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October 7, 2020
ROGER SALTER, rector of St. Matthews Anglican Church, Birmingham, AL, who will address:
“GEORGE WHITFIELD: WE MUST BE TAKEN OUT OF OURSELVES”
Live from the historic parsonage of the 19th century gospel minister George Norcross in downtown Carlisle, Pennsylvania, it's Iron Sharpens Iron. This is a radio platform in which pastors, Christian scholars, and theologians address the burning issues facing the church and the world today.
Proverbs chapter 27 verse 17 tells us iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another. Matthew Henry said that in this passage we are cautioned to take heed with whom we converse 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 two hours and we hope to hear from you the listener with your own questions. And now here's your host Chris Arnzen.
Good afternoon Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Lake City, Florida, and the rest of the humanity living on the planet earth who are listening via live streaming at ironsharpensironradio .com. This is Chris Arnzen, your host of Iron Sharpens Iron Radio, wishing you all a happy Wednesday on this seventh day of October 2020.
And I am so thrilled once again to have one of my favorite returning guests of all time, my dear friend Roger Salter, who is rector of St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Birmingham, Alabama. And today we are going to be addressing George Whitefield, We Must Be Taken Out of Ourselves.
Once again, that's George Whitefield, We Must Be Taken Out of Ourselves. And just a bit of interesting information, George Whitefield just went home to be with the Lord on September 30th, obviously not of this year.
He went home to be with the Lord on September 30th in 1770. But it is my honor and privilege to welcome you back to Iron Sharpens Iron Radio, Roger Salter.
Good afternoon.
And once again, for the sake of our listeners, if you could tell us briefly a summary of St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Birmingham, Alabama.
We are a small congregation.
And if anybody wants to learn more about St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Birmingham, Alabama, you could go to stm, for St. Matthew's, anglican .weebly, W-E-E-B as in boy, L-Y dot com. That's stmanglican .weebly, W-E-E-B as in boy, L-Y dot com.
And you can also go to rogersalter .com. And Salter is spelled S-A-L-T-E-R. There's no P in his last name, as you would find in that glorious God-breathed hymn book from the Old Testament known as the Psalter.
And we have a fascinating discussion today, I'm sure, about one of my favorite heroes of the Christian faith, George Whitefield. It's kind of interesting that the first thought in my head when I conjure up an image of George Whitefield is not Anglican.
Because of the fact that he was a fiery street preacher, outdoor open air evangelist. You don't normally associate that with Anglican ministers and rectors and evangelists. And in fact, were not the local Anglicans, especially those in the clergy and perhaps hierarchy, so upset by Whitefield that they tried to disrupt his outdoor services?
I had even heard a story, and perhaps you can confirm whether or not it is truth or myth, but I heard that a herd of cattle was set free to parade or charge through the area where Whitefield was preaching in order to disrupt his service.
And that was actually orchestrated by some in the Anglican church. Is that actually a factual event from history?
Well, I believe so. I don't know about it.
You have come up with an interesting theme for this discussion. George Whitefield, we must be taken out of ourselves. Can you please explain that subtitle?
Yes, certainly.
Well, you sure do a great job faking it because every time you're on the show, I find you utterly fascinating, and so do a large and growing number of my listeners in my audience. This great enemy that we have, which is ourself, and more specifically, our pride, this is probably the polar opposite of what we often hear in modern evangelicalism.
We hear that the cause of most ills in our lives, perhaps even especially in the lives of young people, is a lack of self-esteem. But that is really not at the root of man's greatest problems, is it?
No, it isn't. It's the major thing.
In fact, while you're pausing, I'm going to give our email address for anyone who wants to join us on the air with a question of your own. It is ChrisArnzen, at gmail .com, C-H-R-I-S-A-R-N-Z-E-N, at gmail .com.
Please, as always, give us your first name at least, your city and state of residence, and your country of residence. If you live outside the USA, please only remain anonymous if your question involves a personal and private matter, like, for instance, if we bring up a theological issue that you'd like to ask about, perhaps it's an issue where you're in agreement with my guest, and you know that your pastors may vehemently disagree with this issue.
Perhaps you're a pastor, and you know that your fellow elders are in disagreement with you over this issue, or your denomination, or perhaps you are vehemently in disagreement with my guest, Roger Salter.
And you just don't want to call attention to your identity. I understand that, and I'll give you the permission to remain anonymous for personal reasons like that. But if it's just a general question on theology, doctrine, history, please give us at least your first name, city and state, and country of residence.
In fact, we do have already a question from RJ in White Plains, New York. He asks, I don't know if I missed this or not, but did you ever give a reason as to why the Anglican Church of Whitefields Day were so much in opposition to him, and was this the majority or just a minority of angry or envious folks within the Church of England who had this problem with him?
It was a general...
