WesleyGospel Ministries

Originally from here.

The original author of the Roman Ritual and this Rite of Exorcism was Giulio Antonio Santorio, who had completed his work in 1586. The English translation that this version is based on was made by Philip Weller in 1964.

1. The pastor delegated by the council to perform this office should first go to confession or at least elicit an act of contrition, and, if convenient, take the Lord’s Supper, and implore God’s help in other fervent prayers. He dresses just as he would on Sunday morning. Having before him the person possessed (who should be bound if there is any danger), he traces the sign of the cross over him, over himself, and the bystanders, and then sprinkles all of them with holy water. After this he kneels and says the Lord’s Prayer, exclusive of the prayers which follow it. All present are to make the responses. At the end of the prayer he adds the following:

Antiphon: Do not keep in mind, O Lord, our offenses or those of our parents, nor take vengeance on our sins.

The Lord’s Prayer a second time (the rest inaudibly until:)

P: And lead us not into temptation.

All: But deliver us from evil.

Psalm 53

After the psalm the pastor continues:

P: Save your servant.

All: Who trusts in you, my God.

P: Let him (her) find in you, Lord, a fortified tower.

All: In the face of the enemy.

P: Let the enemy have no power over him (her).

All: And the son of iniquity be powerless to harm him (her). Lord, send him (her) aid from your holy place.

All: And watch over him (her) from Heaven.

P: Lord, hear my prayer.

All: And let my cry be heard by you.

P: The Lord be with you.

All: May He also be with you. Let us pray. God, whose nature is ever merciful and forgiving, accept our prayer that this servant of yours, bound by the fetters of sin, may be pardoned by your loving kindness. Holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who once and for all consigned that fallen and apostate tyrant to the flames of Hell, who sent your only-begotten Son into the world to crush that roaring lion; hasten to our call for help, and snatch from ruination, and from the clutches of the noonday devil, this human being made in your image and likeness. Strike terror, Lord, into the beast now laying waste your vineyard. Fill your servants with courage to fight manfully against that reprobate dragon, lest he despise those who put their trust in you, and say with Pharaoh of old: “I know not God, nor will I set Israel free.” Let your mighty hand cast him out of your servant, Name, + so he may no longer hold captive this person whom it pleased you to make in your image, and to redeem through your Son; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

All: Amen.

2. Then he commands the demon as follows: I command you, unclean spirit, whoever you are, along with all your minions now attacking this servant of God, by the mysteries of the incarnation, passion, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, by the descent of the Holy Spirit, by the coming of our Lord for judgment, that you tell me by some sign your name, and the day and hour of your departure. I command you, moreover, to obey me to the letter, I who am a minister of God despite my unworthiness; nor shall you be emboldened to harm in any way this creature of God, or the bystanders, or any of their possessions.

3. Next he reads over the possessed person these selections from the Gospel, or at least one of them. A reading from the Gospel of John (1:1-14). As he says these opening words he signs himself and the possessed on the brow, lips, and breast. A reading from the Gospel of Mark (16:15-18): At that time Jesus said to His disciples: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they  will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” A reading from the Gospel of Luke (10:17-20): “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in Heaven.” A reading from the Gospel of Luke (11:14-22): “And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.”

P: Lord, hear my prayer.

All: And let my cry be heard by you.

P: The Lord be with you.

All: May He also be with you.

P: Let us pray. Almighty Lord, Word of God the Father, Jesus Christ, God and Lord of all creation; who gave to your holy apostles the power to trample underfoot serpents and scorpions; who along with the other mandates to work miracles was pleased to grant them the authority to say: “Depart, you devils!” and by whose might Satan was made to fall from heaven like lightning; I humbly call on your holy name in fear and trembling, asking that you grant me, your unworthy servant, pardon for all my sins, steadfast faith, and the power–supported by your mighty arm–to confront with confidence and resolution this cruel demon. I ask this through you, Jesus Christ, our Lord and God, who are coming to judge both the living and the dead and the world by fire.

All: Amen.

4. Next he makes the sign of the cross over himself and the one possessed, holds a crucifix in front of the latter’s eyes, and, putting his right hand on the latter’s head, he says the following in tones filled with confidence and faith:

P: See the cross of the Lord; begone, you hostile powers!

All: The stem of David, the lion of Judah’s tribe has conquered.

P: Lord, hear my prayer.

All: And let my cry be heard by you.

P: The Lord be with you.

