACTUALLY read what he wrote in the NT. But, there is probably not a video or movie produced by a Catholic or Charismatic, so not much chance of that! Thanks for all you do and send. May God bless!”

“Thank you for being a faithful watchman, watching and warning, in spite of the criticism from the liberals.”

“Thank you so much for being one of those ‘dreadful old fundamentalists’! Your website and e-mails and books are such a blessing to my husband and me. We thank God for you and pray for your continued courage and faithfulness.”

“Thank-You for being a ‘Watchman’, sounding the alarm in this age of apostasy. What you do takes obedience, wisdom, courage and (I'm certain) lots of hard work.”

“I am a recent visitor to your wonderful website. I have learned more about being a true Christian in the last 6 weeks than in my entire life (I'm 53 years old). Your articles have been a real blessing to me and have changed my life dramatically. Even though I confessed Christ as my Lord and Savior in my early 30's, I was still attached to the world in many ways. I thought that I was ok until I started reading your articles. I rededicated my life to the Lord. I thank God for leading me to your website! I have always wanted to attend a church like the one in Acts, but I didn't know such churches existed until now. I never heard of a Fundamental Independent Baptist. Your directory of churches led my family and I to a church (Heritage Baptist Church) in Woodbridge, VA, almost an hour away from where I live in Washington, DC. It's a wonderful church and I can see why you gave it two stars.”

“I've been visiting your site and have been so encouraged by the information there that you freely share. PLEASE keep up the GOOD work. It is DESPERATELY relevant to TODAY.”

“Many thanks for the Ruckman articles and indeed for your ministry via 'Way of Life' -- it's a tremendous help to me a 'rescued backslider of twenty-five years duration'!! It is six years since my Heavenly Father rescued me and my!, how the Evangelical scenario has changed (for the worse, I observe!). May our Gracious Lord continue to use your 'special' ministry in this 'special' way. I circulate much of your material to the spiritually hungry with whom I am in regular contact and evidence it's stimulating and challenging influence on lives, young and old!! The 'Evangelicals & Rome' and 'Sinner's Prayer' are/have been 'brilliant'!! (plus the 'Passion' articles). Keep on trusting and rejoicing! U.K.”

“Thank you for your article ‘Seven Keys to Fruitful Church Membership.’ I agree wholeheartedly that we have to learn to weigh issues. The counsel in your article will certainly help me to do that. I read it twice to make sure that I understood what you were saying. Even though we said that we know that there are no perfect churches, we were certainly looking for one! I shared your article with the rest of my family, and we are so grateful for your advice. We did visit the church that I told you about, and we’ve decided that this is where we should place our membership. I’m so thankful to God that he answered our prayers thru your ministry.”

“I want to express my sincere appreciation for you, your ministry and your materials. Both the church and I have benefited much from your writings and videos. On Wednesday evenings, we are currently viewing and discussing the video, ‘Why We Hold to the King James Bible.’ Earlier this year we viewed the video series, ‘Biblical Separation: Neglect Among Fundamental Baptists’ as well as the series, ‘The New Evangelicalism.’ These have been a great help to us.”

“I praise God for you and your ministry. God has seen to it that your ministry be a huge help in my Spiritual growth over the last year. I've had the opportunity to purchase and enjoy many of your books and tapes, and am thankful I now own a copy of the Way of Life Encyclopedia.”

“Bro. Cloud has been very important in our Christian walk. We found him after we had been saved less than a year; still puzzled and confused about Bible versions, CCM, ecumenism, etc. We had been convicted by the presentations of Ken Ham and Kent Hovind and became young-earth creationists, but we were then stuck. We were trying to read five or six different Bible perversions and make sense of them. We were listening to CCM; we needed guidance. Bro. Cloud has educated and taught us truths we had no way of finding without him. He brought us through our Christian toddlerhood by teaching us what we had to say 'No!' to. Since then my wife and I have surprised fellow independent Baptists and even pastors at the level of knowledge and maturity the Lord has granted us through the ministry of Way of Life.”