Thank you, RJ, in White Plains, New York. And this problem of pride is not only for those that are extraordinarily gifted, not only for those that are public speakers and preachers and pastors and evangelists, it even is a curse to many of the most unknown and those of us who are more behind the scenes in life, living private, quiet lives.
The sin of pride can plague anyone. In fact, would you say that very often the problem of what is called, as I mentioned earlier, what is called a lack of self-esteem or even self-hatred, even to the point of suicidal behavior at times, isn't this really not necessarily the hatred of self, but one being far too preoccupied with oneself, that they are driven to this depression because they don't believe they are getting the lot in life they deserve, or there's something that is driving them to what one might observe as self-loathing that is really a depression being spawned of self-absorption?
I think it's offended and...
An added problem to this whole scenario is, I know that you are from originally Tasmania, Australia, I know that you were educated in England, but I don't know if this is such a problem or issue in those places, but obviously you've been here in the United States long enough where you know that in the United States, and of course, it also varies in intensity geographically in the United States as well.
You might have people in the South not necessarily acting in certain ways that are dominant in the North, and of course, the same thing could go with the differences between East Coast and West Coast.
But one problem at least that I've noticed growing up in New York and living here in Pennsylvania in the Northeast, and being a part of the media, especially the Christian media for actually most of my adult life, pride, which is clearly a sin, pride is viewed by many people, and perhaps even unconsciously by Christians, or consciously, it is viewed as actually an asset.
It is viewed as something that gives everyone around that person, or at least in the notion of the one who is proud, that they really know what they are talking about. They really are gifted. They really are somebody to be reckoned with.
They are somebody who is in charge. They are somebody that we should look up to. They are a real leader. And of course, there is a difference between being confident, being confident that you are skilled in the gifts that God has given you, and being confident that God will see you through an action you are taking, or a cause you are involved in, or whatever.
But there is a difference between that and pride. And we, in our culture, and it is probably something that is not just a modern phenomenon, it is probably something that has been going on since the dawn of time, where people view pride as an actual asset.
And in fact, very often when a woman, a young woman especially, is being questioned or interviewed about what she looks for in a man, the kind of man that she wants to marry, and so on, the word confidence immediately will be among those, typically.
And very often, the individual who is actually filled and overflowing with pride and vanity is what these poor, naive, duped women are viewing as confidence in something attractive and desirable. But going back to my original thought here, that I may have gone off on a rabbit trail, we should never be viewing pride as an asset or a good thing, and we should never be confusing it with righteous confidence.
Yes.
How does that go over?
It's this idea.
We have to go to our first station break right now. If anybody would like to join us with a question of their own, again, our email address is chrisarnsen at gmail .com, c-h-r-i-s-a-r-n-z-e-n at gmail .com.
As always, give us your first name at least, your city and state of residence, and your country of residence if you live outside the USA. Don't go away. We'll be right back after these words from our sponsors with more of Roger Salter, rector of St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Birmingham, Alabama, on the theme, George Whitefield, we must be taken out of ourselves.
Don't go away. We are excited to announce another new member of the Iron Sharpens Iron Radio advertising family, Banu Gadi, owner of three New York pharmacies, Lee's Drugs of Floral Park, Long Beach Chemists, and Prescription Center of Long Island in Hempstead.
Banu Gadi earned a doctorate in pharmacy degree and is very knowledgeable on the current coronavirus pandemic. Please contact Dr. Gadi so he and his expert staff can give you proper guidance amid all the contradictory confusion we are all hearing in the media.
To find the pharmacy nearest you, call 516 -354 -2000. That's 516 -354 -2000 or order online at leesdrugsrx .com. That's L-E-E-S-drugsrx .com. Don't forget to ask about their discount generic drug program.
Greetings in the matchless name of our Lord Jesus Christ. My name is Banu Gadi. I'm a pharmacist in New York, which is the epicenter of the latest crisis the world is going through. In Psalm 139 verse 14, the psalmist offers praise to the Lord like this,.
I praise you because I'm fearfully and wonderfully made and wondrous are your works that my soul knows very well. He saw God's goodness and mercy, kindness, and the beauty in what God has designed and he has erupted into praise.
In any crisis or problem, brothers and sisters, our only fallback position is to trust God's design and once we do, there is nothing for us to do but to erupt in praise to him. When the whole world is searching for a solution, God in his infinite mercy has given us what we need to address this illness, which can be very serious.
Such is the beauty of his design, knowing that design, how can we not erupt in praise to our great God like the psalmist did? May God bless you and give all of us wisdom to see greater things in his design.
Thank you.
This is Pastor Bill Sousa, Grace Church at Franklin, here in the beautiful state of Tennessee. Our congregation is one of a growing number of churches who love and support Iron Sharpens Iron radio financially.