All: May He also be with you. Let us pray. God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I appeal to your holy name, humbly begging your kindness, that you graciously grant me help against this and every unclean spirit now tormenting this creature of yours; through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

Exorcism

I cast you out, unclean spirit, along with every satanic power of the enemy, every specter from Hell, and all your fallen companions; in the name of our Lord Jesus + Christ… Begone and stay far from this creature of God! + For it is He who commands you, He who flung you headlong from the heights of Heaven into the depths of Hell. It is He who commands you, He who once stilled the sea and the wind and the storm. Hearken, therefore, and tremble in fear, you demon, you enemy of the faith, you foe of the human race, you begetter of death, you robber of life, you corrupter of justice, you root of all evil and vice, seducer of men, betrayer of the nations, instigator of jealousy, fountain of greed, inciter of discord, author of pain and sorrow. Why, then, do you stand and resist, knowing as you must that Christ the Lord brings your plans to nothing? Fear Him, who in Isaac was offered in sacrifice, in Joseph sold into bondage, slain as the paschal lamb, crucified as man, yet triumphed over the powers of Hell. (The three signs of the cross which follow are traced on the brow of the possessed person)…Begone, then, in the name of the Father, + and of the Son, + and of the Holy + Spirit. Give place to the Holy Spirit by this sign of the holy + cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

All: Amen.

P: Lord, hear my prayer.

All: And let my cry be heard by you.

P: The Lord be with you.

All: May He also be with you.

P: Let us pray. God, creator and defender of the human race, who made man in your own image, look down in pity on this your servant, Name, now in the toils of the unclean spirit, now caught up in the fearsome threats of man’s ancient enemy, sworn foe of our race, who befuddles and stupefies the human mind, throws it into terror, overwhelms it with fear and panic. Repel, O Lord, the devil’s power, break asunder his snares and traps, put the unholy tempter to flight. By the sign + (on the brow) of your name, let your servant be protected in mind and body. (The three crosses which follow are traced on the breast of the possessed person). Keep watch over the inmost recesses of his (her) + heart; rule over his (her) + emotions; strengthen his (her) + will. Let the temptations of this mighty enemy vanish from his (her) soul. Graciously grant, O Lord, as we call on your holy name, that the evil spirit, who hitherto terrorized over us, may himself retreat in terror and defeat, so that this servant of yours may sincerely and steadfastly render you the service which is your due; through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

Exorcism

I command you, ancient serpent, by the judge of the living and the dead, by your Creator, by the Creator of the whole universe, by Him who has the power to consign you to Hell, to leave immediately in fear, along with your savage subordinate demons, from this servant of God, Name, who seeks refuge in Jesus and the true church. I command you again, + (on the brow) not by my weakness but by the might of the Holy Spirit, to depart from this servant of God, Name, whom almighty God has made in His image. Yield, therefore, yield not to my own person but to the minister of Christ. For it is the power of Christ that forces you, who brought you low by His cross. Tremble before that mighty arm that broke asunder the dark prison walls and led forth souls to light. May the trembling that afflicts this human frame, + (on the breast) the fear that afflicts this image (on the brow) of God, descend on you. Make no resistance nor delay in leaving this man (woman), for it has pleased Christ to dwell in man. Do not think of despising my command because you know me to be a great sinner. It is God + Himself who commands you; the majestic Christ + who commands you. God the Father + commands you; God the Son + commands you; God the Holy + Spirit commands you. The mystery of the cross commands + you. The faith of the holy apostles Peter and Paul and of all the saints commands + you. The blood of the martyrs commands + you. The devout prayers of all holy men and women command + you. The saving mysteries of our Christian faith command + you. DEPART, then, transgressor! COME OUT, you seducer, full of lies and cunning, foe of virtue, persecutor of the innocent! Give place, abominable creature, give way, you monster, give way to Christ! For He has already stripped you of your powers and laid waste your kingdom, bound you prisoner and plundered your weapons. He has cast you forth into the outer darkness, where everlasting ruin awaits you and your allies. To what purpose do you insolently resist? To what purpose do you brazenly refuse? We are submitting to God, and resisting you, so that you will flee from this man (woman). You are guilty before almighty God, whose laws you have transgressed. You are guilty before His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, whom you presumed to tempt, whom you dared to nail to the cross. You are guilty before the whole human race, whom you enticed to drink from the poisoned cup of death. Therefore, I command you, wasteful dragon, in the name of the spotless + Lamb, who has trodden down the viper and the basilisk, and overcome the lion and the dragon, to depart from this man (woman) + (on the brow), to depart from the Church of God + (signing the bystanders). Tremble and flee, as we call on the name of the Lord, before whom the inhabitants of Hell cower, to whom the heavenly Virtues and Powers and Dominions are subject, whom the Cherubim and Seraphim praise with unending cries as they sing: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts. The Word made flesh + commands you; the Son of God + commands you; Jesus + of Nazareth commands you, who once, when you despised His disciples, forced you to flee in shameful defeat from a man; and when He had cast you out you did not even dare, except by His leave, to enter into a herd of swine. And now as I adjure you in His + name, GET OUT of this man (woman) who is His creature. It is useless to resist His + will. It is hard for you to kick against the + pricks. The longer you delay, the heavier your punishment will be; for it is not men you are despising, but rather Him who rules the living and the dead, who is coming to judge both the living and the dead and the world by fire.