“Thank you for boldness to hold to the Word of God and His truth. I am a missionary in Japan. I have been using the Passion movie and passion tracts to outreach to the Japanese hoping they will see the movie and begin to ask questions about Jesus Christ. Less than 1% are born again believers here. I decided to do a little more research on the movie after seeing it and having several questions to the meaning of many scenes. I bumped into your homepage and at this point feel that I have been deceived and lied to. I trusted the endorsement of the Passion from James Dobson and other evangelical Pastors I greatly respect. One of the biggest problems I have about the film is the charactes/actors themselves including Mel Gibson. When did Mel Gibson become born again? Are his movies family centered and uplifting? How about the other actors? I put in the names of two of the main actresses from the film in my search engine and found myself linked to trashy movies and pornography. I am saddened that the book that inspired Mel Gibson is selling like crazy. Feeding the unbiblical deception of the Roman Catholic Church. Have Bible sales increased? Even more devastating is that so many who saw the Passion will begin checking into other films by these actors and actresses. I am sickened and saddened that I so easily accepted this movie and have been promoting it. I am also concerned that those Pastors, and leaders praising this film will take a closer look at the origin of this film and those involved in making it and acting in it.”

“I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate you and your stand for truth. It is a shame that the time has come when those who insist on ‘nothing but the truth’ are considered noteworthy. I have used your materials extensively both personally and while teaching my adult Bible class. Unless more Christians stand up for Biblical truth and preservation of Gods word, we will become that voice of one crying in the wilderness. Amos 8:11,12 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find [it]. There are many of us out here who owe a debt of gratitude to you for your unflinching stance and the Godly example that you set.”

“I have gleaned so much from your teachings and I know in my heart that you are right on. People are so quick to judge you, but don’t ever fall back from the mark and the high calling he has set before you. We need you at a time like this. I left one church because of the music and the sexy women that were dancing around in front, and the pastor and a board member came to visit us; and after I told him all of our concerns, the board member said, ‘YOU have a lot of valid reasons but you are letting the devil use you.’ How is this possible? The devil using valid reasons? Went to another church and the music, etc finally caught up there. I had previously called and they said they never used programs just the bible, the pure word of God etc. And they did just that for years and then the ‘money people’ and a few others came in and it changed ... Cleansing Stream, Joyce Meyers, and the Promise keepers. It all came in bang and the music changed and one day they were singing to ‘jump into the river’ and the choir was jumping and the people started to jump and then they sang Swim in the River and they all started to simulate swimming. Picture this in your mind; an unsaved person coming in would think ‘This is church?’ We looked at each other and said we are going to run from the river and we did. They should have been crying a river but this river has the flow going and there is no one crying or running from it. Maybe some can relate to this. I am saddened as both the pastors are sincerely good men who in the past I would have NEVER believed would let this happen in their churches. They were deceived as some of us have been. I stayed as long as I could praying and crying and now we are out.”

“Do you realize that your description of the ‘strange’ woman (especially the section about attire) [he is referring to our article “The Modest Woman vs. the Strange Woman”] adequately describes many, many women in churches today?? I am constantly amazed when we visit a church at the number of mini-skirts and tight dresses on the woman in attendance. As a man... I notice. This is especially true of teenage girls. I have 3 sons, and no daughters... but if I had a daughter she surely would not dress in this manner!”

“I am sixty-six years old and a baby in Christ Jesus. In 1998, I left Islam and accepted Jesus as my Lord and my Savior. Since then I have been blessed to go to Cuba on three short-term mission trips. I have been blessed to have earned an associate degree in seminary and am working on my B.Min. And I am called by Him and committed to Him to preach. It has truly been a "joyride" for these past six years! But in that time, I have also been led to join two churches which were claimed to be conservative; and indeed, at the time I began visiting them, the preaching was both biblical and foundational. But at each, the pastors were new arrivals, at the top of their form, seemingly on fire. After not too many months, though, they each became comfortable, made their alliances, and became entrenched enough to veer away from the teachings of the Bible and began to assert their own personal agendas for the churches. One is enamored of the title of Doctor in front of his name, and beholden to the people who literally and physically built and own the church; respecting only their power and money. The other, a man who has gone from preaching the KJV to recognizing the Message, the NLT, and other paraphrases as being the genuine word of God and embracing Rick Warren's mumbo-jumbo as the only way to jazz up the members of a church that is 180+ years old. No amount of reasoning with either can move them from their chosen path. So i resigned as a Sunday School teacher and deacon in order to find a church dedicated to God's Word and his work; one with a tried and true pastor, and one where I might receive practical training to serve and preach. In the midst of all this, I found out about Way of Life while reading about Rick Warren's church on the internet. I praise and thank God that you are available. I have been able to learn much that had been hidden by those former ‘Southern Baptist’ pastors. I value the daily lessons you post as much as I do the courses I am taking. You are an encourager and a teacher for me. It is very comforting to realize and find that there is a source of information available to me that reinforces my fundamental beliefs. And I thank Him for leading me to you. ... Thank you for your service and your devotion to your calling.”

