Way
back in 1976 C. Peter Wagner had already expressed a
foundation of sand upon which his entire "apostolic"
kingdom is built. To back up his notions, he and his
friends such asJohn
Wimber,Paul
Cainand many others began
to get the cart before the horse. They tried to
create revival where there was none with unbiblical and
even heretical ideas. They imported occult ideas
from false religions into the churches, such as"slain
in the spirit"and called the
results "revival". The means they used were the
counterfeit revivals of theWord
Of Faith Movement, theVineyard
movement, theToronto
"Blessing", theBrownsville
"Outpouring"and on down the
line to latestTodd
Bentley "Lakeland Revival". The proof
that the means have all been unjustifiable is in the
unjustifiable ends. Lakeland has now come to an
apparent abrupt end due to false healing and dead raising
claims, many false teachings, a false "transferable"
anointing, and sexual misconduct. You can read about
these things in ourTodd
Bentleysection. Yet the
leadership of theNew
Apostolic Reformationhas
not even been slowed by yet another bad end brought about
by the self-destruction of the means. In the latest
ElijahList the false prophets are prophesying even greater
revivals to come.
There
is a new phenomenon especially among some island churches
where handkerchiefs are being handed around a congregation
claiming that they have an anointing that can cause people
to be healed and other miraculous things happen to them.
The problem with this idea is especially evident in two
things: (1) that this can and is being considered by many
to be Christian magic and (2) that it is being taught as
being something that should be a normal part of the
Christian experience. It is taught that if you have
faith you will believe in touching the handkerchief that
you will be healed, freed from demons, or get a special
anointing. But faith is not proven by signs and
wonders.
This
chart should be of grave interest to those in YWAM and
those supporting YWAM and its agenda with the IPM or
"First Nations" movement led by people like Daniel
Kikawa (Perpetuated
In Righteousness),
Don Richardson (Eternity
in Their Hearts:Startling Evidence of Belief in the One
True God in Hundreds of Cultures Throughout the World),
John Dawson (Taking
Our Cities for God: How to Break Spiritual Strongholds),
Richard Twiss (One
Church, Many Tribes : Following Jesus the Way God Made
You),
Terry LeBlanc (Creating
Christian Indians: Native Clergy in the Presbyterian
Church)
and many others. You will notice a very close
comparison in this chart between false religion and
so-called "Christian" leaders. Please read whatYWAM,The
Emerging Chuch,
theWCGPand
others are teaching that are almost exactly what the
Baha'i teach.
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Three
Fallacies Of Third Wave Spiritual Warfare Teachings by Sandy
Simpson
When so-called Christians employ Biblical
pagan methods to rid themselves of demons, they end up
giving the enemy an opportunity to deceive them and a
foothold in their lives. When Israel disobeyed the
Lord's command to come down to Jerusalem and worship Him
in the temple under the Law, and instead chose to set up
altars in the high places, the result was that they
ended up worshiping demons. They thought they were
worshiping God, but ended up worshiping Baal and
Ashtoreth. You cannot live a life glorifying to
the Lord unless you obey Him.
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The Duties of Christian
Leadership by Sandy Simpson
Christians, and especially Christian leadership,
are called to be salt and light in a dark world.
Matt. 5:13-16 "You are the salt of
the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness,
how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for
anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. "You
are the light of the world.A
city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light
a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on
its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that
they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in
heaven.
When the Lord tells us to be salt and light, He
states both the positive and the negative. That is
the way with all Scripture. We can’t just take the
positive and be done with the subject. We have to
consider all the ramifications of being salt and
light. Salt is used to season food and make it taste
good. It was and still is used as a
preservative. In the same way Christians are to be
salt in the world. Without the witness of Christ,
without standing for the truth, life is ultimately
tasteless and rotten. Anyone here who was a sinner
for any length of time without the Savior knows what I am
talking about. But the flip side is that salt can
lose its saltiness. Christians can lose their
saltiness by diluting the Gospel message to the point
where it is useless. Let me give you an example of a
washed out Gospel often preached in churches today.
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Smack Dab in the Middle of the Apostasy by Sandy Simpson
'Antichrist'
No More: Evangelicals Praise Pope Most are unreserved in
their praise on political, social, and even theological
matters, but critique of papacy remains. Compiled by Ted Olsen,
04/05/2005 04:30 p.m.
Among the names mentioned, who praise the Pope
in this article, were "Evangelical" leaders such as:Evangelical
Episcopalian Fred Barnes; Wheaton College's Mark Noll;
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod President Gerald B.
Kieschnick; National Association of Evangelicals
President Ted Haggard; Focus on the Family President
James Dobson; Charles Colson who organized the
evangelical side of the Evangelicals and Catholics
Together; Paige Patterson, President of Southwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary; Presbyterian Church in
America Pastor-brothers David and Tim Bayly; Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler; Dallas
Theological Seminary President Mark Bailey; Credenda
Agenda Editor Douglas Wilson; and Evangelical Alliance,
the United Kingdom's version of the stateside National
Association of Evangelicals.
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Marriage A
Biblical Illustration Of Our Faith Commitment To Jesus
Christ For Salvation by Sandy Simpson
Marriage as a metaphor for our
relationship to Jesus Christ.
Marriage is used as a metaphor for our
relationship to God many times in the Bible. Let's
look at the picture God wants His people to see about
their relationship to Him, and His relationship to them.
TI have been
challenged lately to think again about what the Gospel
message is all about. This has come as a result of
hearing what I considerto be, at the very least, "gospel
lite" and at the most no gospel at all being presented by
a number of neo-evangelicals, Third Wavers and
outrightheretics. The interesting thing is that many
seem to be preaching the same message. What is
most intriguing is that false teachers like Benny Hinn,
ecumenicals, and even some preachers I would considerto be
orthodox in their theology are preaching a "gospel" that
is very similar.The question is: Is this new gospel
message really the Gospel at all?
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Leviathan by Sandy Simpson
This creature that existed, and may yet
exist, is used as a description of themightand
power of the enemy.
Isaiah 27:1In that day theLORDwill
punishLeviathanthe
fleeing serpent,WithHis
fierce and great and mighty sword, EvenLeviathanthe
twisted serpent; And He will kill thedragonwholivesin
the sea. (NASB)
Speaking of the “day of the
Lord”, when the Lord comes back again to rule and judge
the earth, Isaiah says that the Lord will punish
Leviathan the dragon.Satan
is likened to leviathan, a serpent, and he is said to
live in the sea.
Revelation 13:1Andthe dragon stood on
the sand of the seashore.Then
I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten
horns and seven heads, and on his hornswereten
diadems, and on his headswereblasphemous
names. (NASB)
Again the dragon comes out of
the sea, which is symbolic of the nations of the world,
but perhaps is also tied to a literal meaning.He
has multiple heads which are symbolic of the heads of
the nations of the end times, but he is also said to
have multiple heads before the symbolism of the nations
of the revived Babylon come into being, as recorded in
Ps. 74:14 and Job.
Many Christians today (having allowed themselves to be
diapraxed by false teachers on TV, in books, in seminars
and on tape) have begun to accept a mixture of Pre Mil
and Post Mil doctrines. Many claim they still hold
to a Pre Trib Rapture (or another Pre Mil scenario) and
at the same time would claim that Christians are in a
great end times revival, that "Transformation" is taking
place all over the world, and that our mandate is to
retake dominion over the whole world including its
businesses, social agendas and political arenas (a Post
Mil scenario). But what many "Christians" today do
not realize is: the mixture they have accepted
is oxymoronic.
There are two kingdoms being taught in
many churches today. Teaching about one of the kingdoms
is on the decline while the other is being promoted all
over the place. I am warning Christians that they
need to check out who is using the word "kingdom", the
books they have been reading and recommend on building
"the kingdom", the people they have been hanging out
with at conferences, and what they mean by "the
kingdom".
There are so many people who claim to be
Christians today, claiming that they are God.Not just a “little god” but God Almighty.I hate to tell them but there is only one God/man
who could ever claim that and His name is Jesus Christ.
1 John
4:4-6 You, dear children, are from God and have
overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater
than the one who is in the world.They
are from the world and therefore speak from the
viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.
We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; butwhoever
is not from God does not listen to us.This
is how we recognize the Spirit {Or spirit} of truth and
the spirit of falsehood. The reason why false teachers, who deny one or
more of the core doctrines of the Faith, gain so many
followers is that they are saying what the world wants to
hear. They organize their churches so that they
cater to unbelievers, and once non Christians come in they
are fed a diet devoid of the essential nutrition of the
Gospel and sound doctrine. False teachers conduct
surveys to see what non-believers are looking for in a
"church" and then provide those things. False
teachers claim they are bringing people into the Kingdom
when in fact they are bringing them out of the world and
back into the world, the only difference now being that
they are spending their money in support of some apostate
leader and/or group.
The NAR proponents claim to be foundational
Apostles to the modern church. This claim is exactly
what Paul warned the Church about regarding false
apostles. The term "false apostles" is used only once
in the Bible in 2 Cor. 11:13. False apostles are
identified as those who claim they areequalwith
the the foundational Apostles. The NAR proponents go
even further! They claim to beGREATERthan
the original Apostles.
Jude 1:1-2 Jude, a servant of Jesus
Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been
called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by
Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace and love be yours in
abundance. Jude was the brother of Jesus Christ. But it
is significant that he calls himself the brother of
James. Jude wants everyone to know that, though he is a
half-brother of Jesus Christ through his mother Mary, he
considers himself to be a servant of Jesus. I’m sure
there were those who tried to idolize him for being the
brother of Jesus Christ. If he had the character of some
of the current large crop of false teachers, he would
have written “Jude, the brother of Jesus Christ.” I’m
sure if some of these modern heretics could trace their
roots back to Christ, they would use that information to
get support for themselves and power over people. But
Jude does just the opposite. He calls himself the
servant of Jesus Christ. He is addressing this letter to
those who have been called, and who are loved by God the
Father and kept by Jesus Christ. So he is addressing
this letter to Christians. God has called every true
believer.
You can get more information here. A Word of Encouragement from Paul
Run the Race, Win the Prize by
Sandy Simpson
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly
await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who,
by the power that enables him to bring everything under
his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that
they will be like his glorious body. Jesus Christ
is coming again. We are citizens of heaven, not
this earth, and Jesus will come to take us to our
homeland. So true believers eagerly await His
coming, unlike those who oppose the cross of Christ who
think they must take dominion over the earth or laugh at
the idea of the Rapture. There are many of them
today. We know that when Jesus comes, by His
power, He will bring everything under His control.
We are not called to do that as the Church. Jesus
will do that when He comes, and when He comes we will be
changed and receive our everlasting bodies that will
never wear out.
1 Cor. 15:51-57 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will
not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a flash, in
the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the
trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised
imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable
must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal
with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed
with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality,
then the saying that is written will come true: "Death
has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is
your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting
of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But
thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Today,
in
a majority of churches, we see the result of the
seeker-friendly,"purpose-driven", church
growth, Third Wave, New Apostolic Reformation
methods and teachings and their product I am
calling"Entertainment-style Christianity"
(ESC). But ESC churches are not only missing
out on the cutting edge of true Christianity, but
areheading down the road to apostasy.
True
biblical
Christianity is "interactive". Those in ESC
are taughtto be spectators at mega-church
entertainment events. They are not taught the
Bible but rather to be enamored with the
oratoricalskills of the preacher, and to not dare
question anything that is shoved down the throats of
the "laity" by the ruling "anointed"elite.
They are treated to a circus atmosphere including
wild CCM music with people flailing around and
acting like they are on drugs, topreachers who tell
endless stories about themselves and joke about
everything while actually making profundity mundane,
to hula dancing,to banners and marching in the
church and around it, to the blowing of shofars, to
slain in the spirit and wild manifestations.
Theirsears are tickled by guest speakers who make up
sermons out of their own imaginations instead of the
written Word. They are entertainedwith gold
dust, gold fillings, "angel" feathers, "angel"
footprints, drunk in the spirit antics, and during
these displays they can go outand get a latte and a
snack at the church snack bar. They come into
these mega churches and leave without being
personally challengedother than with tired worldly
psychology, and without anyone being able to find
out what they are doing in their private
lives. A smallpercentage attend "cell groups"
where they are diapraxed into consensus instead of
challenged to be Bereans and think and act
forthemselves. They live like the world during
the week, then come to church where the world is not
only welcomed but accommodated.
Commentators
seem to think that this section of Habakkuk was
addressing theCeasarsand
their drunken desire for power.Seems
these two things often go together.
Those
who love drunk in the spirit are no exception.They
are trying to get others to share in their debauchery
and the false hope of an end-times worldwide revival,
currently through the Saturate 2020 events.Though
these were two of the hereticaldistinctivesof
the New Order of the Latter Rain, these ideas are
nothing new.The
righteous continue to live by faith, while the proud
boast in their drunken state.
Saturate 2020 is another in a long line of
Latter Rain revivals which do not meet the criteria of a
Biblical revival at all (Acts 3:19). The
Toronto “Blessing” and Brownsville “Revival” both came
into towns all over the world with the promise that
people were getting saved and nothing weird was going on
at their meetings. This was always a lie as
the true Gospel was not preached but instead people were
invited forward to have hands laid on them in order to
transfer an impartation. Meanwhile false
doctrines were laid down in order to get people involved
in churches like Bethel Church in Redding,
CA. We are warned in Scripture about this. Galatians
2:4 But it was because of the false
brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked
in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ
Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.
2
Peter 2:1 But false prophets also arose
among the people, just as there will also be false
teachers among you, who will
secretly introduce destructive heresies, even
denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift
destruction upon themselves.
The fact that some formerly Biblical churches have
joined this circus is a testament to their lack of
teaching discernment. Some of these
denominations were warned repeatedly about the Latter
Rain, Word of Faith and the New Apostolic Reformation
yet they apparently wanted to remain “willfully
ignorant”. The people advertised as being
involved with this latest “revival” are almost all
associated with Bethel in some way and promoters of what
they teach. This is not a true Biblical revival
but rather a revival of the occult and New Age among
Christians. This meeting is actually hurting
the cause of Christ and will not have any real
beneficial effect on the culture of California, which
has turned decidedly evil for
decades. These Dominionists
will not be saving the planet, but are rather setting
people up for the coming antichrist. Nor will
they rid the world of coronavirus, but rather likely add
to it.
Should biblical Christian churches be
Christ-centered (Christocentric)? Should the
doctrines of the Father (Patriology) and the Holy Spirit
(Pnematology) also be equally emphasized? Can a
church be Patriocentric or Pnemacentric and be biblical?
The answer to these questions are quite simple
from a biblical perspective. There have been charges
leveled at some movements such as the Pietist Movement in
Germany and other movements that they place too much
emphasis on Christ to the exclusion of the Father and the
Holy Spirit. This may be true to a certain
degree. The doctrines of the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit must be taught with equal emphasis so that
Christians will know what they believe.
But should a church be Patriocentric or
Pnemacentric? No. For instance, there are far
too many churches today, having been influenced by
hyper-Pentecostalism and the Latter Rain, that are
Pnemacentric. They spend most of their time focusing
on the Holy Spirit to the exclusion of preaching the
Gospel while, in fact, they don't even have a biblical
doctrine of the Holy Spirit. I believe that because
classic Evangelicals, to a certain degree, dropped the
ball in defining the Person and role of the Holy Spirit it
gave an opening to Third Wavers to step in with their
erroneous ideas of Pnematology.
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The
Letter to Laodicea Is
a Warning to the TRUE Church Today by Sandy Simpson
Rev.
3:14-22 And unto the angel of the church of the
Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the
faithful and true witness, the beginning of the
creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art
neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold
nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because
thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and
have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art
wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and
naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the
fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment,
that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy
nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with
eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I
rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man
hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to
him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him
that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my
throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with
my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Much has been made of this passage, using it to point
out what is happening today in the apostate churches
around the world. It is true that they believe
they are rich in spiritual things when they are very
poor. It can be applied in one sense to theWord
of Faithmovement.
It is true that the "River" movement of Latter Rain
teachings do think they are hot when actually they are
cold.
But this letter to the end times
church of Laodicea is actually talking to biblical
Christians who are born again. The apostate
movements of theLatter
Rain,Third
Wave,Toronto
"Blessing",Vineyard,Brownsville
"Outpouring",Word
of Faith,New
Apostolic Reformation,World
Gathering on Indigenous People,Manifest
Sons of God,Seeker
Friendly,Church
Growth,Emerging
Churchand many others have
already had their lampstands removed (Rev. 2:5) because
of their apostasy and have already been spit out of the
Lord's mouth (Rev. 3:16). We can know this because
of what the Bible says about those who teach false
doctrines (1 Tim. 6:3-5, 2 Tim. 4:3) and make false
prophecies (1 John 4:1). These false churches, false
movements and false brethren (Gal. 2:4) are already
under the judgment of the warnings of theseven
letters, as all but two of the original first
century churches are today (only the two who Jesus did
not warn still survive today). Therefore theletters
to the churchesapply to those
churches who have not had their lampstands removed and
been spit out of the mouth of God because of heresy and
false prophesy. So the warning to the true
biblical churches today remains. Why is this
warning significant to us?
It
is significant because, by in large, it isthe
true
Church today that has allowed the movements mentioned
above to infiltrate and take over the agenda for what
is called "Christianity" today.
In
Titus 1:6-11 Paul tells Titus to appoint
"overseers" in the churches. The
word "overseer" isepiskoposin
Greek
and means bishop, curator, superintendent,
guardian, watchman. Overseers are to be
shepherds to the sheep, watchmen,
guardians.
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Cares for You by Sandy Simpson
The
story
of the feeding of the 5000 is found in all the gospels of
Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. When something is repeated
in the Bible it means that it is important and is
something we must try to understand. There is often a
deeper meaning in sentences or stories that are repeated.
In
this same story repeated in Mark 6:34 it says:
"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had
compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a
shepherd. So he began teaching them many things."
One of the main things that Jesus is... is compassionate.
He cares for His people. He was compassionate then and He
is still compassionate today. Jesus came and saw the needs
of the people. So He did two things. He met their physical
need of hunger for bread, and He also met their spiritual
hunger for the bread of life. As Jesus told us in John ...
He is the bread of life. The Bible, the Word of God, being
the word of the Father and the Son, is also the bread of
life. Jesus is the living example of the Word as it
also says in John "The Word was made flesh and lived among
us".
This
paper
exposes what General Boykin has been doing in Calvary
Chapels and his associations.
He
isGrand Chancellor of the
Vatican's Jesuitical "Knights of Malta", an
ecumenical society under the leadership of Rome where
Catholics, Protestants and a plethora of others unite in
what cannot be a unity of the Faith.
We just finished as study in the book of Jonah in
our Bible study groups. As we studied through that
true story I became aware of an application for Church
leaders today.
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What Does The Bible Teach About "Synergy"?
by Sandy Simpson
Synergy is also a concept being adapted and taught
today as a major tenet of the Third Wave, New Apostolic
Reformation (NAR) movement. Dutch Sheets was one of
the first to introduce this concept to that movement back
in the National School of the Prophets - Mobilizing the
Prophetic Office Conference at Ted Haggard's New Life
Church in Colorado Springs, CO on May 12, 2002.
HUMOR: Time for a rewrite of the old
hymns. In this day and age of Third Wave revival
movements and Word-Faith dominion, the old hymns just
aren't cutting it anymore. Not only are they old
fashioned musically, but the lyrics are, for the most
part, particularly depressing. They talk of sin, death,
repentance, the cross, the blood of Jesus and a whole
host of other disgusting subjects. There are also
too many lyrics in them, frankly, which takes away from
the "worship" atmosphere. Repetitiveness is what we
need, not dead doctrinal concepts. The old hymns are
just too biblical. Give us a beat to move our feet, not
concepts to move our hearts and minds!
Here is a list of some hymns that could
be "upgraded" to meet the criteria of the Third Wave,
Word-Faith, Latter Rain, Manifest Sons Of God, New
Apostolic Reformation. This list is by no means
complete. If you don't recognize the hymns
mentioned perhaps it would be worth your time to go back
and read them, then compare what they say to the new
doctrines.
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for further information. Almost
Saved by Sandy Simpson
“To be almost saved is to be totally
lost.” – Adrian Rogers
There are many so-called
“Christians” today who are clearly “almost saved” by their
testimonies and/or actions.But to be
“almost saved” is to be completely lost.A
person who is drowning and almost saved drowns.A
woman who is almost pregnant is not pregnant.King Agrippa
said, “You are almost persuading me to be a Christian
(Acts 26:28)” but being almost persuaded is not enough
to be saved.
The word “almost” means “very nearly”, “not
quite.” In light of this we may conclude that to come
close to the target, or “almost” hit it, means to
completely miss the mark. (Shalem
Evangelical Church Bush Hall Yard Gap, St. Michael)
"Silence
the noise of your songs" by Sandy Simpson, 5/26/19
Amos 5:21-27 “I hate, I reject your
festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn
assemblies. “Even though you offer up to Me burnt
offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept
them; and I will not even look at the peace offerings of
your fatlings. “Take away from Me the noise of your songs;
I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. “But
let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like
an ever-flowing stream. Did you present Me with sacrifices
and grain offerings in the wilderness for forty years, O
house of Israel? You also carried along Sikkuth your king
and Kiyyun, your images, the star of your gods which you
made for yourselves. Therefore, I will make you go into
exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is the
God of hosts. When I first reread this passage in Amos, a
few things struck me. First of all the Lord is
bringing judgment on Israel for carrying on religious
ceremony without true dedication to the Lord. They
sing songs and present their offerings while harboring
idols. I was reminded of how the Lord must view the
heretical apostate mega church celebrations of
today. There is a lot of pomp and circumstance, yet
little or no obedience to the Word of God. The Lord
does not look favorably upon worship of that type, no
matter the hype, no matter the noise, no matter the
show. He actually “hates” it.
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How To Find A Good Church by Sandy Simpson, 2003
Here’s how to find a good church.
What you need to find is a church that not only has
orthodox doctrinal statements but teaches, both explicitly
and implicitly, in line with the core doctrines of the
Faith. These are Bible-believing Christ-centered
churches that are balanced in their theology. Be
sure to test all churches before you become
involved. It is acceptable to get involved with a
house church or Bible study as long as there is someone
who has the gift of teaching there to lead the study of
God’s Word.
Hebrews 10:25 not forsaking our own
assembling together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the
day drawing near.
The Christian life is not one to be lived
alone. Trust me; I have sympathy for those who have
been spiritually injured by false churches, false
prophets, false teachers and false apostles. It is
often a long road back from the diaprax of heresy.
But to undo the brainwashing you will need help,
especially from those who are already ahead of you on your
journey back. The first century church was known for
the following:
Acts 2:42 They were continually devoting
themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to
the breaking of bread and to prayer.
This is a good gauge to tell if you are
involved in an effective assembly of believers, no matter
how small. Remember that the first century churches
were in homes. In my experience smaller churches are
much better at doing the above and more. Avoid mega
churches.
This book was written by my mother and is
about my family's experience as missionaries in
Micronesia. Juanita went to be with the Lord in
August of 2018. This book has been a blessing to
many people around the world and I want to share it with
you. - Sandy Simpson
This is the story of a young woman who goes to
the ends of the Earth with her pastor husband and
two small children. While describing the hardships
of living in a remote village on a remote Pacific
Island in the 60's, it also gives us a vision of the
joy the family experienced as well. The heart of the
book is the story of how the author survives the
death of her husband and goes on to serve God and
the Micronesian people in her own right.This book reveals
a woman of great faith and courage. In addition, the
book is well written and a pleasure to read.Having
met the author, I will add that there are thousands
of people throughout Micronesia who love her and who
have benefited by her faithfulness and commitment
over the years. Read the book and get to know this
wonderful woman. Review by Richard
D.
Shewman on Amazon.
Deliverance! A Biblical Guide
To Freedom from "Another Spirit" The Possible
Consequence of the Unbiblical Practice of "Slain In
the Spirit" by Sandy Simpson
In order to understand where the modern
fusion called “Dominioism”
comes from, I want to first give you definitions of
Kingdom Now, Dominionism
and Reconstructionism.
Dominionism is sparsely
defined as follows:
“Dominion Theology (also known as Dominionism) is a group of
Christian political ideologies that seek to
institute a nation governed by Christians based on
their personal understandings of biblical law.
Extents of rule and ways of achieving governing
authority are varied. For example, Dominion Theology
can include theonomy,
but does not necessarily involve advocating Mosaic
law as the basis of government. The label is applied
primarily toward groups of Protestants in the United
States.” [1]
It is more closely defined this way:
“Dominionism,
or Christian Dominionism
is a term coined by social scientists and
popularized by journalists to refer to a subset of
American Christianity that is conservative,
politically active, and believes that Christians
should, and eventually will, take control of the
government. The term is sometimes used as a
“catch-all” by bloggers to describe any politically
active Christian, but not every conservative,
politically minded Christian is a Dominionist.
