Bachman-Turner Overdrive: "Give Me Your Money Please"

When I first heard this song in the spring of 1976, I didn't like it. It sounded like BTO were glorifying robbery. My mind changed when I listened closely to the lyrics. The robber in the song was polite. That's the whole point of the song.

Have a listen and tell me what you think:

No matter how people justify it, theft is theft. Exodus 20:15 (Bible in Basic English) is quite clear on that matter. "Do not take the property of another."

Even obsessing about what somebody else has is an evil activity. God is quite clear on that too in Exodus 20:17 (BBE). "Let not your desire be turned to your neighbour's house, or his wife or his man-servant or his woman-servant or his ox or his ass or anything which is his."

And any excuse we give for confiscating something from somebody, except if our children get hold of something dangerous, is still theft. Paul asked a very good question in Romans 6:16 (BBE). "Are you not conscious that you are the servants of him to whom you give yourselves to do his desire? if to sin, the end being death, or if to do the desire of God, the end being righteousness."

Our Lord and Master made it plain that we must obey him and his Father in Luke 6:46 (BBE). "Why do you say to me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not the things which I say?"

Nobody likes being assaulted or robbed. Even so, Christ commanded us in Luke 6:29 (BBE) that, "If a man gives you a blow on one side of your face, then let the other side be turned to him; from him who takes away your coat, do not keep back your robe."

Of course this doesn't mean that we can't report the assault or robbery to the police. They're appointed to keep the peace and to prevent bad behaviour.

And if Christ doesn't come to judge the world by Thursday, I hope to post about the seemingly-long time Christ is taking to return.

What's Wrong With Lordship Salvation?

The way some preachers think, Lordship salvation is some sort of doctrinal aberration. For some reason, some folks assume a person is saved first and later on they make Christ their Lord. What these Christians fail to understand is that Christ is always our Lord and Master.

Jesus himself said it was right for his disciples to be under his rule. John 13:12 and 13 (Bible in Basic English)clearly states, "Then, after washing their feet and putting on his robe again, he took his seat and said to them, 'Do you see what I have done to you? You give me the name of Master and Lord: and you are right; that is what I am'".

The Apostle Paul also said plainly that Christ needs to be worshipped as Lord at the point of salvation. Romans 10:9 and 10 (BBE) reads, "Because, if you say with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and have faith in your heart that God has made him come back from the dead, you will have salvation: For with the heart man has faith to get righteousness, and with the mouth he says that Jesus is Lord to get salvation."

Likewise Philippians 2:9-11 (BBE)doesn't obscure Christ's Lordship. "For this reason God has put him in the highest place and has given to him the name which is greater than every name; So that at the name of Jesus every knee may be bent, of those in heaven and those on earth and those in the underworld, And that every tongue may give witness that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

These people who claim that new believers don't have to acknowledge Christ as Lord are like those to whom Jesus put this question. Luke 6:46 (BBE) says, "Why do you say to me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not the things which I say?"

These are they who might find themselves in the predicament of the folks in Matthew 7:22 and 23 (BBE), "A great number will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, were we not prophets in your name, and did we not by your name send out evil spirits, and by your name do works of power?' And then will I say to them, 'I never had knowledge of you: go from me, you workers of evil.'"

The Bible is clear that Jesus is Lord and must therefore be obeyed. He's not merely a grief counseller or life coach but King of Kings and Lord of Lords. How sad that so many hopeful individuals will be turned away from heaven on Judgement Day.

If our Lord and Master hasn't returned by Thursday, I hope to post about why the poor in spirit are blessed.

Saturday Song: Ian Thomas, "Come the Sun"

In the late sixties and early seventies, it was trendy and hip to sing about Jesus. Many non Christian artists portrayed him as a first-century hippie who got killed for saying we should all be nice to each other.

Though I appreciated hearing songs about my Lord on the radio, I soon learned that those who name his name aren't always doing so for noble reasons.

Listen to this song here.

The people of the world can be excused for their ignorance but not the followers of Christ. Some folks claim to be believers but they just want his power and blessing. Matthew 7:22 (KJV) is a warning to such people from Jesus when Judgement Day comes. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?"

Some folks become swept up in the emotionality of evangelistic meetings but they have zero interest in being Christ's disciple. As Jesus said in Luke 6:46 (KJV),  "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

And in a parable about the end of this age, Jesus warned in Luke 13:25 (KJV) that, "When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open unto us'; and he shall answer and say unto you, 'I know you not whence ye are:'"

So, what do you think of this song and what I've written? Please contact me directly..

