Category Archives: Apologetics

Hatred of Israel and the Jewish People Exposes Sharp Disagreement Among Churches – Dr. Mike Spaulding

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A further heresy clouds premillennial interpretations of Scripture – their exultation of racism into a divine principle. Every attempt to bring the Jew back into prophecy as a Jew is to give race and works (for racial descent is a human work) a priority over grace and Christ’s work and is nothing more or less than paganism…There can be no compromise with this vicious heresy.[1]

In the last few days, I have had a discussion with other believers on a social media platform. That discussion has focused on the status of Israel both current and future. Specifically, the discussion centered on the differences between a Dispensational view of Israel and a Covenant Theology Postmillennial view of Israel.[2] One simple post that I made ignited a storm of counter-post responses. My post simply said, “Old Testament prophecies concerning Israel are not spiritually realized in the church. Two separate entities.” I expected “push-back” from some people due to their different views. Still, I did not expect to be called a blasphemer, false teacher, and enemy of Christ by others, who acted as if I had somehow denied Jesus by making a distinction between the church and Israel. What exactly has happened within the body of Christ that we have arrived at a place where calling other believers blasphemers is acceptable, especially over things that there is wide disagreement about?

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Debunking the Debunkers – Christmas IS NOT Pagan – Dr. Mike Spaulding

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I was scrolling through my Instagram feed a few days ago and found a post about Christmas. Specifically, it was a post about a recent survey of American views concerning Christmas. The most recent survey results said that 57% of respondents affirmed that America needs more of Jesus in Christmas and less commercialism.

I, of course, agree with that wholeheartedly. That same survey said that as recently as 2019, among those surveyed, 63% of respondents said we need more of Jesus in Christmas and less commercialism. That shows a 6% drop in 3 years. What is going on here?

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The SPOTT Report Episode 7 – Finding a Remnant Ecclesia Part 4

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Hi friends! Thank you for joining Kathy and me for this episode of The SPOTT Report. Today we continue to discuss the urgency of finding a true body of believers in Yeshua. There are many attractive options but are they true ecclesias? Kathy and I discuss several issues the ecclesia must stand for and against. We take off the “gloves” for this conversation.

Is there a subject you want us to discuss? Email us with that subject – cmspaulding2@gmail.com and we’ll consider it for a future show.

You can support The Transforming Word Ministries and The SPOTT Report in the following ways:

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PayPal – support@drmikespaulding.com

The SPOTT Report is a ministry of The Transforming Word Ministries under the oversight and direction of the House of Spaulding, an ecclesiastical ministry not associated with any governmental entity or oversight.

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A Word For You Today from 1 Peter 3:15

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but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

1 Peter 3:15

 

The number of Christians who know virtually nothing about apologetics still amazes me. When discussing this topic even with pastors I often receive a blank stare that suggests they’ve never considered apologetics to be of much importance. Clearly, this needs to change. Here are four reasons why.

Reason #1 – Skepticism is at an all-time high and that breeds confusion.

In fact you could say that there is also an inverse relationship between confusion and skepticism. Skepticism in the culture breeds confusion in the church but it is also true that skepticism about the adequacy of the Christian faith within the church breeds confusion in the culture. If Christians won’t affirm what it is they believe why should the culture listen to anything they say?

The American religious landscape is in a state of flux. I’ve written about this elsewhere previously. New category entrants include the “nones” and the “dones.” The nones claim no religious affiliation and the dones have abandoned religious affiliation. The dones will most assuredly transition into the nones if they are not reached with reasons to believe the Gospel. The church is ill-equipped to do this when their foundation is skepticism and confusion.

Reason #2 – Young people are leaving the church for several reasons.

Some fall prey to the predators on our college campuses masquerading as professors and teachers. Don’t be deceived friends. There are myriad stories of college professors who are forthright in their intentions to destroy the Christian faith of their freshman students so that they can be free of the intellectual shackles of Christianity.  Parents, do you really intend to turn your children over to the wolves without a fight?

Reason #3 – Apologetics strengthens the faith of believers.

Let’s be perfectly clear about something friends. It is a known fact among Christians that a vast majority is downright fearful of friends, co-workers, even family members challenging them on why they believe what they believe. Most Christians are not prepared to give a simple answer to a simple question. Being unprepared breeds fear and fear causes believers to shy away from situations that will require them to defend their faith. Understanding that there is a vast depository of historical data that forms the basis for reasonable answers to every objection raised up against the Christian faith strengthens the faith of believers.

Reason #4 – Apologetics is integral to evangelism.

I was speaking with Lenny Esposito, President of Come Reason Ministries recently and we discussed this often overlooked truth.  Apologetics is not incidental to evangelism; it forms the very heart of evangelism. Although the idea of apologetics being a necessary part of one’s faith is met with surprise today, this was not the case in the early church. Giants of the faith such as Justin Martyr, Irenaeus of Lyons, and Tertullian wrote extensively about cultural issues of their day and provided robust and intelligent responses that pointed people to Jesus Christ.

CS Lewis once remarked, “One must keep on pointing out that Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.”

Friends I encourage you today to take up the responsibility for your discipleship and study to show yourself ready to be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. When you do you will experience a transformation in your faith.

An Open Letter to Hayden

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I receive lots of emails from people. I respond to those seeking information and assistance. When I receive other types of contact I normally disregard them, especially if they are of the argumentative type. I simply do not have the time or interest in engaging people who seem to have no point in the communication but to air their supposed grievances.

I am making an exception for Hayden if that is his/her real name. I received the following message from Hayden:

Why should I believe in your version of Christianity over the thousands of others that exist? Because the Bible says so? Your opponents will say the same thing. The Bible can be used to justify almost if not all interpretations and versions of Christianity. Every Christian believes that they’re right, god is on their side and if you don’t adhere to their interpretation the punishment is to burn in hell forever. Christians everywhere are all pointing fingers at each other threatening one another with the prospect of burning in hell forever. That being the case, why should any of us take the Bible and Christianity seriously?

For the record, I’ve never interacted with Hayden in any context. I do not know if he contacted me because he watched or listened to a sermon that I taught, a conference presentation that I gave, or a conversation that I had on a podcast. I simply do not know why Hayden would contact me with his questions concerning Christianity. I am glad that he did though because I want to provide Hayden with answers to his questions.

If Hayden and I had a conversation I would respond to his questions this way:

(1) Study the Bible for yourself and then choose what “flavor” you believe best reflects what you understand the Bible teaches.

(2) Refuse to take part in the behavior you cite and that you find abhorrent and criticize.

(3) Not all Christians are as you describe. Many understand that there can be some room for interpretation on lots of subjects.

(4) Neither I nor anyone that I am acquainted with, point fingers at other Christians and tell them they are going to burn in hell because they do not believe the same things that I do. There are people like that but not everyone and certainly not a majority of Christians.

(5) Hayden, you are responsible as an individual to understand what God has revealed to you. You cannot gauge Christianity, the faithfulness of God, or the veracity of the Bible based on what imperfect people do or say.

(6) #1 above will require that you are a born-again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is based on the following three verses of the Bible:

John 3:5-7 –  5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

Romans 8:12 – 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

1 Corinthians 2:6-14 – 6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written,

“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

Hayden, I encourage you to read the Bible for yourself and ask God to help you understand what you are reading. He is willing to do that if you are willing to sincerely seek Him. I pray that you will.