Christian Dominionists
believe that God desires Christians to rise to power
through civil systems so that His Word might then
govern the nation. The belief that “America is a
Christian nation” is sometimes called “soft dominionism”; the idea that
God wants only Christians to hold government office
and run the country according to biblical law is
called “hard dominionism.”
[2]
“Hard Dominioism”
as it is called in the above definition, is what C.
Peter Wagner (deceased) of the New Apostolic
Reformation (a term he coined) have been advocating,
following the teachings of the New Order of the Latter
Rain and Reformed Theology “Reconstructionism”.
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Maturity Training by Sandy Simpson
Heb. 5:14 But
solid food is for the MATURE, who by constant use
have trained themselves to distinguish good from
evil.
At the core of
maturity in Christ is the issue of training to be
able to distinguish between good and evil, right and
wrong. But in today’s churches this issue has not
only been downplayed, but actually swept aside.
I run a website and
get hundreds of emails every week. Since the website
deals with apologetics against false teachers and
false prophets, about half the email I receive is
blasting me for even bringing up the issue. These
emails are from “Christians” who claim I am not
“anointed”, don’t understand the work of the Holy
Spirit, etc. I am forced to remind them of Hebrews 5
and Ephesians 4 and the biblical definition of
maturity in Christ. Maturity is not defined as
following dynamic speakers, running after people who
claim the ability to perform signs and wonders,
those with wealth, charismatic teachers with large
numbers of followers, those with name recognition,
and prophets who make wild prophecies. It is defined
simply as training ourselves to know the difference
between good and evil.
Where do
Christians get solid food? From voices in their
heads, intuition, imaginations, flights of fancy,
signs, wonders? No. Solid food is consumed by
feeding on the meat of the written Word of God.
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Bill Johnson
Quotes by Sandy Simpson
This article is about the use of invective
while attempting to do apologetics or teaching
discernment. Invective is defined as a noun:
insulting, abusive, or highly critical language ie. "he
let out a stream of invective". I admit to using
invective at times in the past. My goal is to stop
that practice and focus on the facts, not attack an
individual’s ability to comprehend.
In the case of Christians, the first thing
to consider when doing apologetics is our mandate to
reconcile people to Christ, no matter who they are.
2 Cor. 5:18-21 Now all these things are
from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ
and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that
God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not
counting their trespasses against them, and He has
committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore,
we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making
an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be
reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin
on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness
of God in Him.
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Go here for
further information. Ten Questions For those who Claim the "Supreme Beings" of the Nations
are the True God
by Sandy Simpson
I have some questions for those of the
World Christian Gathering of Indigenous People (WCGIP)
adherents such as Don Richardson, Daniel Kikawa,
Richard Twiss
(deceased), Terry LeBlanc, Danny Lehman, Aloha KeAkua,
YWAM as well as many in the Emergent Church (EC) ... the
questions arise from their claim that the "supreme
beings" of the nations are all the True God, YHWH, the
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You can read more
on this subject in our book "Idolatry In Their Hearts" or in the
WCGIP
section of my site.
My main
question for them is this: When did ANY of the
Patriarchs and Prophets in the Old Testament and the
Apostles or Jesus Christ in the New Testament EVER claim
that the "supreme beings" of the nations were Elohim/YHWH, the one True
God? Let's look at some examples in the form of
questions and you can check out the source links as
well.
10
Questions is available is now
available in booklet format. You can order here or
at Lighthouse Trails here.
$1.95
per copy, bulk orders get a discount.
Go here
for further information. Real Revival by Sandy Simpson
Acts 3:19 Therefore repent and
return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in
order that times of refreshing may come from
the presence of the Lord;
There has been so much hype of "revival"
in our modern day that it is easy to forget the true
biblical criteria and definition of revival. Revival
cannot be brought about by signs and wonders or "laying"
on of hands to transfer apostolic or prophetic
"anointings". In fact there is no such thing in the
Bible.The Biblical criterion for revival has, as a
precondition, repentance. The word "refreshing" is also
defined as "revive".
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Peter Popoff Back to his old tricks! by Sandy Simpson
I received a letter from Peter Popoff. This
infamous televangelist, in the past, was found to be
guilty of wearing an earpiece so that his accomplices
in his sound booth could feed him personal information
on people in his audience while he was claiming to get
personal messages directly from God. This letter
proves that, not only is he back as a regular on TV,
he is also back to his old tricks.
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Go here for
further information. Occult Practices in
the Churches How the occult has been fully
integrated into many Christian lives and fellowships by Sandy Simpson
The Bible is quite clear about occult
practices.Neither Israel nor the
Church is to have anything to do with the way the world
tries to gain secret knowledge.The
Gnostics were and are known for promoting new revelation
that is either loosely tied to Scripture taken out ofcontext or not
at all.The Israelites seeking
information from the dead or in omens were judged
harshly by the Lord who had warned them numerous times
to stay away from that stuff.
Yet due to the influences of
heretical teachers in the New Apostolic Reformation,
Word of Faith, Emergent Church, and
the New Age many have been successful in getting lots of
churches and denominations into occult practices that
have been thinly disguised as “Christian�?.Many
of those who follow these people, I’m sure, have
no idea how far they have strayed into the occult.
First I want to give the
dictionary definitions and then Biblical warnings
against these practices.Then I
will give examples in the churches taken mainly from
the ElijahList
e-newsletter.
List of Practices Detestable To God
Deuteronomy 18:9-12 “When
you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you,
you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things
of those nations. There shall not be found among you
anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through
the fire, one who uses divination, one who
practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens,
or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a
medium, or a spiritist,
or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does
these things is detestable to the Lord;
and because of these detestable things
the Lord your God will drive them out before you.
Isaiah 8:19When they say to you, “Consult
the mediums and the spiritists
who whisper and mutter,�? should not a
peopleconsult
their God?Should
theyconsultthe dead on behalf of the living?
Using
the
above list from Deuteronomy and Isaiah, let’s take a
look at each individual practice.
New Important Book! Dominionism! How Unbiblical Action Can Change
The Churches by Dr. Orrel Steinkamp &
Sandy Simpson
Preface
By Sandy Simpson
The title and cover art of this work are
a play off of the book by C. Peter Wagner entitled
“"Dominion! How Kingdom Action Can Change The
World". In contrast to this specious claim we have
titled this book “Dominionism! How Unbiblical Action Can
Change The Churches�?. We think that is far more
in keeping with what we will present in this series of
articles and essays on the subject of Kingdom
Now/Dominionism.
Indeed, many churches have already been
changed by accepting the false teachings that constitute
Dominionism. This started decades ago under
Reformed Reconstrucionism and Latter Rain theology, but
even before that in the Roman Catholic Church
(RCC). The attempt of Constantine to protect
Christians from being persecuted, since he claimed he
had become one of them, turned out to begin a journey in
syncretism and Dominion. It wasn’t long before
corrupt church officials began to try to seize power all
over Europe and beyond as the “Holy Roman
Empire�?. The Reformation itself was a reaction to
the lengths to which the RCC had gone to take control
over the Scriptures, the nations, the kingdoms, and the
people for financial gain. They sold indulgences,
promising those who came up with enough money a much
shorter time in Purgatory. Those same ploys are
being used today on what has been loosely called
“Christian television�? by the sale of trinkets and
promises of healing, financial gain and even salvation.
These ideas all coalesce in
Dominionism. If it were true that the Church needs
to take over the planet, then we would be seeing the
unstoppable plans of God’s physical Kingdom
unfolding. But we do not. All we see are
failed prophecies, empty edicts and declarations coming
from false apostles and false prophets. They love
to fool Christians with talk of the “kingdom�? when it
is clear they are talking about a different “kingdom�?;
a Kingdom Now not a Kingdom come. Jesus taught us
to pray: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as
it is in heaven�?. The implication is that we are
to be about building His spiritual Kingdom while praying
for and expecting His physical Kingdom to come.
The only way we can do that is to continue in the Great
Commission till He comes, not attempt to rule where God
has not given the Church the authority to rule.
Jesus will do that when He returns. If we go off on the
tangent the Dominionists want us to go, we will not only
miss out on the blessings of His Kingdom to come, but
may well be deserving of judgment.
This book is online and available as a
download at this time for $15.
The printed books are now here!
They are $20. each plus s/h
Go here
for further information.
Seeds, Soil & Fruit by Sandy Simpson
Matt. 13:38-39 The field is the
world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the
kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,
and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The
harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are
angels. Matthew 7:17 Likewise every good
tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad
fruit.
Original sin is the bad seed in
everyone. We all start with a bad seed.
Jer. 17:9 The heart is
deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who
can understand it? Rom. 3:23 for all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God, Rom. 5:12 Therefore, just as sin
entered the world through one man, and death through
sin, and in this way death came to all men, because
all sinned
We need to have the bad seed destroyed
and replaced with good seed.
Gal. 5:24 Those who belong to
Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature
with its passions and desires. Rom. 6:6 For we know that our
old self was crucified with him so that the body of
sin might be done away with, that we should no
longer be slaves to sin 1 Pet. 1:23 For you have been
born again, not of perishable seed, but of
imperishable, through the living and enduring
word of God.
The good seed is the Word, the Gospel.
Luke 8:11 "This is the meaning
of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 1 John 3:9 No one who is born of
God will continue to sin, because God's seed
remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because
he has been born of God.
Bad seeds are from the enemy and are full
of false doctrine and a false gospel.
Matt. 13:38-39 The field is the
world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the
kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,
and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The
harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are
angels.
This subject is one so serious that I do
it with great fear and trepidation. Nonetheless, because
I get so many e-mails accusing me and other Bereans of
blasphemy, among other serious charges, I felt it was
necessary to clear up some issues on this topic. Because
of my stand for the truth of God's Word juxtaposed
against all the false teaching that is going on today, I
think it is important to do a quick study on what
blasphemy is actually all about from a biblical
standpoint. There are many references to blasphemy
in the Bible and from them we can find out how and why
that term was used.
You will see that the word "blasphemy" in
the Scriptures is the very definition of what the false
teachers and false prophets are doing today!
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"Glitter Christians" by Sandy Simpson
This is a name I came up with for people
attending and teaching at Oral Roberts University in the
70s. Even back then I had come to realize that
their way of representing Christianity was not in line
with the Scriptures. At that time I didn’t know
that Oral Roberts was carrying on the Word of Faith
traditions of New Thought practitioners such as Kenneth
Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Essex Kenyan, Norman Vincent
Peale, Robert Schuler, and many other false teachers of
the time. Though I didn’t know anything about Word
of Faith or New Thought then I knew that the way they
were representing Christianity was just not right
somehow. Their desire to portray Christians as
rich, beautiful, healthy, perfect, and virtually sinless
(holiness) went directly against the example of Jesus,
the Apostles and the early church.
The book by C.S. Lewis called "Screwtape
Letters" was a clever idea in exposing a number of
tactics of the enemy. Those principles are still
at work today in many churches. Following is a
list of some of the things the enemy wants to see in
churches and Christians in order to bring them down.
I was driving along and noticing that
spring has sprung here in North Carolina. One of the
first trees to bloom is the Bradford Pear. I began to
notice how that tree has proliferated almost everywhere
and then my wife looked up the information on this tree
on the web. As she began to read the facts about this
tree and its proliferation I began to see an allegorical
parallel to what is going on in much of Christendom. But
before I get into what the Bradford Pear can show us
about the churches, I need to present the facts about
the tree.
Matt.
6:9-13 This, then, is how you should pray: "Our
Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom
come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."
This model
prayer that Jesus taught the disciples to pray contains
many important precepts. It should probably be
called "The Disciple's Prayer". It starts with a
very important concept in the first verse.
The new Universalists are not as vocal
about their Universalism ideas but are far more deadly
to the Church as they are not rejected like classic
Universalists were decades ago. The new
Universalists would include Emerging Church leaders like
Brian McLaren, Leonard Sweet, Spencer Burke, Alan Jones
and others like Wycliffe, Society of Biblical
Literature, World Christian Gathering of Indigenous
Peoples, Richard Twiss, Daniel Kikawa, Terry LeBlanc,
Rick Warren, Henry Nowen, YWAM, Tony Campolo, Robert
Schuller, George Otis Jr., and even Billy Graham.
I admit that I am
very skeptical about the future of discernment and
apologetics ministries. I don't see the next generation
coming up to replace those who have stood for the truth
for so long. Fortunately many apologists have gone to be
with the Lord but who will replace them? I don't see
replacements coming up who will take the place of those
who have been fighting the fight the years. I run a web
site where I collect articles and materials from all over
the world and present them in a sort of Reader's Digest
format so that people can come to one place to get the
latest information on heresies in the churches as well as
research past ones. What I've seen in the last couple of
years is that the production of regular materials is
declining to the point where it's becoming difficult to
find one article for my site to post every day. Of course
I write my own articles but don't have enough time to
write an article on a daily basis. I am very concerned
because of the tsunami of false ideas from the enemy in
the churches. At the same time, unfortunately, I see a lot
of younger people who don't even recognize anymore that
something is wrong.
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
You can also view this DVD online here.
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more information.
Church History & The Core
Doctrines by Sandy Simpson
This 4-DVD set is a combination of a condensed
study on Church History and the Discernment Toolkit series
which deals with the core doctrines of the Church and how to
use them to discern error. The Church History DVD
takes a different approach to Church History in that it does
not celebrate the Catholic Church but rather exposes it as
false Christianity. It covers World religions, false
Christianity and finally a study of the true remnant Church
through history following the story of the many martyrs who
stood up for true Biblical faith.
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light
affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a
far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (KJV)
This is both an incredible source of
hope for Christians who are downtrodden, and a source of
escalating heresy in many churches.It is critical that
we understand what Paul was talking about when he wrote
the phrase “weight of glory�?.Jacob Prasch has repeated
this phrase in his teachings over the years … “A text,
out of context, in isolation from co-text is always a
pre-text."A huge problem today is that individuals and
movements tend to yank verses out of their context and
build a cult of heresy around them.This is called
eisegesis or plugging your own ideas into the Scriptures
instead of exegesis, gaining understanding and
interpretation of the Bible by studying it in context
and in the scope of the whole written Word.
Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
Go here for
further information. Did God Put "Eternity In Their
Hearts" or "The World In Their Hearts"? by Sandy Simpson
In the introduction to Mike
Oppenheimer's and my book "Idolatry In Thier Hearts" I
exposed the fact that Don Richardson pulled the phrase
"Eternity In Thier Hearts" to use as his book title from
it's context in Ecc. 3:11. He did this to support
his thesis, which actually contradicts the second part
of that verse, where it states that man cannot fathom
what God has done. Richardson, rather, sets forth what
has become the foundation for the false teachings of the
WCGIP, YWAM, a number of Bible translation societies and
the Emerging Church ... the propostion that men from
Gentile cultures have always been seeking God and that
Gentile cultures were already worshipping the true God
before missionaries came with the Gospel.
But as I further investigated this verse
I found that Richardson even ignored the true meaning of
the FIRST half of the verse in favor of a few
translations that use the phrase "eternity in their
hearts".
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further information.
Christians who “turn away�? by Sandy Simpson
Jeremiah 3:10-11 And yet for all
this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me
with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD. And
the LORD said unto me, “The backsliding Israel hath
justified herself more than treacherous Judah.�? (KJV)
Israel had turned away from the Lord and had gone after
the gods of Canaan, namely Baal and
Asherah. Because Israel had prostituted herself with
false gods in worshipping the polytheistic gods that
started at Babel, God had declared He was divorcing Israel
and would send them into exile until they again returned
to the true God. But Judah prided itself in doing what God
had commended as they had Jerusalem and the Temple.
They disdained Israel for setting up altars to Baal and
Asherah poles on high hills. Yet God was not fooled
by Judah’s pretence. In the KJV it says they were
not worshipping God with their whole heart but
“feignedly�?.
2 Cor. 2:17 Unlike so many, we do not
peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in
Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent
from God.
There are many false teachers on TV these
days who peddle the word of God for profit. They
make promises of healing that do not come true by claiming
if they are given a financial gift the person will receive
healing and riches. When what they promised does not
happen the person is blamed that they did not have enough
faith. This often destroys the faith of people who fall
into the traps of these snake oil salesmen. I have
no problem with people charging for their materials if
they cost to be produced, even though it is hoped that
when a person cannot afford to pay for books and DVDs they
will receive them free of charge. But the charges
levied on people for conferences and speaking engagements
is often excessive. A minister of God can ask for
support and deserves it if they are being diligent in
their study and proclamation of the Word. But
experiences and feelings often come with a price today and
that is not right.
Today we often hear the word "mistake"
coming from pulpits, and especially in defense of false
teaching and false prophesy. "Cut him some
slack! He just made some mistakes". "We all
make mistakes, so don't judge lest you be judged."
We even hear the word "mistakes" being substituted for
the word "sin" in many presentations of what I have
termed "Gospel Lite" today. So is it proper to
substitute the word "mistake" for the word "sin"?
We'll look at the problem of one word "mistakenly" being
used for the other.
"Holy Ghost Reborn" is the second film
in the "Holy Ghost" series released by Bethel Church in
Redding, CA. Tim Wirth and I reviewed the first
"Holy Ghost" film and that review is freely available on
YouTube here:
I am sorry to say this but Bethel is
clearly a cult of Christianity holding to most of the
teachings of the Latter Rain and Word of Faith.
They have demonstrated repeatedly a manipulative
atmosphere targeting young people in particular while
preaching rank heresy. This new film is a
continuation of those false teachings and
practices. I pray for the young people in that
church that they will come to know Jesus Christ as their
Savior and thus come to know the true Holy Spirit.
This 3-DVD set is only $30. plus s/h. for
US.
Holy
Ghost
IGNORED! Part 4 - Addendum with Tim Wirth & Sandy
Simpson
This "Holy Ghost IGNORED! Part 4 - Addendum
is part of a 3-DVD series by Sandy Simpson reviewing the
film "Holy Ghost Reborn". This addendum features a number
of false teachings of Bethel Church in Redding, CA that I
was not able to include in the 3-Part series. Get
the whole thing! It is very important to see what
has become the "new" Christianity.
The world system has always been a "top
down" structure, starting at the apex of the pyramid and
going down to the bottom. In kingdoms we have the king at
the top, then the princes, common people, slaves. In a
democracy we have the President at the top, the VP, the
Sec. of State on down to the citizens. In business we have
the CEO at the top, upper management, lower management,
office workers and the janitors. Unfortunately,
sometime in the third century, the church started to have
a top down structure. This is also when the church began
to be in error. The church of Rome began to have a "top
down" structure that started with the pope, then
cardinals, then bishops, then priests, then the people.
Well, what about that? Eph 4:11 It was he who
gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be
evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
This all sounds like a "top down" structure. But the
problem is that people have not seen an important fact
about these gifts of the Spirit -- man looks at function
and title, God looks at aim and goal! Read on. Eph.
4:12 to prepare God's people for works of service,
so that the body of Christ may be built up. These are not
gifts given for title or to give people job descriptions.
They are given because there are people out there who need
our help! The church needed the Apostles. They were the
ones who were the foundation of the church. They were the
ones who saw Jesus in the flesh and were taught by Him
personally. They wrote the New Testament Scriptures.
Though the gifts of apostle and prophet are different
today than in biblical times, the gift of evangelism,
pastoring, teaching and others are still the same. A
person who is an evangelist does not just have a title so
he can rule over people. The reason that he has the gift
to be an evangelist is so that he can tell others the good
news. Why do we have pastors? Are they supposed to rule
the church and get everyone to support them and bow to
their demands? No. They are to serve the church by helping
people to come to a fuller knowledge of Jesus Christ, to
equip the saints to become more like Jesus every day.
The true structure of Christianity is
symbolized as an inverted pyramid!
1 Thessalonians 5:4 But you, brethren,
are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you
like a thief; How serious will it be for a person to be
overtaken in �that day� like a thief overtakes a
household when he slips in and steals? Will it
just be a surprise for those who claim to be Christians
who will get a slap on the wrist by the Lord but still
proceed to heaven? Will they simply lose rewards
but still gain the ultimate reward? What is this
darkness that the brethren are not in? 1
Thessalonians 5:3-5 While they are saying, �Peace
and safety!� then destruction will come upon them
suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child,
and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are
not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a
thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of
day. We are not of night or of darkness;
In my article �Blasphemizing
the
Bible� I give a number of examples of how a lot of
modern Bible translation societies are putting the names
of �supreme beings� in the Bible in the place of God or
YHWH. In this article I'm going to examine two of the
excuses they make for making those substitutions in the
Bible in many hundreds of different languages today.
(1) They claim that God has many different
names and therefore they think they are justified in
putting the names of various gods of various cultures in
Bibles, as long as they are considered �supreme beings�.
(2) The second excuse they give is that the
names of the �gods� they are placing in the Bible are
generic terms for God, like the words �God�, �Theos�,
�Dios� and �Elohim�. By generic I mean a word that can be
used for any deity whether of the one true God or other
false gods who claim to be God.
I will go through both of these excuses and
show that they are both unbiblical, therefore the Bibles
they have translated with names of other gods in them, or
names they claim are generic, prove that they have
�blasphemized� those Bibles.
There has been a concerted effort by the
false teachers from many movements inside the church such
as Word of Faith, New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)/Latter
Rain, World Gathering on Indigenous People and Emerging
Church among others to diaprax people into thinking that
the church has been ineffective until they came along with
their new and improved ideas on how to take over the
world. This is always a feature of the Hegelian
Dialectical process put into action by praxis, thus
diaprax. In order to form a new paradigm or
worldview the leadership of these movements must vilify
orthodox Biblical Christianity.
There are so many "Christian" leaders out
there that teach delusional teachings. These
teaching are dangerous and can lead a person to shipwreck
their faith.
A good subtitle for this article might be
"Practice What You Preach!" There is no doubt that
God can and does heal people today. But the false
doctrines of the Word-Faith Movement about "declaring"
healing, "name-it-and-claim-it", etc. have been proven to
be lies by the very people who sell this deceit. If
you don't know about where these famous "faith healers" go
when they need healing, you may be surprised. Why couldn't
they heal themselves when they purported to be able to
heal others by virtue of their superior faith? What
happened to the extraordinary faith they claimed to have,
enough faith to heal and be healed? Since they are
the ones who taught that all you have to do is claim the
healing that is in the Atonement (Is. 53:5) why did they
not do so? Don't their deaths prove that what they
were preaching was a lie and pragmatic witchcraft rather
than biblical relality?
It is quite clear from Scripture that YHWH
does NOT consider the �supreme beings� of the nations to
be Himself, the One True God. This is in opposition
to the teachings of Don Richardson, Daniel Kikawa, Richard
Twiss and many others promoting the World Christian
Gathering of Indigenous People movement, Emergent Church
and Liberal theologies. I have proven this time and
time again in my articles on the subject but I am going to
consolidate the information from the Bible in this article
by studying the false gods named in the Bible. I am
sure I will not be able to cover every instance of supreme
beings mentioned in the Bible but I (1) want to deal with
some of the major ones (2) show you where they are found
in the Word, and (3) prove that they were the �supreme
beings� of those nations named by the patriarchs, prophets
and Apostles and that they were not monotheistic gods but
polytheistic in the tradition of Babel where the false
religion of polytheism first took root through the worship
of Nimrod and Semiramis.
I am writing this article to address a
subject that I have often observed. It is the fact
that if you do not get the leaven out of your church the
leaven will become the leadership.The Bible teaches
quite clearly that if you let the leaven in you will
leaven the whole lump.
Galatians 5:9 A little leaven
leavens the whole lump of dough.
We see this often in the case of
many �Christian� movements that have allowed a small
error to exist in their churches and have not dealt with
those issues. It then ends up metastasizing into
worse and worse problems as time goes by.
Now, I bet you read the title of this
article and thought I had misspelled the word
"pantheism". Just so that those of you who write to
me advising me of words I have misspelled in articles (and
I do often) I want to tell you that I am using the term
"panentheism" as coined by Karl C. F. Krause. You
can read more about this word and concept in an excellent
book called "A
Time Of Departing" by Ray Yungen.
There is a new "God" being promoted in the
Third Wave, New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) and Word of
Faith movements whose teachers are regularly seen on TBN,
Daystar, SkyAngel, CBN and other "Christian" TV
networks. Some of those teachers even have, what
would be considered, a fairly typical statement of faith
or doctrinal statement they endorse. But by what
they teach they end up promoting a false unbiblical view
of God, especially through their actions and
experiences. The whole phenomenon of "slain in the
spirit" and all the antics that go with it are
brainwashing an entire generation of Christians to put
their faith in another Jesus, another Spirit, another
Gospel. This new "Jesus" and "Holy Spirit" is
clearly pantheistic or panentheistic in nature.
Though some of these teachers would claim to be believing
in the God who is One God in Three Persons, by what they
teach they deny the very revealed character of God from
Scripture.
How do you answer an invitation to attend a
meeting where you know nothing about the speaker or what
will be done there? What happens if they want to announce
the meeting at your church and invite everyone? What do
you say to a person who tells you that you don�t have the
Holy Spirit even though you are a Christian? What should
you do if you think something is wrong, or your conscience
is bothering you about something that was said or
done? The answer?
Go to the Scriptures!
