F4F | Brad Jones: How Attractive Are You?

The Problem with Claiming Direct Revelation Instead of Scripture

Welcome to another installment of fighting for the faith. My name is Chris Roseboro. I am your servant in Jesus Christ. And this is the program that compares what people are saying in the name of God to the Word of God.

Now have you ever been at church and somebody said, you know? Hey, I was out doing something and then God started talking to me. And so I said to God this and then you know. Then God said that and then I think God said this and that and then I said whoa God.

Yeah, if that's ever happened to you go ahead and hit the subscribe button down below. Don't forget to like the video and while you're at it ring the bell. Yeah, that's almost 190 proof that you're dealing with somebody who is a false teacher case in point.

We're gonna be heading down to c3 church in San Diego as we listen to his name is Brad Jones. I had to look because this is a guy I've never reviewed before Brad Jones. He's the youth pastor down there at c3 San Diego at least one of their camp.

I he works with the youth and We're gonna listen to roughly, you know an eight to nine maybe ten minute segment of a sermon titled. How attractive are you? Which already that's a problematic title for a message.

But the the basic premise behind this is that well. The church needs to make itself attractive to you know to the world which is not at all what the church is supposed to be doing and and so. You know the side from the bad theology.

We've got a problem here and that is is that Brad isn't really going to be quoting any biblical texts in context. He's gonna claim direct revelation from God. Conversational revelation from God which will form a major portion of this message and and then at the end he's going to decree and declare and command and controls thingies and stuff and.

What he's engaging in is not biblical Christianity at all. So let's whirl this up. Here is yeah, I had to look again Brad Jones from c3 San Diego. Here we go.

The Image of God, Sin, and the Need for Repentance

So I'm looking around and then all sudden this kind of feeling hit me and I just realized man I wonder what their lives are like now. He's.

Regaling his audience with a personal story. Where he was, you know. Interacting with a whole bunch of people a group of people wondering what they were like.

You know you people watch I went from like judgy people watch back in the day to like now. I just wonder what their lives are like. It's kind of interesting and and it hit me and I'm like man God, I Don't know if they're happy.

They don't really look very happy. I wonder. Like what if they had the relationship that we have? Like it's an amazing thing to have a relationship with God. Like I said, I 15 years at nothing.

Now no by talking about having a relationship with God as opposed to having a religion and. And This is a kind of a wonky way to talk. But this this is evangelical buzzwords and the gist of it is if you were to think about it, you know.

They're in Scripture. There's a theme. Regarding those who yadaya they know God and this is an intimate knowledge and there is an aspect in which you can talk about knowing God and Knowing him intimately knowing him.

Well knowing him through his word. This is most certainly true. But oftentimes when people talk about having a religion versus a relationship. It's a it's a wonky way of saying hey, listen, we're not saved by doing stuff.

You know religious things lighting candles kneeling on kneelers and and earning, you know. Religious brownie points with God and then you're saved instead it there's a. Relationship is kind of loosely synonymous with this idea that we're saved by grace through faith because of what Christ has done for us.

The problem is it's morphed, you know, the concept is lost. It's you know, it's anchorage and it's morphed into well. If you're not, you know, if you haven't turned Jesus into your naggy girlfriend, you know, who's always demanding, you know.

It's quality time with you. Yeah, you know, then you may not be a Christian. Yeah, that's where it gets really strange and weird. Now what he's gonna be doing here is claiming he has an intimate relationship with God.

So much so that he and God dialogue all the time together. I was lonely and then I'm like man. Why can't everybody be a Christian?

It might be you know a little bit bold statement, but I believe it and I think tonight we're gonna all believe it. And and so as clear as day just goes they're not attracted to me and.

Now begins the the dialogue with God portion of the message I'm like God.

What do you mean because I got an image issue I'm like.

God has an image issue now real quick. Duplicate a tab here and I want to go to Romans chapter 3. God does not have an image issue. We have a sin issue a Horrible one. Each and every one of us is born under the dominion of darkness.

But listen again to Romans chapter 3 which describes every single human being. That's directly descendant naturally to Adam and Eve. Paul writes what then are we Jews any better off? Well, no, not at all.

We have already charged that all both Jews and Greeks are under sin as it is written. None is righteous. No, not one no one understands. No one seeks for God. God doesn't have an image issue. The issue is is that the Devastation of sin wrought on humanity as a result of our fall through our first parents.

Adam and Eve Have made it so that no one seeks for God. All Have turned aside together. They have become worthless. No one does good not even one. Their throat is an open grave. They use their tongues to deceive the venom of asps is under their lips.

Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood and in their paths are ruin and misery in the way of peace. They have not known there is no fear of God before their eyes and just a little bit of a note there.

