John Shrader 16: Flying Away in That No-Engine Plane

[Palimpsest]

John's reposted a really lengthy bit of doggerel.  It is from January 2018 when he was being SEVERELY attacked by Satan.  

It is notable for its self-satisfaction and the re-writing of his actual career as a missionary.  Like he never boasted about his converts, inflated numbers, built buildings, and asked for more money.

I think his reposting this defensive pome is yet another indicator that the donors think his results so far aren't worth the thousands of dollars they have invested in him.

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"Don't Change and Compromise, but Seek God's Heavenly Prize"

Since Cain killed his brother Abel, and Nimrod's might was known
Men have valued power, sought more in strength to grow

In modern times the movies, praise the strong and mock the meek
So people value power, many despise it when they're weak

The strong win competitions, get the medal as arm is raised
So many deeply desire, to hear their own name praised

Even in our Christian circles, big is good and small is not
"How many in your service," if not actually questioned often thought

They actually wrote books and articles, on whose churches had the most
It led to absolute ridiculousness, to keep appearances afloat

We bestow religious titles, "Dr." is a favorite one
But weren't we warned about such titles, in Matthew 23 by God the Son?

Our standard can't be culture, it must be God's Holy Book
We cannot minister based on numbers, or function on how things look

If this becomes our standard, pragmatism oft' follows next
"Whatever works" becomes the way, to keep us "neck and neck"

We start by changing music, just a little bit at first
But be careful there dear brother, I hear the coming of the hearse

Over thirty years ago I argued, with my friend upon the walk
Once you step on such a slippery slope, just where you'll be when you stop?

He argued with me strongly, as many today still do, 
But brother take off your Oakleys, take a good hard look 'round you

Can you see what I am seeing, with a perspective from the past
But look farther than four decades, the scope of history is vast

Do we see more churches now faithful, filled with believers willing to bleed?
Do we see more churches sending, more men homes, services, and missions to lead?

Are most churches growing stronger, not in beat or strength of brew
I'm not asking about coffee, but people in the pew

God can work with smaller numbers, in Scripture often seen
But the ones He took to battle, were the tested and the clean

In the race for power and numbers, we've given up a lot
I'm not excusing past failures, for God's forgiveness I hope's been sought

But don't let the world now sway you, don't cave just so you'll grow
Even if so many others, their standards are quick to throw

Our God still values purity, separation's from the Lord
Even though now some may mock it, as if it's a dirty word

I know there's been much failure, in those who separation claimed
They were haughty in their "standards,"
Those who didn't adhere were disdained

Now this is inexcusable, God can't stand the look of pride
And at the seat of Judgment, Christ will probably "tan some hide"

I myself have oft' been guilty, of that very terrible sin
We need to preach the Truth with boldness, but led by the Spirit within

Speaking the truth in love, in God's Word that command resides
So hold the standards fast, but not in wicked pride

Pride is why men inflate their numbers, missionaries often are the worst
I can say that 'cause I am one, when they do it I'm fit to burst

They think they feel the pressure, and maybe it is real
That if they don't have the numbers, others their support may steal

And pastors building buildings, going millions into hock
But borrower serves the lender, our Lord and Savior taught

And no man can serve two masters, was something else Christ said
Are we really serving Christ, or is the note holder the head?

Then they start pressing for bigger offerings, I've seen with my own eyes
I've watched a pastor with his chart, and heard his impassioned cries

I saw the visitors wondering, at the pressure that was felt
That did not magnify God, those pleas for "tightening of the belt"

But why such big expansions, when Christ said that we should go
It's not that we are ignorant, it's not like we don't know

But many believe the rhetoric, they've obviously bought the lie
That bigger is so much better, to leave a "legacy" when you die

When the church at Jerusalem grew by thousands, and failed to go to the world
The Lord brought persecution, to scatter them them as if hurled

They didn't then focus on constructing, disciples is what they built
And if we would follow their example, I believe the world again could be filled

With faithful believers, laying down their lives
Instead of gossiping coffee drinkers, rocking to the latest vibe

I know I may seem cynical, and my words may seem hard to some
But my father has pastored for four decades, and more than thirty years ago the ministry race I was called to run

I'm trying to sound a warning, and trying to raise the alarm
I see younger preachers disdaining Biblical Separation, their blog posts are doing great harm

I see them embracing Calvin's heresies, my poem on him you should read
To read what they're posting on forums, it almost makes my eyes bleed