Grace Church at Franklin is an independent, autonomous body of believers which strives to clearly declare the whole counsel of God as revealed in scripture through the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Please feel free to contact me if you have more questions about Grace Church at Franklin. Our website is gracechurchatfranklin .org. That's gracechurchatfranklin .org. This is Pastor Bill Sousa wishing you all the richest blessings of our sovereign Lord, God, Savior, and King, Jesus Christ, today and always.
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Hi, this is John Sampson, pastor of King's Church in Peoria, Arizona. Taking a moment of your day to talk about Chris Arnson and the Iron Sharpens Iron podcast. I consider Chris a true friend and a man of high integrity.
He's a skilled interviewer who's not afraid to ask the big penetrating questions while always defending the key doctrines of the Christian faith. I've always been happy to point people to this podcast knowing it's one of the very few safe places on the internet where folk won't be led astray.
I believe this podcast needs to be heard far and wide. This is a day of great spiritual compromise, and yet God has raised Chris up for just such a time. And knowing this, it's up to us as members of the body of Christ to stand with such a ministry in prayer and in finances.
I'm pleased to do so and would like to ask you to prayerfully consider joining me in supporting Iron Sharpens Iron financially. Would you consider sending either a one-time gift or even becoming a regular monthly partner with this ministry?
I know it would be a huge encouragement to Chris if you would. All the details can be found at ironsharpensironradio .com where you can click support. That's ironsharpensironradio .com.
When Iron Sharpens Iron Radio first launched in 2005, the publishers of the New American Standard Bible were among my very first sponsors. It gives me joy knowing that many scholars and pastors in the Iron Sharpens Iron Radio audience have been sticking with or switching to the NASB.
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Go to nasbible .com. That's nasbible .com to place your order. Welcome back. This is Chris Arnzen, your host of Iron Sharpens Iron Radio, and our guest today, if you just tuned us in, is Roger Salter, rector of St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Birmingham, Alabama.
We are addressing today the theme, George Whitefield, We Must Be Taken Out of Ourselves. Our email address, if you'd like to join us on the air with a question, is chrisarnzen at gmail .com, c-h-r-i-s-a-r-n-z-e-n at gmail .com.
Give us your first name at least, your city and state of residence, and your country of residence if you live outside the USA. You know, there's an old saying, you've probably heard it, the bigger they are, the harder they fall.
That's typically a phrase that comes up when somebody who is small physically in stature is about to have some kind of a violent encounter with a much larger person. But I think that there's a lot of truth in there, even though it's not a biblical citation.
I think the concept is biblical in regard to the greater one's pride. It seems that the greater, ultimately, the downfall will be the most that person who is being brought low, either as a punishment or because of the wrath of God, when you're talking about an unbeliever or an enemy of Christ, or if you're talking about a Christian, it's actually an act of chastisement and love that this is occurring.
But the person is often forced, the larger in stature, I'm not speaking about physically, I'm talking about the larger in stature, they presume themselves to be or that they have become in this life through prideful strategy and using everyone else as a stepping stone to get where they are and so on.
When there is a fall there, there is much more that needs to be given up and abandoned or much more that is taken away from them. And the falls are very often scandalous and well-known because the person is well-known.
But if you could comment on what I just said, and also, if you could give us some daily remedies in the lives of Christians that they can prayerfully seek to utilize in their lives to either prevent this rearing its ugly head, this wickedness of pride, or to squash it when it exists.
The braggart we have, but not the other word.
That's disappointing to hear. In fact, we've got to go to our midway break right now, and if you could pick up on Ecclesiastes when we return. If anybody wants to join us with your own question, our email address again is chrisarnson at gmail .com.
Chrisarnson at gmail .com. Don't forget, folks, this is our longer than normal break because Grace Life Radio, 90 .1 FM in Lake City, Florida requires a longer break in the middle of our show because they have to, according to FCC regulations, localize Iron Trip and Zion Radio to Lake City, Florida.
So they air their own public service announcements and other local things during the midway break while we air our own globally heard commercials. So please use this time wisely. Please try to write down as much of the information that our advertisers provide as possible so that you can more frequently and successfully patronize them so that they in turn, God willing, will remain our advertisers for a longer period of time because they are happy with the results they're getting.
That will further ensure that we will remain on the air because we absolutely positively depend on our advertisers and the finances that come from them to exist. So write down the information provided by the advertisers and also write down the question for Roger Salter at chrisarnson at gmail .com.
Chrisarnson at gmail .com. Don't go away. We're going to be right back after these messages. When Iron Trip and Zion Radio first launched in 2005, the publishers of the New American Standard Bible were among my very first sponsors.
It gives me joy knowing that many scholars and pastors in the Iron Trip and Zion Radio audience have been sticking with or switching to the NASB. I'm Pastor Nate Pickowitz of Harvest Bible Church in Gilmanton Ironworks, New Hampshire, and the NASB is my Bible of choice.