All: Amen.

P: Lord, hear my prayer.

All: And let my cry be heard by you.

P: The Lord be with you.

All: May He also be with you. Let us pray. God of Heaven and earth, God of the angels and archangels, God of the prophets and apostles, God of the martyrs and virgins, God who has power to bestow life after death and rest after toil; for there is no other God than you, nor can there be another true God beside you, the Creator of Heaven and earth, who are truly a King, whose kingdom is without end; we humbly entreat your glorious majesty to deliver this servant of yours from the unclean spirits; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Exorcism

Therefore, I command you and every unclean spirit, every spirit from Hell, every satanic power, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who was led into the desert after His baptism by John to vanquish you in your fortress, to cease your assaults against the creature whom He has formed from the dust of the earth for His own honor and glory; to shrink with fear at the sight of this man (woman), seeing in him (her) the image of almighty God, rather than his (her) state of human frailty. Yield then to God, + who by His servant, Moses, cast you and your malice, in the person of Pharaoh and his army, into the depths of the sea. Yield to God, + who, by the singing of psalms on the part of David, His faithful servant, banished you from the heart of King Saul. Yield to God, + who condemned you in the person of Judas Iscariot, the traitor. For He now flails you with His divine scourges, + He in whose sight you and your legions once cried out: “What have we to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Have you come to torture us before the time?” Now He is driving you back into the everlasting fire, He who at the end of time will say to the wicked: “Depart from me, you accursed, into the everlasting fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.” For you, O evil one, and for your followers there will be worms that never die. An unquenchable fire stands ready for you and for your minions, you prince of accursed murderers, father of lust, instigator of blasphemies, model of obscenity, promoter of heresies, inventor of every profanity. DEPART, then, + impious one, DEPART, + accursed one, DEPART with all your deceits, for God has willed that man should be His temple. Why do you still linger here? Give honor to God the Father + almighty, before whom every knee must bow. Give place to the Lord Jesus + Christ, who shed His most precious blood for man. Give place to the Holy + Spirit, who by His blessed apostle Peter openly struck you down in the person of Simon Magus; who cursed your lies in Annas and Saphira; who smote you in King Herod because he had not given honor to God; who by His apostle Paul afflicted you with the night of blindness in the magician Elymas, and by the mouth of the same apostle bade you to go out of Pythonissa, the soothsayer. BEGONE, + now! BEGONE, + seducer! Your place is in solitude; your abode is in the nest of serpents; get down and crawl with them. This matter takes no delay; for see, the Lord, the ruler comes quickly, kindling fire before Him, and it will run on ahead of Him and encompass His enemies in flames. You might delude man, but God you cannot mock. It is He who CASTS YOU OUT, from whose sight nothing is hidden. It is He who repels you, to whose might all things are subject. It is He who EXPELS YOU, He who has prepared everlasting Hell-fire for you and your demons, from whose mouth shall come a sharp sword, who is coming to judge both the living and the dead and the world by fire.

All: Amen.

5. All the above may be repeated as long as necessary, until the one possessed has been fully freed.

6. It will also help to say devoutly and often over the afflicted person the Lord’s Prayer, the Apostle’s Creed, and the Athanasian Creed.

P: Whoever wills to be saved
* must before all else hold fast to repentance and faith in the cross.

All: Unless one keeps this faith whole and untarnished,
* without doubt he will perish forever.

P: Now this is the summary of our faith:
* that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in unity;

All: Neither confusing the Persons one with the other,
* nor making a distinction in their nature.

P: For the Father is a distinct Person; and so is the Son,
* and so is the Holy Spirit.

All: Yet the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit possess one Godhead,
* co-equal glory, co-eternal majesty.

P: As the Father is, so is the Son,
* so also is the Holy Spirit.

All: The Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated,
* the Holy Spirit is uncreated.

P: The Father is infinite, the Son is infinite,
* the Holy Spirit is infinite.

All: The Father is eternal, the Son is eternal,
* the Holy Spirit is eternal.

P: Yet they are not three eternals,
* but one eternal God.

All: Even as they are not three uncreated, or three infinites,
* but one uncreated and one infinite God.

P: So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son is almighty,
* the Holy Spirit is almighty.

All: Yet they are not three almighties,
* but they are the one Almighty.

P: Thus the Father is God, the Son is God,
* the Holy Spirit is God.

All: Yet they are not three gods,
* but one God.

P: Thus the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord,
* the Holy Spirit is Lord.

All: Yet there are not three lords,
* but one Lord.

P: For just as Christian truth compels us to profess that each Person is individually God and Lord,
* so does the Christian faith forbid us to hold that there are three gods or lords.

All: The Father was not made by any power;
* He was neither created nor begotten.

P: The Son is from the Father alone,
* neither created nor made, but begotten.

All: The Holy Spirit is from the Father and the Son,
* neither made nor created nor begotten, but He proceeds.

P: So there is one Father, not three; one Son, not three;
* one Holy Spirit, not three.

All: And in this Trinity one Person is not earlier or later, nor is one greater or less;
* but all three Persons are co-eternal and co-equal.

P: In every way, then, as already affirmed,
* unity in Trinity and Trinity in unity is to be worshiped.

All: Whoever, then, wills to be saved
* must agree with this doctrine of the Blessed Trinity.

P: But it is necessary for everlasting salvation
* that one also firmly believe in the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

All: True faith, then, requires us to believe and profess
* that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is both God and man.

P: He is God, begotten of the substance of the Father from eternity;
* He is man, born in time of the substance of His mother.

All: He is perfect God, and perfect man
* subsisting in a rational soul and a human body.

P: He is equal to the Father in His divine nature,
* but less than the Father in His human nature.

All: And though He is God and man,
* yet He is the one Christ, not two.

P: One, however, not by any change of divinity into flesh,
* but by the act of God assuming a human nature.

All: He is one only, not by a mixture of substance,
* but by the oneness of His Person.

P: For, somewhat as the rational soul and the body compose one man,
* so Christ is one Person who is both God and man;

All: Who suffered for our salvation, who descended into Hell,
* who rose again the third day from the dead;

P: Who ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty,
* from there He shall come to judge both the living and the dead.

All: At His coming all men shall rise again in their bodies,
* and shall give an account of their works.

P: And those who have done good shall enter into everlasting life,
* but those who have done evil into everlasting fire.

All: All this is Christian faith,
* and unless one believes it truly and firmly one cannot be saved.

P: Glory be to the Father.

All: As it was in the beginning.

[Here follow a large number of psalms which may be used at the exorcist’s discretion but are not a necessary part of the rite. Some of them occur in other parts of the Rite and are so indicated; the others may be taken from the Psalter. Psalm 90; psalm 67; psalm 69; psalm 53; psalm 117; psalm 34; psalm 30; psalm 21, psalm 3; psalm 10; psalm 12.]

Prayer Following Deliverance

P: Almighty God, we beg you to keep the evil spirit from further bothering this servant of yours, and to keep him far away, never to return. At your command, O Lord, may the goodness and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, take possession of this man (woman). May we no longer fear any evil since the Lord is with us; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

All: Amen.

What Pride Is Not

One of the things about “pride” is that it is hard to define in the English language. It is one of the seven deadly sins in Catholicism, and the Bible has some very bad things to say about it. But just what is pride? In the Biblical sense, it does not mean to feel a sense of satisfaction from your efforts; it is not referring to “being proud” of your kids for doing a good job at school (see 2 Cor. 7:4); it is not about the sense of gratification, fulfillment, joy, or pleasure derived from receiving rewards from hard work, or from other accomplishments. All of these things are harmless, natural feelings that come from reaping the rewards of your labor. No saint is going to be condemned for “pride” on the Day of Judgment for feeling happy that they have pleased Christ, after hearing Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:23). That is not pride in the “sin” sense of pride that the Bible often refers to; the idea is one of confidence and satisfaction from a job well done. That is not the sin of pride.

The Sin of Pride Defined

The Biblical sin of pride is better defined by words like haughtiness, snobbishness, and superiority.

Haughtiness – the appearance or quality of being arrogantly superior and disdainful; disdainfully proud; snobbish; scornfully arrogant; supercilious (behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others; haughtily disdainful or contemptuous, as a person, a look, or a facial expression (see Prov. 30:13); displaying arrogant pride, scorn, or indifference); lofty; lordly; having a show of arrogance; thinking too highly of oneself in comparison to others; with haughty and naughty coming from the same root word.

Snobbishness – the character of a snob; mean-spirited, especially as it expresses itself in belittling, condescending comments and expressions towards others seen as below the snob’s caliber; a higher-than-you, elitist, snooty, aristocratic attitude that would give a look of disgust, disregard, and rejection of those considered lowlifes. Ignoring those considered below themselves, not so much as giving them the time of day.

Superiority – an attitude that attempts to gain dominance over others; to consider oneself as above others.