“I would like to add my commendations for your ministry as I have been reading your articles for several years now. When I have a question about any particular issue I usually check with you first for a sound biblical approach to follow. One thing I have noticed in all this time is that you are not swayed by either praise or mocking. That in itself is a marvel these days with the pragmatic approach many have taken to current trends. You have opened my eyes to many issues I had not considered and you have shaped my thinking. But I also try to be a good Berean and have checked your references -- always. You amaze me in your understanding and perspective on the word of God. I hope to be as good an apologist someday. God impressed upon me early in my walk that discipleship is of utmost importance in these last days. People do not know how to read their Bibles - and that in itself is amazing to me. Those people who mock your ministry do not have a clue!”

“Some time back you counseled me and my husband about the situation we were in at a Southern Baptist church and since we left last May and started going to Lighthouse Baptist we are so much stronger today and we have so much more peace. It is amazing to see looking back now, just how liberal the old church was and as I understand, our old church is even more so a year later….the leaven continues to grow. We thank God for Lighthouse Baptist Church…..it is feeding us, giving us clear sound teaching, true fellowship, the right music to worship God, our daughter got saved in February and about 3 weeks after she was saved she and our son (13) went forward during an alter call and asked to be candidates for baptism. ... my husband and I since getting out of an apostate church and into a sound church the blessings of God are being poured out upon this home. My husband is becoming so strong spiritually; he takes control of things in that area completely, whereas before he didn’t, because the women seemed to be dominate where we were attending before. My husband will be teaching the teens now at Lighthouse and I will help him with the girls….which is what we did at our old church. We were fundamentals trying to teach liberal children and it didn’t work, but now the Lord is providing another opportunity to work and teach teens once again, but this time it is the right church, the right kids and the right families. We are very excited to see what the Lord will do. In saying all of this….I want to say thank you for being so straight forward with us about what we should do. It was hard for we loved so many at the old church, and now we have much peace, joy and victory!!! We are where God wants us and it feels so wonderful!! Thank you Brother Cloud.”

“Dear Brother Cloud, thank you for these illuminating articles. Thank you for being a light that exposes the error of ecumenicism, the gravest danger to the purity of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in today's world.”

“Thanks for your clear stand and encouragement in the battle. I consider myself a second generation fundamentalist, but I am not heading back to the Southern Baptist Convention.”

“Thank you for this 'spiritually sensible' article. I had already downloaded this helpful item from your website and intend using the information immediately, to assist in defusing a sad situation currently 'fermenting' in my local church! I have written briefly on a couple of occasions and thanked you for your endeavours for Him I-- do so again! The site and your publications have blessed me tremendously!”

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

“[You merely want to] sell your agenda; an agenda that wants everyone to take every word of the Bible ‘literally’. ... On top of that your interpretation and commentary on ‘your’ personal beliefs breed intolerance, racism and represent a modern day example of the mentality that brought about the crusades, witch burnings and hundreds of other historical events where so-called Christians killed in the name of Jesus. In another time, you'd be in the front row of these events. ... I’ve suggested before and more and more believe that the voices you are hearing are a result of LSD flashbacks from your self-admitted drug days.”

“You, sir, seem to have an ability to always find WRONG! You would likely be unpleased with the Lord Jesus, were He to again walk this earth. You truly do bother me and you are blinded to what God is doing through others other than your ‘funnymental’ Baptists. Why not be open to see beyond your legalistic views?”