The Bible has all the answers to your
questions. This little booklet is an attempt to deal with
a few of the typical statements you will hear from people
who have become involved in the Third Wave revival
movement. By �Third Wave� I am referring to teachers,
�prophets� and any meeting associated with the Toronto
�Blessing�, Brownsville Assemblies of God, Rodney
Howard-Browne, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Rod Parsley,
Marilyn Hickey, Joyce Meyers, Bethel Church, Lakeland and
many others who appear on the Trinity Broadcasting Network
and the 700 Club on TV.
Hopefully the statements and answers in
this booklet will set you off on an investigation of your
own in the Word. If you need help, and you have access to
the Internet, you can visit my web site called �Deception
In The Church� that deals with these issues and has the
articles mentioned in this booklet.
Phil.
1:14-18 Because of my chains, most of the
brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the
word of God more courageously and fearlessly. It is
true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but
others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love,
knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not
sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me
while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The
important thing is that in every way, whether from false
motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I
rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
If you see what I see in this passage, this
argument cannot be used for people like Benny Hinn,
Kenneth Copeland and the hundreds, even thousands of Third
Wave ministers today who are not merely envious and self
ambitious, but are also teaching outright false doctrine.
Paul was not talking about heretics in this statement, but
"brothers in the Lord" who preach the Gospel with wrong
motives. Third Wave teachers not only have wrong motives,
they also have the wrong message. This argument
cannot be used for people like Hinn, even if they manage
to preach enough of the "Gospel" for people to come to a
saving knowledge of the Lord, because they are also
teaching and practicing heresy.
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no
wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of
light.
Satan often disguises himself with
the purpose of deceiving people. One way in which I
believe he is putting on a masquerade is by appearing as
�Mary� to millions of people worldwide.
So much heresy is entering the churches
these days. As you would suspect, sometimes it is
due to a pastor attending a conference or reading a book
and becoming diapraxed with unbiblical ideas. He
then starts to weave those ideas into his messages and
begins to invite speakers to the church who expound on
those ideas. Then when confronted by someone in the
church who has reservations about the new stuff being
taught, they are told to not talk about it and just go
along with the program. If that person does not they
are ostracized, slander behind their back, and often told
to leave (which is what they should do in any case).
But my observation is that it is not only
the pastor who causes unbiblical changes to influence a
church. Often the pastor is blissfully unaware of
influences coming into his church. They often come
in through (1) the worship team (2) women�s groups (3)
bookstore (4) children�s programs (5) interdenominational
prayer efforts and (6) relief and mission
organizations. If unchecked this type of
infiltration is much more subtle and can become deeply
rooted.
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes
you captive through philosophy and empty deception,
according to the tradition of men, according to the
elementary principles of the world, rather than according
to Christ.
In context Paul is especially addressing,
though perhaps not to the exclusion of other false
religion, what had become the false religion of the
Pharisees and Jewish leadership. There were many
Jewish so-called �Christians� making the rounds among the
fledgling early churches who were trying to get the
Gentiles to come under the Law from which Christ had
purchased their freedom. John Gill states this case
well in his commentary.
The current fad of interfaith solidarity
and unity is simply a thin guise of inclusivism,
Universalism and pluralism.
Universalism is defined by
Dictionary.com as: The doctrine that emphasizes the
universal fatherhood of God and the final salvation of
all souls. (Source)
Universalism is a religion and theology that generally
holds all persons and creatures are related to God or
the divine and will be reconciled to God. (Source)
Pluralism is defined as: The doctrine
that reality is composed of many ultimate
substances. � The belief that no single
explanatory system or view of reality can account for
all the phenomena of life. (American Heritage
Dictionary, (Source)
Inclusivism is: "Inclusivism posits that
even though the work of Christ is the only means of
salvation, it does not follow that explicit knowledge of
Christ is necessary in order for one to be saved. In
contrast to pluralism, inclusivism agrees with
exclusivism in affirming the particularity of salvation
in Jesus Christ. But unlike exclusivism, inclusivism
holds that an implicit faith response to general
revelation can be salvific. God expects from man a
response proportional to the light given. Saving faith
is not characterized so much by its cognitive content as
it is by its reverent quality." (Ken Keathley, None Dare
Call It Treason: Is an Inclusivist a Paul Revere
or a Benedict Arnold? (Ken Keathley, Assistant Professor
of Theology and Philosophy New Orleans Baptist
Theological Seminary, (Source)
We deal with these old heresies brought
forward to modernity, these ideas that all men have have
a relationship with God that will cause them to be able
to avoid judgement in our book on the teachings of the
World Gathering on Indigenous People movement called �Idolatry In Their Hearts�.
The idea that all men who worship a �god� are
worshipping the true God, YHWH, has bubbled up to the
very top of our societies and religions, and even
Christendoom, and should sound a warning alarm to true
Biblical Christianity. Instead, as usual in our
day, most Christians are asleep at the wheel while
Universalists claim that you can pray to a �god� like
Allah and be praying to the true Trinue God, YHWH. I
also dealt with the fact that Allah is not YHWH, both in
our book and in the article �Is
Allah The Same As YHWH?�.
I'm going to warn you now. I am going
to let you in on some information tonight that is going to
radically change your world view. You are likely
going to experience the beginnings of a reverse paradigm
shift and after tonight there will be no way to go back
the way you came. You will be faced with choices
that you may never have known you had. You will be
faced with a new way of looking at things that is going to
cause you to rethink everything that is being taught in
the Emerging Latter Rain churches. It is going to be
radical because the basis for this message doesn't come
from Jesus Christ visiting my room last night bodily, but
from His holy written Word. So buckle down your seat
belts, you're likely in for a bumpy ride!
Matt. 7:15-23 "Watch
out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep�s
clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By
their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick
grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise
every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears
bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad
tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not
bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. "Not
everyone who says to me, �Lord, Lord,� will enter the
kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my
Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that
day, �Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and
in your name drive out demons and perform many
miracles?� Then I will tell them plainly, �I never knew
you. Away from me, you evildoers!�
I often receive requests to present updated
false teachings and false prophecies by the myriad of
heretics out there. We do try to keep up with all
the latest. But I have to remind people that those
we have exposed as false on our site have not repented of
what they have already done in the past, which is why they
are still on our site. So what they are doing now
has no relevance as to whether or not they are now to be
considered a true Biblical teacher. If and when they
repent, that is renounce their false teachings and false
prophecies, make restitution to those they have deceived,
and begin to teach sound Biblical doctrine we will give
you that information. As of now NONE of the people
we have exposed have repented of their Latter Rain, Word
of Faith teachings, heretical practices or their false
prophecies. But in the interest of helping you to
respond to a person who inquires by saying: "Those
articles are old and you need newer materials" well, here
is some newer stuff you can add to the pile. For you
and me this really makes no difference, but for those who
are living in deception perhaps it might demolish one of
their arguments against the truth.
Sometimes I really wonder why someone who
claims to be a Bible believing pastor, for instance,
refuses to listen to the truth. It frankly boggles
my mind. I don't know if it is as a result of the
postmodern paradigm or just that they have no love of the
truth left. I don't know how that can happen in a
truly regenerate person. You would think that the
Holy Spirit would confirm the truth to them, first in
their conscience, and finally through the written
Word. But these days it is a miracle if it gets that
far. I don't know if their conscience has been so
seared that they don't hear the Spirit or if they just
don't want to know the truth because then they would be
responsible for it. I know that I cannot know their
motives or the reasons why they reject truth and refuse to
talk about false teaching, but I do know one thing: we are
called as true believers to test the spirits. We
must do this even if the result is not to our liking or
befuddles us as to the reasons.
1 John 4:1 Dear
friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the
spirits to see whether they are from God, because many
false prophets have gone out into the world.
I have some questions for those of the
World Christian Gathering of Indigenous People (WCGIP)
adherents such as Don Richardson, Daniel Kikawa, Richard
Twiss (deceased), Terry LeBlanc, Danny Lehman, Aloha Ke
Akua, YWAM as well as many in the Emergent Church (EC) ...
the questions arise from their claim that the "supreme
beings" of the nations are all the True God, YHWH, the God
of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You can read more on
this subject in our book "Idolatry
In
Their Hearts" or in the WCGIP
section of my site. My main question for them is this:
When did ANY of the Patriarchs and Prophets in the Old
Testament and the Apostles or Jesus Christ in the New
Testament EVER claim that the "supreme beings" of the
nations were Elohim/YHWH, the one True God? Let's
look at some examples in the form of questions and you can
check out the source links as well.
In running a web site with thousands of
articles, 1-2 million hits per month from all over the
world, and hundreds of e-mails per week, I have come to
realize, with time, that there is a terrible problem in
Christendom today. The problem stems from an existential
subjective view of the world that has filtered into the
church from secular society, but also from the teachings
of heretical wolves who have taught an entire generation
of churchgoers completely unbiblical methods of
discernment or to get rid of any discernment altogether.
A house built on the rock will stand.
The Rock is God and in particular, Jesus Christ.
Therefore His written Word is the teachings of the His
Holy Spirit and a Rock we can depend on. Anyone who
wants to prove anything theologically, historically,
scientifically or anything else needs to start with
correct information. If you start with a faulty
foundation, as you build your arguments, they begin to
fall apart because they are not supported in God"s
truth. If you want to build on a firm foundation,
you need to start the process by a careful study of God"s
Word in context of the verse and according to the whole
counsel of God"s Word. The Bible is the best
commentary on the Bible.
"Karma means action, work or deed; it
also refers to the principle of causality where intent
and actions of an individual influence the future of
that individual. Good intent and good deed
contribute to good karma and future happiness, while bad
intent and bad deed contribute to bad karma and future
suffering. Karma is closely associated with the
idea of rebirth in some schools of Asian
religions. In these schools, karma in the present
affects one's future in the current life, as well as the
nature and quality of future lives - or, one's samsara.
With origins in ancient India, it is a key concept in
Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Taoism, Shintoism,
Ching Hai and others."(emphasis mine)
Mirram-Webster defines it this way:
the force created by a person's actions
that is believed in Hinduism and Buddhism to determine
what that person's next life will be like: the force
created by a person's actions that some people believe
causes good or bad things to happen to that person
Zechariah 14:9 NIV The LORD will be king
over the whole earth. On that day there will be one
LORD, and his name the only name.
The reason I wrote this
article based on Zech 14:9 is that I was reminded of how
many so-called Christians, who are influential in the
churches, are promoting the worship of God in the names of
other gods.
So, as you can see, the root of this
teaching is that Israel no longer holds the distinction
of being the tree from which the Root of David
(Jesus-Rev. 5:5, 22:16) came. They are no longer
the "natural branches" (Israel-Rom. 11:21) on to which
Gentile Christianity (the wild shoots-Rom. 11:17 or wild
branches-Rom. 11:24) are grafted in (Rom.
11:17-24). According to Replacement Theology,
Christianity has now become its own branch apart from
Israel (the natural branch) that produced the Root and
all the promises of the Bible to Israel have been taken
away from them and given to the Gentile Church.
This is why you hear so many false teachers taking
verses out of context from the Old Testament and
willy-nilly applying them to the Gentile Church.
This methodology has been going on for decades in
liberal churches and has been popularized by many false
teachers on TV. But the fact is that Replacement
Theology is utter false doctrine. It denies
promises made to Israel, some of which have already been
fulfilled and some which are yet to come to fruition.
But when you add the fact that the Inclusivist WCGIP
proponents are now saying that God planted hundreds of
different trees, cultures all over the world, that are
not connected to the natural branch, tree and Root, you
have what can only be termed Replacement Theology on
steroids!
The Scriptural definition of maturity is to
learn to discern truth from error so that the Christian
will no longer be double minded, blown about by every wind
of teaching and by the schemes of crafty people. But
the problem today is that so few Christian teachers are
feeding their flock's solid food. They are serving
up milk and, because of that, people are starving. Yet
they often don't even know they have been on a starvation
diet. Amos 8:11 "The days are coming," declares
the Sovereign Lord, "when I will send a famine through
the land - not a famine of food or a thirst for
water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord."
Lying is a problem for all people (Ps.
116:11). We are all sinners (Rom. 3:23). Those
of us who are Christians are "sinners saved by grace"
(Eph. 2:8) indwelt by the Holy Spirit in our "new self"
(Col. 3:10). But we still live in our "old self" which we
must "put off" (Eph. 4:20-25) by taking up our cross daily
and following Christ (Luke 9:23). The difference
between unbelievers and those who are truly born again is
that believers no longer "practice sin" (1 John 3:9, see
my Bible study on 1 John!) They have the indwelling
Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:11) who convicts them when they lie
(John 16:8). True believers then repent (1 John 1:9) and
go on to "practice righteousness" (1 John 2:29) with the
Lord's help. The unregenerate, the false brothers,
or those who have fallen away (Gal. 5:4, Mark 4:17),
practice lying. They practice a lifestyle of lying
because their consciences are seared (1 Tim. 4:2) and the
Holy Spirit, when convicting them, cannot break through
the hardness of their unrepentant hearts (Eph. 4:17-19,
Heb. 3:13).
The four books that have changed the church
by giving an introduction to the false teachings of the
New Apostolic/Latter Rain (NAR), the Emerging
Church/Contemplative/Catholic Mysticism (EC), pragmatic
Church Growth (CG) methodologies of C. Peter Wagner,
Robert Schuller and Peter Drucker, and the teachings of
the World Christian Gathering on Indigenous People (WCGIP)
are as follows:
Surprised by the Power of the Spirit by
Jack Deer, Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster,
Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren & Etnerity In
Their Hearts by Don Richardson.
These four books were widely read by
Christians from virtually every denominational background
before their ramifications and the movements they would
spawn were known. They lay error alongside truth so
were considered not to be a threat to churches.
Therefore these books then became part of the
consciousness of many Christians and churches, thereby
laying the basis for the introduction of the modern day
false teachings of the NAR, EC, CG and WCGIP that have
become part of the landscape of Christendom today.
With the resurgence of the old religion
of Hawaii and the continual invocation of Pelé and other
"deities" for years in the secular culture and even in
churches with regards to worshipping 'Io, is it any
wonder that those beings are beginning to manifest
again? In a story called "Night
Marchers" on the Kawaihae site and in a YouTube
video on the same subject, eyewitnesses claim all
kinds of sightings that they think are the warriors,
ancestors and demi-gods of Hawaii coming back.
Interestingly the
first
book the Hawaiian Heritage site recommends in its
"Suggested Reading" list is "Perpetuated
in
Righteousness" by Daniel Kikawa that we reviewed
in our book "Idolatry
In
Their Hearts" by Sandy Simpson and Mike
Oppenheimer. Since Kikawa claims that 'Io is the True
God and one that the Hawaiians worshipped in secret, we
have to wonder if Kikawa also thinks 'Io is showing up
in these night marches? Since YWAM, Aloha Ke Akua and
Hilo New Hope participated in worshipping 'Io at the
"edge of Hale-ma'uma'u Crater" it sounds like they have
all been inviting the old "gods" to return to
Hawaii.
I am doing a Bible study right now on what
I would call "renewing our minds". It is based on
this verse:
Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and
perfect will.
The only way to renew our minds is to
believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, confess our sins, and be
saved, then to study the written Word and allow the
indwelling Holy Spirit to teach us. Our minds are
corrupted by virtue of the sin nature and what we have
learned in life because our filters are off. I gave an
illustration of straining coconut to make coconut
milk. If you use a 1 inch screen everything will
pass through. Even if you use a quarter inch screen
you will get mostly coconut meat in your milk. You
have to use a fine screen in order to separate the milk
from the leftover. Our filters are off and the first
thing God begins to do is correct our worldview, because
if your worldview is off you will not understand God's
reality. We need to learn to see things from His
perspective. This is why I started this study by
going back to an original problem.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 The coming of the
lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works.
He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs
and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways
that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They
perish because they refused to love the truth and so be
saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful
delusion so that they will believe the lie and
so that all will be condemned who have not believed the
truth but have delighted in wickedness.
This has always been an interesting passage
to me for a few different reasons. What is "the lie"
that is talked about here in verse 9 and 11? What
are the ways that "wickedness deceives those who are
perishing" and how long has this been going on or does
this only begin to happen at the coming of the lawless
one? In what way does "the lie" cause those who do
not believe the truth to "delight in wickedness"?
Updated! The First Nations Movement Deceiving The Nations! 4-DVD Series
Critical
Missiological Issue!
The "Indigenous People's" (IPM) or "First
Nations" movement is an unbiblical movement teaching
heresies and doctrines of demons. It is being spread
worldwide by YWAM, Don Richardson, John Dawson, Richard
Twiss, Terry LeBlanc, Daniel Kikawa and many other
adherents. The IPM or World Christian Gathering On
Indigenous People is full of the false teachings of the
Third Wave, New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), Word-Faith,
Dominionism, Latter Rain and many other false theological
systems. But it does have it's own distinctives that
are driven by the works of Daniel Kikawa, Richard Twiss,
and Don Richardson in particular. They are teaching
Christians to "redeem" their cultures by worshipping their
former gods, pretending they are YHWH.
Go here for
ordering information. Only $10. per DVD or $35. for the
4-DVD set, plus s/h. for US. The First Nations
Movement 4-DVD Set
The First Nations
Movement DVD 1 (1) Perpetuating Nations' Myths - Mike
Oppenheimer (2) 11 Reasons To Reject This Movement,
Part 1 - Sandy Simpson The First Nations
Movement DVD 2 (1) The Fingerprints Of God? - Mike
Oppenheimer (2) 11 Reasons To Reject This Movement,
Part 2 - Sandy Simpson The First Nations
Movement DVD 3 (1) The New Indigenous "Christian" Religion
- Sandy Simpson (2) Did God Put Eternity In Their Hearts? -
Sandy Simpson (3) The Missionaries Brought A Foreign God
- Sandy Simpson (4) Catholic Syncretism - Sandy Simpson The First Nations
Movement DVD 4 (1) "Monotheism" In Ancient Cultures -
Sandy Simpson (2) The History Of The Knowledge Of God -
Sandy Simpson "Christians" Who Try To Poke Holes
In Sola Scriptura by Sandy Simpson
There are a number of the leadership of
the Emerging Church (EC) who do not believe that the
Bible is the highest authority for the Christian
faith. Most do not believe that the Bible is
inerrant in the original manuscripts and many do not
acknowledge that the Bible is our highest
revelation. Yet this is a core doctrine over which
true believers and false brethren must separate. Those
who try to poke holes in Sola Scriptura make excuses
like (1) we need to reinterpret the Bible through the
lens of postmodern culture and religion (2) the Bible
never uses the words "Sola Scriptura" therefore it is
not a Biblical concept (3) there is new revelation for
the church through the Holy Spirit apart from what is
written and the precepts of the Bible and (4) the Bible
just doesn't address our postmodern situation therefore
we cannot rely on it for the truth and answers for our
problems today. I will prove that all the above
arguments, and more, from EC leaders and others is
exactly what they are teaching. I will give you
quotes from their teachings, videos and books. The
postmodern church and its "movements" are abandoning
Sola Scriptura in their rush to be like the Roman
Catholic Church, which takes its authority from a mix of
Scripture and tradition.
"As a result the Church, to whom the
transmission and interpretation of Revelation is
entrusted, "does not derive her certainty about all
revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Both
Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored
with EQUAL sentiments of devotion and reverence." (Roman
Catholic Catechism, Given October 11, 1992, the
thirtieth anniversary of the opening of the Second
Vatican Ecumenical Council, in the fourteenth year of my
Pontificate. Page 31).
Go here
for ordering information. Only $10. per DVD plus s/h. for
US.
Updated DVD! The Question Of Dominion by Sandy Simpson
I am writing this article as an
apologetic against the Third Wave, Latter Rain, Word of
Faith and Reformed Theology teachings that the Church is
to rise up and take over the systems of government,
businesses and every other aspect of life. "See, the
problem is, is that Satan has had too much of his way in
our society because he has a government! And the
only way to overthrow a government is with a
government. It won't happen otherwise. So
therefore the government of the church has to get into
place in the extended church just like we do have it
very well in place, we haven't reached our goal yet
..." (Transcript of C. Peter Wagner, Arise
Prophetic Conference, Gateway Church, San Jose, CA,
10-10-2004) Wagner has substituted the "government of
the church" for the coming government of Jesus Christ in
the Millennial Kingdom. Wagner is "Kingdom Now"
while the Bible teaches "Kingdom Come". What I wanted to
do with this article is put the issue of dominion to
rest by studying the definition the Bible gives to
dominion and ruling authority. When we look at the
subject we can easily ascertain what is going on today
and what God requires of the Church.
Go here
for ordering information. Only $10. per DVD plus s/h. for
US.
The Bible lays out the definitions of
both an overseer (under shepherd) and a hireling.
John 10:11-13 I am the good shepherd: the good
shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is
an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep
are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep,
and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth
the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an
hireling, and careth not for the sheep. (KJV) 1
Tim. 3:1-3 Here is a trustworthy saying: If
anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a
noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the
husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled,
respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to
drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome,
not a lover of money. (NIV) Titus 1:7-13
Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must
be blameless, not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not
given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing
dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who
loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright,
holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the
trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he
can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those
who oppose it. For there are many rebellious people,
mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the
circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they
are ruining whole households by teaching things they
ought not to teach - and that for the sake of dishonest
gain. Even one of their own prophets has said, "Cretans
are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons." This
testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so
that they will be sound in the faith. (NIV) A hireling
does not really care about being a watchman, but is more
concerned with protecting his reputation, position and
income. A true watchman will guard the flock
against wolves from within (Acts 20:30) and without
(Acts 20:29) no matter the cost to his reputation,
position or income. Following is a little quiz you can
take to see if you are a true Biblical under shepherd as
a leader in your church, are becoming a hireling, or are
one now.
Go here
for ordering information. Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
Too many churches today are allowing
music to be used in their services that is not
glorifying to the Lord and can actually be a hindrance
to the teaching of sound doctrine. Pastors and leaders
should be using their leadership role to test what is
being played and sung in their churches. Though some are
quick to test preaching and teaching from their pulpits,
many ignore the music being used in the same services.
This is a tragic mistake. Music is a powerful medium. It
is something that effects deeply the body, mind and
emotions. It is a proven fact that music often stays
with a person far longer than what is taught or
preached. Songs roam around in our heads, especially if
the melody appeals to us. What is often overlooked is
the serious impression music makes on people, and the
teaching they are getting over and over again as they
allow the song to repeat in their minds and on their
lips. Music teaches things much more subtly yet
sometimes far more effectively. That's why the lyrical
content of music in the church, as well as its effect on
the spiritual lives of those who perform and listen,
should be vigorously examined by the leaders of the
church. This is a
2-DVD set.
Go here
for ordering information. Only $20. per 2-DVD set plus
s/h. for US.
2 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves
to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is
in you - unless, of course, you fail the test?
People who call themselves followers of
Christ or "Christians" and claim they are born again must
believe certain things. If they do not then they
fail the test of faith. They can claim they are born
again all they want and "once saved, always saved" but if
they fail the test of faith there is no eternal
security. Only God knows who will be saved, from
beginning to end, because of His foreknowledge and
omniscience (Rom. 8:29, 1 Pet. 1:2). God did not
make an arbitrary judgment about who would be saved and
who would not. His Spirit is given to those He
foreknew, when convicted of sin by His Holy Spirit, would
choose to believe and commit themselves to Jesus
Christ. We are not God and we do not have His
omniscience. Therefore, according to Paul, we must
be sure our belief system is in the right place once our
eyes have been opened to the Truth. I am not saying
we do not have assurance of salvation, but our assurance
comes not only because of His Atonement and promises of
salvation but from our continuing in the Faith, which is
always the Biblical criteria. Those who would be Bible
teachers must teach according to the whole counsel of
God's Word. Let me be clear. There is only one
way to salvation. That is by grace alone
through faith alone in Christ alone. I will deal
with a few of those issues following, but it is important
to recognize that being saved is not just a matter of
believing that Jesus lived, or that He was a man, or
simply giving mental ascent to His existence in whatever
form.
Go here
for ordering information. Only $10. plus s/h. for
US.
I am going to go over an article I wrote
back in 2006 in preparation for the book I wrote with Mike
Oppenheimer called 'Idolatry in Their Hearts'. This
book is an apologetic against the false teachings of the
World Christian Gathering on Indigenous People movement,
the Emerging Church and the New Apostolic Reformation
which got their ideas from the book "Eternity in Their
Hearts" by Don Richardson. At the time that book
came out no one really saw the dangerous ideas Richardson
was promoting. All they would have had to do was
look at the two subtitles of that book to understand the
implications. The first subtitle in the 1981 edition
read: The Untold Story of Christianity among Folk
Religions of Ancient People. Those who read this
book found some interesting cross-cultural ideas but
apparently missed the false premise of the book starting
with the subtitle. How could Christianity be "among folk
religions" where the Gospel had not been preached (Rom.