I'm Pastor Rich Jensen of Hope Reform Baptist Church in Quorum, New York, and the NASB is my Bible of choice.
I'm Pastor Sule Prince of Oakwood Wesleyan Church in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and the NASB is my Bible of choice.
I'm Pastor John Samson of King's Church in Peoria, Arizona, and the NASB is my Bible.
Of choice.
I'm Pastor Chuck Volo of New Life Community Church in Kingsville, Maryland, and the NASB is my Bible of choice. I'm Pastor Steve Herford of East Fort Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, and the NASB is my Bible of choice.
I'm Pastor Roy Owens, Jr. of the Church in Friendship in Hopley, Texas, and the NASB is my Bible of choice.
Here's a great way for your church to help keep Iron Trumpet's Iron Radio on the air. Pastors, are your pew Bibles tattered and falling apart? Consider restocking your pews with the NASB and tell the publishers you heard about them from Chris Arnzen on Iron Trumpet's Iron Radio.
Go to nasbible .com. That's nasbible .com to place your order.
James White of Alpha and Omega Ministries and the Dividing Line webcast here. Although God has brought me all over the globe for many years to teach, preach, and debate at numerous venues, some of my very fondest memories are from those precious times of fellowship with Pastor Rich Jensen and the brethren at Hope Reform Baptist Church, now located at their new beautiful facilities in Coram, Long Island, New York.
I've had the privilege of opening God's Word from their pulpit on many occasions, have led youth retreats for them, and have always been thrilled to see their members filling many seats at my New York debates.
I do not hesitate to highly recommend Hope Reform Baptist Church of Coram, Long Island to anyone who wants to be accurately taught, discipled, and edified by the Holy Scriptures, and to be surrounded by truly loving and caring brothers and sisters in Christ.
I also want to congratulate Hope Reform Baptist Church of Coram for their recent appointment of Pastor Rich Jensen's co-elder, Pastor Christopher McDowell. For more information on Hope Reform Baptist Church, go to hopereformedli .net.
That's hopereformedli .net, or call 631 -696 -5711. That's 631 -696 -5711. Tell the folks at Hope Reform Baptist Church of Coram, Long Island that you heard about them from James White on Iron Sharpens Iron Radio.
Chris Arnsen, host of Iron Sharpens Iron Radio, announcing a new website with an exciting offer from World Magazine, my trusted source for news from a Christian perspective. Try World Now at no charge for 90 days by going to getworldnow .com.
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Lindbrook Baptist Church on 225 Earl Avenue in Lindbrook, Long Island, is teaching God's timeless truths in the 21st century.
Our church is far more than a Sunday worship service. It's a place of learning where the scriptures are studied and the preaching of the gospel is clear and relevant. It's like a gym where one can exercise their faith through community involvement.
It's like a hospital for wounded souls where one can find compassionate people in healing. We're a diverse family of all ages. Enthusiastically serving our Lord Jesus Christ. In fellowship, play, and together.
Hi, I'm Pastor Bob Walderman, and I invite you to come and join us here at Lindbrook Baptist Church and see all that a church can be.
Call Lindbrook Baptist at 516 -599 -9402. That's 516 -599 -9402, or visit Lindbrookbaptist .org. That's Lindbrookbaptist .org.
Iron Sharpens Iron Radio depends upon the financial support of fine Christian organizations to remain on the air, like the Historical Bible Society. The Historical Bible Society maintains a collection of Christian books, manuscripts, and Bibles of historical significance spanning nearly a thousand years.
The mission of HBS is the preservation and public display of ancient scripture, dissemination of scripture, to provide tools equipping believers in Christian apologetics with evidence for the Bible's reliability, and to introduce Reformation literature and Christian art to a broader audience.
Since 2004, HBS has toured schools and churches throughout the Northeast United States, reaching thousands of believers and non-believers alike who are hungry for knowledge of the Bible. HBS's founder, Daniel P. Buttafuoco, attorney at law, is committed to sharing this collection along with an inspirational historical message that will captivate you and your church.
Come journey through their website, historicalbiblesociety .org. The collection includes a complete 11th century Bible, an actual page of the Gutenberg Bible from 1455, the first book ever printed, the Geneva Bible, the 1611 King James Bible, and much, much more.
Visit historicalbiblesociety .org today. Thank you, Daniel P. Buttafuoco, attorney at law, for your faithful support of Iron Sharpens Iron Radio.
Every day at thousands of community centers, high schools, middle schools, juvenile institutions, coffee shops, and local hangouts, Long Island Youth for Christ staff and volunteers meet with young people who need Jesus.
We are rural and urban, and we are always about the message of Jesus. Our mission is to have a noticeable spiritual impact on Long Island, New York by engaging young people in the lifelong journey of following Christ.
