The Error of Mindless Belief

Many church leaders and parents have made the huge mistake of saying we have to believe God without any sort of proof. Either they were too lazy to explain what we believe and why we believe it or they felt their authority being threatened. Either way, it has caused many seekers to reject Christianity as being irrational. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Empirical science shows that this world couldn't have happened by chance. Order NEVER comes from chaos, as evolutionists claim. Neither has the universe always existed but it had a beginning and maker.

But sinful humanity continues to reject these facts. As we see in Israel's case, they wanted gods which they could hold and use. Isaiah 45:9 (KJV) says, "Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?"

Paul also showed this habit of humanity to suppress awkward truths in Romans 1:20 (KJV). "For the invisible things of him (God) from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead;"

History also proves the Bible to be correct. Liberal scholars have doubted the existence of ancient peoples until their ruins were dug up. For example, ancient Jericho was unearthed destroyed just as the Bible described it. Joshua 6:20 (KJV) reports, "So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city."

Christ's resurrection also proves the Bible's accuracy. It would have been easy for the Pharisees to show Christ's body to those who believed he arose had they found it still in the tomb. But Acts 1:3 (KJV) shows that he really did rise from the dead. "To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:"

Not only that but Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:6 KJV), "After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep."

I'll be writing more about this abundant proof of Scripture's veracity in You Think You're Going to Heaven? My hope is that people will read my book and realize that we have accurate reports in the Bible. We don't believe just because we're supposed to and that's that.

Saturday Song: Paul McCartney, "Maybe I'm Amazed"

Have you ever heard news which you couldn't accept. It seemed impossible that The Beatles had broken up in April of 1970. In my Deliverance from Jericho memoir, I wrote how I heard Paul McCartney's song and assumed it was recorded by The Beatles.

Hear Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed" here.

Our expectations are frequently contradicted by reality. It was that way with the disciples of Jesus. The Lord appeared to them as they walked along a road but they didn't recognize him. Luke 24:21 quotes one of the men saying what all of them felt. "But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done."

Jesus explained how "the Christ" had to suffer and die to fulfill the scriptures and to redeam humanity. This stirred them profoundly.

Though The Beatles never came back together, understanding our Lord's purposes never lets us down. Hebrews 13:5 (KJV) assures us, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

So, what do you think of this song? What are your memories of hearing it? Please leave me a comment in the box below. And if not, have a great weekend anyway.

Bruce Atchison, The Beatles, Paul McCartney, Maybe I'm Amazed,

The Error of Not Confronting Error

Some of my previous posts have upset people. They feel that I shouldn't criticize other belief systems. Like Thumper recited in the movie ,Bambi, "If you can't say somethin' nice, don't say nothin' at all."

But according to the Bible, we must warn others of their errors. Ezekiel 3:17-21 (KJV) plainly says, "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 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. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul."

And as it says in Proverbs 27:6 (KJV), "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."

Even Jesus knew it was needful that straying believers require correction. Matthew 18:15 (KJV) says, "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother."

We can see in the following verses that if the erring brother doesn't turn from his wickedness, two or three are to admonish him. Finally, the whole church needs to know and toss out the recalcitrant member.

By the way, Matthew 18:19 and 20 don't mean that Christ shows up at sparsely-attended prayer meetings. The Jews had a law that a case against somebody had to have two or three witnesses. The context of these two verses shows it means that two or three are to witness the issue with the erring brother. "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

We can see the context of this statement since Jesus said back in Matthew 18:17 (KJV), "And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican."

Here are three examples from Paul which show us that we need to correct those with wrong ideas. Romans 15:14 (KJV) reads, "And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another."

1 Thessalonians 5:12 (KJV) says, "And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;"

And for those who are expelled from the church, he wrote in 2 Thessalonians 3:15 (KJV), "Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."

I could include so many other verses stating that correction is what we must do and to do it in a loving way. I'll save those for my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? It's not hateful and divisive, as people today say, to warn wicked people and straying believers. Saving people from eternal agony is the most loving deed a person can do for others.

No Other Mediator but Jesus

I touched on the subject of Mary not being the mediatrix in my previous post. This is because only Christ can mediate between sinners and our holy God. Worshipping and praying to anybody else, including saints, is therefore blasphemy.

We can see that the whole plan of God was to save fallen humanity through the sacrifice of his innocent son. Paul explained in Galatians 3:19 (KJV) that the law Moses gave was only a stopgap measure. "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator."