10:14-15)? At that time Christians who read the book were
apparently satisfied that, though there was some
questionable material present, it made for an interesting
discussion on how to do cross-cultural ministry. The
subtitle it has today, which was first published in 1984,
is as follows: Startling Evidence of Belief in the One
True God in Hundreds of Cultures Throughout the
World. This should have been a red flag for many
Christians but then, who reads subtitles? But how
could the "One True God" be known to Gentiles who did "not
know God".
Go here
for ordering information. Only $10. plus s/h. for
US.
Resources For Pastors including "Good English Bible
Translations" by Sandy Simpson
I was talking with a pastor after a
Wednesday night service and he mentioned that I said I had
done an article comparing English Bible
translations. He called me up later and asked me to
come back and present the contents of that article I sent
out in about 2002 to my mailing list for the Pacific Waves
Newsletter which, unfortunately, I can no longer afford to
publish and mail. However an archive of past issues
of that newsletter can be found here.
In that article I detailed a number of good and bad
resources for pastors including Bible translations,
concordances, commentaries, Bible dictionaries, etc.
I present an edited version of part of that article on
this DVD, particularly dealing with English Translations
of the Bible. Translation is a very detailed
endeavor and should only be undertaken by those with a
proper education in that subject and a sound doctrinal
background. I read a few books on that subject and
it helped me understand the complexities involved.
Hebrew is a rich language so it is hard to distill one
Hebrew word down to one English word. Greek is a
very technical language and it is also not easy to
translate. This is why it is imperative to use the
good English translations out there for comparison along
with a good concordance and Bible dictionary.
Go here
for ordering information. Only $10. plus s/h. for
US.
A TALE OF TWO KINGDOMS Kingdom Now or Kingdom Come? by Sandy Simpson
There are two kingdoms being taught in many
churches today. Teaching about one of the kingdoms is on
the decline while the other is being promoted all over the
place. I am warning Christians that they need to
check out who is using the word "kingdom", the books they
have been reading and recommend on building "the kingdom",
the people they have been hanging out with at conferences,
and what they mean by "the kingdom".
Go here
for more information or click on the "Add To Cart"
below. Only $10. plus s/h. for US.
BIBLES STUDIES IN DISCERNMENT by Sandy Simpson
Bible studies in Galatians, Philippians,
Ephesians, Colossians, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John and Jude
with a focus on applying timeless discernment priciples to
our modern times.
Go here
for more information or click on the "Add To Cart"
below. The price is $18. per book plus s/h.
BIBLES STUDIES IN DISCERNMENT Companion CD! by Sandy Simpson
Contains the PDF text to the book BIBLE
STUDIES IN DISCERNMENT plus extra studies by Sandy &
Juanita Simpson covering many issues of apologetics and
discernment.
Go here
for more information or click on the "Add To Cart"
below. The price is $10. per cd plus s/h.
A Whole Lot Of Wishful Thinking
These Days! by Sandy Simpson
This DVD series is a teaching based on this
article.
In this DVD series I want to detail a
number of beliefs people have these days that have no
basis in Scripture. I am going to roam all over
the map, so to speak, and try to give fairly short
answers on a number of topics and also give you useful
links to articles that will help you deal with any
particular issue. It is truly amazing how many
false ideas people cling to without giving a thought to
what the Bible has to say on the subject.
Only $20. plus s/h. for US. Go here for
ordering details.
Signs Of Apostasy In The
Churches In The End Times by Sandy Simpson
This 2-DVD series is a teaching based on this article.
There are many signs of the great
Apostasy, or falling away (2 Thes. 2:3) indicating we
are living in the end times (Mt. 24: 3-14) I am
going to go through some indications of the Apostasy in
the churches as a follow up to the signs of the times in
the world.
Only $20. plus s/h. for US. Go here for ordering
details.
The Responsibilities of a Good Shepherd by Sandy Simpson
This CD is a message based on this
article.
Emerging Church CD & Free
DVD All the links to
resources and articles we have on the Emerging
Church on one CD. by Sandy Simpson
(The Emerging Church only is downloadable!)
When you purchase the
"Resource Tools - Emerging Church" CD for $10. plus s/h
you will also receive a brand new free DVD called
"The Emerging Church" that features Gary Gilley,
Ray Yungen, Joanna Michaelson, Mike Oppenheimer and
Sandy Simpson.
From Church To Emerging Church
DVD Series by Sandy Simpson
The issue of the Emerging Church and it's
introduction into many churches and mission organizations
has reached a critical point. Many do not undersand
what is being leavened into churches by the EC
leadership. Many would be shocked to know their
belief systems involve Universalism, New Age, defense of
postmodernism, Interfaithism, and many other false
doctrines. In order to reach out to this generation
the EC leadership is proposing a whole new "map" to deal
with what they perceive is a lack of understanding on the
part of the churches on how to communicate. EC
proponants believe the "scripture" for today is evolving
and must change in order to reach postmoderns.
Go here for
ordering details on this 2-part DVD series!
Idolatry In Their Hearts Landmark Book! by Sandy Simpson
& Mike Oppenheimer
Does having eternity in your heart mean that
you know God and are His child? Could Gentile cultures
understand the Gospel from the stars? Did God create man's
cultures? Has God always been in the process of redeeming
cultures from the time of Babel by placing in them a true
revelation of Himself? Is there the worship of YHWH in all
cultures and religions through the names of supreme
beings? Have all cultures always had a way to make
things right between them and God? These questions and
many more are answered in this book that addresses the
false teachings of The New Apostolic Reformation regarding
missiological methods as being carried out by many
agencies including the World Christian Gathering on
Indigenous People, YWAM, and many Bible societies.
The New Apostolic Reformation -
What is it and where is it going? Every Pastor
Needs This! by Bill
Randles, Arnold Fruchtenbaum, Jacob Prasch, Mike
Oppenheimer, Orrel Steinkamp, Gary Gilley, Dave Hunt,
Sandy Simpson and others.
This is a 6-DVD expose
of the NAR and it's leadership of C. Peter
Wagner, Cindy Jacobs, Chuck Peirce, Dutch Sheets, Bill
Hamon, Jack Deere and others.
Lessons In Forgiveness Great Study! by Sandy Simpson
Through the years I
have been presented with many opportunities to
forgive. Sometimes the situation was so severe that it
took me some time to forgive and start the process of
healing for myself, and eventually for others. I
learned that a Christian needs to forgive other people
even if they have not repented of their sins. That can
be really hard if we let it be hard. But if we give
our burdens over to the Lord, He will carry them and
that frees us up to treat other people with love,
compassion, and be in the right frame of mind and
heart to set them up for reconciliation with Jesus
Christ. That does not mean we tolerate their sin. We
simply forgive them for what they have done to us,
whether perceived or real, and move on to looking for
ways to redeem them. We can then present to them the
"truth in love" even when we have to rebuke them.
was written to help
believers to realize the absolute necessity of growing
to maturity in Christ. Many churches are urging
Christians to push aside discernment in favor of
experience. It is our hope that this book will inspire
many believers to fight the good fight, finish the
race, and keep the faith (2 Tim. 4:7).
The New Apostolic Reformation -
What is it and where is it going? Companion Book! by Sandy Simpson
is now available in book form. This is
the DVD script plus commentary by Sandy Simpson. The
commentary of the DVD series is not in the book, but
there are many more quotes available than in the video
series. Good reference material. Also
available on CD-ROM.
is a fitting manual for the Revelation
Christian. All the precepts are in the seven letters in
Revelation 1:9 - 3:22 to help us keep the faith, stay in
sound doctrine, and reach out to those who are
perishing. I hope and pray that this book will
help the reader to be an "overcomer".
DISCERNMENT TOOLKIT Demolish Arguments! by Sandy Simpson
Want to be able to see your way through
to clear biblical discernment? Want a set of tools that
will allow you to disciple your loved ones so they will
stand firm in the Faith? Want to sort out many of the
false arguments and teachings that have invaded the
churches? Then DISCERNMENT TOOLKIT book is for you!
DISCERNMENT TOOLKIT DVD Study Series! by Sandy Simpson is taken from the book but includes a lot
of footage of false teachers and false prophets. It
covers the core doctrines, how we can use them to test,
and examples on the DVD that can be paused for
discussion. Also includes a teacher guide and
links to resources on the web. This 3-DVD series
is available now!
SPIRIT OF TRUTH OR SPIRIT OF
ERROR? Important Video Information On Benny Hinn!
by Sandy Simpson,
Mike Oppenheimer & Jacob Prasch
features tons of video
showing the teachings and prophecies of Benny
Hinn. This is a proven tool to keep people away
from heresy.
THE EMPTY PULPIT Highly Recommended! by Mike Oppenheimer What is Christianity? What significance
does the cross have? Are there teachings that can wreck
our faith? We live in an age unlike any other in the
history of man. To follow the Lord among the unique
challenges we must understand Scripture and live by it.
Available for $20- includes shipping.
Apologetics Coordination Team HIGHLY recommends this
book. It deals with many crucial issues for the
Church today.
Go here
to order the book by Mike Oppenheimer, Let Us Reason
Ministries, P.O. Box 860683, Wahiawa, HI 96786.
Other
important articles that do not fit in any existing
category.
(1) The Old Cross And The Newby
A. W. Tozer, Man: The Dwelling Place Of God, 1966
"This article first appeared in The Alliance Witness in
1946. It has been printed in virtually every
English-speaking country in the world and has been put into
tract form by various publishers, including Christian
Publications, Inc. It still appears now and then in the
religious press."
(2) The
"Left
Behind" Series - Book Reviewby Pastor Kevin
Beier, Bible Believer's Baptist Church of Custer, South
Dakota, Updated
2/3/2000 "These books boil down to good old-fashioned COMPROMISE! "
DITC does not recommend this book series.
This review brings up some of our objections, so rather than
do a seperate article, we give you this one instead.
Here is another review
by a Fundamentalist Baptist.
(4) Postribulationism
Vs.
The Latter Rain Doctrineby Ed Tarkowski,
2000 "Rather than BEING the Manifest Sons earth-rulers, the
Posttribber will be persecuted BY the Manifest Sons. As I
said, the MSOGs believe in sinless perfection so that the
glory of God will shine through them BEFORE Christ returns.
But the Posttribulationist believes the believer is
glorified by Christ WHEN He returns at the end of the
Tribulation period, i.e., Daniel's 70th week. No Christian
can be perfected from his sin nature until Christ raises him
from the dead or changes him to be like Him when He returns
after the Tribulation period because we will live in a
sinful body until then. "New" revelations cannot, as the
MSOGs believe, overcome this body of death before the return
of Christ: (1 John 1:10 KJV) If we say that we have not
sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
(5) Authority
And Responsibilityby Dave Hunt, The Berean Call,
April 2000 "In seeking to understand any passage in Scripture, one
rule must govern: whatever the Bible declares, the Bible
itself (not some outside authority) must interpret. It is
from the Bible that we learn the gospel, about the church
Christ established, about discipleship and the responsibilities,
authority and power He has given to His own. Therefore, it
is to the Bible that we must look to understand these things
and the Bible is understandable."
(6) Once
Dogs Under The Table, We Should Not Boastby Ed
Tarkowski, May 2000 "Some today say God is done with Israel. Others say all
that Israel was promised is now in the possession of the
Gentile Church. Others have applied the promises to Israel
in the Old Testament to the Church, even raising up a "new"
Abraham, a redefined Abrahamic Covenant, a "new" Isaac, etc.
so it looks like Israel and talks like Israel, yet really
usurps the place of Israel. Others make all the Gentiles of
the world Jewish and do away with Israel. But Scriptures
warns the Gentiles that they were made part of the olive
tree and that we should not boast against Israel, yet the
boasts continue through all kinds of "new" doctrines.
Realizing our state before God in Jesus' time and our
position in Christ now, how much more should we heed the
warnings of Paul in Romans: 'Boast not against the branches.
But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root
thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that
I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were
broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded,
but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take
heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the
goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity;
but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness:
otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.' (Romans 11:18-22
KJV)"
(7) A
Very Close Look At "God Chasers" By Tommy Tenneyby
Rev. Bob Liichow, Truth Matters Newsletter, 2000 "There is a book which is sweeping through many charismatic
congregations and it is also making inroads into some
mainline denominations and evangelical churches too, and
that book is The God Chasers by Tommy Tenney. I purchased
Mr. Tenney�s book and read it in a couple of hours and I am
very concerned about the content of this popular book. I am
going to take great pains to make you aware of why I am
troubled about this book and I fear for those who blindly
swallow the concepts Mr. Tenney sets forth in his writing."
(8) Getting
To Know Godby Juanita Simpson, 2000
This excellent little tract was written by my mother and we
still use it today in witnessing. It explains the Gospel
message from the beginning in short form. You can
download or print this online tract and use it for
yourself. It is sure to be a blessing to many
people.
(9) Christian:
Who Is Your Covering? A Christian Look At The
Shepherding Movement by Steve Coleman, 1981
"It should be apparent why the Shepherding Movement is in
such error: it has applied to men what rightfully belongs to
God. Instead of saying the Lord is the covering, it claims
that shepherds are the covering. While the Bible says people
can trust God for strength and guidance, the Shepherding
Movement says that a man is necessary too. In short, the
Shepherding Movement casts doubt on God's ability."
(10) Just
Two Kinds Of Religion by Timothy Oliver, The
Watchman Expositor, Vol. 15, No. 1, 1998 "There is an ever-increasing cry in the religious world
today, not just for tolerance, but for unity of all people
and all religions. It is often stated � almost never with
any attempt to prove the assertion � that all religions are
alike in their fundamental doctrines. One must suspect that
the lack of any serious attempt to prove the assertion is on
account of the paucity of evidence. Indeed, it seems almost
impossible to find even one standard to which all will
willingly adhere."
(12) Book
Review Of The "God Chasers" By Tommy Tenneyby
Bill Randles, Believers In Grace Ministries, 2000 "... Is the GODCHASERS really about the kind of hunger for
God that perhaps Tozer wrote of, or Spurgeon, Wesley, Nee
and the other giants of the Faith of days gone by? You be
the judge. But lest there be any doubt that some other kind
of hunger is at work here, consider that the last page of
this Destiny Image book is an advertising page featuring the
full line of GODCHASERS products, The GODCHASER hat is
available for a mere $17.99 and the God chaser shirt is
available in four sizes for a mere $16.99, and for those who
truly want to attest to this new hunger, the GODCHASERS
license plate is available for a mere $6.99!!!!! "
(13) Self
Does Not Die Without Our Full Consentby A.W.
Tozer, Renewed Day By Day, 1950, pg. July 11 "A good rule is this: Nothing that comes from God will
minister to my pride or self-congratulation. If I am
tempted to be complacent and to feel superior because of an
advanced spiritual experience, I should go at once to my
knees and repent of the whole thing. I have fallen a
victim to the enemy!"
(14) Lord,
Make
Us Like Philadelphiaby Pastor Randy Elliott,
from a tape transcript dated October 18, 1992 "The Spirit today is speaking to those who will listen, but
He doesn't speak to just individuals. Revelation 3:13 says,
"He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit
says to the churches." Are you listening, Christian? Is your
church listening? The Spirit is continually striving with
us, prodding us toward truth and righteousness and away from
attachment to this dying world."
(15) Time
To
Leave The Playpenby Andrew Gould, 10/00 "When
I hear the phrase �that was so unloving�, sometimes I want
to scream!"
(16) Testing
Music In The Churchby Sandy Simpson, 10/00
"Music is a very powerful medium, perhaps even more
powerful in terms of what and how much a person remembers
than sermons. So it must be treated with the same kind of
discernment. We need to be very much aware of the songs that
are being used in the church."
(17) The
Unknown Saintsby A.W. Tozer, Man: The
Dwelling Place Of God, pg. 95-99, (c)1966 Christian
Publications "The wise Christian will be content to wait for that
day. In the meantime, he will serve his generation in
the will of God. If he should be overlooked in the
religious popularity contests he will give it but small
attention. He knows whom he is trying to please and he
is willing to let the world think what it will of him.
He will not be around much longer anyway, and where he is
going men will be known not by their Hooper rating but by
the holiness of their character."
(18) Walking
With Godby Sandy Simpson, Sermon Notes,
11/00 "What would it be like if you have a friend
but no contact, no walking with him? (1) lose touch
(2) lose track - lose understanding (3) no longer moving
in the same direction (4) ultimately friendship grows cold
- lose friendship."
(19)Rebuttal To The Defense Of The
Term "Christian Hedonism"by Sandy Simpson, DITC,
1998
This is a paper about the term "Christian hedonism" which
author John Piper is trying to coin in books such as "Desiring
God" and "Future Grace". Though there is no doubt good
material in the books, there is a danger here. This
danger flows into the gnostic revivals out of RHEMA, Toronto
and Brownsville. I believe these books and their message
will be, and in fact are being, taken the wrong way. The
term "Christian hedonism" is an oxymoron using the standard
dictionary definitions of both "Christianity" and
"hedonism". To be fair, we have posted an
analysis of my rebuttal by Graham.Then,
go here for my
second (and final) rebuttal. Also, check out this e-mail for
confirmation of what I have been trying get John Piper to
understand. Also please read A
Biblical Study of the Theological Foundation of "Christian
Hedonism" by Craig W. Booth, 6/02
(20)The Prayer of Jabez - A Review
by Biblical Discernment Ministries, 4/01
NOTE: This is a good article. Please be aware, however,
that we do not agree with some articles on the BDM web site
that lump Chrsitians like Chuck Smith and Dave Hunt in with
heretics like Benny Hinn and Kenneth Copeland. The author of
BDM needs to learn to discern between heretics and true
brothers in Christ. If you need help distiguishing the
essentials of the Faith, refer to our artricle called "The
Five Basic Doctrines". "The real tragedy of Bruce
Wilkinson's book will be the carnage created as desperate
souls follow his advice and pray Jabez's prayer for a month,
and yet see no change or see things getting worse around
them. The book has no discussion of what to do when the
prayer seems to fail (e.g., a child dies, a marriage fails,
a job is lost, or healing does not come, etc.). Many of them
will turn to themselves seeking the reason. Yet Wilkinson
has guaranteed that the prayer will work. The clear
implication is that a failed prayer equals failed faith.
Wilkinson teaches a shallow "results-oriented" faith that is
supposed to guarantee success, as opposed to a deep,
abiding, loving relationship with our Father that will
sustain us through heartaches, failure, and success."
(21)Do
You
Jabez? - An Examination Of Dr. Bruce Wilkinson's The
Prayer Of Jabez by John Miller, Chapel
42, March 25, 2001 "Many who fail to see the promised results will turn from
God thinking that Christianity is a sham. They will
question God's existence or His faithfulness because, in my
opinion, the book teaches a shallow 'results-oriented' faith
that is supposed to guarantee success as a opposed to a
deep, abiding, loving relationship with our Father that will
sustain us through heartaches, failure and success. So
that there will be people there to pick up the pieces,
please pray that God will use you when the time comes.
Please don't spend the money to buy the book unless you're
just curious about the depths of its error."
(22) The
Prayer Of Jabez - A Reviewby Mike
Oppenheimer, Let Us Reason Ministries, 4/01 "A biblical look at the newest sensation on prayer that is
sweeping America and other countries."
(23) The
Prayer Of Jabez & The Prayer Of James by Sandy
Simpson, 5/01 "Do you want your rewards now or later? Would you
rather ask for abundance or wisdom? Did Solomon ask
for abundance or wisdom? Would you rather lay up
treasures in heaven or on earth?"
(25)What
Prayer Will And Will Not Do by Mike Oppenheimer,
Let Us Reason Ministries, 5/00
An exposition on biblical and unbiblical prayers.
(26) Is
That
Really You, God? Hearing the Voice of God - A Review
by Loren Cunningham with his sister, Janice Rogers, Chosen
Books, 1984 - Evaluation, quotes and comments by Rev.
Greg Robertson, Jakarta, Indonesia. "Although Robertson had decided that his YWAM experience
was something from the past which must be left at the foot
of the cross, he soon found that the same false doctrines
and spiritual misgivings which had so negatively affected his life through his YWAM Daze, had
progressed to new levels, moved further away from Scripture and had become a poisonous leaven for other
groups and movements."
(27) The Call By Rick Joyner -
A Review by Kevin Reeves, 5/01 "In my opinion, there are great problems with both of
Joyner's books concerning this �vision�. He would have us
accept that Jesus took him to the 3rd heaven, that he spoke
face-to- face with Christ, that spirits of great Christian
reformers and even people from his own time who had died
spoke with him and revealed their hidden earthly lives, and
that he was being guided by and having wisdom imparted to
him from angels, and all this taking place in what he calls
the highest level of revelation, and then he tells us in
�The Call� that we have to sort through all this and decide
which portions he is relating are true and which are not!
When you say, "The Lord said," (as Joyner did repeatedly in
both books), you are giving the weight of heaven to your
testimony. But if in the next breath you deny the certainty
of the revelations, you effectively dismantle your own
testimony."
(28) Say
a
Little Prayer for Me - "The Prayer of Jabez": New Age
Self-Help With Christian Trappings by Damon
Linker, The Wall Street Journal, Editorial Page,
Houses Of Worship Section, Friday, May 25, 2001 12:01 a.m.
EDT "That Mr. Wilkinson and his legion of admirers apparently
find nothing particularly inappropriate about treating God
as a means to their worldly satisfaction teaches us
something important about American Christianity today--and
thus something essential about America itself." If you
have trouble getting through to the link above, try this
one.
(29) The
'Prayer
of Jabez': The New Christian Mantra by Bill
Koenig, Koenig's International News, Update / Commentary,
WorldWatchDaily, June 14, 2001 "Unfortunately, this book is one indicator of the condition
of the church today; it reflects the desire for many to
share in His glory, just like Adam and Eve did 6,000 years
ago. Can it be said that today, we don't want to submit to
God; we want to be God? How many copies would a book
on dying-to-self, repentance, brokenness, submission,
obedience, and receiving, sell in today�s market? It would
be very fortunate to hit 100,000."
(30) Sons
Of
Zadok by Jacob Prasch, Moriel Minsitries,
6/01 "If your minister is a Zadokite -- if he is somebody who
will kick the alien out, who will give the people what God
says they need, who ministers to the Lord rather than to
men, in whom there is no mixture in what he teaches,
believes and does, who will rather rest in the Lord than
strive in the flesh, who will teach people to discern, and
who will take a stand in a dispute -- if that is your
pastor, you stand by him. You pray for him, you support him
financially, and you help him in any way you can. He may not
be a perfect man, but he is a good man, and he is God�s man.
You stand by him, you pray for him, you support him, you be
loyal to him so long as he is loyal to the Word of God. He
needs your prayers, he deserves your support, and he is
entitled to your help. "
(31) All My
Friends Pray The Prayer Of Jabez, And All I Got Was This
Lousy T-Shirt by The Harpazo Network, 8/01 "We are afraid that after carefully & prayerfully
watching this stir that has developed. Our conclusion
is that: Jabez - by no fault of his own - has indeed brought
pain & sorrow after all. PRAYER is about
RELATIONSHIP! This is what God desires from us - NOT
RITUAL! If you have already been "Jabezing" maybe your
motives have been pure and sincere ... BUT you can put aside
this daily ritual and still 'seize opportunities' to witness
for the Lord - and despite ourselves - God takes care of His
own. We would like to urge you to instead appreciate
Jabez for what he was: an honorable man in the line of
Judah. But there is another one who came out of this
same genealogy who needs to be our ONLY focus and that is
JESUS and He wants you to Pray from your heart - Not someone
else�s! "
(32) Charismatics Use Jabez
Prayer For Money, Salvation, And Healings by THE
CALVARY CONTENDER, VOL. XVIII NO. 16 August 15, 2001 "It had to happen. Wilkinson's The Prayer of Jabez book is
tailor made for name-it-and-claim-it, health-and-wealth
charismatic charlatans."
(33) Tommy
Tenney
And The God Chasers by Mike R. Taylor,
3/4/01 "A person brought up in the Oneness tradition, which is
blatant and utterly unapologetic about such psychological
manipulation, yet still calling both his forbears and
himself �Spirit-filled�, clearly accepts all such
manifestations as true products of the Holy Spirit.
But unless such a person repents of all counterfeits which
he has experienced or accepted, he will remain undiscerning
in such matters. His discernment will always be
compromised until he stands in clear judgment against past
false experiences." Read Part
1 , Part
2, Part
3, & Part
4.
(34) Upgrade Your Old Hymns For The New
Paradigm! by Sandy Simpson, 9/01 "Time for a rewrite of the old hymns. In this day and
age of Third Wave revival movements and Word-Faith dominion,
the old hymns just aren't cutting it anymore. Not only
are they old fashioned musically, but the lyrics are, for
the most part, particularly depressing. They talk of sin,
death, repentanace, the cross, the blood of Jesus and a
whole host of other disgusting subjects. There are
also too many lyrics in them, frankly, which takes away from
the "worship" atmosphere. Repetitiveness is what we need,
not dead doctrinal concepts. The old hymns are just too
biblical. Give us a beat to move our feet, not concepts to
move our hearts and minds!"
(35) The
Prayer Of Jabez - Fadish Idolatry by
Joseph Chambers, Paw Creek Ministries, 9/01 "Religious fads are the most dangerous fads of all.