The Apostle Paul is citing. I mean this these words don't appear once in Scripture. They don't appear twice in Scripture. They appear twice in the Old Testament in Psalm 14 verses 1 through 3 as well as Psalm 53 verses 1 through 3 and then the third time they appear it's in Romans chapter 3.

So, you know. The fact that these words that there are non-righteous appears three times in Scripture ought to kind of make the point. That the issue isn't that God has an image problem or the people aren't attracted to him because we haven't made him attractive.

The issue is we're dead in trespasses and sins and None of us seeks for God, but God seeks for us. Christ has he came he says I came to seek and save the lost. See Jesus is the seeker. We're not but I digress.

Let's come back to Brad here.

What do you mean. God, you know, I'm like. Anybody that has an image issue. It shouldn't be you. You talk that way to God you.

Yeah, and you live to tell about it.

Like you created everything you created beauty your face like the Sun eyes lightning fire. His body it says that it's like glimmering metal with and you had to remind God of this really fire on the inside.

I don't even know how you can see it, but you can. His legs literally it says. I think in Ezekiel that there's a rainbow constantly around his throne like he is beauty. My god, what are you talking about?

And he goes he goes. Yeah. I know I ain't you forgot. I never age. I'm like duh. Yes my point. He said Brad. Am I a liar? And I said no your Bible says not.

Has this guy had a mental evaluation? I mean he's hearing voices that are clearly not God.

So who did I say? Holds my image and I said.

My I don't like this conversation anymore. Yeah, man was originally created in the image of God that image is marred and destroyed and shattered as a result of man's fall into sin. Now, let me show you another passage that bears that out so that you don't think I'm speaking out of turn Ephesians chapter 2 which has verses 8 9 and 10, which everybody many Christians know by heart.

Here's what it says in the opening part of chapter 2 which describes our state prior to becoming Christians as. For you you were dead. Dead in trespasses and sins in which you once walked Following the course of this world.

Following the prince of the power of the air the spirit that is now at work in the sense of disobedience among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh carrying out the desires of the body in the mind.

And watch this. And we were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind. Yeah, that's after the fall. After the fall every single human being is born dead in trespasses and sins and by nature is a child of wrath.

Yeah, so that don't underestimate the effects of sin. Adam and Eve sin upon the entire race. It's it's blown us out you know completely decimated us made us dead in trespasses and sins and objects of God's wrath by nature.

Me.

And he goes exactly and I go so it's not that they're not attracted to you. They're not attracted to me. And so then I believe in was.

Is this kind of some kind of a weird, you know double entendre that he that?

Brad wants people attracted to him. So we're gonna talk about three things that make a Christian attractive.

That he showed me and and I said, you know what. Fine. So notice three things that make a Christian attractive. That God showed him. We're not gonna find this in the scripture.

No, this is what God showed game on. Game on. I'm become as attractive as I can. Marry a cute blonde. Have her dress me. No, I'm just kidding. Listen what we're gonna talk about tonight. And if you know if again, like I said if I offended you you do not need to have the face of Brad Pitt The muscles of Pastor John or a body like a supermodel to become attractive you guys want to become attractive though.

Let's do this. Yeah for me that that that cow left the barn a long time ago. Point number one to become more attractive. You must know who you are.

You got it. Yeah, I'm Chris Rose, bro. Says it on my passport birth certificate and stuff. Yeah, I know who you are.

True for the natural true for the supernatural. Actually, so this is a big one in youth ministry in youth right now I don't know why I'd say probably last 50 years. The church has backed off on telling teenagers who they are and.

So culture has swept him away in the sea. And now there's an identity crisis that you know, I'm no historian, but I believe is one of the greatest in human history. We have no idea who we are.

The Devil is. Yeah, that might have something to do with Humanities fall into sin, you know. Just saying selling kids a lie. And so.

But before we jump into that, let's define it when I say attractive. I mean magnetic drawing desirable wanting your Christianity is magnetic if who says.

Jesus promises his followers Persecution and suffering. So where in the Bible can I go to find the admonition to make my Christianity.

Attractive magnetic, you know if you would. If that were the case there wouldn't be an empty seat in this room.

You see it's your fault that there are empty seats in your church because you just haven't made your Christianity Magnetic and attractive enough there wouldn't.

How should we speak. So. I oversee youth ministry here and say it breaks my heart seeing these young girls and the identity issue. You know, whatever happened. You're a child of God a princess. Beauty and wonder.

You're incredible. You're not nothing. Stop acting that way.