There are many ways that this “sin of pride” can come into play. I think that it mostly occurs over jobs and money. People love to brag about their good jobs as over and above the jobs of other lowlifes. They think of themselves as “winners” and others as “losers,” who don’t have “real jobs” like they do. They like to brag about their accomplishments as in condescending comparison to the low-quality jobs of others around them. They are obsessed with the facts that they are richer, more educated, more pretty, stronger, more talented, having the most impressive resume, and having a greater house, greater cars, and greater toys, and greater vacations than others they know about. They’re obsessive narcissists, egotistically obsessed with their financial success–you guessed it–as over and above other people they consider to have not come up to their level. This is the heart of this sin. It is a sin of comparison. It is a sin of looking down on people. It is a sin against other people, putting them down, even kicking them while they are down. Sure, its a personal sin. Sure, its a sin that dwells in the mind, and eventually spills out into words, facial expressions, and arrogant behavior. But its a social sin. If there were no other people in the world, then it would be impossible to commit the sin of pride. But because there are many people in the world, the prideful sense of accomplishment and financial success is likely going to damn your soul, unless you learn to impoverish yourself a bit, and get a sense of philanthropy and charity (1 Cor. 13). I don’t believe giving to a charitable organization is good enough, from the Biblical viewpoint. Matthew 25:31-46 suggests the need for hands-on interaction with the poor and suffering. Its about changing the way you prideful, immature, successful businessmen think about yourselves and others. Pride is immaturity. It is basically a childish way of handling financial, academic, athletic, or artistic success. Its an attitude that just doesn’t know how to handle all of that success; and so, it turns the rich man into a successful failure, who loses his integrity, and the respect of all the people he disdains with his snobbery. A few examples would be Scrooge, from A Christmas Carol; or Mrs. Oleson, the Victorian snob from Little House; or Cera, from The Land Before Time. Anyone who lives like this is in danger of Hell-fire, as will soon be proven from Scripture.

Scriptures Against the Sin of Pride

Job 33:14-18: “God does speak–now one way, now another–though man may not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds, He may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, to preserve his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.” Here it says that pride leads to the pit of Hell, if it is not sometimes warned against by dreams from God that lead to repentance.

Psalm 10:4: “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” This is the atheist or at least the practical atheist or deist, who, although he may passingly acknowledge the creation of God, has no time for God in the sense of a personal spirituality or mysticism; God is not in all his thoughts; he does not abide in Christ; he does not fix his eyes on Jesus; he does not keep his mind stayed on God; he does not walk in the Spirit. He is a self-made man and most likely does not see the hand of God’s providence in his life.

Proverbs 6:16-19: “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” All these other sins naturally flow out of the lives of those who have haughty eyes, who look down on others, who look with disgust upon such peasants and losers and lowlifes; God hates that.

Proverbs 8:13: “To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” Pride and arrogance are so evil that they should be hated by Christians.

Proverbs 11:2: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” The prideful man considers himself wiser than all others, so when new information causes him to discover he is not all-knowing, he falls into disgrace; and then realizes that if he would have just been humble, coachable, and teachable, he might have learned a lot more, and become wiser.

Proverbs 13:10: “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” Wisdom is later defined in Proverbs in terms of keeping God’s commandments; those who are prideful are wicked, as we have seen, and do not have God in all of their thoughts; they are fools, and are not wise in the Biblical sense; they refuse to take advice, because they like to think of themselves as people who are so wise that they are only in a position to give advice; in their minds, they have the culmination of all knowledge, they know better than others, who have poorer judgment than they; and because of this, when a new idea or view than theirs is expressed, especially something coming from the wise commandments of the Bible (Ps. 10:5), such prideful people are bound to “only breed quarrels” with those who introduce these new views to them.

Proverbs 16:18-19: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.” This is where the popular expression comes from: “Pride goeth before a fall.” Why is this? Because God hates it when people have a proud, haughty spirit that looks down on others. Whatever it is that is making that man haughty, God will remove it from that man’s life, if He feels like it might contribute to his salvation. If a king is proud of his authority, God will depose him; if a CEO is haughty because of his company, then he will fall into scandal and financial ruin; if a pastor is haughty over how many church members he has in comparison to others, watch out, God might do something to destroy his ministry; if a chancellor is prideful over his college being the best, God might destroy his influence; if an employee prides himself in being the best, hardest worker on the team, and above all the rest, God might just get him fired. Its better to be lowly in spirit and thank God for all of His blessings to such a wretched, Hell-deserving sinner like yourself.

