September 12, 2017 Show with Bruce Bennett on “Are You My Brother? A Biblical Litmus Test for True Christian Brotherhood”

Live from the historic parsonage of 19th century gospel minister George Norcross in downtown Carlisle, Pennsylvania it's iron sharpens iron a radio platform on which pastors Christian scholars and theologians Address the burning issues facing the church and the world today.

Proverbs 27 verse 17 tells us iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another. Matthew Henry said that in this passage quote we are cautioned to take heed whom we converse with and Directed to have in view in conversation to make one another wiser and better.

It is our hope that this goal will be accomplished over the next hour. And we hope to hear from you the listener with your own questions. Now here's our host Chris.

Good afternoon, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Lake City, Florida and the rest of humanity living on the planet Earth who are listening via live streaming at iron sharpens iron radio .com. This is Chris Arns and your host of iron sharpens iron radio wishing you all a happy Tuesday on this twelfth day of September 2017 I'm so delighted that as far as I know Everyone that I know and love in Florida is doing well in spite of perhaps Power outages and other nuisances.

I don't know of anybody that was seriously injured and obviously that would go along with Fatalities, I don't know of any fatalities and I don't know of any friends at least personal friends who have had serious structural damages to their homes or were Businesses, but I'm sure there are many others who have had that kind of damage.

So we we do praise God for his mercy in the midst of Hurricane Irma, but I'm delighted to have back on the program today a friend of mine who I've known for quite a number of years Even before he was a pastor.

His name is Bruce Bennett pastor of word of truth Church in Farmingville, Long Island, New York. We're going to be finding out more about the word of truth Church, and we're also going to be discussing a important event that the word of truth Church in Farmingville, Long Island is conducting in cooperation with the Long Island Spurgeon Fellowship, and that's the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation and the keynote speaker who I actually Am the one who urged them to invite a dr Tony Costa of Toronto Baptist Seminary to speak at this event.

I'm so glad that they took me up on my suggestion and I do plan on being there. God willing from the 29th of September through the 1st of October on Long Island To attend two events the first at the word of truth Church in Farmingville and the last Being the Sunday morning worship service at the Hope Reform Baptist Church of Medford, Long Island, New York.

But it's my honor and privilege to welcome you back to iron sharpens iron radio pastor Bruce Bennett. No, it's my pleasure and you are a friend who Stuck by me through thick and thin. In fact, you are one of the very few pastors That visited me when I was in st. Charles Hospital waiting to Be admitted to the Christian rehabilitation ministry in Boone, North Carolina The Hebron Colony Ministries and I fondly remember you coming up to visit me there at st. Charles Hospital and It was a true Evidence of not only Christian Brotherhood, which is our topic today But a true evidence of friendship and I will never forget you for that brother.

Again, it was my joy crushing being your friend. It makes it. I appreciate that and in studio with me is.

The Reverend buzz Taylor my co-host and it's good to be with you again.

Chris my just reminds from what you just said that you were once thin.

Well a lot thinner than you buzz anyway. Let's see, well, let's start off with a.

Description of.

The Word of Truth Church, and then I want to get your personal testimony. You may have given it on the program before I don't remember. But if you could give us your testimony of salvation.

Yes.

Yeah, I could. I think that you are still. If I'm not mistaken you may have still been in the Church of God. Cleveland, Tennessee.

Denomination when I first met you, but I'm not a hundred percent certain about that. That actually is true because if I'm not mistaken.

Yes, it was at the Coral House Catering Hall Baldwin, Long Island between dr. James R. White of Alpha Omega Ministries and Jerry Matitex the Roman Catholic opponent who heads Biblical Foundations International, which is an interesting title for somebody who rejects Sola Scriptura, but.

Yes, but yes that was on all of the major dogmas of Mary. Yep.

Yeah.

Fondly and I bet you because now I did was it immensely help form theology. Away from Arminianism and raised up in it, you know, it also encouraged me to better Plumb the depths of the word and also sharpen my apologetic skills who I teach.

At and through the mock trial club and other venues I've been able to actually hold 18 publicly moderated debates including one against dr Michael Brown as I know you were there that one as well.

Yeah, that was held at the very church where I was a member before moving to Pennsylvania.

Yeah, the topic of dr. Michael Brown who makes the final choice in salvation God or man, so. It served not only as a definite inspiration just on a personal level. But also on an offer that immense labor of love that that you put out the Lord by his grace.

You know raise up things likewise hear the glorious gospel of grace. I just wanted to flesh out the rest of it. I was sent out in 2009. Grace was sent out as.