It leaves me broken-hearted, to see them mocking be
At those who still have standards, and will not bend our knees

Yes skinny jeans and stools, with a sweater is a look
And singing from the big screens, instead of a hymn book

The hymn book once had meaning, second only to God's Book was cherished
Now the ditties they're repeating, in a decade or so will perish

They don't have the hymns timeless value, like our beloved King James too
And that's another thing they're abandoning, to seek to fill the pew

I know I am old fashioned, but so are revivals too
I'm not talking about the modern "revivals," that the Charismatic format use

Hours of music and singing, much less of preaching the Book
I want the old-time revivals, they had a much different look

Hours and hours of praying, not singing chorus galore
When women over sin would be weeping, and men prostrate on the floor

When bars would have to shutter, customers converted now all gone
On the street they would grip the light posts, fearing the opening of hell for them had come

If "bigger is better" is your motto, then you'll do what many now do
You'll seek to get more meetings, more blog hits and reviews

You'll change to be more relevant, as if old gospel preaching's not enough
You'll abandon old-fashion preaching against sin, for that will seem to be far too tough

You'll seek to be "inclusive," and think you're loving and kind 
But our Savior was truly loving, yet he flipped over tables those times

He called false leaders hypocrites, "whited sepulchre" was the phrase
He also called them children of snakes, now was that very gracious to say?

He had all but twelve leave him, pastor do you preach that way?
Or do you edit the message, so that in the pews they'll stay

I'm not advocating fleshly ministering, of that we've had too much
But this modern mealy-mouth "ministering," is reducing our testimony to dust

We need the boldness of Peter, the fearlessness of Paul
When threatened they just kept preaching, they truly gave their all

No bigger isn't better, unless you grow the Bible way
By carefully disciplining, the converts along the way

And they will then reach others, as the Bible says they'll go
Not 1-2-3 now pray with me, but take the time to show

And don't omit God's Righteousness, for it's their only hope
Show them Romans 3 and 10, not just favorite verses give the whole chapter and scope

Don't worry about the numbers, worry more about each soul
Don't make "twofold more the child of hell," because you failed to carefully show

Don't rush them to repeat a prayer, in the Bible that's just not done
Just preach to them what the Bible says, God's Righteousness only comes through God the Son

Oh brethren our pride is showing, in these pragmatic days
But this bigger must be better, has really messed up our ways

It's brought so many changes, compromise along the way
I never thought I'd see it, what I'm seeing so much today

Our Lord is soon returning, let us always keep in mind
Let us now be found to be doing, what is pleasing in His Eyes.

So don't worry about the numbers, don't worry about the size
Just seek to please your Savior, and press forth for His high calling and prize.

Bro. John Shrader
Zambia

Written 28th of January, 2018

 

[Gobsmacked]

He is trying to confuse Daddy Genius and sheeple with that wordy nonsense. Surely one little ' Sean' in daddykins flock can knock a few brain cells together and realise they are being ripped off well and truly. Surely??????????? .

[apandaaries]

So he's got this: 

No bigger isn't better, unless you grow the Bible way
By carefully disciplining, the converts along the way

Shouldn't that be "discipling?" Or is Johnny Boy starting to get kinky with his converts? 

[Palimpsest]

14 minutes ago, apandaaries said:

Shouldn't that be "discipling?" Or is Johnny Boy starting to get kinky with his converts? 

Good catch.  I think John's Freudian slip is showing!

Mind you that was when he had alienated the vast majority of his flock by disciplining them very harshly - even including the ever faithful Roderick who was John's main man for ages.  

Boyd is pretty much Roderick II.  Although he is now being praised to the skies I expect John will get on his case before very long. 

[apandaaries]

I mean, given the way he's treated anyone attracted to his mission, "disciplining" would definitely work. But I suspect he was yearning to convey something more Biblical and archaic, so Freudian slip it is! Art, even as badly done as John's pomes, has that tendency to share a lot of the artist's psyche. 

I also enjoyed the part about not attempting to build a legacy, as though this fruitless mission and his incredibly fruitful wife weren't part of John's life plan. 

[squiddysquid]

John: "If "bigger is better" is your motto, then you'll do what many now do
You'll seek to get more meetings, more blog hits and reviews"

Also John:

We handed out eleventy thousand tracts/toilet paper in 2 hours and imported a billiontrillion Bibles that nobody can read cause they're not in the local language!