Any religious leader that will lower himself to create and
perpetuate a religious idea that has the potential to
promote a �faddish idolatry� is in serious trouble. Misplaced fads of a Christian nature cannot be called
anything but idolatry. Superstitious or soulish people have no capacity to discern between a religious fad and the
true faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. Fads capture
these types of people and carry them along on a false
journey of imaginary faith. It is impossible to
prevent these dark souls from grabbing the next dream just
as soon as some guru can create it."
(36) Is Allah The Same As
YHWH? by Sandy Simpson, 9/16/01 "Is the god of Islam, Allah, the same as the God of Israel
and Christianity, YHWH? Does Allah have a son?
Does YHWH have a Son? What other teachings from the
Koran show that Islam is a different religion than biblical
Christianity? Here is a side by side chart that might
prove helpful in your research on this subject."
(37) The
Towers
Have Fallen - But We Missed The Message by David
Wilkerson, World Challenge, Inc., 9/16/01 "Six weeks prior to the disaster, the Holy Spirit
forewarned our pastoral staff that a calamity was coming."
(38) More Quotes From The Koran
by The Kingdom Alert #130, p.1, Weekly Update, 9/01 "(These quotes) are taken from the Koran (translated by
N.J. Danwood). By reading these quotes you will have a basic
understanding of the Muslim religion, the wars and tension
in the Middle East, and the terrorism on September 11..."
(40) The
Qur'an's Jesus by Mike Oppenheimer, Let Us Reason
Ministries, 10/01 "What does the Qur'an teach about Jesus, the Son, begotten
and the father?"
(41) Which
Is The Real Islam? by Mike Oppenheimer, Let Us
Reason Ministries, 10/01 "Does the Qur'an teach peace or violence, and to whom?"
(42) Joy
To
The World by Dave Hunt, The Berean Call,
12/01 "Let us pray that in the wake of the September 11 attacks
the world will recognize the obvious dishonesty of Islamic
countries suddenly claiming they are against terrorism, whereas, the day before, they supported and praised it. Let
us pray that millions of Muslims will have their minds and
hearts opened to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us pray,
too, that Islamic countries will at last allow their
citizens�so long held in the bondage of fear�freedom of
conscience and of faith, and that many will receive Christ.
And let us do our part to bring this to pass."
(43) The
Church Is Losing Her Salt by Mike Oppenheimer, Let
Us Reason Ministries, 3/02 "Looking at the newest report of the church and what is
happening to Christianity."
(44) The Christian Message:
Prophetic, Not Diplomatic by A.W. Tozer, Renewed
Day By Day, March 7 "WE WHO WITNESS AND PROCLAIM the gospel must not think of
ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good
will between Christ and the world."
(45) The Fruit Of The
Spirit by Sandy Simpson, 3/02
"A Bible study on the fruit of the Spirit. I hope this
will be a blessing and a challenge to all who read it!"
This paper is a biblical examination of
the modern philosophy entitled �Christian Hedonism�.No ill
intent is willed upon any practitioner or author of this
philosophy.It is acknowledged that many well-meaning and
upright Christians have embraced this philosophy.It is also
acknowledged that Dr. John Piper is well respected as an
author on the Christian publishing circuit. These
acknowledgements do not imply endorsement of these
teachings.Equally important, these acknowledgements should
never imply license for any to treat the Word of God with
anything but the utmost honesty and integrity, faithfully
quoting verses in context and fully so as not to change their
meaning.
(47) Tattoos
& Body Mutilation by Joseph Chambers, Paw
Creek Ministries, 7/02 Tattooing, body marking, body piercing, and now body
mutilation, where will it end? Just like any trend
or downward spiral, it goes deeper and deeper, lower and
lower. When any society or culture leaves the
absolutes of Biblical truths, there is no bottom.
The �body� is the Lord�s. The human life and body is
a sacred trust. There are holy things in our world
and no Christian culture can survive when we forget to
hold those things in reverence.
(48) The
Baptist Bride by Sam Linton, Post Trib Network,
8/25/02
The Baptist Bride doctrine of Landmark (Independant) Baptist
Churches is an elitist false doctrine. The belief in a
Baptist Bride evidently arose during the Landmark movement
due to efforts of J. R. Graves. The book "The
Baptist
Bride" by O.B. Mink is primarily what this article is
based on. Check out this story "The
Baptist Bride" and also this one called "But
Let Us Not Be Baptist Briders".
(49) Evangelical
Nuisances by Ole Anthony and Skippy R., Door
Magazine, The Last Word, Issue #186, March/April 2003
This article shows what the world thinks of the new
evangelicalism. This ought to be a wake up call, but
you can be sure few will listen. Please note that we
do not agree with the tactic of the missionary who affirmed
that "there is no God but Allah (which is what they actually
say), and his prophet is Mohammed" to which the missionary
replied "and Jesus is His Son". Allah is not YHWH in
any way shape or form, and Mohammed is a false prophet, and
we do not use deceptive methods and hide the truth to win
converts. But we do applaud those who live out the
gospel as well as preach it in every corner of the world, as
opposed to those on TBN and 700 Club who are ruining the
witness of what is loosely called Christianity.
(50) Experiencing
God by Gary Gilley, 10/97 The general teaching of Experiencing God is wrapped
around what Blackaby calls the "Seven Realities of
Experiencing God." The discerning reading will quickly
recognize that the last four of the "Seven Realities"
either contradict or at best cannot be supported or proven
by Scripture. Read Part
1, Part
2, and Part
3.
(52) The
High Casualty Rate Among Christians by
A. W. Tozer, Renewed Day By Day, Vol. 1, July 17 Nowhere in the teachings of Christ do we find anything
visionary or overoptimistic. He told His hearers the whole
truth and let them make up their minds. He might grieve
over the retreating form of an inquirer who could not face
up to the truth, but He never ran after him to try to win
him with rosy promises.
(53) The
Prayer Of Jabez - A Critical Analysis Of The
Fundamentals by Charles Marshall,
Yochanan Ministries, 2003 We, who are of the family of faith, should never be
ashamed of the knowledge of the power of the gospel unto
salvation, or be seduced by a teacher, book or leader into
taking our eyes off Jesus, and focusing on self.
(54) Do Not Hope to Win the
Lost by Being Agreeable
by A.W. Tozer, Renewed Day By Day, September 3 The man who is going in a wrong direction will never be
set right by the affable religionist who falls into step
beside him and goes the same way. Someone must place
himself across the path and insist that the straying man
turn around and go in the right direction.
(57) Internet
Christian Bookstores: Haven for Non-Christian Materials
- New Age and Pro-Homosexual Authors only one-click
away (Part 1) by Bud Press, 2/8/04 "I have been concerned about the types of materials being
sold by Christian bookstores since they began stocking
their shelves with Third Wave books in the 1990's.
Christian bookstores had declining books sales for many
years and were kept afloat financially by the sale of
'holy hardware' and CCM music. The leadership of the Third
Wave began pumping out books by the bushel and brow
beating their adherants to buy the books and pass them
around. This rejuvinated book sales and many Christian
book stores don't seem to care as much about content as
they do about the bottom line. I know this because I have
confronted bookstores personally about what authors they
are promoting, giving them the facts that show the false
teachings and false prophecies of the authors, but to very
little success. It is no wonder that these same
bookstores have now branched out into the sale of books
favorable to homosexuality, other religions and the
occult" (Sandy Simpson, Deception in the Church
Ministries).
(58) The
Passion
by Mel Gibson by Cross + Word, 2/04 Traditional doctrine and evangelism (having "failed" to
produce the Global Harvest that these men predict) must be
consigned to the scrap heap and replaced by exciting new
methods - such as visual and aural stimulation - to
achieve the desired result. But the danger in
abandoning the classic biblical truths, and seeking after
a worldwide spiritual awakening, is that sooner or later
God Himself will reach the limit of His patience and give
men exactly what they have been looking for. It will
become a snare both to the leaders and to those who follow
in their footsteps. Let's not crucify the Lord Jesus
over and over again (as the Catholics do in their Mass, in
an attempt to perpetuate his Sacrifice) but see Jesus the
LORD in GLORY which is how he appears to us today - Risen,
Glorified and Triumphant! No human being can possibly
portray the reality of this: I was in the Spirit on
the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of
a trumpet, saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the
First and the Last," ... Then I turned to see the voice
that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden
lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands one
like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the
feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His
head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and
His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine
brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the
sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven
stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and
His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He
laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be
afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives,
and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.
(Rev 1:10-18)
(59) Non-Christian
Materials Promoted on Pro-Family Websiteby Bud Press,
3/29/04 In an amazing turn of events, the nation's largest
pro-family group, the American Family Association,
continues to advertise and promote a wide variety of
non-Christian materials within its two online Christian
bookstores.
During
the
modem era, (since the 18th century) Truth was assumed to
exist; it was just waiting to be discovered by rational
and thinking persons. People could debate and
disagree about the Truth but there could be only one
Truth. But now "truth" is whatever the individual
or community believes it is.
(This)
is
a Master List of Heretical, Cultic, New Age Movement
and Pro-Gay/Homosexual authors/books found
advertised and promoted within numerous, major
online Christian bookstores. While special care has
been taken to provide current and accurate
information, the reader is encouraged to check and
verify the names prior to their removal.
(63) PHILIP
YANCEY
- �Turning The Grace Of God Into
Lasciviousness� Jude 4 by Cecil
Andrews, Take Heed Ministries, 7/04 When you go into any modern
�Christian� bookstore it will be virtually
impossible not to be confronted at some point by
books written by Philip Yancey. He is without
doubt one of the best selling �Christian�
authors of this age and some of his best known
works include �What�s So amazing About Grace�,
�Where Is God When It Hurts� and �Soul
Survivor�. In March 2002 he was the Banquet
Speaker at the Christian Booksellers Convention
held in Doncaster. As a freelance �Christian�
writer he serves as �Editor at Large� for the
pseudo-evangelical publication �Christianity
Today�. His writings have [rightly] attracted
criticism and controversy from �conservative�
Christians despite a claim by Yancey in an
article published on 21 September 2002 by Alf
McCreary [Religious affairs correspondent of the
Belfast Telegraph] that �My calling is not to be
successful but to be faithful to God�. One
of the areas where his �faithfulness to God� has
been challenged has been in how he views
homosexuality and lesbianism and its
compatibility with the professed Christianity of
those who pursue such life-styles. In relation
to his book �What�s So Amazing About Grace� I
have on file some comments made about it by two
Christians.
(64) Jesus
Cares For All Your Needs by Sandy
Simpson, 1998 One of the main things that Jesus is... is
compassionate. He cares for His people. He was
compassionate then and He is still compassionate
today. Jesus came and saw the needs of the people.
So He did two things. He met their physical need
of hunger for bread, and He also met their
spiritual hunger for the bread of life.
(65) Epistemologically
Unaware by by Greg Apel, 2005 Should we trust our senses and believe the
information our optic nerves send to our brains?
Should we believe our brains as trustworthy
to process the information sent through the optic
nerve? Do we interpret the information according
to our conditioning, or are we capable of
surveying the physical world and arriving at
correct conclusions? Even if we scour the physical
world for knowledge, information, and evidence to
point us toward a "spiritual reality", we are
setting ourselves up for failure: for perception
of the world through epistemology alone has a
false base.
(66) The
Responsibilities Of A Good Shepherd by
Sandy Simpson, 5/20/05 Those who are called to be servant under
shepherds in the body of Christ must take that
responsibility seriously. There are far too
many who claim to be called to servant leadership,
but demonstrate clearly that they are not
qualified to be shepherds according to God's
criteria. We need to be feeding the lambs
and the sheep, bringing them to good pasture lands
and water, grooming and clipping them, delivering
new lambs, leading them and teaching them to stay
together, going off after the wandering lost ones,
and protecting the sheep in the field and in the
fold.
Have
you been approached for a free scholarship in
high school education, if you accept it you may
find that you are going to join Rev. Sun Myung
Moon's enterprise, High School of the Pacific
(HSP). Rev. Sun Myung Moon has built a private
high school in Kona on a 32 - acre site makai of
Mamalahoa Highway, adjacent to the Kona Ocean
View Properties subdivision in Pu'ukala. Tully,
president of the foundation, has been a member
of the Unification Church since 1970. The
proposed school would house up to 200 students
from 12 independent Pacific island nations (even
Micronesia Island of Chuuk) and Hawaii in a
"shared - living experience. They would accept
kids of all faiths, cultures, ethnic
backgrounds.
High
School of the Pacific (HSP) located in
Kealukekua, HI is yet another in the many
enterprises of the Unification Church whose
�Messiah� is Sun Myung Moon.
(70) Why
the Mormon Church is NOT the TRUE church
Jesus Christ startedby Mike
Oppenherimer, Let Us Reason Ministries,
12/28/05 The whole Old Testament testifies that
there is only one God who made everything
that exists. The whole New Testament
testifies that Jesus Christ is that God who
came in human flesh. No matter how one tries
to reform or adjust Mormon doctrine it does
not make it Christian doctrine. Softening
the Mormon position on these 3 points does
not make it authentic and can only bring
into question anyone�s honesty in their
motives. If the concept of many gods is not
abandoned, if the belief that Jesus is a
spirit creature is not abandoned then the
gospel that centers on Jesus Christ cannot
be the true gospel. And if it is not the
true authentic one, then it cannot save no
matter how sincere a person is.
(71) Concerns
About
The Film "End Of The Spear"by
Jason Janz, Shaper Iron, 2/05 "The first area is the content of the film
� the average believer should be embarrassed
at the dumbing down of the Gospel or
anything Christian for that matter. My
second area of concern is the cast of the
film � Every Tribe Entertainment chose Chad
Allen, a gay activist, to play Nate Saint
... I have divided my article into five
points: 1. The facts about Every Tribe
Entertainment�s choice of Chad Allen 2. How
the gay community views the choice of a gay
man playing a Christian missionary 3. The
response of Every Tribe Entertainment when
confronted about this choice 4. Why
Christians should be concerned 5. What
Christians should do". Transcript
of
Chad Allen on Larry King Live defending
gay marriage.
(72) Ken
Blanchard's Inclusivismby Mike
Oppenheimer, Let Us Reason Ministries,
1/20/06 The merging of religious ideas in the
marketplace.
(73) Articles On The Islamic Cartoon
Maniaby Various Authors
The current worldwide riots and uproar over
the cartoons published depicting Islam as a
violent religion prove that the cartoons were
accurate. You don't see Christians and Jews
rioting and killing their own people because
of many, many cartoons published by Muslim
newspapers over the years blasting
Christianity and Judaism! What Muslims
need to hear, understand and believe is that Jesus Christ is
Almighty God and Allah
is not YHWH. This bloodthirsty,
demonic business of trying to take over the
world in the name of Allah cannot end for
individual Muslims unless they are born again!
Their bankrupt religion will end in utter
chaos as predicted by the Bible, the ONLY Word
of God. Read these articles:
(75) The
Calvary
Chapel Distinctives - The Tale of Two Calvary Chapels
by Scott MacIntyre, Wood & Steel, 05/15/06 There seems to be a 'tale of two Calvary Chapels' emerging. I
am convinced that Calvary Chapels are at a crossroads in their
existence and effectiveness as a movement. Unlike Chuck Smith,
Jr., I believe that the simple teaching of God's Word is what
God has blessed in the past, and it will be what God blesses
in the future.
(77) Today's
Christianity:
Let Us Entertain You! by Michael C. Gaudiosi, The
Berean Radio Network, THE NOBLE BEREAN: Volume Eleven - July
2006 THERE�S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS! I had initially
struggled to come up with a topic for this month�s
newsletter, there really is a lot to talk about when it
comes to the problems in mainstream Christianity today, I
was not sure where I could begin! Then about two weekends
ago it happened! On that Saturday I received an
advertisement postcard in the mail for a church located not
far from my hometown. On the front of this card was a
picture of somebody�s feet with their socks being blown off,
and the caption read �Church that will blow your socks off!�
Of course, that captured my attention!
(78) Billy
Graham's
New Thinking on Salvation by Ingrid Schlueter,
Slice Of Laodicea, 8/7/06 This week Newsweek online is featuring a long article on
Billy Graham and his "new thinking". So why was it that
Billy Graham couldn't give a biblical response when asked
whether he believes that heaven will be closed to those of
other religions? He says he doesn't "want to speculate about
all that..."
(79) Being
True
to my Church by Jackie Alnor, Apostasy Alert,
9/4/06 I�m having church issues this week. As many of you know, I
have attended Calvary Chapels since I was born-again back in
1981. My first Calvary was Costa Mesa and my first pastor
was Chuck Smith. I still think of it as my home church since
I�ve moved around this country a lot. Pastor Chuck and I
would agree on all the essentials of the faith and even on
many non-essentials. But, because he pastors a mega-church,
I�ve never actually met him face to face. He doesn�t know
me, though he knows of me, however I can finish his
sentences, I�m that familiar with his teaching. Since
the late 1990s, I have had various run-ins with his son,
Chuck Smith Jr., pastor of Capo Beach Calvary. Things came
to a crescendo last year when Jr. took a sabbatical to a
Catholic monastery and put some real new-agers in his
pulpit. I reported these events to the Body of Christ and
even leafleted CBC to warn the people about a particular
guest speaker who has a ministry called "The Vortex." Out of
my love for my fellow Calvary Chapel saints, I felt
compelled in my spirit to put my neck on the chopping block
to try and sound the warning to them.
(80) Beware
Of
�Christian� Bookstores! by Paul Proctor,
NewsWithViews.com, 9/06 Want a shock? Go to your favorite Christian website, more
specifically, to the page where they sell books. Type the
names of known heretics and false teachers into the site's
search engine; names of authors from the church growth
movement, emerging church movement, Word Faith movement and
even the New Age and see what pops up on the screen for
sale. Brace yourself though, because you're probably going
to be surprised. Believe it or not, some Christian
bookstores are even selling the published works of
homosexuals, pagans and occultists! But that's not
all.
(81) Non-Christian
Authors,
Books Continue to Haunt the Christian Bookstore Industry
by Bud Press, Christian Research Service, 10/13/06 Christian Research Service (CRS) has spent years
researching and providing free information to the Christian
bookstore industry concerning the non-Christian content in
major online Christian bookstores worldwide.
(82) In
Islam's Own Words by Mike Oppenheimer, Let Us
Reason Ministries, 10/06
A must read to be informed. Want to know what the current
leaders of Islam say and plan for America, Israel and the
world? This will be added to weekly.
(83) Healing
of
Memories or Cleansing of the Conscience? by Bob
DeWaay, Critical Issues Commentary, Issue 96, 11/06 In this article I will address the false premises of this
movement, describe what the Bible teaches about
sanctification and memories, describe the harm that false
inner healing teachings inflict, and propose a Biblical
alternative.
(84) Beware
Of
Christian Bookstore Hypocrisy by Paul Proctor,
NewsWithViews.com, January 26, 2007 Now, there's this little pious piece from the Southern
Baptist Convention's own Baptist Press, criticizing Wal-Mart
for selling pro-homosexual books over the internet -
informing their readers that entering words like "gay" into
Wal-Mart's online bookstore search engine would reveal
problematic authors and titles ... if you go to the
ChristianResearchService.com website, click on the Master
List, scroll down to the section subtitled,
Homosexual/Lesbian/ Transgendered/Pro-gay, and enter each of
the names listed there into the Southern Baptist
Convention's LifeWaystores.com search engine, (select
keyword: "author,") you will find numerous examples of the
double-standard that continues unabated in the online
Christian bookstore industry.
(85) An
Open
Rebuttal to Tim Wildmon's Response to His Critics - Is
the American Family Association Purposely Promoting
Heresy? by Bud Press, Director, Christian
Research Service, 1/25/07 Unfortunately, the revolving door of non-Christian authors
and books continue to haunt AFA's bookstore. Thus, AFA's
failure to monitor their own bookstores over the years is
not due to their lack of knowledge. AFA has been informed
over and over and over again, to the point of saturation.
Consequently, if a grading system existed for online
Christian bookstores, then CRS would grade AFA's Family
Resource Center an "F".
(87) Can
the SBC avoid the Samson Effect? by Watcher's
Lamp, 1/31/07 Having fought the flood of modernism of the early 20th
century, has the SBC allowed itself to fall into the hands
of the alluring, charming and successful? Is the Southern
Baptist Convention on the edge of the Samson Effect?
(88) Should
Christian
Bookstores Offer Anything From Bibles to Porn? -
Paul Proctor, Biblically Speaking, NewsWithViews, 2/07 You would think that a Christian bookstore is a place where
only biblically sound materials are sold. If you take the
scriptures literally, like for instance: "Abstain from all
appearance of evil." - 1st Thessalonians 5:22 - and in your
heart, believe them to be the inspired and inerrant Word of
God, then anything that contradicts it cannot legitimately
be considered "Christian." But, that doesn't seem to matter
anymore, does it?
(90) Final
Dissolution
of CRI/Hanegraaff vs Alnor by Bill Alnor, June 20,
2007 The final tally is in from my legal team. In court
documents just filed in Orange County, California my legal
team has petitioned the court for a payment of $254,302.58
from CRI and Hank Hanegraaff personally to cover my expenses
in their ill-advised defamation law suit they lost against
me. It also turns out that my initial article about a
criminal probe against Hanegraaff and CRI was entirely
accurate at the time it was written. If the court approves
this amount -- and they have already ordered Hanegraaff and
CRI to pay my legal bills, Hank Hanegraaff and CRI will have
to *immediately* pay this amount. This is a hefty sum
indeed, especially when considering that the decision to
file a law suit against me was apparently made: 1.) without
the full CRI board's approval 2.) in direct defiance
of Scripture, being that I am a professing Christian
involved in evangelical causes for more than three
decades (1 Cor. 6).
(92) Neo-Evangelicalism
Re-Packaged
In A "Broadly Reformed" Parcel by Dr. Martin
Erdmann, Herescope, 7/3/07 The Gospel Coalition is the current attempt of "broadly
reformed' pastors and theologians to enter into a more
formal relationship by establishing an institutional base
called "The Gospel Coalition" to propagate their
neo-Evangelical "Confessional Statement." Tim Keller and D.
A. Carson personally invited a core group of like-minded
pastors to form a steering committee which formulated a
doctrinal and policy document entitled "The Gospel for all
of Life.� It is significant that Mark Driscoll, pastor of
Mars Hill Church in Seattle, has also participated in the
initiative from the very start.
(93) 'Is
Harry
Potter the Son of God?' - Comments on Abigail
BeauSeigneur's Editorial by Bud Press, Director,
Christian Research Service, August 2, 2007 Abigail BeauSeigneur is convinced that J.K. Rowling is a
closet Christian, and that Rowling's fictional character,
Harry Potter, is an archetype of none other than Jesus
Christ. But can one be a Christian and promote occultism at
the same time? Is Harry Potter an archetype of Jesus Christ?
Is God's word, the Bible, sufficient for the believer, and
to be used as the ultimate and final authority in faith and
all matters of the Christian life?
(94) Excuses:
Compromise
in Disguise - There is nothing humorous about playing
nicer than God by Bud Press, Director, Christian
Research Service, August 16, 2007 Compromise, deception, dishonesty, and hypocrisy are at an
all-time high. And because Christians aren't immune to sin,
it is imperative that they test and examine themselves daily
to see if they are in the faith, and to see where their
priorities are. If their first priority isn't Jesus Christ,
then their priorities are misplaced, and repentance is in
order.
(95) How
To
Find A Good Church by Todd Friel, Christian
Worldview Network, 01/30/2007 Looking for a good church? Join the club.
Church-shopping can be a long and painful process. To
shorten your search, call the pastor of the church before
you visit and ask the following questions. This might save
you a lot of Sundays.
(96) Truth:
The
Remedy to So-Called Knowledge by Jackie Alnor,
Apostasy Alert, 12/9/07 The modern world poses modern problems when it comes to
understanding spiritual truth. Everyone these days are
claiming special knowledge with scientific sounding verbiage
that impresses the simple minded and the scholar alike. As I
have shared many times, I honestly believe that professing
Christians are being conditioned to believe in a faith that
sounds good but is in opposition to the truth and it�s all
done in the name of truth. But is all truth God�s truth?
God�s Word IS Truth and that is the ONLY Truth we should set
our hope upon.
(97) �The
Number
One Damnable Heresy of 2007� by Michael C.
Gaudiosi, The Noble Berean, Volume Twenty Seven, December
2007 SO MANY CHOICES but there can only be one who will be
declared the �winner�. I had to carefully think this over,
there were so many heresies spread over 2007, it was a very
difficult task to choose only one for this article. But only
one stood out in front. This one has it's roots in New Age
theology, however it has gained more and more followers in
recent years. I am speaking of the �inclusive� Gospel. This
year, the �award� goes to a man who, is well known in
mainstream Christianity, and at one time, had been a fire
and brimstone preacher. but now with his �Inclusive
Gospel/New Age� doctrine, he is doing incredible damage to
the Church. This years recipient of �The Number One Damnable
Heresy of 2007� goes to Carlton Pearson, pastor of New
Dimensions Worship Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
(98) Selling
Faith
- Values and Ethics by Gary Gilley, Think On These
Things, February 2008 - Volume 14, Issue 2 While it is admirable that Christians may wish to advertise
for their faith on their favorite coffee-cup or golf balls,
it is important that Christians realize that they are called
out from society, they are not simply a subset of a society,
but as strangers and foreigners living among a people unlike
themselves.