“You make even the Pharisees look sound. Relative to Chuck Swindoll and many others, you speak without knowledge and inflame the minds of the ignorant who would unquestionably trust your ‘savvy’ representations of others. You assume the seats of judges, yet I fail to see any honorable motive in your doing so. ... I’m chagrined. At the same time, I have this sense that you will never get it, and instead would thrive on your misrepresentations of others whom you don't even know . . . except at a great distance from which it's safe for you to lob such silly attacks.”

“Until you are willing to open your eyes to the real world and see that people are essentially good but flawed, I am not interested in anything more you have to say. It is only religious people (note - not spiritual, they seem to have it sussed) like you that cause most of the problems in the world, with your dogmatic, offensive views and your determination to drive away people who need guidance most, with your judgments. If you respond to this I will be surprised, but I felt compelled to let you know how much you disgust me.”

“1 Timothy 2 11-12 are not God's words! It is not the teaching of Jesus! Women can teach and have authority over men especially when it comes to spreading the message of Jesus. ... I hope you don't take 1 Timothy 2 11-12 to be God's word! Shame on you!”

“It is such a shame that you have this untruths of your website about women not be able to preach/teach and usurp authority over men.”

“You are a sorry excuse for a Christian! A dirty, filthy maggot posing as a Christian!”

“Rev Cloud, you are despicable -- I can't believe you claim to be a Christian.”

“Your article on Southern Gospel Music is the most off base, debasing piece of literature I have ever read. ... Sure there are elements of entertainment in the best of Southern Gospel music. I would hope that you would find a good sermon to likewise be enjoyable to listen to. You do a disservice to Christian music and Christian people ever where with oped pieces such as this.”

“You are simply jackasses.”

“I find it incredible that anyone true Christian would attack any form of Christian music with such disdain.”

“Dear sir: I was reading the article you wrote on your visit to the Vineyard, I am sorry to say how wrong you are, and how much time you must have wasted writing this, you are obviously not filled with the holy spirit and do not believe in the gift of tongues. I have seen so many denominations, and especially the baptist, and how dead they were.”

“Been reading your article on Southern Gospel Music. I didn't know that God had a chosen style of music. Do you mind telling me where in the Bible it's listed? You sir, are spending way too much time trying to analyze and judge other people and there actions. You're going to be really surprised when and if (taking the responsibility of judgment on yourself IS a sin) you get to Heaven, that Hovie Lister and the Statesmen, The Goodmans, The Blackwoods, and the Speers are going to be doing the music along with Bach (Oh, you probably don't like him either, if you even know who he is). My suggestion is for you to get a life. One that doesn't make it your responsibility to tear other peoples work down, the likes of which their accomplishments for Christ will far outshadow anything your negativism will ever do. I've got to say it! YOU SIR ARE A CLOSE-MINDED IDIOT!!!!!!” [Note from Bro. Cloud: We can see that this fellow absolutely does not believe in judgmentalism!]

A LITTLE FARTHER OUT

“Was wondering if you would mind reading through my interpretation of Daniel’s Last Vision. I think you might be surprised at what you see. ... This is [a matter] of an urgency, because this is the only passage of the Word of God that has been sealed, and I believe my interpretation is correct, and directly affects each and every person on the planet.”

“The uniting spiritual movements today have the potential to truly lift the human race out of much of the negativity which has plagued us for centuries. Mysticism is a truly beautiful thing and has the potential to unite and give peace where before there was only division and hatred. It is interesting to note that almost every spiritual group on earth has its own form of mysticism, and those forms often have very similar characteristics. I used to see no hope for religious movements to achieve peace and unity, but it is truly found in mysticism. It is available to all, and all can experience the inner wonder of mystical experience.”

“Guys - the fact remains and will always remain until the end of the world: there is no salvation outside of the Roman Catholic Church. ... If you die outside of the Roman Catholic Church your decent into eternal hell is 100% certain ... and you are not one of the elect.”

“you people are seriously crazy, i just read a long page on the evils of the rock beat. I expect you guys are highly moral (a)merican citizens? the kind who support the Bush regime? how can you possibly speak out against music when your country is having people murdered all across the the globe in the name of 'democracy'. how many rock musicians killed anyone for the advancement of their personal (or their country's) wealth? think about it for once in your pathetic lives, just look around you, it's your own who are evil, not us”

See Also: