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"TO BE" OR "NOT TO BE" One of the most grievous things with which I've had to contend through the years is the sad fact that most Christians don't care enough about truth to read or listen carefully enough to even understand what's being said. Today's generation was raised on catchy cliches and bumper sticker slogans, so I often feel like I'm wasting my time when writing, because (1) who is going to take the time to read it, and (2) will they read it with the pure motive of really trying to understand it? Perhaps you're thinking, "Who in the world would read something without wanting to understand it?" Lol . . . lots of people, actually, and especially religious Pharisees who would rather find a juicy fault than find a challenging truth. The Pharisees were the religious fundamentalists of their day, and they had the Lord Jesus crucified. Do you seriously think that they really TRIED to understand Him? Of course not (Mark 12:13), and you can bet your boots that the average fundamental Baptist today is far more interested in justifying his own little religious franchise than in altering anything in his life in order to get more in line with the word of God. Most of the brethren would extend a little grace here and assume that the motives are usually pure and that folks really do want truth and understanding, especially preachers. Sorry, I've been at this far too long to believe that for a second. I've seen too many good men viciously attacked and deeply hurt over the past four decades to believe that most of the brethren have good motives. They'll smile and laugh and welcome you with all the Christian fellowship and love that they can muster as long as you keep rank and agree with THEM. You can even preach for them, swap pulpits with them and make a lot of money from love offerings and make a name for yourself while touring the fruited plain. BUT, if you happen to love God more than gold and truth more than tradition, then it's only a matter of time until you say or write "the wrong thing," and that's when the fertilizer hits the fan and you find out who your REAL friends are, and who they are NOT. So, enjoy the hayride while you can. Well, enough of that. My point is that there would be far less confusion over this issue, if people really wanted to understand it. Everyone just wants to hold their own fort and blast away at everyone else's fort, so I guess I might be wasting my time. But maybe not. Maybe just one reader cares enough to hear (read) me out and seek a better understanding, or at least maybe I can go to bed tonight knowing that I tried ONCE AGAIN (!!!) to push back the frontiers of religious ignorance by publishing Bible truth. This whole "Lordship salvation" accusation that gets thrown around so carelessly comes down to Hamlet's question of "TO BE, or NOT TO BE?" That is, when someone mentions FRUIT or WORKS in connection with salvation, is he saying that the works are necessary in order for a sinner TO BE saved, or is he saying that works (or fruit) will eventually be present AS A RESULT of the man being saved? THAT is the question, and anyone who ignores or avoids that question is deliberately dodging the issue with less than a pure motive. That is, a man who says that you are promoting works salvation or "Lordship salvation" just because you quoted or commented on II Corinthians 5:17 or Matthew 7:20 is a man who isn't really seeking truth. If you said that a sinner must produce some level of works in order TO BE saved, then yes, you are a heretic and are guilty as charged. But if you said that a truly born again child of God will eventually show some sign of life as a result of the indwelling Holy Spirit, as a result of ALREADY BEING saved, then you aren't guilty of anything other than advancing Bible truth. Please observe: ". . . Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Mat. 7:19-20) "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." (Tit. 1:16) ". . . they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance." (Acts 26:20) ". . . ye became followers of us, and of the Lord . . . ye were ensamples to all that believe . . . from you sounded out the word of the Lord . . . your faith to God-ward is spread abroad . . . ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." (I Ths. 1:6-9) "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (James 2:17) NONE of the above scripture says that a sinner is to perform works in order TO BE saved, nor does any of it say that he should mingle works WITH his faith in order TO BE saved. The works have nothing to do with OBTAINING salvation (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 4:5), but they have everything to do with SHOWING salvation or EVIDENCING salvation. That's what John preached about in Matthew 3:8-10, what Jesus preached about in Matthew 7:20, and what Paul preached about in Acts 26:20. Calling a man a "Lordship salvationist" for stressing this clear Bible truth is irresponsible at best, and maybe even downright deceitful and malicious. Like I said, I don't trust their motives for a second. Pure motives do not drive people to behave the way some of the brethren behave over this issue. They have an agenda, and Bible truth is not a part of it. Some of you have no college or Bible institute teaching at all, yet you clearly understand and agree with everything that you just read. You understand it because you WANTED to understand it and the Lord helped you to understand it (John 16:13; I John 2:27). Yet, we're supposed to believe that men with seminary and Bible institute degrees and diplomas also want to understand it but can't? Nonsense. They want to understand it about as much as the Pharisees wanted to understand Jesus! They are a classic case of Jonah 2:8. A sinner doesn't work TO BE saved, but he will eventually have at least SOME level of works, or fruit, if he is saved (Mat. 13:8; II Cor. 5:17), otherwise his faith is DEAD (James 2:17-26), and he might even be a reprobate (Tit. 1:16). Any man who says that he doesn't understand that or doesn't agree with that is just admitting that he doesn't WANT to understand it or agree with it, and I don't care who he is or who his buddies are. ". . . let God be true, but every man a liar . . ." (Rom. 3:4)