General Articles

Enter Through The Strait Gate :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: by RR10

Have you ever been traveling in an unfamiliar area and got lost? What did you do? Maybe you stopped somewhere and asked for directions or pulled out a map. In today’s world, most people check their GPS. The point is there’s always a way to find your way. Being lost is a very bad feeling. The same is true of finding our way in life. As we travel through life, we will come to many crossroads and get confused as to which is the right way to go. The best thing to do is to seek direction. Pray for guidance; God will never steer you wrong.

There was a time when a pastor could be trusted to give Biblical directions, but many are turning from sound Bible doctrine and turning to seeker-friendly apostasy. Instead of being Biblically correct, they are politically correct. Instead of guiding the confused and lost to a firm foundation built on Christ, many pastors embrace the world. These are false teachers who will lead you away from God’s truth. They don’t teach the Gospel because it might offend someone.

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

You may take issue with me using this verse which speaks of the Gospel being hid from non-believers and equating them with false teachers, but if the preacher doesn’t believe God’s truth enough to teach it in full, then what does he believe? Jesus warns against false prophets.

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” thistles?” (Matthew 7:15-16).

Many Christians have been following a broad road that leads to destruction. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

We know from Scripture that all sin will be forgiven by Christ if you earnestly repent. Too many people leave it at that. They are truly sorry at the moment but then continue in the sin of which they’ve repented. Only God knows if they are saved, but if there’s no fruit of a changed life, it’s questionable if they’ve truly been saved.

“Be angry and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:26-28).

That means to use Christ as your example and don’t continue in sin.

Jesus loved people. He forgave a prostitute but told her to stop sinning. He forgave her sin, but she needed to change her lifestyle and leave the broad way that leads to destruction. Why don’t we hear pastors speak out against sin? They are following the wrong path, and many of the congregation are following them without question or sleep through sermons while the pastor babbles on. What happens if you follow the broad road? Jesus says it leads to destruction. It’s the strait and narrow gate that leads to life. Be sure you’re on the right path.

How can you be sure you follow the road that leads to life? You must study Scripture. You will have a hard time discerning truth from lies if you don’t know God’s truth!

The Apostle Paul wrote letters of encouragement and instruction to young pastors. These letters give instructions on Christian life and encouragement about how to lead the flock to find the strait gate that leads to life.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness” (2 Timothy 2:15-16).

It’s not only pastors who need to study but every Christian. We all need to beware of false teachers. If you’re listening to a pastor who avoids teaching Scripture, or has the idea that people are different today than in Biblical times and, therefore, Scripture must change, leave that congregation. That’s a false teaching.

Scripture says, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).

It’s up to us to change to honor Christ instead of changing Christ to honor us. We face a lot of challenges to our faith, but God’s word never changes. When you enter through the strait gate, you will follow in the footsteps of men who surrendered their lives to Christ. They followed His truth no matter what the world proclaimed as truth. Only Christ is the way to life.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

Jesus is the strait gait. That’s important for every Christian to understand. Christ is the only way. Allah, Buddha, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and all other cults and false religions will only lead you to destruction and an eternity in Hell. Follow Christ faithfully, and you will find peace.

In a letter written to Titus, another pastor whom Paul encouraged, Paul is clear about how Titus should choose men to guide the congregation. “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake” (Titus 1:9-11).

Although this warns against men who were trying to bring Christian teachings in line with Jewish ways, it’s a warning against any wrong teaching that deceived people bring to the congregation; add nothing to the pure word of God. This verse makes me think of the pastors of some megachurches. They put forth false teaching in order to sell books they’ve written and preach a different Gospel than found in Scripture and “…teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.” There are many false teachers on television, and if you watch any of them, be wary. Be sure you’ve studied Scripture so you won’t be duped.

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work, reprobate” (Titus 1:16).

Don’t follow these false teachers down the broad road that leads to destruction. Follow God’s truth through the strait gate that leads to life.

It’s easy to be deceived if you don’t follow the correct guidelines. The congregation in Corinth was very “tolerant” of sin, and that was a great concern. False teachers were leading the congregation to destruction and teaching a different Gospel than what is God’s truth.

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him…. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3-4 & 13).