[formergothardite]

15 hours ago, squiddysquid said:

We handed out eleventy thousand tracts/toilet paper in 2 hours and imported a billiontrillion Bibles that nobody can read cause they're not in the local language!

Today's post from John.

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I printed another 8,000 Gospel tracts Saturday morning, and the teams went ou

and

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We are sharing 40 boxes of John and Romans with an IFB Missionary in the Capitol city of Lusaka,

 

On 12/3/2018 at 2:35 PM, Palimpsest said:

asked for more money.

He is totally just asking for prayer with this request.  Count down to someone sending him the money and John making a post about how he never asks for things God just supplies. 

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I leave you with a prayer request. Our folder has many miles left in it, but I need to find a supplier for parts as some rollers are worn out, and it sometimes wrinkles and ruins the tracts as we are folding them. Please pray God will help us with that!

John seems to turn Saturday into pure hell, so it isn't any wonder that he has so few converts. 

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Our Saturday ministries are usually 12+ hours straight, as we start picking up the route leaving around 7:30, then outreach from 9:00-12:00, then a simple lunch of beans and "nshima" with those that go, then Bible study with the Youth at 2:00 pm, then Men's and Women's Bible study at 3:00-4:30, then prayer meeting usually from 5:00-6:30 (starting with praises and prayer requests, then corporate prayer), then taking the route home.

And it sounds like John annoyed a man who just wanted to enjoy a few beers and the man was polite enough that the just nodded in agreement to whatever John said in hopes that he would go away. 

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 I started witnessing last night to a man who was drinking beers outside a fuel station. He's a truck driver from Zimbabwe, but speaks great English (which is a blessing as I cannot speak his language of Shona!). It turns out he parks his truck sometimes about 15-20 minutes away from us, and he agreed to contact me for an in-depth Bible study in salvation by God's Grace alone through Faith in Christ's Blood and imputed Righteousness. Please pray for Mr. "Zim"

ETA: In the comments someone asks about the folder and John replies.

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It's the Martin Yale paper folder

I need parts for it

But John will swear on the Bible he never asks for a thing. 

[DarkAnts]

Church of Dad must not be sending in enough money to support Johns lifestyle and the mission. I doubt other churches are sponsoring him at this point.

[Ozlsn]

On 12/4/2018 at 9:46 AM, apandaaries said:

also enjoyed the part about not attempting to build a legacy, as though this fruitless mission and his incredibly fruitful wife weren't part of John's life plan. 

I think calling it a 'plan' is giving it more credit than it deserves. John's plans, whether life or in general, have the feel of the underpants elves. Step two is always ???

[Milly-Molly-Mandy]

It’s the massive waste that gets to me. All the money...I am thinking close to $500,000 that he’s taken and spent on himself and his useless ministries with nothing to show. 

No safe water

no medical help (not that he’s qualified!)

no free education for those unable to afford to go to school 

no sanitisation

The good that money could have actually done in Zambia is mind boggling. 

And yet he feels so ENTITLED to the money and wants more! 

John Shrader...you sir, have displayed more un-Christian behaviour in your frittering away the money you’ve been given than I can stand and should be ashamed of yourself. 

[snickerz]

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an in-depth Bible study in salvation by God's Grace alone through Faith in Christ's Blood and imputed Righteousness.

I think maybe John was drinking beer WITH that guy.

[Gobsmacked]

55 minutes ago, snickerz said:

I think maybe John was drinking beer WITH that guy.

Maybe he should. He might stop being a horrible self righteous idiot, total waste of skin and space braggart. He also (hopefully) couldn't impregnate poor Esther if he took to booze. Win win.

[gustava]

15 hours ago, Milly-Molly-Mandy said:

.I am thinking close to $500,000 that he’s taken and spent on himself and his useless ministries with nothing to show. 

Takes a lot to keep him poor.

[formergothardite]

John has been posting away. He shared a long post about the evils of Christmas, made this post which probably does nothing to make him be liked in his community. 

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I saw another headline last week where a young woman was arrested for the death of her one year old child. He drowned after crawling into the Zambezi River as she failed to watch him due to fornicating with her boyfriend by the river. So tragic and heartbreaking.

Please pray for us, as we lay down our lives to bring to glorious Light of the Gospel of Christ to this land filled with needy blinded lost souls, and beyond.