Long Island Youth for Christ has been a stalwart bedrock ministry since 1959. We have a world-class staff and a proven track record of bringing consistent love and encouragement to youths in need all over the country and around the world.
Help honor our history by becoming a part of our future. Volunteer, donate, pray, or all of the above. For details, call Long Island Youth for Christ at 631 -385 -8333. That's 631 -385 -8333. Or visit liyfc .org.
That's liyfc .org.
As host of Iron Sharpens Iron Radio, I frequently get requests from listeners for church recommendations. A church I've been strongly recommending as far back as the 1980s is Grace Covenant Baptist Church in Flemington, New Jersey, pastored by Alan Dunn.
Grace Covenant Baptist Church believes it's God's prerogative to determine how he shall be worshiped and how he shall be represented in the world. They believe churches need to turn to the Bible to discover what to include in worship and how to worship God in spirit and truth.
Grace Covenant Baptist Church endeavors to maintain a God-centered focus. Reading, preaching, and hearing the Word of God, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, baptism, and communion are the scriptural elements of their corporate worship, performed with faith, joy, and sobriety.
Discover more about Grace Covenant Baptist Church in Flemington, New Jersey at gcbcnj .squarespace .com. That's gcbcnj .squarespace .com. Or call them at 908 -996 -7654. That's 908 -996 -7654. Tell Pastor Dunn that you heard about Grace Covenant Baptist Church on Iron Sharpens Iron Radio.
Where they live, work, and worship. Learn more about the Thrivent story by contacting me, Mike Gallagher, Financial Consultant, at 717 -254 -6433. Again, 717 -254 -6433. Faith, finances, and generosity.
That's the Thrivent story.
We are excited to announce another new member of the Iron Sharpens Iron Radio advertising family, Bhanu Gadi, owner of three New York pharmacies, Lee's Drugs of Floral Park, Long Beach Chemists, and Prescription Center of Long Island in Hempstead.
Bhanu Gadi earned a doctorate in pharmacy degree and is very knowledgeable on the current coronavirus pandemic. Please contact Dr. Gadi so he and his expert staff can give you proper guidance amid all the contradictory confusion we are all hearing in the media.
To find the pharmacy nearest you, call 516 -354 -2000. That's 516 -354 -2000. Or order online at leesdrugsrx .com. That's L-E-E-S-drugsrx .com. Don't forget to ask about their discount generic drug program.
Greetings in the matchless name of our Lord Jesus Christ. My name is Bhanu Gadi. I'm a pharmacist in New York, which is the epicenter of the latest crisis the world is going through. In Psalm 139 verse 14, the psalmist offers praise to the Lord like this.
I praise you because I'm fearfully and wonderfully made and wondrous are your works that my soul knows very well. He saw God's goodness and mercy, kindness, and the beauty in what God has designed, and he has erupted into praise.
In any crisis or problem, brothers and sisters, our only fallback position is to trust God's design. And once we do, there is nothing for us to do but to erupt in praise to him. When the whole world is searching for a solution, God in his infinite mercy has given us what we need to address this illness, which can be very serious.
Such is the beauty of his design. Knowing that design, how can we not add up in praise to our great God like the psalmist.
Did?
May God bless you and give all of us wisdom to see greater things in his design. Thank you.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said, give yourself unto reading.
The man who never reads will never be read. He who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men's brains proves that he has no brains of his own. You need to read.
Solid Ground Christian Books is a publisher and book distributor who takes these words of the Prince of Preachers to heart. The mission of Solid Ground Christian Books is to bring back treasures of the past to minister to Christians in the present and future, and to publish new titles that address burning issues in the church and the world.
Since its beginning in 2001, Solid Ground has been committed to publish God-centered, Christ-exalting books for all ages. We invite you to go treasure hunting at solid-ground-books .com. That's solid-ground-books .com and see what priceless literary gems from the past to present you can unearth from Solid Ground.
Solid Ground Christian Books is honored to be a weekly sponsor of Iron Sharpens Iron.
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And remember folks, we depend on the finances provided through the advertising of solid-ground-books .com, so please make frequent and generous stops to solid-ground-books .com and purchase gifts for your loved ones in addition to replenishing your own library.
And you're not only going to be doing Solid Ground Christian Books a favor by doing so, and you're not only going to be doing us a favor since they are our sponsors and advertisers, you're going to be doing yourself a huge favor and everyone for whom you are purchasing gifts from them because they publish the finest in Christian literature from the past and the present.
So go to solid-ground-books .com as often as you can and always mention Chris Arnzen of Iron Sharpens Iron Radio when you're making your purchase. Before we return to our guest today, who is my dear friend Roger Salter, Rector of St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Birmingham, Alabama, who is addressing George Whitefield, we must be taken out of ourselves.