False teachers may appear to be Bible scholars and have degrees from colleges and seminaries, but if they deviate even a little from Scripture, then go to them and rebuke them. If they refuse to listen, then you need to find a new place to worship. The fact of the matter is that our foundation must be built on Jesus Christ, holding the Word of God as our standard and the final source of authority for all matters of faith. Scripture is our guide through life.

We shouldn’t be surprised at the apostasy we see from Bible teachers. Scripture tells us that apostasy will abound in the last days. Your pastor probably avoids teaching prophecy, so you may not understand that we are living in the final days of Earth’s history. There are many signs found in Scripture, and these signs are all making news headlines. The war in Ukraine is Russia’s stepping stone to the Middle East and, specifically, Israel. All nations seem to be turning against Israel, but God will not allow the destruction of His chosen people.

Jesus said the end times will be like the days of Noah. “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought they sold, they planted, they builded; But, the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed” (Luke 17:26-30).

The days of Noah and the days of Lot are happening today. In Noah’s day, genetic manipulation of the human genome and all of creation was Satan’s way of destroying humanity. He almost succeeded. The people weren’t paying attention to the evil caused by the fallen angels and were just blindly living life as if nothing was wrong. That’s very much like today. Only Noah and his family were paying attention and following God’s directions. They entered through the narrow gate (the door into the ark) and were protected from God’s judgment.

We also see the lifestyle found in Sodom during Lot’s lifetime happening today. Homosexuality was the common practice, and today we see it happening again. God is serious about our sexual choices. As soon as Lot was removed from Sodom, God’s judgment rained down and destroyed Sodom and the surrounding cities. Lot was saved, not because he was a perfect man, but because he chose to believe God. He lived in Sodom but wasn’t part of the lifestyle there.

Do pastors teach about these things? Most don’t because it isn’t politically correct, and it might upset someone in the congregation. Beware of false teachers who are leading you along the road to destruction. “… broad is the way that leadeth to destruction.”

We are drawing very near to the Rapture, and Scripture discloses that false teachers will abound. Sadly, so-called Christians will not only tolerate but encourage those voices of deception. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

The congregation will only listen to what they desire to hear. They aren’t happy if they are taught that sin is sin, and they only want to listen to how their sin is forgiven but don’t want to turn from their sin to honor Christ. Do you only accept false doctrine? This is a sign of the times. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” (1 Timothy 4:1-2).

The lies and hypocrisy will only lead down the broad way to destruction. A time is coming in the very near future when you will understand that your choices in life and the path you choose to follow will matter. Death is permanent, and the choice you make in this life will determine where you spend eternity. If you choose to listen to false teachers and follow the broad way that leads to destruction, you cannot blame God, false teachers, or anyone but yourself. You must choose to follow Christ today, before death and before the Rapture, in order to spend eternity in Heaven with Him. Everyone will live forever, but it’s your choice to live eternally in the Lake of Fire or to live eternally in Heaven.

Choose to “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

There is no other way to eternal life than that strait and narrow gate. How do you find that gate? Jesus Christ is the strait gate that leads to life. Make your choice today, reject false teachers, and live for Christ.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

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The New Tolerance :: By Howard Green

Published on: by RR10

Every follower of Jesus knows that we are sent into the world but are not of it (John 17:16-18). The Bible refers to this season of life in the world as our time of exile. It also refers to Christians as strangers and aliens. During our time in the world, we should be ready to make a defense to anyone who asks us for a reason for the hope we have, yet do it with gentleness and respect. Christians are the most loving people in the world. This love requires us to say difficult things and live in such a way that is counter-cultural. When people live a radically authentic Christian life, they will invariably be confronted by the new tolerance.

There was a time not so long ago when even the most liberal venues in the West, such as Universities and the public square, were open to a plethora of differing opinions. Most of us can remember when we could live and let live or agree to disagree. In those days, it was considered virtuous if people could exchange different ideas and be tolerant of others who didn’t espouse their own beliefs. Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes tolerance as sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one’s own.

Now we find ourselves in the so-called most inclusive and tolerant society to date, but the recent drift into intolerance exhibited toward people of faith is undeniable. The new tolerance bears no resemblance to the old sentiment of live and let live and has much to do with making people who disagree fall into line or else. Ironically, those most vocal about tolerance and inclusion are the least tolerant. To make matters worse, the radical LGBTQ movement wants more than acquiescence; now, they want to shut down anyone who would share differing views. The purpose of this article isn’t to examine the ever-changing complexities of the LGBTQ movement but instead to look at how it vilifies any person or group who doesn’t fall into lockstep and celebrate them, namely Christians (1 Peter 4:14).