Posted a picture that says missionaries: no resources, no retreats, no regrets. This doesn't seem to apply to John at all since he had a meltdown over not having ice cubes. 

He shared a family photo with the new baby photoshopped in. 

And announced that the new church sign has already been stolen. I suspect John  and his god aren't well liked. 

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Church Sign Stolen

Please pray for Freedom Biblical Baptist church plant in Mongu, in the Western Province, more than 9 hours from Kafue.

Just received word their newly erected church sign was cut and stolen in the night. Very discouraging as you might imagine, but when God is working, Satan usual is fighting!

Please pray for Bro. Boyd, Bro. Scrivner, and the new little church plant, for God's protection, provision, and most of all, precious people to get saved and discipled. Our trust is not in a sign, but in the Lord of Heaven!

ETA: looks like the news story about the baby drowning is from 2014. 

[EyesOpen]

This dude. I so almost commented that I think god is going to care a lot less about someone picking apart the interpretation of a verse or doctrine than  if the heart of the person loved and helped others... but I don’t want to get blocked. He’s such a waste.

[Gobsmacked]

2 hours ago, EyesOpen said:

This dude. I so almost commented that I think god is going to care a lot less about someone picking apart the interpretation of a verse or doctrine than  if the heart of the person loved and helped others... but I don’t want to get blocked. He’s such a waste.

Well done for holding back. It's not fun being blocked from John's site. I miss all the fun as its happening. 

Thank you to all who do post here for us blocked folk. 

[Lillymuffin]

21 hours ago, Gobsmacked said:

Maybe he should. He might stop being a horrible self righteous idiot, total waste of skin and space braggart. He also (hopefully) couldn't impregnate poor Esther if he took to booze. Win win.

Nah...I highly suspect John would be even more insufferable with a few beers in him. Imagine John with his inhibitions lowered! Gadzooks!!! 

[Palimpsest]

On 12/6/2018 at 12:15 PM, formergothardite said:

And announced that the new church sign has already been stolen. I suspect John  and his god aren't well liked. 

This is the second sign John has had "stolen."  He put a banner advertising Truthiness Biblical Baptist Church by the bus station in Kafue that got taken down.   It turned out that he needed permission to put a sign there. 

Did you notice the comment under the stolen sign post by one Forster Ngosa:  "This is good." 

And he is really posting up a storm.  Doesn't he have some converting to do

For those blocked, this was yesterday:

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Do you have your children's hearts?

It's very easy as a parent to find fault or be critical with our children, pointing out their failures. They probably already know where they are dropping the ball most of the time.

While there must be correction, there must also be love in the process if it is to be Biblical (see Prov. 13:24; Heb. 12:6; and Rev. 3:19). Make sure your children are assured you love them as you Biblically discipline and correct them.

But this exhortation is not so much about correction as it is to make sure that we as parents are encouraging our kids. Affirming them as their fathers and mothers is critically and vitally important to tie their heart strings.

As Solomon did of old under Inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Proverbs 23:26, we must ask for our children's hearts, and having their hearts is vital before we ask them to "observe" our "ways."

Many sadly do not understand this principle from Proverbs, and they demand obedience while not first seeking the heart of that child. As has been often said, "Rules without relationship can tend to breed rebellion." - unknown

If we don't, the world will. Satan is also actively seeking the hearts of our children.

Are you taking time to actively, verbally, intentionally, gracefully, diligently and Biblically seek your children's hearts? It's never too late, with and by God's Grace, to do so.

Seek the heart. God, if you're biblically born again, is seeking yours as your Heavenly Father, and setting the example so we can both follow Him, and model to our children, so they can learn to one day seek the heart of their children as well.

Selah.

js

 

Goodness knows what he is modeling to his children.  Oh, no, silly me.  They are all leaning the art of Biblical grifting.

And he's found a product that means he doesn't have to take his kids to the doctor for stitches.  Looks like a big bandaid.

He's also still sharing Charles Wesco quotes and this gem:

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"All expectation not centered in God, is doomed to disappointment and discomfiture" - G. Campbell Morgan.

Okey dokey. 

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We are sharing 40 boxes of John and Romans with an IFB Missionary in the Capitol city of Lusaka, so thankful for Enoch and Timothy helping me load them! 

My expectation not centered in God is that John will finally learn the word "capitol" refers to buildings not cities.   Ancient Rome had a capitol.  Washington DC has a capitol.  Individual states have capitol buildings in their capital cities.