(99) Who
does
Oprah think she is? GOD?! by Herescope,
3/5/08 This question is not meant to be disrespectful. It is meant
to illustrate a point. Most amazingly, Oprah Winfrey might
be the first person to answer this question with a "yes."
And, if you follow Oprah closely and participate in her new
endeavors you may eventually answer this question in the
affirmative also.
(100) The
Secret unfolds further - The process of deceit -The Moses
Code by Mike Oppenheimer, 3/7/08 The New age movement has been anticipating a transformative
shift that will affect consciousness on a global level, up
until now it has been coming in small introductory steps.
(101) Cheatn'
Hearts by Herescope, 3/10/08 On Oprah�s first show last week with Eckhart Tolle, author
of A New Earth, the first caller set the stage for a
discussion of the New Spirituality of the New Age.
(102) Rethinking
the
New Age and Thought Reform by Russ Wise &
Warren Smith, 12/5/2007 Oprah Winfrey is back with her New Age guru Marianne
Williamson promoting A Course in Miracles1 on her XM Radio
program Oprah and Friends beginning January 1, 2008. Another
event taking place in Southern California soon afterward is
Robert Schuller�s Rethink Conference to be held January
17-19, 2008.
(103) What
is
Oprah Teaching About EASTER? by Herescope,
3/18/08 During this Easter week, it is important to understand what
Oprah Winfrey, Marianne Williamson and Eckhart Tolle are
teaching about Jesus Christ and Easter.
(105) Updated!
Islamic
Teachings That Prove Their Religion Is False
compiled by Sandy Simpson, 4/1/08 This article presents documented
proof that Mohammed was a false teacher and a false
prophet ... thus the Qur'an and other Islamic holy
writings by Mohammed and his followers are based are
false. More evidence that the "god" Allah they
worship is a false god. Their false religion is
based on a false prophet, false scriptures and a false
god.
(107) Oprah
And
The Gospel Of Me by Paul Proctor, News With Views,
4/9/2008 In a nutshell, the New Age and its New Spirituality
promises to help you find God in everyone and everything,
including yourself, with or without Jesus Christ.
(108) The
False
Imagining of the False Christ - Colossians and the coming
of the cosmic-christ by Pastor Larry DeBruyn,
Herescope, 4/18/08 Concerning our relationship to all of the christ-imagining
being advocated by the gurus and promoters of New Ageism and
the New Spirituality, the apostle Paul warns: "See to it
that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty
deception, according to the tradition of men, according to
the elementary principles of the world, rather than
according to Christ" (Colossians 2:8, NASB).
(109) The
Oppression of Black Liberation Theology by Mike
Oppenheimer, Let Us Reason Ministries, 5/9/08 This theology was used by Marxist regimes to take over
churches in Africa and Central America. They use �Christian�
terminology they promote violence to overthrow governments
and populations. It especially became popular in Nicaragua
in the 1980�s with the pro-sandanista dictatorship. It used
Marxist strategies to be an impetus for the people to rebel
where violent revolution was used. In some churches Jesus
was represented as Sandinista soldier identifying with the
oppressed. In this theological framework Jesus becomes a
liberator of the oppressed masses which are black. This is
in contrast to the word faith prosperity message preached by
numerous black pastors today. Black Liberation theology
describes Jesus as a poor black man who lived in oppression
under �rich white people� which makes this particular view
racially based, accentuating the tensions of being Black.
The notion of �Blackness� is not merely a reference to skin
color, but rather is a symbol of oppression that can be
applied to all persons of color who have a history of
oppression (except Whites, of course).� [�Wright's Black
Liberation Theology� By Anthony B. Bradley assistant
professor of theology at covenant theological, March 25,
2008]
(110)Apostasy Gaining Speed
by Randall J. Sortino, Evergreen Freedom Foundation,
6/24/08 Only 11 out of 100 Evangelical church members believe that
Jesus is the only way to eternal life.
(111) Meet
the
Millstones - How Child Molestation is Becoming Rampant in
Apostate Evangelicalism by Dusty Peterson,
7/11/08 �Troublemaker!� Over the years, many readers will
have been called this sort of thing by fellow believers they
were simply trying to protect. For a very long time
now, Christians who have been warning churches against
compromising on the Bible have been branded as
troublemakers. The opposite is the case, but this
truth has now been made as plain as a pikestaff. It is
those who have ignored these warnings and have allowed the
world�s ways into their fellowships who have been causing
the real trouble � and their own children are paying the
price, because a large number of these unscriptural trends
are facilitating paedophile attacks.
(112) Evangelicals
and
New Agers by Herescope, 8/11/08 In this new article, Cumbey links New Age leaders with
evangelical leaders in ways which have heretofore have been
undisclosed. Based on the groundbreaking research on the
evangelical secret society called "The Family" (or "The
Fellowship") made public by Jeff Sharlet in his recently
released book The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the
Heart of American Power, Cumbey connects the dots to the
Institute of Noetic Sciences. And she adds important pieces
to the perplexing puzzle of interconnections between key
evangelical leaders and ranking New Agers.
(113) Greg
Johnson
and Robert Millet Research Page compiled by Bud
Press, Christian Research Service, 8/08 Greg Johnson is a professing Christian and the founder and
president of Standing Together in Lehi, Utah. Robert L.
Millet is a dedicated, lifelong Mormon, a Professor of
Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University, and author of
the book, A Different Jesus? The Christ of the Latter-Day
Saints, which was endorsed by Greg Johnson.
(114) Keep
the
Faith and Your Faculties by Jackie Alnor,
9/21/08 When I was saved back in 1981, a co-worker warned me that
Christianity could make one crazy. He said that when his
wife converted, she soon became detached from reality and
had to be committed to a mental asylum. He soon divorced
her. "I would hate to see that happen to you," he warned.
"Stay away from that stuff."
(115) Excuses:
Compromise
in Disguise by Bud Press, Christian Research
Service, August 16, 2007 A Christian walked into a crowded Christian bookstore. As
he browsed the many shelves of books and materials, to his
amazement he noticed a copy of The Book of Mormon resting on
a shelf at the very back of the bookstore.
(116) Occultism
in
the Heartland by Carl Teichrib, Forcing Change,
September 2008 The response from Christian churches was strangely absent.
One of the largest, and most potent occult rituals had been
set up in the Midwest Bible Belt, and the silent majority
held firm to their modus operandi � silence.
(117) Handel's
"Messiah" by P.C. Johnson, 1/09 MOST of us will have heard excerpts or whole performances
of Handel�s Messiah at some time in our lives. Using text
from the Authorized Version of the Bible, Handel set to work
in 1741 to compose this magnificent oratorio obviously
subject to intense divine inspiration. He completed the
whole work in twenty-two days and remarked �I did think I
did see all Heaven before me, and the Great God Himself�. So
often, when listening to this exquisite music and singing,
the actual words may not always be taken in and, the story
as a whole, not fully comprehended. Accordingly, all the
Biblical quotations Handel used have been written down
hereafter in the order Handel chose, using only authentic
Authorized Version text without any comment. Handel found it
necessary to slightly alter some quotations, no doubt he had
good reasons. The work is divided into three parts which
cover fifty three separate Recitals or Choruses, two of
which, No 1. The Overture and No 13. The Pastoral Symphony
are purely orchestral with no singers. Biblical references
have also been given to enable the reader to look up the
context of each quotation.
(118) The
New
Athiesm by Gary Gilley, Think On These Things,
February 2009 - Volume 15, Issue 2 One of the mystifying things about the New Atheism is that
its cheerleaders are eager to make converts. We have
to wonder why? It is one thing to believe that we, and
the whole universe, are products of billions of little
accidents governed by the apparently omniscient but
impersonal power of natural selection, but why be so
enthusiastic to destroy theism and spread your own ideas
devoid of God? Could it be fear?
(119) The
UK
Assemblies Of God - A Different Movement With The Same
Name by Philip L. Powell, Christian Witness
Ministries, 1/23/08 That a spiritual plague has broken out in the Church there
can be little doubt. It is everywhere. The True Church is
being decimated while the false Church multiplies through
Church Growth, sensational appeal to the so called
supernatural and by other means. The most recent demonic
expression of The Plague is manifest through Todd Bentley
and his so called Florida Healing Revival, the latest
disclosures about which reveal it as a conception from hell
to take the �ministry� into expressions of violence.
(120) True
Love
- Part 1 by Dave Hunt, The Berean Call,
3/1/09 �Science falsely so called� (1 Tm 6:20) has lately decided
to debunk human love under the guise of supporting it.
�Science� claims to have identified a part of the brain
where �lasting love� resides.
(121) Jehovah's
Witness at Christian Research Service, 3/09
A page of articles on JWs and the Watchtower.
(122) Latest
David
Wilkerson Prophetic Prediction - Is It New? by
Jacob Prasch, Moriel Ministries, 3/11/09 Moriel Ministries and Jacob Prasch have received multiple
inquiries regarding the issuance of a prophetic prediction
by David Wilkerson dated March 7th, 2010. The complication
is that although having some additions, it is not new but
reiterates one made in 1992 when he said it would be �soon�
17 years ago, and is confusing in that it urges a 30 days
emergency food supply be kept on hand, but stating he has no
idea of when.
(123) Testing
Music In The Church - Part 2by Sandy Simpson,
3/18/09 For my previous article on testing music in the churches,
go here. Since the
first article I wrote on testing music in the churches there
have been developments in Christian music that are even more
alarming.
(124) Put Your Hand
In My Side - Meditation on the Scars of Jesus by
Pastor Bill Randles, Believers In Grace, 4/21/09 When after his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his badly
frightened, and dejected disciples, He showed them His
scars. He ate fish with them, spoke to them and rolled up
His sleeves and opened His robe to show them His actual
scars in hands and side. One of the things this story
illustrates is that Jesus truly �has come and remains in the
flesh�. One of the heresies of the early church was the
Docetic teaching. Docetism, from the Greek word Dokeo? def.
�to seem�, is the teaching that Jesus only seemed to be
Incarnate, He really wasn�t �in the flesh�...
(125) Hawaii
says Aloha to Islam day by Mike Oppenheimer, Let
Us Reason Ministries, 6/1/09 The Hawaii Legislature makes decision to honor Islam.
(126) The
mindset of a cult leader by Mike Oppenheimer, Let
Us Reason Ministries, 7/25/09 How to identify a true shepherd from a false shepherd.
(129) Christian
Bookstores
- Why compromise costs in the long run by Jim
Fletcher, WorldNetDaily, July 26, 2009 With attendance down significantly at the Christian
Booksellers' Association trade show last week, I want to
examine some reasons for the decline in Christian retail �
without focusing on the much bemoaned economy. Discussing
the real reasons for that decline, however, can't be done in
polite company.
(130) The
Influential
Nature of (Eastern) Orthodoxy Endangers Christians
by Richard Bennett and Stuart Quint, 8/14/09 The Orthodox Church makes a startlingly bold claim to
preserve the �pure apostolic faith.� However, the light of
God�s Holy Scripture exposes the core teachings of Eastern
Orthodoxy as false. Eastern Orthodoxy merely preserves the
tradition which men have developed within Orthodoxy, and not
those things which God has explicitly revealed in His Word.
Eastern Or-thodoxy in its sacramental system, its doctrine
of salvation, and its understanding of Scripture falls short
of God�s inerrant Word.
(131) Would
the
Devil Do This? by Herescope, 8/27/09 If I were the devil, I'd be real upset at churches. I'd
spend a lot of time and effort trying to destroy them. My
major efforts haven't yet worked, so I'd go to work on pesky
things that can be cultivated to destroy a church from
within itself.
(132) Do
You
Fear God? by Herescope, 9/9/09 For several decades our society has brazenly displayed the
slogan on T shirts to auto windows, "NO FEAR." David, in
Psalm 36:1, makes it clear that this generation of sinners
is not unique in their folly. "The transgression of the
wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God
before his eyes." Perhaps this generation is even more
brazen, for they have not only "said in their hearts," they
have blazoned it in bold advertisement!
(133) Meditating
Upon
AA by John Lanagan, Herescope, 9/17/09 AA's 11th Step states: Sought through prayer and meditation
to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood
Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the
power to carry that out. "Don't make a big deal about AA's
'prayer and meditation,'" writes pro-AA author Dick B. ...
"It is nothing more than praying and studying or 'pondering'
what you are reading." This is simply not so. As discussed
in 'Alcoholics Anonymous and Contemplative Spirituality,'
advocates of contemplative spirituality are using AA and
other 12 Step groups as a launching pad for their meditative
practices. Nor is AA's contemplative potential a new thing.
As a treatment website notes, "AA and 12 Step Fellowship
have known for years that spirituality or some form of
contemplative meditation is an important part of treatment."
(134) Oprah
Winfrey
Promotes Pantheist Eckhart Tolle - How Biblically
Illiterate America is Being Deceived by Bob
DeWaay, 11/09 What sort of god needs to read a book or go to a seminar to
discover his own identity? According to Oprah Winfrey and
Eckhart Tolle, millions of such deities find it necessary to
act on that need to awaken to their own godhood. These are
human beings who lack a sense of consciousness of their
divinity, and Oprah and Tolle have set out to remedy that
situation.
(135) Break
Forth
Update: Will Christian Leaders Cause More Confusion Than
Good? by Lighthouse Trails, 11/16/09 If your head is spinning, trying to keep up with the latest
happenings of the leaders of the evangelical Christian
church, it�s no wonder. For many, it�s becoming increasingly
difficult to see clearly through the muddy waters of
organized Christianity. More and more leaders, who have been
considered orthodox and traditional, are ending up on
speaking platforms with those from the
emerging/contemplative/New Spirituality arena.
(136) Christ
and Allah by Larry DeBruyn, Guarding the Flock
Ministries, 11/30/09 In contrast to orthodox Christians, no Muslim would ever
confess "Jesus is Lord" (1 Corinthians 12:3) and worship Him
(John 20:28). Therefore Muslims, as well as Jews, do not
worship the same God as Christians. We worship the Lord
Jesus Christ (Phillippians 2:9-11).
(137) A
Permissible Deception by Mike Oppenheimer,
1/27/10 It is 2010, what is the church like today and what to be
aware of in the future. What the church has allowed has
brought us to the state we are in.
(138) Are you
a new ager? by Mike Oppenheimer, 1/27/10
Questions to personally ask oneself about their spiritual
state.
(139) Replacement
Theology by David Hocking, Hope For Today,
2/21/07 Replacement Theology is the belief that the Church of today
has replaced Israel in God�s prophetic program. It teaches
that God judged the Nation of Israel for their sin and
disobedience in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Second
Temple (Herod�s restoration project) in 70 AD, and that
Israel has forfeited the right to God�s �everlasting
covenant�!
(140) Approximately
100
Million American Church Members Have Very Little to No
Understanding of Bible Prophecy by Bill Koenig,
World Watch Daily, 3/27/10
Today there are approximately 100 million American church
members who have very little to no understanding of Bible
prophecy. These church members are from replacement theology
churches that don't teach Bible prophecy and who look at
prophetic scriptures as allegorical and not literal.
Consequently, they do not understand the importance of Israel
to the God of Israel or God's redemptive plan for Israel and
the nations.
(141) The
Victory
of the Cross by Berit Kjos, 4/7/10 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Fanny Crosby, who wrote
that joyful hymn, was truly blessed with an unwavering
confidence in God's loving grace! Born into a humble family
in 1820, she became totally blind through a medical error
six weeks later. But her overwhelming lifelong response was
gratefulness, not bitterness or complaints.
(143) Who's
Taking
Our Liberty? by Paul Proctor, April 21, 2010
For those who are just now waking up to the reality around
us, our precious liberty is under siege here in America.
But, will that loss of liberty be the end of he road? If
Almighty God, the giver of liberty, permits it to be taken
it away, for whatever reason, how then can we or anyone else
take it back? �But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it;
lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.� � Acts
5:39 Since we know persecution is coming and may not
be avoidable, what should Christians do to prepare? Is there
a divine purpose behind oppression � that what men intend
for evil, God might intend for good � and isn�t the cross on
which Jesus was crucified for our sin a perfect example of
this?
(144) Balaam
by Bill Randles, 4/28/10
Perhaps the most misunderstood story in the Bible is that of
Balaam, the pagan prophet. When it is told, it is usually
related as a morality story, merely a caution against greed in
ministry. The love of money indeed is part of the story
- as well as the danger of false prophets and corrupt
ministers. But lately I have come to realize that there is an
eschatological dimension to this story that too often is
unappreciated. It is amazing how current and relevant the
story of Balaam really is to today�s geo-political situation.
Read Part
1, Part
2, Part
3, Part
4 & Part
5.
(145) The
Situation
Is Grave - Are You? by Paul Proctor,
NewsWithViews, May 8, 2010 My hope is that when crisis comes to America and to the
world, which I believe is very near, Christians will once
again embrace the duty and disposition we were called to and
forego the foolishness and frivolity that has kept us from
our spiritual rescue mission � recognizing with grave
concern the urgency of the hour.
(147) Dr.
John
Piper and Unanswered Questions by Ken Silva,
6/17/10 Apprising Ministries now brings you a follow up to
Questions Concerning Dr. John Piper where I told you that
when Dr. Piper made the ill-advised decision to invite
Leadership Network�s propped-up Purpose Driven Pope Rick
Warren to DG 2010 as a keynote speaker it set off a rippling
effect where people, and not merely discernment ministries,
have started to look a little closer at his theology,
educational background, and associations; e.g. his
charismatic bent, Fuller Theological Seminary, and the late
Ralph Winter.
(148) Already
Gone by Ken Ham, 9/6/10 In this
powerful
book and DVD
popular author Ken Ham and consumer behavior
research/analyst C. Britt Beemer combine to reveal trends
that must be dealt with now . . . before we lose another
generation! The trends are frightening, but Already Gone
shows how to win back our families, our churches, and our
world!
(149) Knowing
and Loving God by The Berean Call, 10/1/10 The new theology denies us this path of victory. Its joy is
selfish. To obey the first and great commandment is
necessarily to deny self as Christ commanded (Mt 16:24). Nor
can one deny self and at the same time love, esteem, and
value self. Seeing God's love as a response to my
significance and worth salvages just enough value for self
to deny God's truth. Let us forget ourselves, our needs and
hurts, and seek to know and love God (Father, Son and Holy
Spirit) because of who He is and His love and grace to us.
His love will then flow through us to others, whom we will
then esteem better than ourselves (Phil 2:3). Such is the
path to true joy (Heb 12:2).
(150) Is
Your
Denomination A Sinking Titanic? by �Nathan�,
10/1/10
Now, think for a moment. Could a Christian denomination go the
way of the Titanic? Could the process of sinking be avoided?
Is it possible that the captain could foresee the inevitable
but do nothing to prevent it? Over the years of history, many
denominations and movements that were once sailing �smoothly�
went down just like the Titanic. Apparently, given time, this
is what happens, and it just cannot be avoided. Why is this
so? The answer is simple. Christians are humans and human
behavior can be predicted.
(151) Are
You
A Contender Or A Pretender? by Paul Proctor,
October 1, 2010 But, here in the increasingly �tolerant� western world,
churches are, for the most part, being destroyed from
within, leaving a different kind of casualty for Christians
to grieve over. It is truly a sad thing to see and an all
too common sight � one this writer has not only commented on
numerous times, but also witnessed firsthand.
(152) Occult Invasion into the Churches
Date: October 01, 2010
Host: Vic Eliason, Crosstalk America
Guest: Dave Benoit
Listen: RealAudio
| Windows
Media|MP3
| Order
Tape
or CD Dave Benoit has served over 30 years as an evangelist. He
will be the featured speaker at a VCY America rally October
2 at 7pm at the Waukesha, Wisconsin Exposition Center. The
title of his presentation is, "Disarming the Powers of
Darkness Part 2: The Spirit Gate". Dave�s main message on
this Crosstalk broadcast was that the church is in a state
of slumber; sleeping while the �ship� is sinking as was the
case with Jonah. In the meantime our nation is going through
a wholesale embracing of false doctrine. From werewolves to
Islam to the lies perpetrated in the media, there is a
spirit behind all false doctrine. Dave covers these problems
and more as he exposes the spirit of the occult invading the
church and society.
Updated! (152) Dancing
With
the Stars - �The Vibrant Dance of Faith and Science,� A
Cosmic Two-Step by Pastor Larry DeBruyn and Sarah
Leslie, 11/10/10 - Read Part
1 & Part
2
Billed as �How Science Supports Christianity and Christianity
Supports Science,� on October 26-28, in Austin, Texas,
Christianity Today co-sponsored a symposium called �The
Vibrant Dance of Faith and Science: Empowering the Church to
Transform the Culture.�[2] This gathering of evangelical
luminaries underscores the concerns addressed in the previous
6-part series on Herescope, �FROM
COSMOS,
TO CHAOS, TO CONSCIOUSNESS.�
(153) The
Second
Great Evangelical Meltdown by Richard Nathan,
M.A., Inheritance of the Saints, October 10, 2010 This article is the first in a series about ongoing sea
changes in Evangelicalism today. The series will utilize
Scripture and church history in an attempt to clarify those
issues that are tending to weaken, break down, and misdirect
Evangelicalism. Even though the effects are obvious, the
forces behind these changes are not. Read Part
1 & Part
2.
(154) Christ
& Christmas by Dave Hunt, The Berean Call,
December 1989 This twenty-year old message from Dave has not lost any of
its relevance for the church today. There is still much
confusion about the mission of Jesus and the kingdom of God.
Many diverse movements that profess to be Christian and
biblical are coming together in an attempt to help establish
Christ's physical kingdom on earth prior to His
return. Since the time that Dave first penned this
article, the "kingdom here and now" proponents seem to be
increasing in their influence exponentially, as we have been
pointing out in our series "The Temporal Delusion." Part III
is scheduled for January 2011. Although Dave has, for the
most part, retired from ministry, we are thankful to be able
to mine the treasury of what he has written over the years
and present his material to our readers on an ongoing basis.
The Lord has graciously given him tremendous insights as a
watchman regarding trends and issues that continue to
adversely affect the church today and in the days to come.
(156) The
Incarnation:
The lowly path of our heavenly King by Crossroad,
12/18/10 Following Him, we have nothing of lasting significance to
lose, and we have everything to gain! Walking with Jesus in
His lowly path -- never ceasing to demonstrate His love, yet
never compromising His truths to win approval -- we enjoy a
peace and joy that far surpasses all earthly thrills. Our
lives will be full of challenges, but He has promised to
provide all the resources we need. �My grace is sufficient
for you," he assures us, "for My strength is made perfect in
weakness.� Hopefully, you and I will echo Paul's heartfelt
response: "Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ�s sake.
For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
(157) Warning:
Energy
�Healing� and Reiki May Be Offered to You at Your Hospital
by Lighthouse Trails Editors, 12/20/10 Rand says that the general public is �turning with
ever-increasing interest to complementary health care,
including Reiki,� and according to one study, one in every
three Americans has used this type of �care.� Another survey
showed that �1.2 million adults and 161,000 children
in the U.S. received one or more energy healing sessions
such as Reiki.�
(159) Earthquakes &
Destruction: The Wake-Up Call
by Paw Creek Ministries, 1/17/11 Eight thousand turtle doves fall out of the sky in Italy.
Two million fish die on the beaches of the Chesapeake Bay.
One hundred thousand fish die in the Arkansas River. Forty
thousand velvet swimming crabs dead on England�s beaches.
Hundred of tons of fish dead and dying on the shores of
Brazil. Flocks of birds falling out of the sky in Wilson
County, Tennessee.
(160) Good Church Choices
by Sandy Simpson, 2003 This page is some recommendations on how to find a good
church. What you need to find is a church that not
only has orthodox doctrinal statements but teaches, both
explicitly and implicitly, in line with the core doctrines
of the Faith. These are Bible-believing
Christ-centered churches that are balanced in their
theology. Be sure to test all churches before you
become involved. Here are some tips for finding a good
church.
(161) Deception
in
Disguise by Heidi Swander, February 24, 2011
"Mormon leaders call their empire the 'Kingdom of
God.' However, their 'God' is an extraterrestrial from
[the planet] Kolob, definitely not the God of the Bible; and
the 'Zion' to which their spirit-brother-of-Lucifer Jesus
Christ will return to reign, is Independence, My kingdom
comeMissouri." So writes author and former Mormon Ed Decker
in his book My Kingdom Come.