I just have a couple of important announcements to make. Well, first of all, since I do know that we have many Anglicans and conservative Episcopalians who have joined the Iron Sharpens Iron Radio audience, and the audience from that section of Christendom is growing and growing, judging by the responses I continually receive from people from Anglicanism and Episcopalianism, I just want to let you know that Ricky McCall is going to be my guest on Monday.
We are going to be addressing an Anglican identity, and I'm not exactly sure what that all entails yet, but I'm sure I'll find out prior to the interview at some point so I can be more detailed in my promotion of it.
He happens to be Rector of Good Shepherd Anglican Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and I am looking forward to my discussion with Pastor Ricky McCall, and he happens to be very much enjoying, as he told me recently in my interviews with my guest, Roger Salter, so I hope, if they haven't already, they get to meet each other at some point in the near future.
Also, folks, if you love Iron Sharpens Iron Radio and you don't want us to disappear from the airwaves, please go to www .IronSharpensIronRadio .com, click Support, then click Click to Donate Now. You can donate instantly with a debit or credit card in that method, and if you prefer mailing in a check the old-fashioned way, via snail mail, you can make out your checks to Iron Sharpens Iron Radio and mail them to the address that will appear on the screen when you click Support at www .IronSharpensIronRadio .com.
You can also advertise with us, as long as whatever it is that you are promoting is compatible with what we believe. You don't have to believe identically with me, but you need to be promoting something that is at the very least compatible with what we believe here.
So, please send me an email to chrisarnsen at gmail .com and put advertising in the subject line if you'd like to advertise. We would love to help you launch an ad campaign, because we certainly do need the advertising dollars as well in order to remain in existence.
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But, if you are blessed financially, above and beyond your ability to obey those two commands, and you love this show and you don't want it to disappear, please help us. We are in urgent need of your help.
Go to IronSharpensIronRadio .com, click support, then click, click to donate now. Also, folks, if you are not a member of a local Bible-believing church, and you're not even prayerfully looking for one, please rectify that situation immediately.
If you need help, I may be able to help you, because I have lists of biblically faithful churches all over the world, and I've helped people in our audience already from all over the planet Earth, including Australia, where our guest is from.
I've helped people find churches in Australia. One of them, at least, I know for a fact, has joined that church. Some other folks are looking for churches where they're going on vacation. Some are looking for churches for family, friends, and loved ones in all parts of the world that do not have church homes yet, and they're not aware of a church near them.
Well, I may be able to help you, so send me an email to ChrisArnson at gmail .com. ChrisArnson at gmail .com and put, I need a church in the subject line. That's also the email address to send in a question to our guest, Roger Salter, on our theme, George Whitefield, and the subtitle of that theme is, We Must Be Taken Out of Ourselves.
ChrisArnson at gmail .com. ChrisArnson at gmail .com. Give us your first name, your city and state, and your country of residence if you live outside the USA, and I believe right before we went to the midway break, Pastor Roger, I believe you were starting to relate to the book of Ecclesiastes.
Am I right on that?
Yes, that's right.
Well, if you could pick up where you left off.
Okay.
No, I do not. Well, I think that what you are saying has a ton of truth that you've just driven in in the back of a giant dump truck, and we have a dilemma then, I think. I happen to be a great, enthusiastic lover of Bible conferences, and I know that I would likely not be going to these conferences if all of the speakers were unknown people.
I do very much appreciate the fact that there are conferences like the ones that Josh Bice has created, known as the G3 Conference. I'm very impressed with the fact that he not only does have world-famous men like John MacArthur and others of that stature, but he also has other men that are very little known outside of perhaps very small circles of Christians, but he's introducing some pastors to a greater audience that he knows are gifted, and he has them included on the roster of speakers with these other world-class, very renowned men.
Now, the problem is, how do we conduct these kinds of events? And of course, some might think that we shouldn't, but I think that if a man is very gifted by God, obviously he is going to grow in his status in the church, and he's going to become more and more renowned.
That doesn't always happen, obviously. You have some of the most powerful preachers who are pastors of small congregations that nobody outside that community knows about. But there are men, obviously, like John MacArthur, and we have Paul Washer and others that have become very well known.
But how do we make use of these great gifts, have events that include them? We want to share videos and audio recordings with our lost friends and loved ones, because they have so powerfully and articulately presented gospel truths, and we want our lost ones to hear these messages delivered in such clear and powerful and skillful ways.
And we also want to convince, perhaps, our brothers and sisters that we believe are in error on certain theological issues. Or we even want to just encourage people that are in a state of sorrow or they're going through a trial, and we know that these very well-known people who might even be considered heroes of the faith, modern-day heroes, how do we make use of them without turning them into idols and having that right balance?
Yes, I agree with you.