Lusaka is a capital city, Johnny!  Apparently my hope that you will learn the distinction is doomed to  disappointment and discomfiture.

And I doubt the IFB Missionary in Lusaka John is sharing his tracts with  is David Rea.

 

[formergothardite]

16 hours ago, Palimpsest said:

He's also still sharing Charles Wesco quotes and this gem:

There is no way Wesco actually said all the stuff they are attributing to him. I read the blog when it was still up and it didn't exactly share deep thoughts. 

[Palimpsest]

I bring you great tidings of joy - and an incredibly long rant from Shrader.

Star Wars is ebil magick and the occult, my friends.  And Johnny is persecuted by everybody!

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"Defend the King's Realm, in the face of the King's enemies..."

(you might want to stop reading if you like C.C.M., "Southern gospel", StarWars, or support the rampant compromise sweeping into many "I.F.B." churches)

Love the scare quotes around "I.F.B."  He uses a lot of scare quotation marks in this post.

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As a newbie pilot,

John is still a newbie pilot.

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this grabbed me, to hear a living hero who flew a Spitfire in The Battle of Britain, but as he spoke in this short interview, the spiritual applications jumped out

This WWII veteran spoke of the beauty of the Spitfire, and how he felt the plane flew him initially, and I thought how we should be empowered and directed by The Holy Spirit of God.

 

This would be an interview with 96-year-old Geoffrey Wellum,  one of the last surviving Spitfire pilots from the Battle of Britain.

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He spoke of losing fellow soldiers, and I thought of men like Bro. Charles Wesco,

Of course you did.

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a modern day martyr,

Fuck that noise.

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and even those who are no longer in the battle having fallen, not in death, to sin and Satan's attacks. They are no longer fighting the battle.

All his former converts - and pretty much everyone in his life except for Daddy. And Esther.

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His phrase, "Defend the King's Realm, in the face of the King's enemies...", immediately brought to my mind Paul's analogues description of the soldier in II Timothy 2, I Timothy 6:12, II Timothy 4:7, etc.

Our Heavenly King has called us to battle, to earnestly contend without being contentious, to fight against Satan while loving our enemies (a major N.T. Theological point and command of Christ the "Reformers" completely missed, see Matt. 5:44, etc.), with weapons that are not physical (II Cor. 10:3-5).

 

I'm sure Geoffrey Wellum would be shocked.

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Sadly, some Independent Baptists today have seemingly taken a "Neville Chamberlain" strategy of appeasement, lowering or abandoning clearly Biblically-based standards of separation, adopting music and ministry "styles" clearly influenced by the Worldly system that hates Christ and those who truly and uncompromisingly follow Him without regard for the praise of men, or acceptance of worldlings more intent of building their reputation and finding acceptance than boldly preaching against sin and compromise like the original Baptist John, who literally lost his head because of it.

Holy run on sentence.  And what is a worldling?

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Dear brethren, let us heed the sober warnings of our Brother James, as the Holy Spirit inspired his pen to record the "Word of Christ" for us in James 4:4-10.

An aviator or soldier caught fraternizing with Hitler's henchmen were called traitors, such as Martin James Monti, a U.S. Army Air Force pilot who was trained by the U.S. but defected to the Axis powers in 1944 and wrote and broadcasted propaganda. He was later tried and sentenced for treason.

 

An American Lord Haw Haw.  

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That's like some of these I.F.B. men, both young and old, who were brought up mostly in the Truth, but now write books and blog posts endorsing and encouraging the embrace of modernistic ministry approaches and dangerous theological philosophies like modified forms of Calvin's (originally Augustine's) heresies, and the acceptance of clearly copied worldly approaches to ministry. These men, both younger and older, have a spreading acceptance and influence even world-wide through their modern day propaganda found in their books and blog posts.

They are all treasonous.

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Twenty years ago, I literally wept

Literally wept.

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as I saw bright young seminarians eagerly embracing partial or total rejection of the doctrines of perfect preservation of God's Words available in one Bible today, careful doctrinal separation from the world, acceptance of Calvin's heresies (even Spurgeon, the confused "Calvinist" preached that "all" means all), and I was literally mocked at an Independent Baptist local church Bible College and Seminary by both faculty (though more respectfully) and students (not so much respect there at times) for speaking out against it.

Literally mocked.  John was a PITA even in Bible College.

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Friendship with the world is to become the enemy of God, and to have enmity against God,

That is why John has no friends.

