Dr. Sam Gipp, a leading extreme proponent of this view, has released a new video defending the purity and sanctity of the King James version against all other English versions. Dr. James White has responded. I’m posting in them in order here. You decide which is the better, more faithful argument.

Dr. Sam Gipp video:

Dr. James White refutation:

(Part 1)

(Part 2)

(Part 3)

(Part 4)

(Part 5)

Recently:

• What’s wrong with Joel Osteen? – Daily Caller
• Joel Osteen Worships Himself – Salon.com (Secular but still makes the same points as others. I don’t agree with the picture portrayed of the Puritans. Clearly the author has not read much o the Puritans and has a caricature in mind, from one sermon, i.e., Jonathan Edwards’ Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God)
• Now Joel Osteen Says Mormonism Itself is Christian – Apprising Ministries

Not so recently:

• Joel Osteen and the Glory Story – Michael Horton
• What Ever Happened to Sin? – Michael Horton
• Are You in God’s Story? - Michael Horton
• Suffering and a Theology of Glory - Michael Horton
• Doesn’t God Want Us to be Happy? - Michael Horton
• Become a Better You:Reflections on Joel Osteen’s Latest Book – Michael Horton
• The Gnosticizing Joel Osteen – Denny Burk

It is a sadly neglected subject. Notwithstanding the clear and uniform teaching of Scripture, man’s ruined condition and alienation from God are but feebly apprehended and seldom heard in the modern pulpit, and are given little place even in what are regarded as the centers of orthodoxy. Rather the whole trend of present-day thought and teaching is in the opposite direction, and even where the Darwinian hypothesis has not been accepted, its pernicious influences are often seen. In consequence of the guilty silence of the modern pulpit, a generation of churchgoers has arisen which is deplorably ignorant of the basic truths of the Bible, so that perhaps not more than one in a thousand has even a mental knowledge of the chains of hardness and unbelief which bind the natural heart, or of the dungeon of darkness in which they lie. Thousands of preachers, instead of faithfully telling their hearers of their woeful state by nature, are wasting their time by relating the latest news of the Kremlin or of the development of nuclear weapons.

It is therefore a testing doctrine, especially of the preacher’s soundness in the faith. A man’s orthodoxy on this subject determines his viewpoint of many other doctrines of great importance. If his belief here is a scriptural one, then he will clearly perceive how impossible it is for men to improve themselves—that Christ is their only hope. He will know that unless the sinner is born again there can be no entrance for him into the kingdom of God. Nor will he entertain the idea of the fallen creature’s free will to attain goodness. He will be preserved from many errors. Andrew Fuller stated, “I never knew a person verge toward the Arminian, the Arian, the Socinian, the Antinomian schemes, without first entertaining diminutive notions of human depravity or blameworthiness.” Said the well-equipped theological instructor, J. M. Stifler, “It cannot be said too often that a false theology finds its source in inadequate views of depravity.”

Read more here.

• Promises guaranteeing the safety and security of the true believer: John 5:24; 6:37-40; 6:47; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1; 8:28-29; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; Phil. 1:6; Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2; 1 Pet. 1:5; Jude 24-25
• God’s constant care – 1 Pet. 5:7
• God’s great faithfulness – Lam. 3:21-23; 1 Cor. 1:9; Heb. 11:11
• God’s sufficient grace – 2 Cor. 9:8; 12:9; John 1:16-17
• God’s eternal love – Jer. 31:3; John 31:1 ; Rom. 8:35-39
• God’s unfailing promise – Tit. 1:2; Heb. 6:18; Num. 23:19; 2 Cor. 1:20; Rom. 4:20-21; Heb. 11:11
• God’s abiding presence – Heb. 13:5; Deut. 31:6,8; Matt. 28:20
• God’s mighty working – Phil. 2:12-13; Eph. 3:20-21; Heb. 13:20-21
• God’s adequate supply – Matt. 6:25-34; Phil. 4:19; Psalm 23:1; 34:10
• The promise of God’s peace – Isa. 26:3; Phil. 4:6-7; 4:9; John 14:27; 16:33
• The promise of God’s joy – John 15:11; Gal. 5:22
• The promise of God’s rest – Matt. 11:28-30; Heb. 4:1-11
• The promise of forgiveness and cleansing from sins – 1 John 1:9; Psalm 32:5; Prov. 28:13
• The promise of answered prayer – John 14:13-14; 15:7; 1 John 3:22; 5:14-15; Matt. 7:7-11
• Promises for new strength – 2 Cor. 12:9-10; Phil 4:13; Isa. 40:28-31; 41:10
• Promises for needed wisdom – James 1:5-7
• Promises for needed help – Heb. 13:6; Isa. 41:10,13
• Promises for needed comfort – 2 Cor. 1:3-5; John 14:16-18; 2 Thess. 2:16-17
• Promises for needed guidance – Prov. 3:5-6; Psalm 23:2-3
• Promises for needed faith – Rom. 10:17; Hebrews 11
• Promises for victory over sin – Romans 6; John 8:31-36
• Promises for victory over temptation – 1 Cor. 10:13; Heb. 2:17-18; 4:15-16
• Promises for victory in the midst of trials – Heb. 12:5-11; James 1:2-12; 1 Pet. 1:6-8; 4:19
• Promises for victory in the midst of suffering – Rom. 8:18,28; 2 Cor. 1:3-4
• Promises for victory over the world system – 1 John 2:17; 5:4-5
• Promises for victory over Satan – James 4:7; 1 John 4:4
• The promise of reward for keeping God’s commandments – John 14:21,23; Psalm 19:11
• The promise of reward for seeking God – Heb. 11:6; Matt. 7:7; Jer. 29:13; Deut. 4:29
• The promise of reward for faithful living – 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 4:2-5; Luke 16:9-10
• The promise of a future heavenly home – 1 Pet. 1:4; Rev. 21:3-5; John 14:1-3; Heb. 11:10
• The promise of the return of Christ – John 14:1-3; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 John 2:28-3:3; Tit. 2:13