Yes, and it is a very difficult thing for we who are Christians to keep ourselves free from pride, because as you were even saying earlier, even when we are involved in our most humble acts, they are tainted with sin.
And in fact, when you said something to that aspect, I immediately thought of a quote by John Bunyan, who said, excuse me?
I was saying, yay to John Bunyan.
Oh, okay. Yeah, John Bunyan's quote immediately popped in my head, where he said, There is enough sin in my best prayer to send the whole world to hell.
Yeah.
And obviously, even an act of prayer that's supposed to be the most solemn act filled with humility can often be used as a time to demonstrate one's pride in a public meeting, where they want everyone to hear their great eloquence and piety and even humility.
Yeah. And of course, we have that classic example of prayer that is filled with pride in Luke chapter 18. And this is a passage that has great prominence in my heart, because this was the passage that my sweet mother remembered in connection with the gospel when she was on her deathbed, dying of pancreatic cancer.
And because she had lived a life as a committed Roman Catholic, I had my fears about some of the idolatry and superstition that she had been involved in as a faithful Catholic. And I was starting to ask her questions because I knew that she was going to be in eternity at a very short period of time.
And I said to her, Mom, do you believe you're going to heaven? And she said, yes. And I said, why do you believe you're going to heaven? And she said, because Jesus died for my sins. And I said, well, you've had a life filled with good deeds.
You have been sacrificial and selfless, very religious. Your children can't even think of anything about you to complain about. Or do you think that these good deeds and your religious life will help you get to heaven?
And she said, no. And I said, really, why? And she said, well, I remember that story in the Bible. And she was referring to Luke 18, although she couldn't tell you the chapter and verse. And let me just tell you the story that my mother remembered, starting at verse 9.
And he, meaning Jesus, also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and viewed others with contempt. Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself. God, I thank you that I am not like other people, swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I pay tithes of all that I get.
But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, God be merciful to me, the sinner. I tell you, Jesus is saying, this man went to his house justified, rather than the other, for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.
And I was blown out of the water when my mother, after remembering the main content of that passage, said, Chris, I'm the tax collector. And it was a gift from God, beautifully wrapped and handed to me by God, that gave me such assurance that my mother would be in heaven.
But can you tell us, what does it mean that there's a famous quote from scripture that even unbelievers very often know? It is a quote, probably most known in the King James rendering of it, pride cometh before the fall.
But in the New American Standard Bible, my favorite translation, Proverbs 16, verse 18, says, pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before stumbling. Perhaps even more of a frightening rendering, because a fall doesn't sound all that scary, but pride goes before destruction, certainly is more of a frightening way of translating that.
Can you please exegete that for us?
I think it is.
Obviously humility.
It was perfect for the discussion.
What we're going to do right now, we have one final break. It's going to be a lot more brief than the last two breaks. But if you intend to send in a question, please do so quickly because we are rapidly running out of time.
Our email address is chrisarnson at gmail .com. Chrisarnson at gmail .com. As always, please give us your first name at least, your city and state of residence, and your country of residence if you live outside the USA.
Only remain anonymous if your question involves a personal and private matter.
Don't go away.
We'll be right back with Roger Salter and our theme of George Whitfield. We must be taken out of ourselves after these messages. Was your business shut down during the COVID -19 pandemic, depriving you of earning any money, causing you to default on your rent as you try to survive without income?
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James White of Alpha Omega Ministries here. If you've watched my Dividing Line webcast often enough, you know I have a great love for getting Bibles and other documents vital to my ministry rebound to preserve and ensure their longevity.
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Iron Sharpens Iron Radio first launched in 2005. The publishers of the New American Standard Bible were among my very first sponsors. It gives me joy knowing that many scholars and pastors in the Iron Sharpens Iron Radio audience have been sticking with or switching to the NASB.
I'm Dr. Joseph Piper, President and Professor of Systematic and Homiletical Theology at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Taylors, South Carolina, and the NASB is my Bible of choice. I'm Pastor Chuck White of the First Trinity Lutheran Church in Tonawanda, New York, and the NASB is my Bible of choice.
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Here's a great way for your church to help keep Iron Sharpens Iron Radio on the air. Pastors, are your pew bibles tattered and falling apart? Consider restocking your pews with the NASB, and tell the publishers you heard about them from Chris Arnzen on Iron Sharpens Iron Radio.
Amen.
Pastor Bill Sousa, Grace Church at Franklin, here in the beautiful state of Tennessee. Our congregation is one of a growing number of churches who love and support Iron Sharpens Iron Radio financially.
Grace Church at Franklin is an independent, autonomous body of believers, which strives to clearly declare the whole counsel of God as revealed in scripture through the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Please feel free to contact me if you have more questions about Grace Church at Franklin. Our website is gracechurchatfranklin .org. That's gracechurchatfranklin .org. This is Pastor Bill Sousa wishing you all the richest blessings of our sovereign Lord, God, Savior, and King Jesus Christ today and always.