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yet IFB as a whole are moving more and more that direction.

The horrors.  And he goes on.  And on. 

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Even men I love and count as friends have deeply saddened me by their embrace of worldly music styles and rhythms, not derived from God's preserved churches, but brought into such churches from the world. To see the embrace the blood thirsty originators of the Augustinian/Calvinistic heresies (both men HATED Baptists or Baptistic believers and called for their murders), both chills and breaks my heart.

To see, starting decades ago, a rejection or redefinition of Biblical separation by not only my peers, but by older men who I wanted to look up to, but whose compromise has clearly resulted in an even further rejection and even greater redefinition of Biblical separation by the younger generations.

 

Past friends, older men, everyone except Johnny (and Dad.)

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To see men who love the Lord's Churches, and understand the critical importance of this vital doctrine, yet then embrace both minor and sometimes major compromises in music, and some even accept and enjoy wicked things like StarWars, a thinly disguised cinematic primer on the Occult by the self-described "Buddhist-Methodist" George Lucas, who clearly infused his movies with Buddhist occultism.

Star Wars = Buddhist occultism, I tell you!

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("Star Wars isn’t just a series of movies—it’s an incredibly profound lesson in life, spirituality, magick and the journey of spiritual awakening." - https://www.google.co.zm/…/blog/2015/03/23/star-wars-m…/amp/)

Goodness.  I only saw the first 2 films.  I obviously need to watch them again along with everything else Star Wars.

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For an IFB to embrace, enjoy, and encourage others to accept the deception and indoctrination of occultism in Star Wars is, IMHO, treasonous.

Let the chips fall where they may from that statement.

 

Oh, hang, draw and quarter them, Johnny.

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My own brother was introduced to magic and occultism through movies, and the detrimental, devastating and destructive impact on his heart and life for now over twenty years has broken my heart.

I really don't think magic or occultism is the root of Jace's mental health problems.  I hope he is doing better these days.

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I remember as a young boy being "baby sat" by an older teen in our church at that time. He exposed me to Star Wars while I was left at his house. I was shocked and scandalized by the immoral and wicked attire of the women in the movie, especially one of the main characters (I can't recall her name, princess something I think), but the obviously spiritual wickedness especially shocked and deeply troubled me, even at my very young age. I don't recall now if I spoke to my parents about it, but it seems like I did.

I wish I'd ever looked as good as Carrie Fisher in a bikini - but that is the beginning of the second movie, IIRC.  

Hot damn.  And I'm female and hetero.

But John is risking even the few supporters and "friends" he has left.

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 I may have "friends" or even supporters that decide that my position and stand might well be grounds for their separation from me. How ironic, practicing "separation" over a post pleading for a recognition of the degradation, deterioration and devastation of the very thing, and a call to return to Biblical Separation! I actually had a pastor drop us and cut support because I expressed dissatisfaction with the direction of many I.F.B., especially regarding the Doctrines of repentance and separation, warned against the compromise of one very prominent "I.F.B." pastor in California,

Any guesses about the identity of prominent Californian IFB guy?

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and said I even hesitate to call myself "Independent Baptist" because of it. I prefer "Biblical Unaffiliated Historic Baptist." I am Independent though, actually "Unaffiliated" is a better term, and not only do I believe the "Fundamentals," but other key doctrines that the "Fundamentalists" dropped like a hot potato, like Baptism, Separation, etc.

Even other "Fundamentalists" are bad!  But enough about Star Wars.  On to Contemporary Christian music and Southern Gospel.

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C.C.M. (Contemporary "Christian" Music) is Evil. "Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."

"Southern Gospel" is the marijuana of so-called "christian" Music. It's the gateway "drug" that introduces you to the "buzz" of the fleshly rhythms and styles of the world, and after getting "hooked," often leads to the harder substance called C.C.M. It violates James 4, I Cor. 6, II Cor. 6, et al.

 

Surely John's own hymns could be called contemporary Christian music?  Although I'll use my own scare quotes for John's version of "Christianity" and "hymns."

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I could go on, but I'll stop there.

Of please do.  But no, he doesn't.

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I'm not writing this claiming a position of virtuous purity of total separation in my own life.

Yes you are.

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I have failed my Lord many times. I have found myself before in the shocking description of James 4:4.

Now that is interesting.  James 4:4

"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."

Is John saying that he is an adulterer?

