Fletch Lives and God's Remnant

I went to Atlanta City GA, not Atlantic City. Apparently, my co-worker thought went to the latter. While the driver was taking us through the city my co-worker asked, "Where are the casinos?" To which the driver responded, "Casinos...are you kidding (asking with the utmost incredulous look on his face as if he were from Massachusetts, "What ahre ya retahded or sumptin") this is the Bible belt. There are no casinos here. By the way, there is a girly dancing club just over there." Permanently impressing in my mind the truth of the doctrine of Total Depravity, even among those in the Bible belt.

After my eleven hours of traveling, I made it into my hotel room. It was late so I got into bed and did the typical guy thing. You know, get the remote and click through the channels. There must have been atleast five or six stations that had Fletch Lives on. I don't mean the movie with Chevy Chase. I mean the character that Chevy impersonated being a TV evangelist. Healings, healings, and more healings. There were more false teachers than I could have possibly believed existed. It is pretty sad when the Bible belt needs more Reformation than those who do not have the Scriptures.

One false teacher claimed that since the disciples of Christ were able to heal others, and since he was a disciple, therefore he was able to heal too. So he held his hands up to the camera and asked the audience to just believe he was touching them. Ahhh, I got a dumb question. By that logic, I should not need the faith healer because I believe I am a disciple too. Therefore I should be able to heal as well. Therefore, I will just heal myself, thankyou. Right?

In the midst of this "pagan/Christian" Bible-Belt society (blend the names for a more accurate picture), I was priviledged to meet JohnMark and Redgoatee. Two men I have talked to for a couple of years in a reformed irc channel. We went to dinner at the Outback and had a great time of fellowship that reformed Christians may have. We talked about DrO behind his back. Redgoatee gave me a bunch of Piper sermons on CD (quite a gift I think). I learned JohnMark is a good man of great character.

It was truly a blessing to see God still has His elect hidden among the lost and being faithful to His calling. Perhaps if we remain faithful, God will bring true revival and not this church growth movement that preaches an evanjellyistic gospel which doesn't seem to save anyone. I often keep in mind what DrO says, "God is able to draw a straight line with a crooked stick."