Okay, the reason why human beings including female teenagers and female and male teenagers is just kind of throw it up. The reason why we all struggle with sin is not because we don't think of ourselves as princes and Princesses.

In fact in my experience the person who thinks they're a princess or a prince It generally is a narcissistic person with a ginormous ego and a spoiled child's boot. Generally, they do not exemplify The fruit of the Spirit love joy peace patience kindness gentleness Self-control see Veruca salt the Charlie and the chocolate factor if you're not sure what I'm talking about here.

So the solution to our problem is To recognize the impact of sin and that sin causes us to be like the devil to be bent in on ourselves. Christ says the one who humbles himself He will exalt not the one who exalts himself.

So we got to be real careful here because. Yeah, the my problem with sin has nothing to do with the fact that I failed to recognize that I'm a prince. Yeah.

Your royalty. The devil's selling them a lie and it's time for the church to get attractive. So that we can start speaking life into these teenagers. I need to get attractive.

Biblical text, please on me getting attractive.

So tonight a couple quick things as we go. I truly believe we're gonna tear down this idea of unworthiness. We're gonna tear it down tonight you guys ready tear down the idea of unworthiness.

Um. Okay, let's see what we can do here with another text because you know, I'm not sure what he's talking about. Let me show you what the Apostle Paul writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit tells us in Romans chapter 5.

And listen to this while we were still weak at the right time. Christ died for the ungodly. If you ain't one of them Jesus didn't die for you. In fact, if you ain't ungodly. Bad grammar, I understand, but if you ain't ungodly.

You don't need Jesus the crucified and risen Savior of the world. You see Christ died for the ungodly. I Would argue that being ungodly has something to do with being unworthy. Especially when it comes to things like life eternal life and stuff like that and then Paul goes on for what one will scarcely die for.

A righteous person though, perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die but God Shows or demonstrates his love for us in that while we were still sinners. Christ Died for us. You see God demonstrates his love for us while we're sinners.

Since therefore we have now been justified by his blood. How much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God? That's the very thing. We're being saved from the wrath of God. Hell, have you heard of these concepts for if while we were enemies?

We were reconciled to God by the death of his Son. How much more now that we are reconciled shall we be saved by his life? And so you'll note Christ saves us while we're enemies of God. Enemies are worthy of death death, you know punishment, you know.

All the things that go along with being an enemy of God. Yeah, so I'm not exactly worthy in and of myself. It's funny though that in the book of Deuteronomy that God himself Also makes it very clear as to why he chose his people and now remember Christians are grafted into Israel.

You know, we don't replace Israel. We're grafted in so so here's here's what it says in Deuteronomy chapter 7 starting at verse 7. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you.

For you were the fewest of all peoples and it is it but it is because Yahweh Loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers that Yahweh has brought you out With a mighty hand and redeem you from the house of slavery from the hand of Pharaoh the king of Egypt.

Know therefore that Yahweh your God is God the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generation and repays to The face to their face those who hate him by destroying them.

So yeah, you'll note that Israel wasn't saved because they were worthy. They were saved because of God's great love we aren't saved because we're worthy we were enemies of God. But Christ dies for us even while we're ungodly while we're sinners while we're enemies of God.

We didn't we weren't worthy of our salvation. God had mercy on us big difference and notice we're not hearing this. So Brad is you know, well. Sounds to me like he's filling people's heads with Nonsense, he's scratching itching ears and what he's saying doesn't square With the written Word of God yet.

He claims to have verbal dialogue with God directly hmm, I. Because he's contradicting the Word of God. I'm 100 certain 110 maybe in 120 certain he ain't hearing God's voice at all. Whatever. He's talking to it's either himself.

Or he's lying or he's talking to a demon, but he ain't talking to God the Holy Spirit.

So I so this is maybe it's just me. I'm in youth ministry so I think kind of a I don't know maybe like a kid, but I believe that we've got a Gross misunderstanding of our identity who we are. Like really I think we're gonna get to heaven just like dang it.

But I believe this is gonna be like right so say you just die right and you go to heaven you're what now notice.

This next part is not in Scripture. This is just him making stuff up. Yeah and preaching it during a sermon.

Walking around streets made of gold God's rainbow like epicness, right? It's utopian you just and you keep hearing this like you walk is What and there's a little little baby angel right here like a little training angel.

And he just goes like this. Wow, you're a human. You're so special and you're like What back off dude? I'm like trying to do this thing in heaven now, and he's like what was earth like? And you're like What I don't know.

It's kind of boring. I guess. What did you do on earth?

Oh. You're so special and you're like, oh he has them entertained. I mean they're rolling on the floor laughing cuz it's so funny. This is abhorrent. The job of a pastor is to preach the word. That's what Scripture says.