That mediator is pointed out in Genesis 3:15. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

We can tell from subsequent verses that Eve believed she would bear the son, not daughter, who would be the deliverer. Genesis 4:1 (KJV) says, "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, 'I have gotten a man from the LORD.'"

The Messiah was always understood to be male, not female. The Samaritan woman Christ met knew this too. John 4:25 (KJV) reads, "The woman saith unto him, 'I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.'"

In the very next verse, John wrote,  "Jesus saith unto her, 'I that speak unto thee am he.'" Christ meant that he was the one to whom we must turn to for forgiveness. But, as I posted before, we pray directly to the Father.

I wish people, especially Catholics, would take Mary's advice which she gave the servants at a wedding feast. John 2:5 (KJV) reads, "His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." What a change it would make in all churches if people obeyed Christ's commandments and teachings.


I hope to publish a book soon called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Far too many confessing Christians read and hear what their Lord said and then don't apply his sayings to their lives. Many will find themselves on his left side at Judgement Day and be sentenced to eternal torment in hell.

Saturday Song: Paul Anka, "Jubilation"

Having been warned by old folks about the supposed satanic connection to rock music, you can imagine my delight when this song came on the radio in March of 1973. For once, the elders of the church were wrong and I was in the right.

Listen to Paul Anka's song here.

I doubt that Mr. Anka believed what he sang. Most likely, it was just a catchy song which might be a hit for him. Much of the music which mentioned Christ was made by bands and musicians who merely wanted to ride the Jesus band wagon.

Even so, the message is a good one. People are so deceived by the Devil. They figure that just being n8ice will get them to heaven. As for the really wicked folks, they don't care.

Christ welcomes all people who sincerely are sorry for their past lives and want to start new ones. As the Lord said in John 6:37 (KJV)  "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

And this is also what God wants. Psalms 51:17 (KJV) explains, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."

How wonderful that even the worst of sinners can be forgiven and set on a new life path with Jesus! No man-made religion offers that. They all want works to be done rather than offering freedom to bankrupt souls.

The Error of Praying to Saints

I realize that this will upset Catholics but there is no biblical requirement for believers to pray to the saints. If there was, I would do so. Here, from the Bible, is who we must pray to.

Jesus himself told  his disciples to whom we must pray in John 16:23 (KJV). "And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you."

Jesus also told his disciples, and us as well who follow him, in Matthew 6:6 (KJV) how to pray. "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

We can also see that we pray for saints, not to them, in 2 Timothy 1:3 (KJV). "I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;"

In the Old Testament, we see that it's God who grants our requests, not saints and prophets. Psalms 20:5 (KJV) says, "We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions."

The New Testament says in 1 John 5:15 (KJV), "And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."

But Catholics believe that God and Christ are too busy to hear from us mere mortals. That isn't so because Jesus told us to ask our heavenly Father for whatsoever we need.  The only mediator we need is Jesus. As Paul pointed out in 1 Timothy 2:5 (KJV), "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"


I plan to point this out in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Saints can't save us and neither can Mary be our go-between. Sadly, the human traditions of the fathers still damn seekers to hell and close the door of the Kingdom to people.

The Pantheistic Error

Pantheism is the belief that God is in everything and everything is God. But we see in Scripture that he is above and outside of his creation.

For example, how could God move upon the waters and be in them too? Genesis 1:2 (KJV) clearly says, "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

And if God is in us all, how could this be? Deuteronomy 4:7 (KJV) quotes Moses as saying, "For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?"

The phrase, "in all things," doesn't mean that God is in everything but that he arranged all the events and heard all the requests of his people.

Moses also said he is near, not in, his people in that instance. The only way God is in people is through the Holy Spirit which not everybody has.

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And can God be contained in this universe? Solomon said in 1 Kings 8:27 (KJV), at the temple dedication, "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?"

But some pantheists might quote Ephesians 4:10 (KJV) which says, "He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)"

The phrase, fill all things," doesn't indicate that Christ will be in every atom of creation but that everything will be put under his rule. Look at the context and it becomes obvious what the verse actually means.

The tragic truth is that wrong doctrines are always infiltrating the church. That's why I feel compelled to write my book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Satan sabotages the Lord's churches in order to turn people from the narrow way. I hope to prevent as many people as I can from straying into malicious lies.