Proverbs 21:24: “The proud and arrogant man–‘Mocker’ is his name; he behaves with overweening pride.” Prideful people are in the habit of making fun of others whom they perceive to be not as well-bred, refined, rich, smart, good looking, and strong as they are. Prideful men are mockers. They love to bully, demean, and scoff at people who are “losers” in their eyes. The word “overweening” means excessively cocky, overconfident, overbearingly lofty, and high-minded. Pretty disgusting isn’t it? Its not hard to see why God opposes the proud (James 4:6).

Ezekiel 28:2: “Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘In the pride of your heart you say, ‘I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.’ But you are a man and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god.” Some theologians believe that the king of Tyre in this passage typifies Satan as with the king of Babylon in Isaiah 14. This being because they were both pagan kings and the visionary language takes a behind-the-scenes look at the prideful, demonic influence on them. Here it defines pride as having, 1. A prideful feeling in the heart. 2. A godlike attitude. 3. A throne loving attitude, to sit upon a throne, as in a fancy, luxurious office chair. 4. Thinking himself to be as wise as a god: pride of knowledge and education.

I just had a dream that Paul Washer (Calvinist) and me (Arminian) were talking about theology and were trying to organize a friendly debate about Calvinism and Arminianism, but we couldn’t find a venue to do it. The dream had several other details in it, which are not really necessary to mention, but it led me to believe that God wants me to focus on putting together an anti-TULIP and pro-Arminian book. As I do this though, to avoid intellectual pride, and all the while to consider Paul Washer as a dear brother in Christ. It may very well mean that God wants me to handle certain Calvinistic parts of Paul’s books carefully and graciously, and then point readers in the Arminian direction…

Arminian Books

David Anderson’s Conditional Security (wesleyanbooks.com) (holiness)

Robert Shank’s Life in the Son (Church of Christ)

—. Elect in the Son

Dan Corner’s The Believer’s Conditional Security (holiness)

—. The Myth of Eternal Security (holiness)

Thomas Oden’s The Transforming Power of Grace (conservative evangelical UMC)

Randloph Foster’s Objections to Calvinism As It Is (wesleyanbooks.com) (MEC)

John Fletcher’s “Bible-Arminianism and Bible-Calvinism” (Anglican, Methodist)

“Wesleyan Arminianism” and “Reformed Arminianism” in Four Views on Eternal Sec.

John Wesley’s Calvinism Calmly Considered (2 vols.) (wesleyanbooks.com) (Anglican)

Roger Olson’s Arminian Theology – Open Bible Churches (Pentecostal)

—. Against Calvinism – Open Bible Churches (Pentecostal)

Jerry Walls’ Why I Am Not a Calvinist – UMC

Calvinist Books; or Pro-TULIP Books to Handle Calmly and Graciously

Michael Horton’s For Calvinism – United Reformed Churches

Robert Peterson’s Why I Am Not an Arminian – PCA

John Girardeau‘s Calvinism and Evangelical Arminianism – PCUS (pre-PCA)

“Classical Calvinism” and “Moderate Calvinism” in Four Views on Eternal Security

Paul Washer’s The Gospel’s Power and Message – SBC – I’m sure Paul’s books are very godly and I would agree with a whole lot of what he says. But since he’s probably the most popular Calvinist in the Millennial generation right now, I’m going to focus on his books for any TULIP-like statements, and handle them kindly, calmly, and Arminianly. This is what the dream I had suggested I should do. There is nothing in the Table of Contents of these books that suggests anything blatantly Calvinistic. His focus is more on lordship and holiness. Paul and I would have a common agreement on lordship salvation, openness to the supernatural, and agreement against modern day antinomianism (easy-believism).

—. The Gospel Call and True Conversion

—. Gospel Assurance and Warnings

The people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.
–Genesis 13:13

Historical Timeline of Homosexuals Invading the Church

1968 – The Metropolitan Community Church, a predominantly LGBT church, has ordained LGBT candidates for ministry since its founding in 1968.

1972 – In 1972, the United Church of Christ became the first mainline Protestant denomination in the United States to ordain an openly gay clergy.

2000 – In the United Kingdom, the Church of England has permitted transgender priests to serve since 2000.^[15] The Church of England has also allowed gay and lesbian priests in civil partnerships since 2005.^[16] In 2013, the church allowed bishops to enter into same-sex civil partnerships.^[17]

2008 – The United Methodist Church Judicial Council ruled that openly transgender pastor Drew Phoenix could keep his position.^[31]

2009 – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) starts ordaining gay pastors. In August 2009 they decided to accept gay, lesbian, and bisexual clergy in sexually active monogamous relationships. In 2014, Megan Rohrer became the first openly transgender leader of an ELCA congregation (specifically, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of San Francisco.)