(162) Surprising
List
of Speakers at �Rediscovering God in America� Conference
Draws Strong Concerns by Roger Oakland, Understand
the Times International, 3/26/11 Are you familiar with these names: David Barton, Newt
Gingrich, George Barna, Mike Huckabee? Do you know what
Barna Group is? Do you know who David Barton is? What about
Newt Gingrich? Do you know what role these names are
playing? WHAT IS GOING ON? Looking at the list of speakers
for the Rediscovering God in America reminds me of a book I
once read called Who�s Who and What�s What?. Check out Barna
and Barton and see for yourself their backgrounds and the
things they are doing, then check out the Jesuit plan to
establish the kingdom.
Georgetown Times: David Wilkerson � founder of Teen
Challenge which has its South Carolina headquarters in
Georgetown County � has passed away. Wilkerson founded Times
Square Church in New York City and was the focus of the book
and movie The Cross and the Switchblade. Wilkerson founded
Teen Challenge in 1960. The goal of Teen Challenge is to
help troubled youth and adults, particularly those with
life-controlling problems due to drugs or alcohol. Over five
decades, the Christ-centered Teen Challenge program has
consistently shown one of the world�s highest success rates,
according to the organization�s website.
Some new evidence has become available recently in what
appears to be a "changing of information" coming from David
Barton
(165) The
Queering
of America's Churches by Devvy Kidd, News With
Views, 6/14/11 Shame on the churches in this country who condone that
which God has called an abomination. God's laws and what he
commands us to do in our lives isn't a fad. God's laws and
what he commands us to do has not changed over the
millenniums, only people have by cultural influences. It's
easier to embrace sin than to live as our Creator has
commanded. For decades, the created have mocked God by
willfully accepting a bastardized version of His word all in
the name of political correctness and tolerance......
(167) Offensive
Music
in the Church, Host: Vic Eliason, VCY America,
7/20/11 Many people appreciate the preaching of their pastor but
are put-off by the music. Are you tired of standing
for long periods while the worship leader has you singing
the same chorus over and over and over again? Do you
arrive late just so you don�t have to endure the pounding
beat of what some churches call, �worship�? If the
music of your church isn�t in harmony with the preaching,
Vic understands. That�s why he opened the phone lines
to allow listeners to call and share their experiences to
see how Christians around the nation are reacting to this
phenomenon.
(168) From
Oprah to Oz--And Beyond by T. A. McMahon,
8/1/11 If you were asked to name America's most influential
spiritual advisor for the past 25 years, what would your
response be? Billy Graham? Robert Schuller? Perhaps Rick
Warren or Joel Osteen? It may surprise you to learn that
none of these men have been as successful numbers-wise as
Oprah Winfrey! Her programs drew a daily audience as high as
12.4 million and averaged 7.4 million in 2007, diminishing
only slightly when she touted Obama during the 2008 election
year. Her closing program had its highest-ever rating, with
16.4 million viewers.
(169) Glenn
Beck's
"pure personal truth" by Marsha West, Worldview
Weekend, 9/15/11 Here Glenn Beck goes again, claiming he's a Christian, this
time at Restoring Courage 2011 - Jerusalem. Glenn gets
upset when anyone questions his Christianity. That's
weird because he's a Mormon who affirms the official
teaching of Mormonism aka the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints (LDS). The LDS outright deny many of
the essential doctrines of the Christian faith.
Moreover, LDS doctrine contradicts what Scripture
teaches. So of course there are Christians who
feel Beck's not a true follower of Jesus Christ -- not the
Jesus of the Bible anyway. When his "I'm a Christian"
claim is held up to scrutiny Glenn gets his knickers in a
knot. At the rally he choked up with emotion and said
in an accusatory tone that only Christians question his
salvation. (ACT Note: Glenn Beck was on TBN last night,
so now people assume he is in line with the Bible. He is
not!) Read Part
1 & Part
2.
(170) A
�New� Dark Age � In Politics and in the Church by
Mike Oppenheimer, 10/15/11 Christians should be more aware than other people because
we have the Word; we are told what will take place in the
last days (1 Tim. 3:1), and we are instructed on how to
resist it. The majority of people have been dumbed-down and
made lazy by our culture. In this void, the government comes
to the rescue. The church has the same problem at work;
people rely on big church to come to the rescue when they
should be doing the work. This is because of our lack of
Bible knowledge and lack of being equipped to evangelize and
fulfill Jesus� commission.
(171) Another
Hijacker
of Evangelicalism by Jan Markell, October 18,
2011 Jim Wallis wants to re-define evangelicalism. I find that
scary and will explain why. Over the decades, it has become
more and more difficult to give evangelicalism a definition
as it has been morphing. But Wallis insists that he is much
more conservative than his friends who make up the
"religious Left" when, in reality, he is their fearless
leader. He is respected by the White House and even by many
evangelicals who lean Left on social issues. Do a Google
search on Wallis and you'll come up with 4,500,000 hits.
He's been a busy guy!
(172) God's
Plan for the Clueless: A personal testimony by
T.A. McMahon, The Berean Call, 11/1/11 When I speak to young Christian adults, whether they are in
the workplace or in college, a message that I hope
encourages them concerns God's willingness to guide their
lives if that is their desire. I use His involvement in my
own life throughout my 67 years as an example. The following
is an abridged version of God's gracious guidance, much of
it well before I came to know Him personally.
(173) Calvary
Chapel
Alert For Pastors and Church Leaders - Documenting the
Progession of Compromise and Ecumenical Relations
compiled by Spiritual Research Network, 11/4/11 The ministry of SRN has chosen to have this page remain on
this website due to the increasing Ecumenical relations that
a number of very well known Calvary Chapel pastors are
involved in, i.e. Rick Warren working together with
Greg Laurie (and Chuck Smith) at the Harvest Crusade; and
now Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William "Jerry" Boykin speaking at
numerous Calvary Chapel venues / churches.
(175) Repent,
While
There is Still Time by Rick Frueh, 1/19/12 I can no longer believe that many so called �evangelical�
churches are even Christian. Churches by the tens of
thousands, led by their pastors, have strayed so far from
the New Testament directive that they are no longer
Christian.
(176) Wisdom
Cries
out From a Sinking Ship by Pastor Bill Randles,
1/25/12 God's wisdom is always crying out to every generation,
whether it be through the Scriptures, the church, or Israel,
there is always a Divine witness to truth trying to get
people's attention as life pushes them on to their final
destination. I believe that one of the ways God's wisdom
cries out to this generation is in certain current events.
(177) Would
the
Son of God contradict the Father? by Marsha West,
February 10, 2012 Is it true that Jesus never mentioned anything about
homosexuality? That He never brought it up, even once? Most
of us have heard the line that in the Gospels there's no
record of Jesus condemning homosexuality. There are
individuals, especially from the militant homosexual rights
movement, who utter this fabrication with all the raw
hostility of liberals who think abortion is their God given
right.
(178) Oprah
Continues
Forward With Her New Age Gurus by Warren Smith,
Lighthouse Trails, 2/18/12 LTRP Note: This month, New Ager Gary Zukav announced that
Oprah would be joining him in a Super Soul Sunday (on
2/12/12) as part of his Awakening to Spiritual Partnership
Course. Oprah has been a fan of Gary Zukav�s for many years.
In fact, it was she who propelled Zukav into prominence
after his first appearance on the Oprah show in 1998,
after which his book on spirit guides, The Seat of the Soul,
soared to the top of the New York Times Best Seller list. As
Ray Yungen points out, �The book�s basic message is,
�Dwell in the company of your nonphysical Teachers and
guides [spirit guides]� (p. 39). Some have wondered what
direction Oprah would go now that her daytime television
show has ended. It is clear that she will be including the
New Age/New Spirituality in her future (as she has in her
past) and in the future of her millions of followers. Below
we are reposting Warren Smith�s article on Oprah and New
Ager Eckhart Tolle, another New Age guru who is embraced by
Oprah Winfrey.
(179) Got
meat? by Marsha West, 2/20/12 Christians must come to understand that God made them and
He owns them. The parameters He has set for His people to
live by are for their ultimate good. God makes no bones
about sorcery. It's a health hazard!
(180) Crying
for
Our Country and the Church by Ted Kyle,
3/23/12 The question remains: How much do we, as God�s children,
care? Does the already deplorable and rapidly worsening
spiritual condition of our country grieve us? The answer may
tell us much about our own spiritual condition!
(181) The
Root
of the Righteous by A.W. Tozer, The Root Of The
Righteous, Chapter 1, 6/3/12 One marked difference between the faith of our fathers as
conceived by the fathers and the same faith as understood
and lived by their children is that the fathers were
concerned with the root of the matter, while their
present-day descendants seem concerned only with the fruit.
... �The root of the righteous yieldeth fruit,� said the
wise man in the Proverbs. ...
(182) Coming
Soon:
The Tribulation Temple by Heidi Swander,
6/6/12 "Anyone interested in end-time events has his eyes on the
temple project." This statement stood out to me as I read a
chapter in the updated-and-expanded edition of Tim LaHaye
and Jerry Jenkins' classic book, Are We Living in the End
Times? I remember reading the first edition of this
book years ago and thinking what a riveting and easy-to-read
commentary it was on prophecy and current events. And now
it's been updated to address all that has transpired since
9/11!
(183) Survey
Reveals
Increase in Number of 'Worldly Christians' at
Understanding The Times, 6/9/12 An online quiz started a year ago that examines how
consistently Christians are living out the teachings of
Jesus Christ has found an increase in the number of
believers who are "Christians in name only."
(184) Hazards
Of
The Occult And New Spirituality at Spiritual
Research Ministries, 8/6/12 Readers should be aware that the New Age Movement,
Wicca/Witchcraft, Magick, etc., is steeped in occult
influences. Many of the articles within the New Age and
Occult categories contain information about or descriptions
of occult practices and a Biblical perspective on it. Our
purpose in giving this information is not to endorse occult
practises but to alert you to the physical and spiritual
dangers that one faces when practising what God clearly
forbids. Our desire is to help you recognize and avoid these
practices so that you do not incur the hazards that many
have succumbed to.. Please be aware that for those of you
who are especially sensitive readers, particularly those who
have had previous occult contact, you may find this material
disturbing.
(185) Babylonianism
at
the Gates - Christians and the Encircling World of the
Occult by Pastor Larry DeBruyn, 8/24/12 So, to which group do we belong? Motyer notes that in
Isaiah there exists �a distinction between the secularized,
politicized professing people of God and those, within that
people, who turn to him in repentance and faith, who look to
his word and obey it.� Are we part of a minority who serve
as �signs and wonders,� or are we numbered amongst those who
do not fear the Lord?
(186) How
to
Recognise a Good Church by Mike Lloyd, Truth Watch
NZ, 8/27/12 Within the Christian community there is a wide divergence
of opinion, division, and even fierce competition among the
different groups. Subsequently, many believers are confused
about which church is the right one to belong to and which
church being closest to the truth is therefore worthy of
their support. Many today who are looking for a church home
have the wrong priorities. Some are drawn to a church by the
size and appearance of its buildings. Others are attracted
by an outstanding musical programme or by the personality,
appearance and oratory skills of the pastor. Some look for a
church with an order of service that appeals to their
particular liking. Others are simply denominationally loyal
or have friends that attend a particular church. It is
vitally important for believers to know exactly what to look
for in a church. It is dangerous to simply rely on feelings
and to make a hasty subjective decision based on personal
preferences of style and physical appearance, as so many do
today. A clear and objective decision, based on Scripture,
is the only successful way to assess the church fellowship a
person intends making a whole-hearted commitment to.
(187) The
Zohar
& Kabbalistic Mysticism by Berit Kjos,
8/27/12 Below are notes and quotes, not an article. The information
they contain provides valuable insights into Jonathan Cahn's
mysterious theology. They may also help to explain some of
the puzzles in his popular book, The Harbinger, with its
guru-like �prophet�, so-called mysteries, and bewildering
misapplication of Scripture. On the video in the box below,
Cahn quotes from the Zohar [the mystical rabbinical writings
behind the Kabbala] and presents his view of Golgatha
[Gulgalta]. Notice in that partial transcript that the "god"
who is credited with salvation, redemption, spiritual light
and life is merely a place or object -- a skull or Gulgalta
-- not Jesus Christ our Lord! Apparently, the rabbis behind
the Zohar have borrowed from the actual Bible but twisted
God's Word into their own esoteric message.
(188) The
Loneliness
of the Christian by A. W. Tozer From Man - The
Dwelling Place of God, Chapter 39: "The Saint Must Walk
Alone", 9/9/12 The loneliness of the Christian results from his walk with
God in an ungodly world, a walk that must often take him
away from the fellowship of good Christians as well as from
that of the unregenerate world. His God-given instincts cry
out for companionship with others of his kind, others who
can understand his longings, his aspirations, his absorption
in the love of Christ; and because within his circle of
friends there are so few who share his inner experiences he
is forced to walk alone.
(189) Cult
Alert:
The Christian Family Fellowship by The Berean
Call, 10/1/12 The Christian Family Fellowship is another non-Christian
cult spreading in the already cult-saturated landscape of
America. Unfortunately, the group is growing with
fellowships in other states. I do not know how large the
membership is but it appears to be in the thousands. This
group appears to be an offshoot of The Way International, a
decidedly non-Christian cult since it denies the deity of
Jesus. The Christian Family Fellowship Ministry describes
itself as a "studying, teaching, and fellowship ministry."
It says, "Our purpose is to study and search the scriptures
to understand their accuracy regarding Jesus Christ, who is
'the way, the truth, and the life.'" This sounds good on the
surface. But, when you dig into the site, you discover some
serious problems. The Christian Family Fellowship denies the
doctrine of the Trinity. On their website is an
article written by a Rev. Jeff Rath (August 1998) titled,
"The Historical background of the Trinity." In it Rev. Rath
states, "The trinity originated with Babylon." He then goes
on to attack the doctrine as an unbiblical teaching. He also
states that "This polytheistic (believing in more than one
god) trinitarianism was intertwined with Greek religion and
philosophy." This is a misrepresentation of the Trinity
doctrine which is decidedly not polytheistic. It is
monotheistic.
(190) Sacred
Cows
and Stars - The Cult of Evangelical Leadership
by Herescope, 10/4/12 Sacred Leaders are a temperamental puffed up lot, you know.
They require faint-hearted Sheeple to think more highly of
them, preferring them. They believe that the humble should
not be exalted, especially if it threatens their own
popularity. And any sheep with discernment should be treated
as �offscouring.� They invoke one spirit, but believe only
the Elite have many gifts. �Let all men glory in Leaders� is
their slogan, contrary to I Cor. 3:21. Puffed-up Priests,
all of them. And the sad fact is, despite all of this, the
sheep continue their faddish worship of these Sacred Cows
and Stars.
(191) Self-Elevated
Little
Popes by A.W. Pink, 10/8/12 Biographer Iain Murray has said of evangelist and scholar
A.W. Pink that �the widespread circulation of his writings
after his death made him one of the most influential
evangelical authors in the second half of the twentieth
century.� The teachings of Pink led to an increase in
expository preaching and appeals for holy living for those
who have been saved by Christ. In an article entitled,
�Private Judgment,� Pink warns against those ministers of
the gospel who would seek to usurp the authority of Christ,
imposing upon their congregations their own dictates rather
than, or in addition to, the commands of Scripture.
(192) Examining
Freemasonry:
The Question of Religion by Carl Teichrib,
Crossroad, 10/11/12 In the midst of today's spreading war against genuine
Christianity, we must stand firm in faith, ready to share
God's true Word with all who will hear!
(193) Billy
Graham
Offers Help To Mormon Mitt Romney Then Removes Section
From Website Calling Mormonism A Cult! by
SoulRefuge, 10/13/12 The Washington Post reported that Evangelist Billy Graham
offered his help to Mormon Republican Presidential candidate
Mitt Romney. Here is an excerpt from that article from the
�On Faith� section: Billy Graham offered to �do all I can to
help� GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney in a Thursday
(Oct. 11) meeting at the evangelist�s North Carolina home.
Romney campaign spokesman Rick Gorka told reporters after
the visit that Graham told Romney: �I�ll do all I can to
help you. And you can quote me on that.� By Adelle M. Banks|
Religion News Service, Published: October. Another article
from a website entitled �The New Civil Rights
Movement� revealed that the Billy Graham website �scrubbed�
a statement which labeled Mormonism as a cult, shortly after
the meeting between Billy Graham and Mitt Romney. Evangelist
Franklin Graham, the son of Billy Graham, was also present
at that same meeting. Franklin Graham is the President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Billy Graham Evangelistic
Association.
Updated! (194) The
Cult
of Evangelical Leadership by Herescope,
10/17/12 Sacred Leaders are a temperamental puffed up lot, you know.
They require faint-hearted Sheeple to think more highly of
them, preferring them. They believe that the humble should
not be exalted, especially if it threatens their own
popularity. And any sheep with discernment should be treated
as �offscouring.� They invoke one spirit, but believe only
the Elite have many gifts. �Let all men glory in Leaders� is
their slogan, contrary to I Cor. 3:21. Puffed-up Priests,
all of them. And the sad fact is, despite all of this, the
sheep continue their faddish worship of these Sacred Cows
and Stars. Read Part
1, Part
2, Part
3 & Part
4.
(195) Preparing
For
Perilous Times and Finding God�s Peace in the Midst of
Them by David Dombrowski, 10/17/12 Over the last ten years since Lighthouse Trails began, we
have been contacted by many who love the Lord and were
struggling with great challenges: Some were ostracized by
their churches, which had gone Purpose Driven,
contemplative, or emerging; some had division in their
families; some had financial concerns; and others were
worried about health issues � whether their own or that of
loved ones. Beyond all of this, many have expressed a sense
of uncertainty or foreboding of what the future will bring:
The Bible indicates that in the last days perilous times
shall come.
(196) Deceptions
of
the Occult by Carl Teichrib, Crossroads,
10/23/12 Yes, the physical world is a marvelous wonder, filled with
many transfixing and puzzling surprises. It still baffles
man by its beauty and complexity. So too the non-physical
universe, including mental and spiritual components, is a
place of fascination. However, when dabbling and dealing
with the supernatural � and the mind sciences that sometimes
attempt to explain or exploit it�a mental, emotional, and
spiritual minefield is encountered. And just as wandering
into a physical minefield will destroy the body, so too will
a spiritual minefield destroy the soul.
(197) The
�gods�
of Babylon by Pastor Larry DeBruyn, Guarding His
Flock Ministries, 10/25/12 Enter old-age Babylonism. Yahweh addresses them: �Now,
then, hear this, you sensual one, / Who dwells securely, /
Who says in your heart, �I am, and there is no one besides
me� � (Emphasis mine, Isaiah 47:8). And again, �Your wisdom
and your knowledge, they have deluded you; / For you have
said in your heart, �I am, and there is no one besides me� �
(Isaiah 47:10b). Who is this sensual and deluded one who
dares to assume the divine name (i.e., �I am�) of Yahweh?
Why, it�s the Babylonians! About Isaiah�s address to the
Babylonians, one commentator observed, �There is even an
assumption of divine supremacy in these words, when compared
with the frequent use of the pronoun I, in the solemn
declarations of Jehovah . . .� [3] Another notes that
Babylon was, �frivolously deifying herself.� [4] Like
devotees to Eastern-pantheist-mystical religion, and the
Schucman-like spirituality being infused into the American
consciousness by Marianne Williamson and Oprah Winfrey, the
Babylonians thought they were gods. [5]
(198) The
Gods
Of Babylon by Larry DeBruyn, 10/29/12 Though contemporary Mormons now disavow his statement,
Lorenzo Snow (1814-1901), the fifth president of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, once said, �As man is,
God once was; as God is, man may become.� Pretending to be
within the pale of Christendom, some Word of Faith teachers
boldly tell their followers, �You are gods.�
(199) Franklin
Graham
"shocked" his site called Mormonism a cult by
Stand Up For The Truth, 11/16/12 I think I am just as shocked as Franklin Graham. So to be
clear, it is OK for him to call Jehovah�s Witnesses, the
Unification Church, Unitarians, Spiritists, and
Scientologists cult members, but Mormons? Nope. Either they
are just a different flavor of orthodox Christianity, or
they are somehow more deserving to be �won over to Christ�
than the other cult members. Or does it depend on whom runs
for the office of President of the United States?
(200) Thanksgiving
Articles
Links at Crossroad, 11/19/12 May our wonderful Lord fill our hearts with thanks to Him
this special day!
(202) Testing
the
Genuineness of our Faith by Pastor Charles Haddon
Spurgeon (1834-1892) Untested faith may be true faith, but it is sure to be
small faith, and it is likely to remain little as long as it
is without trials. Faith never prospers so well as when all
things are against her: Tempests are her trainers, and bolts
of lightning are her illuminators.
(203) The
"new
breed" of Christian fashion by Marsha West, Renew
America, 1/3/13 A couple of weeks ago, while I was surfing the net for
articles to include in the Email Brigade News Report, I came
across a piece entitled "Provocative Clothing Company
Creates Tees to Help Christian Girls be 'Playful' for
Jesus." For obvious reasons the headline grabbed my
attention. Featured in the article is a picture of an
attractive young woman in a sexy pose seated on a bed
wearing a tank top with the words "God knows my secrets."
(204) Texas:
Curriculum
Teaching Allah Is the "Almighty God" by The Berean
Call, 1/5/13 Texas: Curriculum Under Fire For Teaching �Allah Is The
Almighty God�, Calls Boston Tea Party �A Terrorist
Organization� [Excerpts] �In the 70 percent of Texas public
schools where a private curriculum has been installed,
students are learning the �fact� that �Allah is the Almighty
God,� charge critics of a new online curriculum that already
is facing condemnation for its secrecy and restrictions on
oversight.
(205) Generational
Sins
& Blaming the Past by Martin & Deidre
Bobgan, PsychoHeresy Awareness Ministries, 1/12/13 Psychological counseling theories and therapies encourage
individuals to look outside themselves to explain why they
do what they do and why they feel the way they do. This
blame game all started in the Garden of Eden and has
continued throughout the centuries. The blame game gained
status during the last century through Sigmund Freud and his
followers, who placed the main source of adult problems back
into one�s early childhood. The parents, especially the
mothers, were the culprits, and of course the parents were
simply passing along their own problems, which likewise had
their source in their parents, going back generation after
generation all the way back to Adam and Eve. Through Freud
the blame game was dressed in medical garb and has now risen
to great prominence in the present therapeutic culture of
our psychological society.
(206) When
Is
Yoga, Yoga? by Roger Oakland, 1/25/13 According to the American Civil Liberties Union, students
in public schools cannot be indoctrinated with any specific
religious belief. Education must be religiously neutral.
However, it can be documented that when children are being
introduced to yoga and witchcraft in public schools, parents
are told not be alarmed.
(207) Threatened
Lawsuit
by The Harbinger Publisher & Author by David
James, 1/31/13 We have received letters threatening legal action related
to the publication of my book The Harbinger: Fact or
Fiction? These letters were from a lawyer with a firm which
�serves as litigation counsel for Charisma Media, publisher
of The Harbinger by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn and published by
Charisma Media.�
(208) The
Emerging
Galactic Religion: Science Fiction and the Rise of
Technocratic Posthumanism by Dr. Martin Erdmann,
2/28/13 Medicine is no longer restricted to healing.
Biotechnology�s popular uses constitute a long list, among
them weight loss, hair growth, birth control, teeth
straightening, and sex selection of children.[1]
Transhumanism takes human enhancement further, in morphing
the vision of perfect man into a human-machine complex
properly called �posthuman�. This is an effort to break
every human limitation and redefine personhood.
(209) Noted
Apologist
Calls Out Evangelical Leaders Who 'Undermine the Word of
God' by Russ Jones, Christian Press, 3/9/13
A noted biblical apologist and expert on creationism is
calling out several of his colleagues. An audience of some
300 people at the recent National Religious Broadcasters
(NRB) convention in Nashville were shocked to learn of the
number of evangelical leaders who don�t believe in a literal
6 days of creation narrative.
(210) Starbuck�s
CEO
telling Christians to take a hike (Video) at Focal
Point, 3/25/13 At the annual shareholder's meeting on Wednesday, Starbucks
CEO, Howard Shultz, told Christians, and all who believe
that marriage is the union of one man and one woman for
life, "we don't want your business".
(213) In
Loving
Memory: Dave Hunt 1926-2013 by The Berean Call,
4/5/13 Dave has left us a legacy of inestimable value. We are
blessed to be able to see and hear and read what he has
taught about the evidence for God in a breathtaking number
of materials. From explaining about the history of
Christianity, to exposing the deception that has crept into
the church, to teaching about the prophecies that are being
fulfilled even today, this humble, brilliant man will go on
teaching us for a very long time. We look forward to the day
when we will see him again.
(214) In
Memory of Dave Hunt by Mike Oppenheimer,
4/8/13 The time goes by so quickly and what we do for the Lord
will last into eternity, nothing else. To me the real heroes
of the faith are those who risk their reputation, ignoring
what others may think of them to rescue those caught in
spiritual bondage that can cause death. To help one escape
from the clutches of the enemy of our soul takes
confrontation and being readily equipped to answer the
objections. For this we will be eternally grateful. We are
just one of the many lives Dave had touched by his
faithfulness to the truth. We will remember Dave as being an
exemplary example in this.