Saturday Song: Aqua Fragile, "Mass Media Stars"

Never before has humanity had so few people influencing so many. Through mass media outlets, we receive all our news andopinions. Advertising also shapes us, creating cravings for products we didn't know we needed.

One album which I never knew I needed was Aqua Fragile's album called Mass Media Stars. But instead of hearing this Italian band's songs on my local radio station, I discovered their record at the public library. The song I loved the most is the title track.

Listen to "Mass Media Stars" here.

Back in the first century A.D., there was no mass media. Even so, word-of-mouth spread rumors and gossip quickly. That's why Christ asked his disciples an important question. Matthew 16:13-17 says, "   Now when Jesus had come into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he said, questioning his disciples, 'Who do men say that the Son of man is?' And they said, 'Some say, John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.' He says to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' And Simon Peter made answer and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' And Jesus made answer and said to him, 'A blessing on you, Simon Bar-jonah: because this knowledge has not come to you from flesh and blood, but from my Father in heaven.'"

Christ was pleased that Simon Peter spoke inspired words. Those are the only ones we ought to heed. Since the Bible is "god breathed," it's the most authoritative communication in human history. Therefore, we can base our lives upon what God has said.

So, what do you think of this song and what I've written? Please feel free to leave me your reply.

Does AntiTrinitarianism Damn Folks?

s it a sin to believe that the Trinity doesn't exist? After all, non Trinitarians say they believe in Christ.

One point to ponder is this: why did Jesus tell his disciples to believe in him as well as God? John 14:1 (KJV)quotes him as saying, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me."

The word "also" indicates duality of persons. If God were a modal being who manifested himself in three different kinds of being, why would he ask people to believe in him twice? It doesn't make sense.

And why did Jesus keep saying that his disciples should pray to the Father if he was formerly the father. As Mr. Spock would say, That's highly illogical."

Believing in Christ is obvious from Scripture. It's a far cry from believing about him or just liking his teachings. Believing means trusting in him to be one's God and saviour. As Paul pointed out in Romans 10:14 (KJV), regarding the gospel, "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"

We can see from Christ's baptism that all three members of the Trinity were there. Therefore, believing in a modalistic God is illogical.

Neither was Christ a created being, as Jehovah's Witnesses believe. So believing this doctrine is believing a lie since the Bible is true.

We can see by what Jesus said that lies belong to the Devil. He told the Pharisees, those supposed to be teaching truth to their followers, in John 8:44 (KJV) that, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

Believing in, or on, the name of Jesus means having total trust in his ability as God and saviour to provide one's imputed righteousness. Trusting in one's own righteousness is therefore unacceptable. As 1 John 5:13 (KJV) says, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

I conclude from all this that non Trinitarians don't give credit to Christ as the saviour and son of God who is co-existent with the Father and the Holy Spirit. But there might be those in their churches who love Christ and sincerely gave their hearts to him. Only God knows who they are. I pray they find out that antitrinitarianism is a lie and they'll adopt the truth.

I also hope my next book will help people learn the truth. It's called You Think You're Going to Heaven? God hates lies because they damn people to hell. He loves humanity and wants everybody to be saved from that awful fate. But he lets people choose between himself and Satan. I hope he uses my writing to save somebody from that horrid place.

The Swoon Theory Error

Some liberal theologians still believe in the swoon theory. According to them, Christ just fainted on the cross. In the coolness of the tomb, they claim he revived and escaped. I've heard that there are people who figure he went to India and lived out his life there.

The Bible is quite clear about Christ dying on the cross. First of all, he underwent severe torture. Matthew 27:26 (KJV) records, "Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified."

In those days, they used whips with bits of sharp bone and mettle embedded in them. Those objects ripped away flesh from the victim. People died from such scourging due to blood loss. It's a miracle Jesus didn't perish.

Furthermore, crucifixion is the most brutal method of execution. The victim has to push up on his or her impaled feet to get a breath. Muscle spasms and cramps added to the torture. Victims often lived for a few days in this agonizing condition. And Christ's gashed body rubbed up against the splintery wood of the cross, adding to his agony.

The proof which explodes the swoon theory is in John 19:34 (KJV). "But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water."

The Roman soldiers were experts in killing people. They wouldn't be fooled by an unconscious victim. And the blood and water coming out of the Lord's side proves that the spear went into his heart which had stopped beating. No one would survive that.