I Don't see him doing that at all. I Was an accountant. A.

Special accountant. You're like, all right, he goes you're so special. And you're like listen, dude, you're kind of annoying. Why do you keep calling me special like back off? I'm not special like I didn't really do much on earth.

I just kind of all right.

Preach the Word, Not Myths and Feel-Good Identity Talk

Let's take a look at another biblical text just to remind us of the warning that the Apostle Paul gives us in 2nd Timothy chapter 4. I'll back up just to the very tail end of chapter 3 because it points us to the written Word of God and.

And then get into 4 and so Paul writing to young pastor Timothy. He says in verse 14 of 2nd Timothy 3 as for you Continuing what you've learned and a firmly believe knowing from whom you learned it how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings.

Sacred writings would be the scripture the gramata in Greek. Which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ. Jesus all Scripture is they a new stuff it is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching for reproof for correction and for training and righteousness so that the man of God may be complete and Equipped for every good work.

Notice Paul is pointing Timothy to the scripture. Paul is getting ready to die. He's about to be beheaded. He's not that far away from being beheaded after he writes this letter. So note he's pointing him right to the scriptures.

They're gonna equip you for every good work and then he says this I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who's to judge the living and the dead and By his appearing in his kingdom preach The word and Watch what stands out in contradistinction?

Let him finish his thought preach the word. Be ready in season and out of season reprove. Rebuke and exhort with complete patience and teaching for the time is coming when people will not endure sound doctrine or sound teaching.

But having itching ears. They will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and passions here is talking about The passions of your sinful flesh and they will turn away from listening to the truth.

And they'll wander off into myths. Yeah, I think there's some wandering off into mythos. Mythos, yes myths in this particular.

Sermon to live went to work. Like what do you mean? I'm special and he goes, what do you mean? You should what do you mean? What do you mean? It's like kind of like I think angels have attitude in heaven.

All of a sudden he turns from sweet to just mean. And and then he just looks over he goes the king has never left ever. And then one day he gathered all the angels and he said I'm leaving and we're like why?

And he's like I'm going to earth and we're like why? And he goes because the humans need help and we're like why?

You mean the angels aren't aware of why? Christ would be incarnate.

And he goes because I love them and They're so special to me. You see I think we have a really gross understanding of our identity. Perspective is everything especially with youth when you look at something like this.

You don't see like if I'm looking at our church this way. It's pretty attractive if I'm looking at it this way. It's a whole new set of people. I'm not gonna tell you which side was more attractive. But you see we constantly are looking up to find our identity, but have we ever thought What does it look like from up there down?

Yeah, this is pseudo profundity. Do you have a biblical text that you're supposed to be preaching from. I'd like to hear or see that. Because I'm looking at your podium there and your Bible is Unopened.

It's sitting on the podium. You know right over there and it's not open. How do you preach a sermon with an unopened Bible. The Bible here says.

First Peter. He's looking at his notes. Now first Peter. All right, even the angels. This is regarding your salvation.

It's regarding you now. I'm gonna back this up because I want you to hear this. We'll fact-check it in a minute by checking it in context, but notice he's been talking about how Special you are and and the angel going.

You're a human you're special. You know the claw it has chosen me. Anyway, you get the idea, but let me back this up. I want you to hear it again in context.

Now the Bible here says First Peter and even the angels this is regarding your salvation is regarding you.

Regarding your salvation not regarding you. We'll talk about that in a second look into you. What? They they they they look into me. No, no, no, no. Not at all. Okay. Let's see here. I'm gonna have to actually, you know, cut this down first Peter.

It's in chapter 1 thankfully. So let's apply our three rules for sound biblical exegesis, which are context context and Context. That's right. You just look at these things in context and we're gonna look to see if angels look into you or look into me if that's What Peter was saying?

So Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ. Let me skip to verse 3 blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ according to his great mercy. He has caused us to be born again. Notice who's the active agent in our rebirth are being born again.

It's Jesus. Yeah. He caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance that is imperishable undefiled and unfading kept in heaven for you who by God's power are Being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

We fast forward just a little bit though. You have not seen him. You love him though. You do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with joy. That is inexpressible and filled with glory. Obtaining the outcome of your faith.

And what is the outcome of our faith? It is the salvation of our souls now concerning this salvation. And salvation of your soul, right. The prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours.

They searched and they inquired carefully inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and The subsequent glories it was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves.

But you in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preach the good news to you. By the Holy Spirit sent from heaven things into which the angels long to look. Notice it doesn't say who the angels want to look into it says things into which the angels long to look and this is talking about the mystery of our salvation the mystery that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself the the Mystery that the Son of God would be incarnate of the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, you know, and there would be made man.