For.

I'm sorry, the fourth of four church plants and this is a Congregation within the evangelical free church denomination. That's correct. That's correct. And the senior pastor at the time had a Plan part of my living room by God's grace.

He's run the congregation, you know. So besides building and the Lord's been using forming bill and the strap of grace and reformed in an area doesn't have a reform. But we're all not a strict hindi. That's that's we have some call myself a neo cessationist.

I believe that You know sign gifts have essentially ceased. It felt like they had prophetic were oriented Tongue, you know with that that was gonna be interpreted. I'm sorry. We're out of time today, but it was great having.

Really kidding. I was fully aware of that before pastor Bruce came on the program. Just one of the differences that we have as brothers in Christ.

But at the end of the day we you know, if you came into deeper evangelical church Reformation Standards as The foundation of our ministry we're in lockstep with all the other reformation churches reform churches.

That is you know virgins fellowship and I know you had pastor put together back in 2015. Where we're trying to get together with all the reformed Congregations in that front Suffolk County to bring us some encouragement and just be there to practically say and love each other and even though we do disagree some of the finer points of Ecclesiology or pneumatology Solidly at regard where we're just so blessed to be able to.

You know hold out the gospel of great dry area very humongous amount of Catholics in this area. And if you're not Catholic, you're probably just a straight city. Metro area is known for about 55 miles east of the city.

And a lot of in your area, especially further east from you. You have a lot of these breathtakingly gorgeous.

Old.

Historic Protestant churches that are tragically in the hands of just out and out liberals and apostates now.

So, yeah, we have a good dose of liberal Protestantism. Unfortunately, the Evangelical Church as well that I can count in that sense of accounting is about a dozen. All right. Well, I strongly urge you to.

Contact my dear friend pastor Ron glass of Waiting River Baptist Church who is not only a friend but sponsors this program. And he is a thoroughgoing Calvinist. Even though you would disagree with his dispensationalism Having been One of two people the Reverend Buzz Taylor being the other who edits his sermons for his radio broadcast He very rarely even brings up those unique distinctives of dispensationalism.

It's His messages. His primary focus of preaching is the gospel and the doctrines of sovereign grace and just Expository preaching wherever the text lead him, but just to put a bug in your ear there. He's a fine man of God.

I think I think we've been reaching out to him. I'd have to check with pastor Rich to make sure he's on the list, but we're trying to round up. You know, I appreciate your mind. I believe he'll be able to join and if you could now give us your testimony of salvation.

What kind of religious atmosphere were you raised in if any and how? What kind of providential circumstances did God bring about in your life to draw you to himself and save you Roman Catholic?

Again, Long Island. Pretty heavy and I just assumed until I was 18 years old when I to read the Bible my first semester in college and I. In my dormitory room as I was reading the gospel of Matthew in a living Bible.

I'm sorry.

We're out of time, but it was nice.

Here's often I I never had the gospel member of the lifeguard. Reading gospel literature that Christians apparently were leaving at the beach that I worked at as a teenager. Playing in this beautiful, you know field and don't you want to go to paradise the conversation, you know.

Steered towards Armageddon nuclear war and stuff like this and so minimized it never but I always wanted to get into script. Um, I've made a point of bringing that Bible that I was given ask my mom for a Bible.

Maybe a piece here and there but I remember making a point and in college I was able to do that. The Lord was dealing with me. No, I was reading it was to simply, you know, do a test and see, you know were these what did he think of those things and Just part of reason why I was but I just remember that.

You know how he drew me to himself actually getting into the Bible sometime like around 8 o 'clock Sunni Geneseo when he touched my heart you spirit got ahold of me and that love that joy that peace and as I embraced Christ at that time.

That's that would that's my Salvific Testament, that's my testimony of salvation where I knew that I was born again. He had regenerated my heart and the first people I met on campus were all Pentecostal.

I had no idea that You know Christianity or biblical Christianity was was outside of Pentecost because no one ever witnessed the matter. I met these folks because one day I was in a student union. They had a table set up and They invited me.

Hey, come on a Wednesday night. So I said, yeah I'm gonna come on a Wednesday night cuz I love Jesus. I want to be with Jesus people and I Go in and all speaking in tongues and got hands up and I was about this is this.

But they showered me with love and blessing and said hey, why don't you come out Sunday to our church the first in church? I was in because I don't get some church. I was in was called day spring ministries in Avon, New York Bible, you know flags being with just a loving atmosphere.