In Matthew 27:60 (KJV),  Joseph of Arimathaea took Christ's body , "And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed."

Adding to the exploding of the swoon theory is that Christ couldn't have rolled the stone away from the tomb's mouth by himself. So how did he exit it? Matthew 28:2 (KJV)says, "And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it."

Additionally, the Roman soldiers would have been executed for sleeping on duty. The Pharisees paid them a large amount of money and instructed them, as Matthew 28:13 (KJV) records, "Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept."

Whole books have been written about Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. I won't reinvent the wheel, so to speak, but I'll add this post to my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? People, especially intellectuals, refuse to believe the eye witness evidence provided in Holy Scripture so they invent excuses to salve their guilty consciences.

Saturday Song: Albert Hammond, The Free Electric Band

This song was a hit in the spring of 1973. It's about how people expect us to do what they planned but we desire to do what we feel passionate about. Though I enjoyed the song, one line made me feel uncomfortable.

Because I had heard about how atheistic universities had become, even back then, the line about analysing a woman's mind for "deep-rooted attitudes and morals," gave me an uneasy feeling. I never liked being scrutinized by fully-sighted folks and I disliked the thought of others suffering the same fate.

Here Albert Hammond's song here.

This is one unfortunate aspect of being human. Anybody who is different in some way becomes an unwelcome problem to groups sharing similarities. Skin colour is one division in human society. So are languages, religions, genders, and disabilities.

I'm glad that Christianity includes anybody of any ethnic background or other superficial differences. It isn't a "white man's religion" as some people think and neither is it only for westerners.

Look at what the Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 3:28 (KJV) regarding artificial divisions. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

This is why I love Christians no matter where they live. We're all adoptees in the family of Christ. What a privilege!

If you'd like to comment on this song and what I wrote, please feel free to do so. And if not, have a wonderful weekend anyway.

The Soul Sleep Error

Believe it or not, some churches teach that faithful Christians don't go directly to heaven but sleep in the grave. Some Bible verses seem to teach that doctrine.

One verse which seems to say that our soul sleeps is Daniel 12:2 (KJV) which says, "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."

What these preachers of soul sleep don't realize is that sleep is a metaphor for death. We see this clearly explained in John 11:11-15 (KJV). "These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, 'Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.' Then said his disciples, 'Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.' Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.'"

The Apostle Paul wrote that we don't sleep but our spiritual selves are awake in heaven. 2 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV) says, "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

Furthermore, John saw in his vision on the isle of Patmos that believers are in heaven under God's throne. Revelation 6:9-11 (KJV) plainly shows this to be true. "And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?' And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."


Also, Paul knew he would be with his Lord at death. Philippians 1:23 (KJV) plainly states, "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:"


These verses alone show that we don't become unconscious but we go to be with the Lord at death.  Martyrs throughout the church's history have held onto this blessed hope. They never felt that they'd just go to sleep like the soul sleep believers think.

I'll be writing more about our eternal destination in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Since there's no "do over" when we die, each one of us must make sure we'll be in the presence of Christ forever. Otherwise, the only other destination for us is hell.

The Free Will Error

This month, I'll be tackling some errors believed by established churches. These denominations aren't cults but they do follow errors which can easily be debunked with Holy Scripture.

Some churches believe that we have the exclusive ability to choose between following or rebelling against God. Consequently, they avoid any verses mentioning predestination. To their way of thinking, God would be a monster if he forced salvation on unwilling people.

Since God made everything, he owns it all and can do with his creation as he pleases. Therefore, people are chosen by him to accomplish his will. Deuteronomy 10:15 (KJV) is one of many verses which shows God's sovereignty. "Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day."

The biblical truth is that we can't save ourselves. Psalms 14:3 (KJV) states, "They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one."

God likewise said in Ezekiel 18:4 (KJV) that, "Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die."

So how can we be rescued from eternal death in hell? Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) provides the answer. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

But seeking God alone doesn't save us. He has the power to give anybody faith who asks him for spiritual life. Ephesians 2:1 KJV), regarding believers, explains,  "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:"

Through the preaching of the gospel, God calls sinners to repentance. That means he calls people to give up their wicked and rebellious ways and follow the commands of Christ. Peter explained this in Acts 2:39 KJV) when he said of salvation, "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

Because I want people to know the liberating truth of salvation, I'm working on my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Far too many people think they're safe from hell when they aren't. I want nobody to miss out on an eternity of bliss so that's why I'm writing my book.