2012 – The Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA) starts ordaining gay pastors. In 2012, Katie Ricks became the first open lesbian to be ordained in the church.^[25]

This is some pretty bad heresy, folks. When heretics are leading the mainstream churches, should we not ask if the falling away of the last days is underway? (2 Thess. 2:1-4). I am a Christian homophobe, just like Abraham was. I am afraid of Sodom. I am afraid of AIDS and God’s judgment, fire and brimstone appointed to burn the wicked. This is just for your information: God might love what He has created, but He has laws and standards. Homosexuality–no matter what form it comes in–is a flagrant violation of what God thinks about human sexuality.

Source is from here.

Originally from The Crown and Glory of Christianity.

My Lords and Gentlemen—You know that the wisest prince that ever sat upon a throne has told us that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people,” Proverbs 14:34. (“Where justice is, God is; and where God is, there is no lack of men or fortitude,” said Herod at the head of his army, the better to encourage his soldiers.) It is not valor in war—but righteousness; it is not policy in government—but righteousness; it is not wittiness of invention—but righteousness; it is not civility in behavior—but righteousness; it is not antiquity of laws—but righteousness; it is not largeness of dominion—but righteousness; nor is it greatness of command—but righteousness, which is the honor and the safety, which is the renown and the security of a nation. That nation which exalts righteousness, that nation shall be certainly exalted by righteousness, Amos 5:24.

It is not Ahithophel’s policy, it is not Jeroboam’s calves in Dan and Bethel, it is not Jehu’s pompous zeal, it is not Goliath’s sword, it is not rich mines of gold and silver, nor storehouses, nor armies, nor councils, nor fleets, nor forts—but justice and righteousness which exalts a nation, and which will make a lowly people to become a great, a glorious, and a famous people in the world. The world is a ring, and righteousness is the diamond in that ring: the world is a body, and righteousness and justice is the soul of that body.

Ah! England, England! so long as judgment runs down (The Hebrew word which is here rendered “run down,” signifies to roll down freely, plentifully, plainly, vigorously, constantly: Where justice thus rolls down, all the world shall never make that nation miserable,) as waters in the midst of you, and righteousness as a mighty stream, you shall not die—but live and bear up bravely against all gainsayers and opposers. But if injustice shall grow rampant, and you shall brandish the sword of justice in the behalf of the friends of Baal, Balaam, and Bacchus, and turn the wheel upon the righteous; if the sword of justice shall be a sword of protection to the desperate swearer, and to the cruel oppressor, and to the roaring drunkard, and to the cursing monster, and to the Gospel despiser, and to the Christ despiser, etc., and shall be a devouring sword to the upright and peaceable in the land—divine vengeance will dig your grave, and divine justice will tumble you into it, though all the nations of the earth should labor to prevent it.

It is a base and ignoble spirit, to pity Cataline more than to pity Rome; to pity any particular sort of men, more than to pity the whole. It is cruelty to the good, to justify the bad: it is wrong to the sheep, to animate the wolves: it is danger if not death to the lambs, not to restrain or chain up the lions. But from all these vanities the Lord deliver all your souls! And oh that you would forever remember this, that as the constitution of a man’s body is best known by his pulse: if it beats not at all, then we know he is dead; if it beats violently, then we know him to be in a fever; if it keeps an equal stroke, then we know he is sound, well, and whole: so the state of a kingdom or commonweal is best known by the manner of executing justice therein; for justice is the pulse of a kingdom. If justice be violent, then the kingdom is in a fever, in a very bad state; if it stirs not at all, then the kingdom is dead; but if it has an equal stroke, if it be justly and duly administered, then the kingdom is in a good, a safe, and sound condition. When Vespasian asked Apollonius what was the cause of Nero’s ruin, he answered, that Nero could tune the harps well—but in government he did always wind up the strings too high, or let them down too low. The application is easy.

Verse 1:
Em            C          G                   D   C
Jesus I´ve forgotten the words that You have spoken
Em            C                G                    D   D4
Promises that burned within my heart have now grown dim
Em              C                  G               D  C
With a doubting heart I follow the paths of earthly wisdom
Em                C          G             D   D4
Forgive me for my unbelief renew the fire again

Chorus:
Am                      G      D                    C     C
Lord have mercy,   Christ have mercy
Am                      G        D 
Lord have mercy,   o-n  me
Am                      G      D                    C       C
Lord have mercy,   Christ have mercy
Am                      G     D  G
Lord have mercy,   o-n  me

Verse 2:
Em              C             G                 D C
I have built an altar where I worship things of man
Em           C                  G                      D D4
I have taken journeys that have drawn me far from You
Em         C               G            D   C
Now I am returning to Your mercies ever flowing
Em             C                 G          D  D4
Pardon my transgressions help me love You again