Before we continue, I want to say that any so-called Christian who doesn’t love lost souls, including those in the LGBTQ community, needs to re-examine their faith in light of scripture. I preach in Christian Churches, fellowships, Bible studies, and on the streets. When I do street evangelism, I have opportunities to speak with some in the LGBTQ community. I treat them with the same gentleness and respect I would anyone else and have had some good conversations with people (1 Peter 3:15).

In a post-Christian society, I could give numerous examples of how people and institutions are becoming increasingly hostile toward followers of Jesus. I’m focusing on the overt hostility of the LGBTQ movement because it has dominated the news recently. Moreover, it is obvious that we have moved far beyond forced coercion to bake a cake or rent a wedding venue. Now Christians are being forced to keep silent and not share anything, including literature or speech, that could be deemed offensive to the LGBTQ community, which may include not lying to them about their preferred pronouns. Here are just a few recent examples:

  1. A Canadian father was arrested after he violated a court order banning him from speaking out about his biological daughter’s gender transition. Rob Hoogland, the father, went to court after learning his daughter was undergoing hormone therapy to transition to a boy. The girl’s mother supports the transition. The justices of the B.C. Court of Appeals ruled the father could not voice his opposition to his daughter’s decision and was warned any attempt to pressure his child to change course would be considered a form of family violence.
  2. Josh Alexander is a Canadian high school student who was arrested after stating that men and women are different. He said his female classmates were concerned because males used the female washroom. A debate ensued, and when Josh went to the ‘Christian’ high school’s administration to explain his beliefs, he was expelled for the remainder of the school year. When he tried to return to school, he was arrested.
  3. Ontario NDP MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam announced on Tuesday morning that she was introducing a private members’ bill that would allow the province’s attorney general to temporarily designate addresses — such as where a drag show or LGBTQ+ event is taking place — as community safety zones. Under the bill, anti-LGBTQ2S harassment, intimidation, and hate speech within 100 meters would be subject to a $25,000 fine. The bill would also create an “Ontario 2SLGBTQI+ Safety Advisory Committee” to recommend how to provide better safety to the provincial government.

I could give numerous other examples of how Christians are being silenced in the UK, Canada, and the US. Here’s the issue at hand. It is one thing to have differing opinions, but a dangerous president is being set when government authorities, activist judges, and thought police are used to silence anyone or anything that is considered hate speech, intimidation, or harassment.

Here’s a question everyone should be asking. Who decides what is intimidation, hateful, or harassment? Given the examples above and many others, the answer is clear. If anyone from the radical LGBTQ movement doesn’t like what you say, it may very well be labeled offensive, and you might be shut down, fined, or arrested. The stage is already set. Anyone with a dissenting view is falsely labeled a hater, homophobic, or transphobic. Nothing could be further from the truth (Matthew 5:11).

As I stated earlier, Christians should be the most loving people anywhere. As believers, the most Christ-like thing we can do is share the gospel with another person, including those in the LGBTQ community. The problem is that the biblical way of sharing our faith is going to increasingly be labeled hate speech etc. (Acts 5:29). We must ask ourselves whether the gospel and the name of Jesus are worth any trials that may come our way or not. The way things are going, we might not have long to decide. The answer must be an unequivocal yes because people’s souls are worth any hardship that comes our way (Romans 1:16).

All for Him,

Howard

Podcast link: Concerning The Times with Howard Green

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Bio: Howard Green is a Bible teacher and evangelist at Concerning The Times. His primary focus is Bible prophecy, discernment, and bold end-time Christian living. His articles have appeared in Olive Tree Ministries, The Christian Post, Rapture Ready, Levitt Letter, The Berean Call, and other Christian media outlets. His podcast is available on most streaming platforms. He is available to speak at churches and conferences on topics related to end-time Christian living and discernment. His ministry affiliation is with Christian Ministerial Fellowship International-CMFI. Howard and his wife Erika have four children and live in Carmel, Indiana.