This has been a joyful thought ringing in my heart today after I read it. Notice it isn’t our love, our faithfulness, our toiling, and our working that acquires the faithfulness of God for us, His people. Rather it is the Lord loving and being faithful to us, despite us. This is pure gospel. His love and faithfulness will ever preserve me, for eternity. He is committed to me, demonstrated and effected on the cross. He will preserve me and all of His people in the wake of His resurrection, never to perish, but always to live for His glory.

What a thought that He will ever preserve us and always remain faithful. This is solid ground and food for weary souls worn out from sin.

1: The Sustaining Power of the Gospel – C.J. Mahaney (MP3)

2: The Power of the Articulated Gospel – Albert Mohler (MP3)

3: False Conversions: The Suicide of the Church – Mark Dever (MP3)

4: Will Your Gospel Transforms a Terrorist? – Thabiti Anyabwile (MP3)

5: Spirit-Powered, Gospel-Driven, Faith-Fueled Effort – Kevin DeYoung (MP3)

6: Divine Sovereignty: The Fuel of Death-Defying Missions – David Platt (MP3)

7: The Underestimated God – Ligon Duncan (MP3)

8: The Fulfillment of the Gospel – Matt Chandler (MP3)

9: Glory, Majesty, Dominion, and Authority Keep Us Safe for Everlasting Joy – John Piper (MP3)

Trueman also speaks to the issue of social justice and evangelicalism making that a primary drum beat, instead of the Person and work of Christ. The danger and concern is that social justice issues, as important as they are, may replace the central teaching and preaching of the Gospel, which is the primary function of the church.

Carl Trueman on The Janet Mefferd Show speaking to the issue, “Is the Reformation over?” March 03, 2010 (MP3, first 20 minutes)

I’m also including a later interview with Trueman by Mefferd on the Reformation’s influence.

Dr. Carl Trueman talks about Martin Luther and the Reformation. July 22, 2011 (MP3)

Ultimately, the promises of God have been fulfilled in history and will be brought to completion in the completed, finished work of Christ at His return; His perfect life lived, His perfect sacrificial death for us, and His resurrection, all for His glory and the salvation of His people. We wait, in faith, for His Day when He returns to consumate His Kingdom and bring judgment on His enemies. He is the King of kings, the Master of masters, who fulfills all in all. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36 ESV) What a joy and hope of salvation! And He imparts the faith necessary to be saved, the faith that holds these promises in assured hope. He receives all the glory and His people get to participate in His glory for all eternity!

I have come to the realization tonight that my mail server has not been sending out emails since February 17th. I hopped on AT&T’s Uverse chat support and was informed (after connecting to a second tech for a possible different answer because, you know, not all techs know the same things) that AT&T is now blocking outbound SMTP port 25 for Uverse customers. I initially had the port opened on my account to allow outbound email for my mail server. But it doesn’t work now as of February 17. And if you want to have this port opened now, you must contact their Connectech team to unblock it. The number, as of now, is 1-866-294-3464, or you can apparently connect with their chat service here: https://chatnow.att.com/. If you send me an email directly right now, I’ll try to respond another way in the mean time.

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UPDATE 1: Okay this is rich. So I contacted Connectech via the chat app (which is an exe download, similar to TeamViewer), chatted with the tech about the problem and was asked if I had purchased a support plan. I said, no, I just need my port 25 opened again. He said, I can’t help you unless you have a package purchased (paraphrasing all of the aforementioned).

So let me get this straight: I already pay AT&T Uverse a larger amount of money for their technology (okay fine, whatever) than the other guys. I pay for support too when I have a problem, support that comes with my service. AT&T decides to block outbound port 25. To get it open, I can’t just call the regular support anymore. I have to call their outsourced “professional techs” to flip a switch. And in the process, at least pay them $20 more a month. You’ve gotta be kidding me? This is a new low for AT&T customer service. Ever heard of corporate communism? With their level of bureaucracy, red tape and hoops to jump through to get something done, for the one’s they’re supposed to be servicing, I can’t think of a better term. Or how about inefficiency?

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UPDATE 2: So after having blogged and tweeted this issue, I have received two responses from AT&T techs saying they can help. They asked me to direct message them on Twitter now with my account information. And although they are still tweeting others with issues, they will not respond. I don’t get it. Still waiting though …

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UPDATE 3: A social media guy (Mike A) from AT&T contacted me directly about the issue and is getting the ball rolling. Appreciate it!

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UPDATE 4: After receiving a call, I have yet to hear anything about a possible resolution or whether it is even still being looked at. I’ve called twice, left messages, with no response. Benefit of the doubt: could be very busy.

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UPDATE 5: Received a call from Mike A a little while ago at the social media team at AT&T and they let me know they have resolved the problem, port 25 is not being blocked anymore. There were apparently other reports of this happening and they are handling it on a case by case basis. Appreciate the help, Mike A, at @ATTTeamNatasha!