Christianity as a Pentecostal. I came back to Long Island after that, you know, my whole life has changed. I wanted just went to local community college. I found out about a Bible college in the air called Christ for Nations.

Just trying to seek God's will and that's where Michael Brown was on the faculty. In fact, he was one of your teachers how I know Michael Brown exactly. Our relationship is faculty student back in the 80s when he was patient.

So yeah, I was able to sit on his teaching. You know, it was real Blessing in the sense because there's one thing you can't take away from the charismatics and Pentecostals. They know I wish we is reformed for zeal and outward.

I don't know why I go to a reformed church and no one wants to obey first time it lifted. But you need to hear no there obviously in my church will we allow that I'm the one doing it. So I did learn that part and other parts.

I obviously how I by the way Reverend Buzz Taylor.

He used to pastor a church where everybody lifted their hands, but there were also German flags on the wall. I.

Have a question though. You mean he made that up by the way. But you mentioned Elam and Avon. And when were you there?

Yes, okay, so I was. Assuming at if an IBS, I should work. New York from 1984 to 1987.

Okay, so we came pretty close in our circles there because I knew some people from my own town that that had been. I don't know if they were taking courses there or what but at that time I was pastoring in Sandusky, New York little town outside of arcade and.

We had people that were going to Elam. Jeff Hawkinson. I believe was the guy's name. But yeah, we our circles might have crossed back then.

Buzz was formerly a charismatic Presbyterian and a cessationist Presbyterian.

In my new my new Christian walk just. My mom had big questions what what happened to you and she took me to the Catholic priest and the Catholic priest Asked me what happened to me and I said, I read the Bible and found Christ.

He goes the Bible.

Yeah.

I said, yeah, you really believe that. Adam and Eve were in a garden. A snake caught them. I said, yeah, he goes. Why don't believe that?

By the way, just a comment on something you said about the Pentecostals. Really know how to pray I. There's a lot I admire about charismatics and Pentecostals.

The.

Very. What's the word I'm looking for. Extroverted Christianity. I guess this is the best way to put it where they are. Very and of course This is this is a kind of broad brushing here in a good way. I'm not saying everybody who's Pentecostal or charismatic does this but they are known for being very open in the public about being a Christian.

They are very fervent in prayer life as you mentioned very often and they are also. They demonstrate in many cases a lot more compassion and willingness to roll up their sleeves. To reach out to the most despised among us in ways that.

Even though that I know for a fact there are reformed and fundamentalist Baptist and other conservative Christian groups. That do those kinds of ministries and I'm speaking specifically of reaching out to drug addicts drug dealers prostitutes AIDS patients Transsexuals and all these people in the city that may be overlooked by your average Christian who doesn't even want to go near them.

Charismatic and Pentecostal Christians have been known to dominate those areas of ministry and I must say that it is humbling and a rebuke to all of us outside of those circles who do not Regularly or ever involve ourselves in that kind of outreach.

On the church board that sent, you know gave us that blessing. We're aware that. You know, I wanted to marry the best of what I church that I was a free church senior pastor. And he was he was aware that I and a former charismatic himself.

Yes, this is that's true. I do amongst most reformed Folks that I that I know and that I've experienced is they have a tendency to become overly cerebral.

One of the things I was going to say that I forgot to though I'm sure you would agree with me wholeheartedly in spite of your compliment or your commendation to Pentecostals and charismatics knowing how to pray there is also an element within them that have Heretical and even blasphemous prayers in my opinion and I'm talking when you go enter into the extreme of the word of faith movement where you Have people demanding God The that is their right to receive blessings from God.

That I can remember They care is met a very well-known charismatic Radio host who is now deceased. His name escapes me right now, but he was a word of faith Pentecostal very well-known a hero to the Copelands and the Hagans and Other folks in fact it might actually and out of them thinking about it.

I think it may have been Kenneth Hagen himself. I think that's what it was. But he I can remember even as an unbeliever hearing him on the radio when I was in this period of searching and Investigating different religions and so on.

I remember Shuddering and instinctively knowing that this was not correct when he said You don't have to fall on your knees and beg God to answer your prayers you stand up like a man and you boldly storm the throne of grace and Demand what is rightfully yours and I remember even as a non-believer saying that ain't right that can't be right.

So do you get where I'm coming from that? There is a obviously an element within the group that you're Describing that have very blasphemous prayers and very unbiblical and anti biblical prayers.

Yes, and and and the root of it is Arminianism Right or even plagianism really where where self where self is held up as you know, the determiner of salvation and the axis. Oh, yeah Christian and so.

