E 312: What would Church look like if Satan was the Pastor?

E 312: What would Church look like if Satan was the Pastor?

Welcome back to One Day Closer with Mark and Dave where we are rekindling a spirit of hope and truth into today’s discussion. IF satan WERE A PASTOR:  - He'd be friendly, charismatic, likable, and smile a lot. - He'd preach just enough scripture to make you feel good about yourself.   - but not enough truth to make people repent.   - He'd tell everyone they were basically good, and almost never talked about sin.  -  He'd never ask the people to consider why they might need God.  - Don't offend people  - Holiness is legalism  - Judgement is hate  - Everyone goes to heaven  - He'd build big churches that are empty of conviction  - He wouldn't have alter calls for salvation  - He wouldn't baptize new believers  - He'd remove the cross and never talk about sacrifice  - He'd have emotional worship songs filled with distractions, light shows, smoke machines, and the best looking people to get our focus off God.  - He'd preach motivation instead of transformation.  - Self love instead of dying to self  - Comfort instead of repentance  - Because satan doesn't really need people to hate Jesus, he just needs people to follow a version of Jesus, another gospel that sounds and feels good, but doesn't save them.  - The most dangerous lie is not the one that sounds evil, it's the one that sounds almost true.   The bible says satan disguises himself as an angel of light and his demons as ministers of righteousness. (2Cor 11:14-15)  Jesus said, Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom." (Mat. 7:21)  And Paul says that in the last days people will follow pastors who tickle their ears, meaning, they will follow pastors who tell them what they want to hear.  (2Tim 4:3+) - A gospel that does not confront sin, cannot produce repentance, and that's the first key to salvation.   Dave opted to reach out to a few of our loyal listeners to solicit their thoughts to the question.   Steve from Missouri shared this response.  "Unfortunately, Satans Church would be like most services being held right now in our liberal denominations. Bastardizing The Word of God, using parts of The Word to justify anything they choose to do."  Listener Paul from our home state submitted this observation.  "It would be a world that supports, mutilating young boys because they wanna be girls, mutilating young girls that wanna become boys, having open borders where foreigners can come in and kill citizens, and the foreigner gets congratulated for it, a race is considered superior to the others because it is considered a minority and anything that happens to that race is called racism, even though they’ve got all the benefits of being a minority, killing little babies in the womb is acceptable and applauded, killing old people, and calling it euthanasia is applauded, attacking other people’s character and integrity is your number one weapon because you cannot stand behind anything you support and logically defend it and then Satan would say thank goodness for the Democrat world." Now that’s spot on…and yes it pretty well defines the progressive far left drunk socialist and TDSers on steroids. Ever wonder what the vestibule would look like as you enter the Church of Satan?  I’m thinking the walls would have distorted, bloody bodies hanging on the walls and ceiling.  No frescos or wonderful painting like you see in some of our ancient cathedrals. What would evangelism look like?  Free Fentanyl distribution in schools and playgrounds. I’m guessing the Church of Lucifer would welcome everyone in. Their Sunday school leaders would teach Somalis how to game the system;  the Elder Board would supervise from a distance and promote the most corrupt and creative scammers; the youth pastors would abuse the youth and set them up with Pimps making sure the children bring all the money earned to the church; recruitment of the very young would require being trafficked as sex slaves as they surrender their soul to be admitted. Today as Yesterday: Satans playbook  Deception, misinformation, lies, half-truths, confusion, chaos….yet engaging, tempting, welcoming, no cost to Join, free admission, free will, laziness is a “gift” Revelation 21:8 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+21%3A8&version=ESV] ESV  But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” I did a Siri search on What Does the Bible Say About Heaven and found an awesome piece from Eternal Perspective Ministries. I’ve left the link to this article in our show notes for anyone interested in this topic.  It is rich with Bible links to scriptures that supports as evidence anything and everything you might want to know about Heaven.  I encourage you to check it out.  The author of the article showcases 51 statements about Heaven with a deep dive into each.  Here’s an example: 24. Heaven has not remained the same since its creation, but has undergone several phases, and will experience future change as well. At least five distinct phases of heaven seem identifiable. There was the pre-sin heaven, before Satan fell (Is. 14:12-15 [https://ref.ly/Isa.%2014.12-15;esv?t=biblia]), apparently taking a third of the angels with him (Rev. 12:4 [https://ref.ly/Rev.%2012.4;esv?t=biblia]). There was the Old Testament heaven of Paradise or “Abraham’s bosom” ( Luke 16:22 [https://ref.ly/Luke%2016.22;esv?t=biblia]), which was then one of two compartments of Hades, “the place of the dead,” the other compartment being Hell. Then came the current post-resurrection-of-Christ heaven, where Paradise seems to have been relocated from Hades, and where believers now come directly into his presence at death (Eph. 4:8-10 [https://ref.ly/Eph.%204.8-10;esv?t=biblia]; 2 Cor. 5:8 [https://ref.ly/2%20Cor.%205.8;esv?t=biblia]). The millennial kingdom, where Christ rules over the earth with his redeemed seems to be a phase of Heaven (Rev. 20:14 [https://ref.ly/Rev.%2020.14;esv?t=biblia]). Then there is the Heaven still to come after the final judgment, the New Jerusalem in the new heavens and new earth (Rev. 21-22 [https://ref.ly/Rev.%2021-22;esv?t=biblia]). The resurrection of believers has not yet occurred, and will not until just prior to the new heavens and earth (Rev. 20:12-15 [https://ref.ly/Rev.%2020.12-15;esv?t=biblia]). Hence, though the present heaven we enter at death is a wonderful place, it is not yet complete, not in its most glorious form. I’ve often thought I was a pretty deep thinker, but the truth is I’m not.  I tend to focus on the things I can understand, agree with and apply in my life.  For example I understand fully the attributes of character worthy of emulating (honesty, kindness, truth, integrity, valor, strength, faith, etc), an I would expect they help us get into Heaven…BUT for me…applying these attributes TODAY regardless of the Heaven access, gives me a peaceful and worthy goal everyday as I interact with people.  In a way it helps me create my own sense of Heaven in this lifetime.  Does that make sense? To go the way of liars, cheaters, haters, murderers, angry and pissed if at everything and everybody just doesn’t sound like a good way to live TODAY!  What a miserable existence! I may have surrendered my life to Christ initially during a southern Baptist sermon on hell fire and damnation…but my continual walk over the past 50 plus years is understanding the gifts and wisdom God offers and applying that daily…creating Heaven in my space HERE and worrying less about the things I can’t wrap my head around…like Heaven. You know a few shows ago we discussed the question of healing, why is it that some folks don’t get healed.  I think that’s question and others like it, lead many former believers to the dark side…and they become agnostics or atheists. But for me, like I said a minute ago, I focus on praying for these people…knowing it gives hope, peace and comfort to the person sick AND to the caregiver or loved one that asked for prayer.   That’s focusing on the Christian character traits that I CAN wrap my head around and actually accomplish.  I can’t explain Heaven or Hell but I certainly can deploy the attributes of Christ, as best I can to others, and have peace knowing I at least did what we as Christians are compelled to do. https://www.epm.org/resources/2010/Feb/4/what-does-bible-say-about-heaven/ Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2110571/fan_mail/new]