Chorus

Verse 3:
Em                C                G      D  C
I have longed to know You and all Your tender mercies
Em           C                   G               D D4
Like a river of forgiveness ever flowing without end
Em       C                       G                D  C
So I bow my heart before You in the goodness of Your presence
Em            C                   G             D   D4
Your grace forever shining like a beacon in the night

Chorus

I’ve been fascinated with St. Malachy’s “Prophecy of the Popes” since 2005. I think its got a lot to say to end-time believers. For a summary of the prophecies and their fulfillments, click here. According to Malachy’s prophetic timeline, Pope Francis (the current pope), mystically called Petrus Romanus, will have a personal confrontation with the Antichrist, Rome will be destroyed, and Christ will return. Pope Francis is about 80 years old. So, that gives us about 10 years until the Antichrist appears! So it seems…

see also “St. Malachy’s Prophecy” – this is a traditional Catholic video and goes through several popes and fulfilled prophecies.

Save

Save

Originally from here.

The Anglican Church in North America was founded by Anglicans who had left the Anglican Church of Canada and the Episcopal Church in the United States over concerns that the teaching of those churches had grown more liberal.^[11][12][13] The new body charged that the two existing churches “have increasingly accommodated and incorporated un-Biblical, un-Anglican practices and teaching”.^[14] Two major events which contributed to ACNA’s formation both involved human sexuality. The first was the 2002 decision of the Diocese of New Westminster in Canada to authorize a rite of blessing for same-sex unions; the second was the General Convention‘s ratification of the election of Gene Robinson, an openly gay non-celibate man,^[15][16] as Bishop of New Hampshire the following year.

The new Anglican group also charged that the existing churches had abandoned the traditional Christian belief that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.^[13] In particular, Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church from 2006 to 2015, was strongly criticised for her comments to that effect.^[17]

…

Headquartered in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, the church reports that it has 30 dioceses and 983 congregations serving an estimated membership of 112,504.^[1] The first archbishop of the ACNA was Robert Duncan, who was succeeded by Foley Beach in 2014.

…

The ACNA has attempted to incorporate the full spectrum of conservative Anglicanism within Canada and the United States. As a result, it accommodates Anglo-Catholic, charismatic, and evangelical theological orientations. It also includes those who oppose and those who support women’s ordination. Women can serve as clergy members in some dioceses, while other dioceses maintain an exclusively male clergy. Women are ineligible to serve as bishops. The ACNA defines Christian marriage exclusively as a lifelong union between a man and a woman and consequently condemns homosexual relationships that are non-celibate as sinful.^[9][10] The church holds a pro-life position on abortion and euthanasia.

…

In its Fundamental Declarations, the Anglican Church in North America declares itself part of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, confessing Jesus Christ to be the only way to God the Father.^[41] Consistent with this, it identifies the following seven elements as characteristic of the “Anglican Way” and essential for membership:

• The Bible is the inspired word of God, containing all things necessary for salvation, and is the final authority and unchangeable standard for Christian faith and life.
• Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are sacraments ordained by Christ and are to be ministered with unfailing use of his words of institution and the elements ordained by him.
• The historic episcopate is an inherent part of the apostolic faith and practice, and therefore integral to the fullness and unity of the Body of Christ.
• The church affirms the historic faith of the undivided church as declared in the three ecumenical (catholic) creeds: the Apostles’, the Nicene, and the Athanasian.
• Concerning the seven Councils of the undivided church, it affirms the teaching of the first four Ecumenical Councils and the Christological clarifications of the fifth, sixth and seventh councils, in so far as they are agreeable to the Bible.
• The Book of Common Prayer as set forth by the Church of England in 1662, together with the ordinal attached to it, is a standard for Anglican doctrine and discipline and, with the Books which preceded it, is the standard for the Anglican tradition of worship.
• The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion of 1571, taken in their literal and grammatical sense, express the Anglican response to certain doctrinal issues controverted at that time, and express fundamental principles of authentic Anglican belief.^[41]

…

Todd Hunter, who was the leader of the Association of Vineyard Churches, actually left the Vineyard and came over to the ACNA, at the suggestion of J. I. Packer, something he writes about in The Accidental Anglican. I believe this church provides a safe place for evangelical charismatics who are concerned about institutional corruption in a lot of places. Personally, I believe there has been a deterioration of revival in the Vineyard, and it goes without saying with Assemblies of God and the other Pentecostal denominations. It couldn’t be more Wesleyan than to join the ACNA. I think John Wesley would strongly approve of what they are up to.

The church’s website: www.anglicanchurch.net

2 Thessalonians 2; Revelation 20.

For a post-tribulation view of the end times, see Robert Gundry’s The Church and the Tribulation and First the Antichrist.