Going fast forward to when you Realized that you received the call to the pastor. It was that before you entered into Christ for the nation's college.

Uh, no, actually I was actually going to be a missionary. I thought I had met in operation mobilization missionary. Who's speaking at our Christian, you know being a baby Christian and you know being filled with spirit.

I just had this tremendous deal to want to reach the law. It's a burden to want to reach and I just figured hey, it's common sense. It's such a need. I guess I'm here to meet the need and the greatest need is in Asia and one of the greatest countries India.

So for three months, but the doing youth ministry. I had me doing the youth ministry for eight years and during the youth ministry I got to see pretty clearly that my my teaching gift my Leadership gift wasn't for youth pastoring.

It was actually for pastoring adults. So at that point I began to look at how to you know, go out and either fill a pulpit or You know start a church and I was actually asked somebody God Church. I was also asked to fill a pulpit of an independent Pentecost could not take the crew for example, I had to take the AG license and the AG Denomination actually says within its own bylaws that if you teach Eternal security, which I don't believe in eternal security in that sense.

They would that you could actually lose your credential.

Yeah, and amazingly, isn't it that our dear late friend Al Stein who I know you used to invite to speak at your conferences. What a Precious brother in Christ Al Stein was and still is in heaven. But Al Stein used to not only was in Assemblies of God pastor, but actually excelled to the point where he was a bishop and overseer of Long Island and.

He.

Got around that thanks be to God by merely saying and his Credential papers that he had to I guess resign every year or something like that that he wasn't. He believed in evidential security not eternal security and evidential security.

What he meant by that was that you should have no security that you are saved unless you are giving evidence of it and Because of the fact that many of these are many in denominations and individuals Who have such a disdain for eternal security do so because many who claim that Doctrine as their own twist it to the point where all you need to do is say a one-time prayer Accepting Jesus in your heart quote quote.

And you could actually live like Satan for the rest of your life. And you will should Expect fully to be welcomed with open arms into heaven on Judgment Day. Even someone as Highly respected and well known as Charles Stanley wrote that in his book on eternal security and quite a tragic heresy in my opinion.

We're going to a break right now if you would like to go on the House. Gonna say if you'd like to go on the air if you would like to send in your questions to be read and answered on the air. For pastor Bruce Bennett our email address is Chris Arnzen at gmail .com.

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Don't go away. God willing we'll be right back after these messages with pastor Bruce Bennett of Word of Truth Church in Farmingville, Long Island, New York. I am Chris Arnzen host of iron sharpens. Iron radio here to tell you about an exciting offer from world magazine.

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Welcome back. This is Chris Ornson. If you just tuned us in our guest today for the full two hours with about 90 minutes to go. Is pastor Bruce Bennett of the Word of Truth Church in Farmingville, Long Island, New York.

We are discussing the theme are you my brother a biblical litmus test for true Christian brotherhood. And we have been for weeks now promoting the fact that the Word of Truth Church in Farmingville, Long Island, New York is joining hands with the Long Island Spurgeon Fellowship for the 500th anniversary celebration of the Protestant Reformation.

And in fact before we go on to Continue in our topic today pastor Bruce. Why don't you tell our listeners about this? Important event that you are cooperating on. With Hope Perform Baptist Church of Medford, Long Island, New York.

I'm sorry, it's annual Bible Conference Long Island Spurgeon Fellowship and Each alongside of Dr. Tony Costa who'll be our keynote speaker. But again, as you said, we're going to be celebrating the Protestant Reformation which started in 1517.

We all know Martin Luther Laid the initial Charge against Rome's false gospel on the church doors of Wittenberg, Germany. Reformation Day is coming up and thank God for 500 years the gospel being able to be proclaimed And distributed throughout the world pure gospel.

Based upon the five solas and we're welcoming. Speaker pastor Chris Pandolfi who's pastors in Medford and myself will be also teaching sessions. We welcome folks to join us Friday, September 9th starting at 630.

I'll be leading off the first session with the History of the Gospel Reformation starting at 8 o 'clock after Tony Costa will present the formal cause of the Reformation. Saturday Saturday afternoon will reconvene.

Session 3 will begin September 30th. Saturday 1 p .m Pastor Caleb Bunch on the glory of God as the foundation of the Reformation. Session 4 Dr. Tony Costa Will be presenting Reformation will be led by Pastor Chris Pandolfi and Pastor Tony Costa the gospel of the Reformation restored and then session 7 will be a panel discussion of all the pastors who will be there Speaking like Pastor Rich Jensen, for example and others will be Invited to join us.