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I am preaching as much at and to myself as to anyone that might have persevered to pursue this post to this point.

Perhaps just to you and me, John.  And even I am hard-pressed to keep reading.

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I believe what I wrote above. Contend without being contentious.

Say what?

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There is no biblical defense for StarWars. It's ungodly. C.C.M. is clearly copying the lost world. "Southern gospel" as well. I am not attacking anyone, but having surrendered to the Gospel ministry over thirty years ago, deeply involved since that time, and in full time ministry now for 17+ years, I've been around and observed enough to see that small compromises always lead to bigger ones. Choices have consequences.

Like losing the rest of his donors over this rant?

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This is war friends.

John has no idea what war is.

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Let us be mindful that we not fraternize with God's Enemy, the World and its music, entertainment, and influence, lest we have "enmity" against our own Heavenly Father, and be found in the position of His "enemy" (note that such a one is called the "enemy of God," not vice versa.

God does not approve.

 

No, John Shrader does not approve.  He sees through a glass darkly and has no charity or understanding for others within him.  All he does is rage against other people because he is RIGHT, dammit.  John is as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

John, "selah" yourself.

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;  rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."   I Corinthians 13. 

 

 

[formergothardite]

14 minutes ago, Palimpsest said:

I was literally mocked at an Independent Baptist local church Bible College and Seminary by both faculty (though more respectfully) and students (not so much respect there at times) for speaking out against it.

So John was a pretentious asshole who not even other IFB members liked. 

 

17 minutes ago, Palimpsest said:

I can't recall her name, princess something I think)

Oh come off it John! You know exactly what her name is! 

 

18 minutes ago, Palimpsest said:

I may have "friends" or even supporters that decide that my position and stand might well be grounds for their separation from me

John is running off supporters left and right!

 

[Howl]

 John is in a manic phase.  It's sad, really, living his life with no insight about who he really is and zero capability for self reflection.  There's no capacity to mature into empathy for his fellow humans; he can only double down on his relentless dogmatism and be more critical of the people he alienates.  He has managed to totally decouple spirituality and religion. 

[WhatWouldJohnCrichtonDo?]

3 hours ago, Palimpsest said:

I wish I'd ever looked as good as Carrie Fisher in a bikini - but that is the beginning of the second movie, IIRC.  

The "slave girl" bikini outfit is in Episode 6, Return of the Jedi. (Episode 6, but the third movie released. 1983. Yes, I'm a fan. ) Carrie Fisher spent most of the time in all 3 movies in clothes that covered her from neck to ankles. 

Spoiler

Spoiler

I guess Johnny boy would still be offended that she wore pants in the second picture.

[Palimpsest]

Thanks @WhatWouldJohnCrichtonDo?  I must have seen 3 Star Wars films then.   And what put me off Star Wars was the dearth of female characters, sexily dressed, wearing pants, or not.   I gather it got better as the franchise went on.

John was supposed to be a tiny child being baby sat when  he was exposed to all those horrible sexily dressed women. 

Really, John.  This outfit is modest enough for Esther.  How many Star Wars movies did you watch?

Spoiler

 

 

[Ozlsn]

3 hours ago, Palimpsest said:

Holy run on sentence.  And what is a worldling

It sounds like a dismissive term elves would use for humans actually. Presumably John intended to mean someone who is too worldly (for his tastes. Says the man with a freezer that makes icecubes ffs.)

3 hours ago, formergothardite said:

Oh come off it John! You know exactly what her name is! 

Do you get the feeling he's seen at least part of Episode VI again recently?

18 minutes ago, Palimpsest said:

Really, John.  This outfit is modest enough for Esther.  How many Star Wars movies did you watch?

My guess? All of the original 3 at least and possibly at least one of the most recently released ones. Also it still shows her body shape and lets her see and move freely, so still not "modest" enough for some people (*eyeroll*).

3 hours ago, formergothardite said:

So John was a pretentious asshole who not even other IFB members liked

His continual holier-than-thou delusions seem to have started early. I wonder if the Bible College staff tried to get him help for the mental shifts that were likely becoming apparent at that stage. He would have been in the age group where a lot of mental health issues emerge.

The most amusing thing about that rant to me is that he sounds not dissimilar to a fundamentalist Catholic woman I know who has a major chip on her shoulder about any Christian music composed after about 1900. Apparently God gave her the gift of knowing which music he likes, which was unhelpful of Him.