E 311: How do we know that Jesus Christ is the one true faith? Is He real or a myth?

Was Jesus a real person in history?  How do we know?       We know in the same way that we know any ancient person lived in history.  How do we know Aristotle or Alexander the Great was real?  How ‘bout King Tut, Julius Ceasar, Socrates, Plato, or Cleopatra?  We know these ancient people were real historical figures because we have EVIDENCE.   We have written records on scrolls and manuscripts, in government records for property, birth, marriage and death records.  We have stories and battle records written in stone and pottery and on buildings and religious temples.  We have eye witness evidence who were there when these people were alive.  Do you think that if you walked with a guy who did amazing things for 3 years, that you could write them down?   We have nonbiblical records, one going back to Josephus in 93 AD.  While discussing the period in which the Jews of Judaea were governed by the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate, Josephus included the following account:  “About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man.  For he was one who performed surprising deeds and was a teacher of such people who accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Messiah. And when, upon the accusation of the principal men among us, Pilate had condemned him to a cross, those who had first come to love him did not cease.  He appeared to them spending a third day restored to life, for the prophets of God had foretold these things and a thousand other marvels about him.  And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared.” - Jewish Antiquities, 18.3.3 §63  (Based on the translation of Louis H. Feldman.) We have archeological evidence in the ruins of ancient civilizations that portray how things were in ancient times.  We also have ancient coins depicting kings, artifacts, religious items and important themes in different cultures, including Christian culture during the Roman empire.   We have artistic evidence in figures and busts of people named in the bible that are carved in stone.  We also have sculptures, figurines, and artifacts made from metal, from iron to gold and precious stones.  There are tile mosaics and fresco paintings dating back to 200 AD found in Roman catacombs depicting bible stories and Jesus Himself.   Some of the oldest paintings in the world are on the walls of ancient Roman catacombs. It would take days to discuss in detail all this historical evidence, but trust us, there is ample evidence, and we can confirm, that Jesus was a real man in history.  (If you want to dive into the details check out a book called Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell.  It’s also available in a free pdf file online.   2 – Is there a Creator, or has everything come about by chance?  Can everything come from nothing?  Can Life come from non-life?  Can order come out of chaos?  If you don’t believe there is a God, then this is what you believe.  It all just happened by chance, but this can’t be, because science tells us that everything is tending toward disorder (entropy).   The evidence of a Creator is creation itself, in the same way that a painting is the evidence that there was a painter, and a building is the evidence that there was a builder.   3 – Is the world evil?  Are people primarily selfish and “looking out for #1?”  4 – Are you a moral person?  Where does your morality come from?  How do you know that stealing or murdering people is bad?   Thanks for joining us today.  Feel free to visit our website at www.onedaycloser.biz, and please, send us your thoughts about previous shows or ideas for future shows.  You can do this within Spotify player by clicking on the Send Us  A Text link at the bottom.   We can also be reached via email at ODC22@proton.me. We would love to hear from you. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2110571/fan_mail/new]