Here's what Gary DeMar, President of American Vision, had to say about Iron Sharpens Iron Radio recently.
Good to be back.
Chris, I always enjoy our time. You, I have to tell you, one of the better interviewers out there, and I've been doing this for 30, more than 30 years.
Wow, that's some compliment. How much do I owe you for that?
You don't have to owe me anything. We're in good shape.
I'm glad you said it on the air so I don't have to brag about myself. Tell your friends and loved ones about Iron Sharpens Iron Radio, airing live Monday through Friday, 4 to 6 p .m. Eastern time at ironsharpensironradio .com.
I'm Dr. Tony Costa, Professor of Apologetics and Islam at Toronto Baptist Seminary. I'm thrilled to introduce to you a church where I've been invited to speak and have grown to love, Hope Reform Baptist Church in Corham, Long Island, New York, pastored by Rich Jensen and Christopher McDowell.
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Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said,.
Give yourself unto reading. The man who never reads will never be read. He who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men's brains proves that he has no brains of his own.
You need to read.
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And welcome back. This is Chris Arnson, your host of Iron Sharpens Iron Radio. And by the way, I want to let our listeners know, and this is something that even our guest Roger Salter will likely be very interested to hear, since George Whitfield inspired his theme today on this program.
On Thursday of next week, that would be the 15th of October, God willing, we're going to have returning as our guest, Kurt M. Smith. And he's going to be discussing his brand new book, Thundering the Word, The Awakening Ministry of George Whitfield.
That's Thursday, the 15th of October, right here on Iron Sharpens Iron Radio. Um, Pastor Salter, can you please, before I go to any more listener questions, we do have a couple that I will go to momentarily, but I want to make sure that you have a couple of minutes, at least uninterrupted, where you can say things that you definitely wanted to include in this discussion about the sin of pride and about humbling ourselves.
And as you put it in the theme today, taking, that we must be taken out of ourselves. That's great. Did you have one more thing you wanted to say before I go to another listener question? I have Arnie in Perry County, Pennsylvania, who says, if you happen to be at a prayer meeting, and you notice that someone in the prayer meeting has gone on and on and on praying in such a way, as you were mentioning earlier on the show, that they are trying to impress those around him because of the eloquence of his speech, and this is something that you know this person has done routinely, and it is not only a bit annoying, but it also chews into the time of the prayer service itself, and therefore there is less time for others to pray.
How can we best gently and lovingly rebuke this dear brother or sister in Christ, and hopefully have them steered in a different direction for the future? And of course, my first thought is, you have to be careful of impugning motives to the person, because you don't really know for a fact that they're doing it to impress people.
But what he's saying is a real phenomenon. In fact, I think that he rightly said I mentioned something like that earlier, but if you could. Yes, and one suggestion, I mean this would be something that the elders of a church would have to decide if they want to orchestrate their prayer meetings like this, but I know that the church where I'm a member, Grace Baptist Church of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, they conduct the service in such a manner where if you have a prayer request, you are given the opportunity to raise your hand and give that prayer request, but the elder leading the prayer service is the one who chooses men from the congregation to pray.
So in that sense, that may eliminate that problem. Of course, the elder doesn't have omniscience, so he might choose somebody that does the very same thing, but the elders likely know the conduct of those in the congregation, and they know who is going to be more likely to do some grandstanding like that.
But I know what he's talking about. It's a real phenomenon.
And to announce, for instance.
Yeah, that's perfect. Yes, and for it to actually be announced that please be conscious of the fact that other people have prayer requests, so please don't take up too much time with your own prayer. We do have an anonymous listener who says, don't you think humility is the greatest key to bringing strife and tension and disputes in marriages and in many other circumstances where there is hostility, where you have to remember your lowly state and remember the sins for which you have been forgiven before you consider holding too much against the one or the people with whom you are disputing?
Well, Roger, we are actually out of time now. And as always, I really appreciated your time with me today. And if you could remain on the line after the program so I could reschedule or should I say schedule another interview with you.
But I want to once again give the contact information for the St. Matthew's Anglican Church of Birmingham, Alabama. First of all, you have STM Anglican and that's S-T for Saint and M for Matthews and Anglican.
So stmanglican .weebly .com W-E-E-B as in boy, L-Y .com. Stmanglican .weebly .com. And also rogersalter .com rogersalter .com. And salter is spelled S-A-L-T-E-R. Thank you so much, Roger, for always being a wonderful guest.
And I ask of you to please extend to Maureen my great appreciation and love for her. I look forward to having an opportunity, God willing, to fellowshipping with you in person again. And I want to thank everybody who listened, especially those who took the time to write.
I want you all to always remember for the rest of your lives that Jesus Christ is a far greater Savior than you are a sinner.