And Anthony you mean you'll be moderating a panel discussion the celebration of these 500 years of the restoration of the gospel and They'll be answering questions from the audience. That is the the conference in a nutshell.

Chris.

And if anybody wants more details, you can go to WOT church comm that's WOT standing for word of truth Church comm WOT church comm or call 6 3 1 8 0 6 0 6 1 4 6 3 1 8 0 6 0 6 1 4 and we will be repeating that God willing later on in the program.

So going back to your discussion a little bit more details for your testimony you originally were intending to Go out on the mission field and then God as he very often does had different plans. And how did you know that you received the call to be a pastor?

Well, I had this incredible really plumb the depths the concordances, you know, the lexicons, you know. The commentaries and I got a library of over 3 ,000 books and my wife's like why are you buying all these books?

I'm like, honey, God's gonna call me to pastor. So, you know horrifying. You know some good old like for example when you had those debates I didn't miss one of them to learn to go deeper and deeper and deeper and I just knew that it wasn't for me.

It was for me to give out to others. Eventually, I guess that's that's affirmation cetera went went there but To bring me to that position but I can only tell you that for my congregation and serve them in Expositional preaching stand God's words that they can know God glorify God and enjoy.

Oh, amen.

Well, let's get to the Topic at hand. Are you my brother a biblical litmus test for true Christian brotherhood. And I'm gonna start with a Highly misused text. I believe it's misused. And perhaps you can comment on it in Luke chapter 9 verses 49 and 50.

One of Christ's disciples says master. This is John speaking We saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him and because he is not one of us and Jesus Said do not stop him For whoever is not against you is for you.

And I have heard that text used by Christians even some friends of mine not necessarily reformed Christians, but those who are friends of mine those who are conservative evangelicals.

Who will.

Rebuke me very often when I Informed them if that if you have a different gospel, for instance. We can have no Christian fellowship at all like for instance. So it is clear that the from the Council of Trent.

It is not a matter matter of sheer opinion. But the Council of Trent has dogmatically declared that Protestants The Reformers and those who are their heirs living today have a different gospel than they do therefore when it comes to the discussion of the Roman Catholicism and Truly historically Protestant and Reformed Christians.

When it comes to the discussion on those two religions, it is clear that there are two Gospels. There are two different Gospels in fact so radical is the difference that the Roman Catholic Church would torture and execute people if they disagreed with Rome's gospel in that century and.

So therefore we know that there are two different Gospels and those of my friends who want to have these ecumenical relationships with Roman Catholics not only as individuals but as churches and as parachurch organizations.

I say I love the Catholics. I very often enjoy the company of Roman Catholic friends of mine more than some of my Professedly Calvinistic friends or should I say just Calvinistic brothers because there are some Calvinists out there that are not my friends.

Even if I know them well. But there are people that I know that are Roman Catholic that I truly just enjoy being around more than some of my own brothers in Christ. So it's nothing to do with Bigotry or hatred.

It's just a matter of fact that when it comes to Christian fellowship. We're talking about Participating in worship and We are talking about get any kind of involvement or gathering. That gives the impression to the world and even to those present at the gathering that we are one in Christ.

I cannot participate in events like that. Now. How do you respond to that same kind of argumentation from Luke 9? 49 and 50.

Unity or the way or any of these other cultic and I define a Christian cult as failing one of. The first test is you have the correct view. You have the right view of Christ fully God. Is he fully human in his incarnation lived?

I died on the cross the atoning sacrificial death for his people and. For the calling of the world to repent of their sins. And did he rise from the dead. Is he seated the right hand of the father and is he coming again in a physical body.

The third test the third piece of what I would say the litmus test would be. Do you have the correct view of salvation? Do you believe that a person. By grace alone? Through faith alone. Upon repentance.

And. Then finally the fourth prong of what I believe unites us. Truly unites us. Would be a fault your final six books those four prongs who are led by men and not God you let me let led by man's opinion and Not God himself in his word.

So for example, the Catholics get the first two right, but they miss it on the last two. Whereas most other cults miss it on all four like the Mormons in the Jehovah Witnesses example.

Yeah, and for our listeners who are hearing you use the word cultic. That word especially when you're talking about hearing that word in the secular society. They are immediately conjuring up images of authoritarian Organizations and religions where people don't have freedom to leave.

Where you are every every moment of your life is controlled. You're even the way you spend your money and and it's it's even sometimes as extreme as who you would marry. You really have little freedom if any.

And they are very oppressive and Typically think that their one group is the only Way that you can have access to eternal life or whatever their version of it is.