E 310: Agnostics, Atheists and Area 51

You might have found the title of today’s show a-bit weird or awkward to follow Memorial Day, but if you stick around I think it will all make sense in the end. I think this message was inspired by God, so I reached out to Mark and asked “what’s the difference between agnostics and atheists”, while holding back my real question. Agnostic Definition: : an agnostic [x-mw://lookup/agnostic/1] quality, state, or attitude: : the view that any ultimate reality (such as a deity) is unknown and probably unknowable : a philosophical or religious position characterized by uncertainty about the existence of a god or any gods. Atheism Definition:  : a lack of belief or a strong disbelief in the existence of a god or any gods  : a philosophical or religious position characterized by disbelief in the existence of a god or any gods Our Google AI question: What's the differences between agnostics and atheists? The core difference is that atheism is a matter of belief (not believing a god exists), while agnosticism is a matter of knowledge (believing the existence of a god is currently unknown or inherently unknowable).  Breaking Down the Concepts * Atheist: Someone who does not believe in the existence of a deity or gods. An atheist can either be someone who actively believes no gods exist, or simply someone who lacks a belief in gods.  * Agnostic: Someone who believes it is impossible to know whether a higher power exists. They conclude that the ultimate truth is currently unknown or cannot be known by humans, and therefore they neither fully believe nor disbelieve. It’s sounds as though regardless of what you believe or don’t believe we all share one thing in common….FAITH in what we believe or don’t believe. So let’s talk about Faith for a minute.  According to the Bible, FAITH IS the substance of things HOPED FOR; it is the evidence of things UNSEEN.  Hebrews 11:1 Key Concepts in the Definition * Confidence/Substance: Faith provides a solid foundation for future hopes. It treats promised things as already real. * Assurance/Evidence: Faith acts as conviction regarding invisible realities. It trusts in what the physical senses cannot perceive. * Let's bake a cake analogy This verse introduces Hebrews 11, often called the "Hall of Faith," which lists biblical figures who acted strictly on their trust in God. In addition to the Hall of Faith there is more recent proof that God existed and exists today. Universes Existence  What divides good and evil; light and dark; who drew the line between these polar forces? What defined or established the many religions pursued around the world? As different as they are, why are we all seeking truth and understanding?  What drives us all to seek a higher understanding?  The cooper scrolls The Dead Sea Scrolls The shroud of Tureen The lives martyred for such a belief. We are not against either belief or non-belief.  We would simply encourage seekers of truth to latch onto something that encourages, inspires and feeds not only your soul but those around you that could benefit from a committed walk of faith, hope and passion. Musical Guest:  Shane and Shane: We've Fighting a Battle Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2110571/fan_mail/new]

E 309: The Last Goodbye - Honoring Americas Treasure: Memorial Day 2026

Join Mark and I today as we say our last Goodbye to the greatest generation ever and honor all those that have sacrificed life and limb for those they never knew that came after them.  Thank you for your sacrifice and thank you for fighting for Americas freedoms.  Because of you, she still stands resolute, strong and a nation on a hill. After a short trivia quiz on past wars, Mark and I will discuss the differences between Patriotism and Nationalism. Today's closing guest performer is Hutch McCall singing The Cost of Freedom. Thanks for listening and please keep sharing our podcast with your friends.  Together we all can help rekindle a spirit of Hope and Truth into todays discussions. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2110571/fan_mail/new]

E 308: Where's My Healing - Part 2: Why some receive healing, while others don't.