But this is what we're talking about here. So the so this good news the gospel that Christ died for our sins even the angels long to look into that. Hmm, that's what this text is talking about. But that's not what Brad said.

Let me back this up again.

First Peter and even the angels this is regarding your salvation is regarding you Look into you.

No, they don't and that ain't what Peter said in first Peter.

Even the angels look into those things in Psalms. It's David speaking. He says he's looking at the heavens and stars in the moon. He says what your finger has done. What is man?

It's incredible. Yeah, what is man that you are mindful of him? This isn't I'm not denying at all that God has saved us because of his great love for us. That the creation that he has made that has rebelled against him and fallen into sin in his great love he has had mercy.

He's pitied us and It's it's absolutely mind-boggling that God would even consider us rather than just throw us all into hell like we all deserve. This is most certainly true, but that doesn't make me a princess.

I mean a prince. But you get the idea.

What is man that you're mindful of him Deuteronomy? Says that to the Lord to the Lord the heavens and the earth belong to him. Mm-hmm. Yeah. To the Lord that the heavens and the earth are him are his and yet he set his affection on us.

Yeah, indeed. I wish I could put it up right now. But those of you who like is it nebulas and stars and galaxies is it because we are worthy?

No. It's because of his great love and his mercy and his kindness. Not because we are worthy. We're not.

And stuff it's unreal like absolutely Jaw-dropping what God created with his finger. We are one. I don't know if there's a scientist you could tell us but we're like 100 billion. We're one of 100 billion galaxies in the known universe and it says that he set his affection on us.

You're so special. Jeremiah 29 11 you guys know this one, but it doesn't say that God just thinks thoughts it think he thinks thoughts towards you.

Yeah, Jeremiah 29 11 go read it in context. It's not a letter written to you. It's a letter written to the exiles in Babylon. To prosper you to give you hope. And the you there in the Hebrew is plural.

It's y 'all all y 'all. It ain't it. Isn't you singular.

This is David. Again, you knitted me in my mother's womb.

I'm fearfully and wonderfully made most certainly true fearfully and wonderfully made also. Sinner and born dead and trespasses and sins and by nature an object of God's wrath.

That's what Ephesians 2 said. I mean how many of us are going man? They wake up in the morning fearfully and wonderfully made.

This is like Breeding narcissism here rather than repentance. It's it's breeding and exalting of self rather than a humbling of self.

And then my favorite I spoke of this one before Genesis 127 that you're made in the image and likeness of the Creator.

Yeah, Adam and Eve were. Then that image has been decimated by sin.

You have no idea how special you are. Stop thinking you're a nobody. Just stop it. Come on. Actually I say we're gonna tear down some some walls of unworthiness.

Okay, so apparently we've got a problem here with major unworthiness. Thinking and talk and stuff. Oh, we got to tear down the walls of unworthiness. All right, Brad. How do you suppose that you're going to tear down the walls of unworthiness?

Can you show me an example of how that's done? From the written Word of God.

Deliverance Training, False Agreements, and a Made-Up Spiritual Battle

You guys I do deliverance you guys mind if we do a little bit of a little sneak peek into deliverance training.

Deliverance training which means he believes that Christians are possessed by demons.

You guys want to do it? I want you to close your eyes right now. No. Here's the thing anybody and this is maybe it's maybe you don't deal with this. But if you do, you know who I'm talking to. What happens in the spiritual realm is we make agreements legal binding agreements.

And yeah, and where in the Bible does it say that in the spiritual realm? We make legal binding agreements with the devil.

Hmm, I'd like to see that. Which text says that even though God has set his affection upon you. Mm-hmm. Even though he loves you, even though you're made in his likeness and image that if you make an agreement with the enemy.

Then he honors your will.

Yeah, again, I need a biblical text for that. You got one. No, you don't because no biblical text like this even exists. It's a powerful thing your will.

I'd say it. It comes close to rivaling his will.

What. My will comes close to rivaling the will of God. Are you kidding me? It's one of the most powerful things.

And so when you make an agreement that you're not worthy the devil comes in and signs it and so this is what.

Signed sealed delivered. I'm yours. Uh-huh. Yeah, right.

Where does it say that in the Bible? We're gonna do we're gonna break it right now. Oh.

Okay, you know I I think this part about you sign it. You know you you saying and coming in a verbal agreement and then the devil signing it. It's it's in the Bible. It's Right, it's in the same passage.

I think that that says that you need to pray to the Virgin Mary. Yeah, yeah, and and it's also in that same passage of Scripture that talks about purgatory. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that's the ticket. Yeah. Yeah.