On Monday, I hope to publish a post about why Christians must suffer for following Jesus.

Who Were the Folks in Matthew 7:21-23?

John MacArthur said, and I agree, that this is the most frightening passage in the Bible. A vast number of people today claim to be doing miracles and speaking in "heavenly" languages but they are hellward bound.

Matthew 7:21-23 BBE) reads, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will go into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the pleasure of my Father in heaven. A great number will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, were we not prophets in your name, and did we not by your name send out evil spirits, and by your name do works of power?' And then will I say to them, 'I never had knowledge of you: go from me, you workers of evil.'"


These "Lord! Lord!" people are those who think they serve Christ but they're really serving themselves. As Jesus said to his disciples in Luke 6:46 (BBE) "Why do you say to me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not the things which I say?"

Remember too that Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve. Before he betrayed Christ, he seemed like a model disciple. But Jesus wasn't fooled by his fakery. John 6:70 (BBE) proves his omniscience. "Then Jesus said, Did I not make a selection of you, the twelve, and one of you is a son of the Evil One?"


We can tell by these verses that Christ isn't fooled by fake praise. Many people act as if the Lord's name is a sort of magical invocation of power. But being in Christ's name and doing things in his name means that we've been adopted into his family. Check out what Galatians 4:4 and 5 (BBE) says. "But when the time had come, God sent out his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, That he might make them free who were under the law, and that we might be given the place of sons."

We also are assured in John 6:37 (BBE) of our acceptance in Christ's family. "Whatever the Father gives to me will come to me; and I will not send away anyone who comes to me." What an assurance that is!

But this adoption is conditional in that we must repent and surrender the running of our lives to Christ. Luke 18:17 (BBE) speaks of this total trust we must place in the Lord. "Truly I say to you, Whoever does not put himself under the kingdom of God like a little child, will not come into it at all."

This will be the main theme in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Far too many people assume they're saved but their deeds and lives betray them.

On Thursday, providing the Lord doesn't return before then, I'll post about five foolish virgins and who they were.

Can We Make Christ Our Lord?

I hear many preachers say we must "make" Christ our Lord. While the sentiment is noble, the premise is wrong. What I mean is that we can't make Christ our Lord because he already is.

When we call Christ our Lord, it means we submit to him and obey what he says. As he told his disciples in John 13:13 (KJV), "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am."

Since we're Christ's disciples, we must heed what our teacher teaches us. Like he said in Luke 6:46 (KJV), "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

Being Christ's also means that we belong to him. He bought us with his blood from the slave market of sin. As Paul aptly pointed out in 1 Corinthians 6:20 (KJV),  "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

Likewise, Romans 6:17 (KJV) explains, "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you."

The trouble is that many professing churchgoers only want the side benefits of "receiving" Christ but they don't want to obey his commandments. As he said in Matthew 7:21 (KJV), "Not every one that saith unto me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

Furthermore, we are given this ability to obey his holy edicts. Philippians 2:13 (KJV) says, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."

But we aren't unwilling slaves to our Lord, as if we were forced to serve him. John 14:15 (KJV) says, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

Obeying out of love for our Master is so much better than obeying out of fear. I'll emphasize this in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? So many churchgoers want only a form of fire insurance against going to hell. But only those who love Christ will be saved.

I think you'll enjoy my Saturday Song choice. It aligns perfectly with the theme of churchgoers verses true Christians.

Saturday Song: Ian Thomas, "Come the Sun"

In the late sixties and early seventies, it was trendy and hip to sing about Jesus. Many non Christian artists portrayed him as a first-century hippie who got killed for saying we should all be nice to each other.

Though I appreciated hearing songs about my Lord on the radio, I soon learned that those who name his name aren't always doing so for noble reasons.

Listen to this song here.

The people of the world can be excused for their ignorance but not the followers of Christ. Some folks claim to be believers but they just want his power and blessing. Matthew 7:22 (KJV) is a warning to such people by Jesus when Judgement Day comes. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?"

Some folks become swept up in the emotional atmosphere of evangelistic meetings but they have zero interest in being Christ's disciple. As Jesus asked in Luke 6:46 (KJV)  "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

And in a parable about the end of this age, Jesus warned in Luke 13:25 (KJV) that, "When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:"

So, what do you think of this song and what I've written? Please leave me a comment below.

By the way, I'll be posting about the credibility of the Bible verses the Qu'ran on Monday. Stay tuned for that.