Welcome to Part 2 of our Healing series.  Our friend Dan will once again join Mark and I as we dig deeper into the mystery of physical Healing versus Spiritual Healing.  Last week, Dan tee'd up the following question. At the cross, Christ gave us two options. One is salvation and the other is healing.  One road salvation, is much traveled while the other road is less traveled, which is healing.  God wants everyone to be saved, but does God want everyone healed?  Now before we dive into today’s discussion, I need to clarify, for a loyal listener, Dans premise of what Christ offers us at the cross.  This listener requested clarification.   Was your guest suggesting that at the cross Jesus made two offerings, salvation or healing.   Was he suggesting that it either one or the other but not both?  Can you please clarify? Dear listener.  It’s not one or the other…Jesus offers both.  I believe the deeper understanding is this.  To fully understand the gift of Salvation AND then be compelled to receive it, the heart of man must first be healed, meaning the heart must first be tenderized and surrender to the need for a redeemer, before one can fully grasp the saving grace of Salvation.  So again…it’s not one or the other…it’s two gifts that the cross offers.  I hope that helps clarify. Ponder this for a moment.  What medical devices or tools did Jesus use to heal in his day?  There were no X-ray machines, no stethoscopes, no brain scanners.  No sanitized medical facilities to refer the sick to or to work out of.  His healing ministry was done on road, in the square of a village and in Lazarus case, a rock quarry of tombs.  In many cases he used mud and spit to heal the blind. In the New Testament, the writer recounts the story of a little girl whom is believed to be dead.  The parents asked Jesus for help.  When He arrived, He said she is not dead but "sleeping," and then simply spoke to the girl and said "wake up and rise."   No medical aids to assist.  Just the power of His words. To others he simply spoke and said “pick up your bed and go home.” Jesus healed the sick through various methods, demonstrating his power and compassion. Common methods included spoken words, physical touch, or unconventional means like mud or spitting, showing that healing resulted from divine authority rather than a specific technique.  Key Methods of Healing Used by Jesus: * Spoken Commands: Often, Jesus healed from a distance or with a simple word, such as when he cured the centurion's servant or commanded a paralyzed man to walk. * Physical Touch: He frequently laid hands on people, such as touching the eyes of the blind, curing a woman with a fever, or touching a leper. * Using Saliva and Mud: In some cases, he used saliva or made mud to place on the eyes of the blind. For instance, in John 9, he used mud and told the man to wash in the pool of Siloam. * Authority Over Demons: Many healings involved casting out demons that were causing physical ailments. * Healing through Faith: Jesus often highlighted that the faith of the individual brought about the healing, such as telling the woman with the issue of blood, "your faith has made you well". Key Aspects of Jesus' Healing Ministry: * Compassion: The miracles were often driven by a deep pity for the suffering of the individuals. * Instantaneous Healing: The cures were typically immediate, with people walking or being restored instantly. * Universal Scope: He healed a wide variety of diseases, including leprosy, blindness, paralysis, and fever.  From these teachings we might conclude that Jesus healed and taught others to heal based on exercising the available power from God, not from personality. The lessons he taught concerning the realm of God may well have touched the soul (the Heart) and caused a kind of awakening that actually healed the sick. Today we will discuss the role of Prayer in healing and the role of the Holy Spirit to bring healing.  And lastly we will discuss the power of Faith to not only "move mountains" but to bring forth Healing. The Israelites had little to no faith when they were fleeing Pharaoh, but they did have faith in Moses. Especially when he parted the waters for their escape. Their faith was in Moses and Moses faith was in God, leading me to conclude that faith, healing or any good blessing comes from a relationship.  My belief that healing, success, peace of mind or anything else comes from having a personal and intimate relationship with God.   To have such an intimate relationship with God and access to the Power He provides, our Hearts need to be healed for us to surrender to the fully knowledge of God, his power and his love for us. Todays closing musical guest is Shane & Shane singing Fighting the Battle. If you have questions about any of our shows or want to reach out and suggest other topics for us to dive into, simply email us at odc22@proton.me.   You can also click on the "send a text" link below and we'll get your text direct. Your number is unknown to us so we can't respond with a reply but we will respond via a future show. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2110571/fan_mail/new]