(215) Be
Watchful! by Pastor Charles Haddon Spurgeon
(1834-1892) Note: We, too, may be "hard-pressed" in the years ahead.
The world is changing fast, and Christianity is increasingly
mocked, banned, and despised. History reminds us that
persecution comes and goes; and now, after a long season of
peace and freedom, we may again face hatred and
cruelty. But those who belong to Jesus have a place of
peace and refuge. He is our hiding place, our strength
and our joy. How blessed we are to belong to Him at
such a time as now!
(217) Calvary
Chapel
Pastors Respond to Our Lonnie Frisbee Commentary
by Roger Oakland, 4/18/13 We are grieved by the number of people who still will not
think for themselves. For those who want to know the truth,
please watch and listen to witnesses who were there during
the days of Lonnie Frisbee and to Lonnie himself when he
talks about who he was and what he believed. Read
the original commentary on Frisbee called "Another
spirit
or the Holy Spirit?".
(218) UPDATED! Islamic
Teachings That Prove Their Religion Is False
compiled by Sandy Simpson, 4/1/08 This article presents documented
proof that Mohammed was a false teacher and a false
prophet ... thus the Qur'an and other Islamic holy
writings by Mohammed and his followers are based are
false. More evidence that the "god" Allah they
worship is a false god. Their false religion is
based on a false prophet, false scriptures and a false
god. This update includes pictures in the
article. Stay tuned for this article to be released on
DVD.
(219) The
10
Things You Need to Know About Islam by Ron
Rhodes, 2013 One out of every five persons on the
earth is a Muslim. In the past 16 years, the number of
Muslim mosques in the United States has mushroomed from 30
to over 3,000. An Islamic leader recently inaugurated a
session of the United States Senate, praying in the name
of Allah. Chances are that if you don't currently have
Muslim friends, you soon will. To understand and
communicate with them, you need to know... Are all Muslims
the same? Do Muslims and Christians worship the same God?
Was Muhammad really a prophet of God? Do the Quran and the
Christian Bible agree? What are the major doctrines of
Islam? What are the five major obligations of Muslims? How
is the basis of salvation in Muslim theology? Has the
Bible been corrupted, as Muslims claim? Was Jesus a mere
prophet, as Muslims claim? What do Muslims say about
Judgment, heaven, and hell? What are the best strategies
for dialoguing with Muslims? This concise,
easy-to-understand guide answers these questions and
others, and also provides a powerful Christian apologetic
response. This book is engineered to guide Christians
through the most important information with clear
explanations and solid biblical reasoning. This is a
must�have resource for individuals and churches trying to
discern today�s news stories.
(220) Worldview
and
Islam at The Berean Call, 5/2/13 Today, there are cross-cultural
church planters who are making catastrophic mistakes in
accommodating Islamic theology and practices in their
fledgling congregations. They are intentionally
incorporating Islamic practices that they do not
understand. Instead of allowing the converts to move away
from Islam, they are encouraging them to stay within the
socio-religious community and continue to participate in
the practices, which are formational for Islamic theology
and worldview. While it is hoped that these converts will
continue to grow in Christian nurture and practice, it is
difficult to conceive how this will happen as long as they
are being directed back into Islam rather than out of it.
(221) Calvary
Chapel
Breached by Jim Fletcher, Prophecy Matters,
5/8/13 This week, Sami Awad, a Palestinian
Christian from Bethlehem (and director of the Holy Land
Trust), announced on Facebook that he will be speaking at
several churches on the West Coast this month. The May
10th date caught my eye and leaves me dismayed: May 10 San
Diego, CA. North Coast Calvary Church. 7-9 p.m.
(222) North
Coast
Calvary Chapel Breached Indeed! - What Will The North
Coast Calvary Chapel Leaders Do? by Chris
Lawson, 5/11/13 The current issue at North Coast
Calvary Chapel (NCCC) in Carlsbad, California is rather
bleak to say the least. The fact that yet another article
had to be written exposing Calvary Chapel compromise goes
to show that there is no slowing down of ecumenical
compromise within the Calvary Chapel movement. There is
plenty of documentation available on the Internet exposing
years of Calvary Chapel compromise. Christian apologetics
ministries have sought to address these things for a long
time now, but shouldn't it be Calvary Chapel pastors
keeping each other accountable? Of course it should be!
(223) Peter
Enns
Continues to Promote Heresy by Ken Ham, 5/16/13
Many of you may be familiar with
Peter Enns, who is a former fellow with BioLogos, an
organization dedicated to promoting a form of theistic
evolution (or �evolutionary creation� as they call it). We
both spoke at the same homeschool convention a few years
ago. During my talk, I showed a few video clips of him,
demonstrating in his own words that he doesn�t believe in
a literal Adam or Eve or in a literal Fall. After we were
told by conference organizers that I could critique Enns�s
beliefs during the conference, we had informed them that
we were considering it, and we were cleared to do so.
Well, I was dropped from the next homeschool convention
and Peter Enns was retained.
(224) Calvary
Chapel
Founder Chuck Smith Denounces North Coast Calvary Chapel
Invitation of Palestinian Activist by Lighthouse
Trails, 5/17/13 In a dramatic showdown last week
within the Calvary Chapel movement, the leadership of the
California-based association of churches rebuked an event
held at North Coast Calvary Chapel that featured a
presentation by Palestinian activists. Called �Hope for
the Holy Land,� the seminar program aims to present the
Palestinian narrative to church audiences. Observers are
saying that what made the North Coast event such a
flashpoint was the fact that since its inception, Calvary
Chapel has been staunchly pro Israel.
(225) Shhh...
It's
a Secret God Told Me to Tell You! by Pastor
Danny Isom, 5/19/13 The secret things belong to the Lord
our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our
sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this
law. \(Deut. 29:29) As the Preacher has already told us,
�There is nothing new under the sun.� (Ecc. 1:9) So why
should we be surprised that yet another person has been
the exclusive recipient of yet another �secret� from God
and, for the first time in the history of the world, is
making it known to us? For some reason, instead of writing
it down in one of the original languages of the Bible and
making it freely available to all like the original
Prophets of old, this time around God chose to have it
printed in English and sold for $16.99 ($9.00 on the
Kindle). For a fee, the �prophet� will come and speak
about it. False teaching disguised as �revelation� like
Jonathan Cahn�s The Harbinger have been around since
handwriting was invented and such will, no doubt, persist
until the Lord returns. Please do not buy it or even
bother reading a friend�s copy; why should you take away
time from your personal meditation in Scripture, the only
true source of revelation?
(226) Muslim
Cleric
Invited to Pray over Fallen SEALs Damns Them to Hell
During Service at The Berean Call, 5/20/13
TBC: The Muslim cleric's remarks
during the memorial service were in Arabic. The families
of the dead men obtained a translation of the cleric's
remarks.] This is what the imam was quoting: "Not equal
are the companions of the Fire and the companions of
Paradise. The companions of Paradise - they are the
attainers [of success]. If We had sent down this Qur'an
upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming
apart from fear of Allah. And these examples We present to
the people that perhaps they will give thought." -- Qur'an
59:20-21
(227) 20
Completely
Ridiculous College Courses Being Offered At U.S.
Universities by Michael Snyder, June 5th, 2013
Would you like to know what America's
young people are actually learning while they are away at
college? It isn't pretty. Yes, there are some
very highly technical fields where students are being
taught some very important skills, but for the most part
U.S. college students are learning very little that they
will actually use out in the real world when they
graduate. Some of the college courses listed below
are funny, others are truly bizarre, others are just plain
outrageous, but all of them are a waste of money.
(228) The
Rise
of Endtime Occultism by Herescope, 6/13/13
Many evangelicals now believe that
God sent Noah�s Flood to stop the Nephilim corruption of
human DNA. From the plain truth of Scripture it is very
evident that the �wickedness of man� was very great on the
face of the earth before the Flood ... ReadPart
1, Part
2, Part
3 & Part
4.
(229) England's
"Christianity-centered"
Pagan Church by The Berean Call, 6/26/13
The mother church of the worldwide
Anglican Communion is seeking to create new forms of
Anglicanism with which people of alternative beliefs
should feel comfortable, according to The Telegraph.
(231) Exposing
Christian
Palestinianism - DVD by Caryl Productions,
7/11/13 A biblical perspective on the
relationship between Israel, the church, and the Arab
world. Some 2500 years ago, the Hebrew prophet Zechariah
foretold, "Jerusalem will be a burdensome stone for all
people: and, all the people of the earth shall be gathered
together against it" (Zechariah:12:2-3). End time biblical
prophecy is unfolding before our very eyes as the promised
ingathering of a dispersed and diverse cross-section of
Jews, including secular, atheist, agnostic, and Jewish
believers in Jesus Christ, are returning, from all over
the world, to their biblically covenanted homeland of
Israel. Controversy about the existence of the nation of
Israel is intensifying not only amongst the Arab world but
within Christianity also. A political-religious campaign
is gaining worldwide acceptance as church leaders,
denominations, charities, missions, and humanitarian
groups are uniting with Muslims and other world religions
against Israel. Caryl Matrisciana narrates this
informative three-part documentary featuring Dave Hunt and
Paul Wilkinson. Each powerful program is approximately 35
minutes in length and features fast-moving, graphic
footage that exposes the rising tide of apostasy gripping
today's church regarding modern Israel.
(232) Christianity
vs.
Psychology (MP3) Host: Vic Eliason Guest: Dr. Ed
Bulkley July 19, 2013 Ed Bulkley is the founding pastor of
Life Fellowship in Westminster, Colorado. He is also
the President of the International Association of Biblical
Counselors. He is the author of 3 books including,
�Why Christian�s Can�t Trust Psychology�, �Only God Can
Heal a Wounded Heart�, and �How Big is Your God?� He
speaks extensively on Biblical counseling. For
several years he hosted, �Return to the Word� a program
addressing Biblical counseling issues. Dr. Bulkley began
by explaining that our world has moved away from Christ
and is relying on the philosophies of this world as Paul
describes in Colossians 2:8. Since people are moving away
from the simple truth that God�s word is more than enough
to deal with any life issue when we obey him, many adults
are on anti-depressants or anti-psychotics. Children
as well are on drugs for maladies like Attention Deficit
Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder. In fact, Vic noted that 90% of school
shootings are linked to medications yet as Dr. Bulkley
noted earlier in the discussion, drugs often anesthetize
the conscience and the mind itself. Sanity comes from
obeying the Lord. Unfortunately the world has things
turned around and is communicating today that religious
practice can be a sign of deeper mental health
issues. Find out why that�s false and discover why
God�s word is mankind�s only true solution to issues of
the heart when you review this edition of Crosstalk.
(233) Why
millions
of Muslims are seeing apparitions of the Mother Mary
at Understamd The Times, 7/24/13 Comment from Understand The Times:
One of the great signs that we are in the Last Days will
be when Muslims embrace false appearances of a woman
believed to be the mother of Jesus that will bring about
peace and unity. As mentioned in the article below this
happened at Zeitun, Egypt in 1968. One of the common
denominators between Roman Catholics and Muslims is their
reverence for "Mary." Current problems in Egypt may well
bring about another round of apparitions, or as described
in biblical terms, "lying signs and wonders" that will
occur in a time of great deception.
(234) Former
Archbishop
Desmond Tutu Says He Would Choose Hell Over 'Homophobic'
Heaven at Understand The Times, 7/31/13 Speaking recently at the United
Nation's launch of its "Free & Equal" campaign to
promote fair treatment of LGBT persons, former archbishop
and South African anti-apartheid activist Desmond Tutu
declared that the issue was so close to his heart that he
"would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven" and instead
choose "the other place." The 1984 Nobel Peace Prize
laureate and former head of the South African Anglican
Church and South African Council of Churches made the
remarks last Friday, July 26, during the press event in
his home country, where same-sex marriage is legal but
where views remain antagonistic toward homosexuals.
(236)Updated!An
Evaluation
of Muslim Dreams & Visions of Isa (Jesus) by Dennis McBride, Think On These Things,
June/July 2013, Volume 19, Issue 3 - Read Part
1 & Part
2 Much confusion surrounds the numerous
stories coming from Islamic people concerning their dreams
and visions leading to conversions. �Think on These
Things� published an article by Richard Fisher in 2008
entitled �Don�t You Believe It.� The next two issues will
be composed of an article written by Pastor Dennis
McBride. I believe Pastor McBride has done an excellent
and thorough job of analyzing these experiences in the
light of Scripture.
(237) Muslims
Angry
over Virtual "Third Temple" at The Berean Call,
9/6/13 A website with a simulation of a
Third Temple has been met with an angry backlash from the
Arab and Muslim world.
(238) America's
Bible
Hypocrisy: Study Shows Disconnect Between Beliefs and
Behavior at Understand The Times, 9/10/13
The American Bible Society's annual
"State of the Bible" study shows most Americans believe
society needs the Bible, but few are finding time to read
it. A majority of people in the United States
believe the Bible contains the best advice for a
meaningful life, but they also don't want to take it, and
are too busy to read the scriptures.
(239) Four
Books
That the Enemy Has Used To Corrupt Christianity
by Sandy Simpson, 9/9/13 Four men changed the world into their
postmodern, communist, evolutionist, materialist,
Narcissistic concept of reality. There are also four
books that have corrupted Christianity worldwide.
(240) The
New
Age and the World of Occultism - Exposing the
Philosophy, the Lies, and the Dangers by Chris
Lawson, Spiritual Research Network, 9/24/13 The New Age Movement (NAM) is based
on a belief system that is essentially a Western
hybridization of pantheistic and pan-en-theistic Eastern
occult philosophy and practices. The New Age movement
encompasses countless thousands of autonomous (and
sometimes contradictory) beliefs, organizations, and
events. �New Age� beliefs also incorporate practices from
19th century Western occultism including teachings from
�channeled spirits� or �universal energy� [in actuality
they are fallen angels which the Bible refers to a lying
spirits, or, demons]. The term �New Age� is also used by
many to describe organizations, teachers and teachings,
which exhibit at least one or more of the following
beliefs: �(1) All is one, all reality is part of the
whole; (2) Everything is God and God is everything; (3)
Man is God or a part of God; (4) Man never dies, but
continues to live through reincarnation; (5) Man can
create his own reality and/or values through transformed
consciousness or altered states of consciousness.�
(241) Chuck
Smith,
86, Dies After Cancer Battle by G. Jeffrey
MacDonald, Christianity Today, 10/3/13 Chuck Smith, the evangelical pastor
whose outreach to hippies in the 1960s helped transform
worship styles in American Christianity and fueled the
rise of the Calvary Chapel movement, died Thursday, Oct.
3, 2013, after a battle with lung cancer. He was 86.
(242) Statement By Pastor Bill
Randles Regarding The Charge That Jacob Prasch Is A
Gnostic by Bill Randles, 10/4/13 I want to go on record as saying that
I do not regard Jacob Prasch, our brother and gifted
teacher as a gnostic. Neither do I see Midrash as anything
but a biblical hermaneutical tool. ... I urge all involved
to prayerfully work out any differences in the spirit of
Christ with forbearance, humility and love. - Pas Bill
Randles
(243) How
the
Mighty Have Fallen by James Jacob Prasch,
10/17/13 John MacArthur now teaches: �Those
accepting the mark of the beast and worship the anti
Christ can still be saved. Supported by Jimmy DeYoung,
this is the exact teaching of John MacArthur on the clip
below.
(244) Jesus-denial,
Bible
denial and other dangerous 'denialisms' of global
anti-Semitism by Daniel Jonah Goldhagen, Fox
News, 10/27/13 Holocaust denial is widely known and
widely understood to be a form of anti-Semitism and a tool
to delegitimize Israel. Anti-Semites do not want Jews to
be recognized as victims because sympathy for Jews impedes
spreading hatred of them. Anti-Semites also see the
Holocaust as legitimizing the notion that Jews, like other
peoples, need their own country with the political and
military means to defend themselves. All right thinking
people condemn Holocaust denial, which is not just a
fringe belief but is extremely widespread especially in
the Middle East, no less than they would condemn a
movement that denied that American slavery existed �
should anything so nutty ever come to be. Yet Holocaust
denial is but one of the many kinds of widespread
anti-Semitic denialisms that exist and powerfully grip
peoples especially in the Middle East, but also in Europe,
and even in the United States.
(245) If
I Were The Devil by Paul Harvey, 1964 If I were the Prince of Darkness I would want to engulf the
whole earth in darkness. I'd have a third of its real estate
and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy
until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree. So I should
set about however necessary, to take over the United States.
(247) "Are
We
Fundamentalists?" by Dr. Peter Masters,
11/17/13 THERE ARE NOW TWO KINDS OF EVANGELICAL.... The old is the
authentic, biblical position. The new is far off the
track, not in its basic view of salvation, but in its
readiness to compromise with doctrinal error and worldly
ways. The new is selling the faith for earthly respect and
recognition... and churches are being ruined.
(248) The
Secret
of Biblical Self-Improvement by T.A. McMahon, The
Berean Call, 12/2/13 The popularity of self-improvement, or self-help, books
throughout the history of publishing is rather amazing. The
reasons given for the wide acceptance of such books,
historically, and especially in our day, are many, but they
all boil down to man�s desire to improve his condition or
situation, whether financially, socially, educationally,
physically, psychologically, spiritually, or �all of the
above.� Although the goals are improvement and the bettering
of one�s circumstance, the primary method and motivation is
by self and for self : how can I improve me? Read Part
1 and Part
2.
(250) Calvary
Chapel
Bookstore on Jesus Calling: Hush!! It�s Controversial � We
Keep it in the Back Room by Lighthouse Trails,
1/11/14 Yesterday, we verified that the Calvary Chapel store is
still selling the book from the back room. A woman who is an
acquaintance of Warren Smith and had heard from Warren about
the �back room� copies has given us permission to relay this
to our readers. She entered the store, searched for Jesus
Calling in the devotional section, and when not finding it,
she approached a store clerk and asked if the store was
carrying Jesus Calling. The clerk told her it was being kept
in a back room. The clerk then disappeared and returned a
few moments later with a copy. The woman purchased the book
and left (she�ll be using it for research purposes).
(251) Silken
Traps at The Berean Call, 1/20/14 �Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following
them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and
that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did
these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise�
(Deuteronomy:12:30)
(252) �I
Am
Sorry You Were Offended� and Other Insincere Apologies
by C. W. Booth, 1/25/14 When Adam took a bite from the fruit, following Eve into
sin, he "apologized" to God by shifting the blame. He said
something like, "Lord, this woman that You created and that
You put here in this garden with me, she gave me the fruit,
so I am sorry if You were offended" (see: Genesis 3:12).
Sorrow and grief-driven sincere apologies always actively
acknowledge that the sinner is the one making the apology.
By active, I mean the sinner says, "I did this specific sin,
and now I am sorry; please forgive me." Those words, "I did
this" make all the difference. They say, "I actively
committed this sin. I am culpable. With my own head, heart,
and hands I have done this thing." By contrast, an insincere
apology, a blame shifting approach, is the passive wording.
It is generally characterized by the subtle implication that
you are in the wrong for being the victim. "I am sorry if
you were offended." Here the key words are "if" and "you
were offended." Nothing is admitted by the sinner. In fact,
his only sorrow is that he got caught because you took
offense, and if you had not taken offense, there would be
nothing for which to apologize. So it is all your fault, you
easily offended person, you.
(254) What
is
Now on the Horizon in a Church World Without David
Wilkerson, Dave Hunt, and Chuck Smith by Jacob
Prasch, 1/28/14 Collapse of the mega churches and beyond - In 2008, several
months before the sub prime crisis, I publicly shared a
teaching called �Everything That Can Be Shaken� which was
promptly filmed and recorded in the USA ,and UK and placed
in the public domain. I, of course, make no claim to being a
prophet and I regard those who do make such claims
concerning themselves to be are either false ones or just
plain religious crackpots. I was not the only person to
issue such a predictive warning and was probably not the
first. I was just one voice among various others that I am
now aware of (but was not at the time) who believed the Lord
was warning us that a financial crash was coming that would
impact the church, including major supposedly Evangelical
churches.
(255) Ravi
Zacharias
Asks Faiths to Oppose 'Lost Morality' Together by
The Berean Call, 1/29/14 TBC: Mormonism has never changed its unbiblical �gospel.�
Consequently, there is no �true brotherhood and sisterhood�
between Mormonism and true Bible believers. �Be ye not
unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath
Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with
an infidel?� (2 Corinthians:6:14-15 �Shared love for the
Lord Jesus Christ�? That would only be viable if the Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints and the biblical Jesus were one
and the same. No, the former is the spiritual brother of
Lucifer, i.e., Satan, according to Mormon doctrine.
Zacharias, rather than looking to Mormons for �moral� help,
needs to obey the Scriptures: II John:1:9-10 "Whosoever
transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ,
hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he
hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto
you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your
house, neither bid him God speed".
(256) From
First
to Last by Larry DeBruyn, 2/3/14 In the aftermath of reflecting upon this incident, I
thought to myself, �How I felt after the checker�s apology
to me must somewhat mirror how God feels about us when we
apologize to Him for not giving Him first place in the line
of our lives. Now I know, my experience that evening was not
exactly analogous to the Lord�s feelings about us. For
example, He doesn�t offend or get impatient with us. He�s
longsuffering. But how often do we serve ourselves and
others before before Him in the business of life? Then there
comes that clarifying moment when suddenly we realize the
error that we�ve ignored serving Him first. So we tell Him
we�re sorry. Does His heart melt toward us as mine did
toward the checkout person that evening? I believe so, for
that is God�s character. All He�s looking for from us is an
acknowledgement on our part that we have offended Him, and
when the repentance comes, that�s it! It�s over. His heart
delights in our response of admitting we erred by ignoring
Him, but now desire to serve Him first and others second
(Matthew 22:37-40). Toward such repentant hearts, Micah
tells us that the Lord does not retain �his anger for ever,
because he delighteth in mercy� (Micah 7:18b, KJV).
(257) Creating
Straw
Men from Cognitive Dissonance by Crosswise,
2/4/14 This article will address two separate yet sometimes
related phenomena witnessed in various online exchanges (and
elsewhere), namely the straw man fallacy and cognitive
dissonance. I�ll explain them one at a time, and then
I shall illustrate how the two are at times combined.
(258) Esoteric
Evolution
� An Overview by Sarah H. Leslie, 2/27/14 This is an abstract of a thesis. This abstract provides an
overview of evolution as a cosmological and metaphysical
paradigm that seamlessly unites science with spirituality in
a manner that corrupts the truth. Evolution is more than an
alternative to the creation story. Evolution is not just a
scientific concept; it is a spiritual worldview. This paper
is not by any means complete, nor exhaustive. This is simply
a broad overview of the topic of spiritual evolution,
particularly its mysticism and esoteric applications to
postmodern life in both the culture at large and also the
church.
(259) Trends
of our day - Body Piercing and Tattoos by Mike
Oppenheimer, 2/27/14 This is a difficult subject to write on, and I have
pondered this for a number of years. But I have found it to
be necessary to write on it now because of what is taking
place. I have noticed people having more and more tattoos.
It has become very �in,� to have body Piercing and
Tattoos. The popularity of Tattoo and body piercing
has increased tremendously. A 2006 survey taken by the
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology an estimated
36% of Americans aged 18-29 now have tattoos. A Harris
Interactive poll conducted in January 2008 concluded that
14% of all adults in the United States have a tattoo, with
the highest incidence (25%) found among gays, lesbians and
bisexuals. This article I would like to address both of
these subjects, starting with body piercing.
(260) Why
is
the Millennial Generation Not Receptive to the Christian
Faith? by Gary F. Zeolla, 3/2/14 The Christian Church has a lot of work to do to become
relevant to the Millennial Generation. But it can be done.
Deviating from the Bible's teachings to accommodate the
modern world's viewpoints is one path, but I think it would
be a misguided one. A watered down Christianity is no
Christianity at all. Christians need to remain faithful to
the Bible and all of its teachings. But we need to be
prepared to reach out to those with contrary views with
knowledge and compassion, not in a judgmental or
self-righteous way. As Peter put it, "But sanctify [the]
Lord God in your* hearts, and always [be] prepared with a
defense to every[one] asking you* an account concerning the
hope [or, confident expectation] in you*, with gentleness
[or, considerateness] and respect" (1Peter 3:15)
(261) A
culture of counterfeit Christians by Marsha West,
3/3/14 Have you ever run over a dead skunk in the road? I have,
during a heat wave. The smell got into my tires and
permeated our garage for days! I'll go out on a limb and say
that no one takes pleasure in the highly offensive smell of
skunk spray, dead or alive. My point in telling you this is
that to God the stench of sin is much worse than skunk. For
an example of just how much the Lord hates sin, grab a cup
of coffee and read First and Second Kings.
(262) My
Church
Journey- 30 Years of Lies at Truth Watch NZ,
3/21/14 As our name suggests Truth Watch recognises a cardinal
truth: Christians must at all times adhere to and follow
what is biblically and therefore theologically true. This
chronicle of one Christian�s experience in the contemporary
Church underlines our assertion that the western Church has
slipped away from the truth in all sorts of areas. The
experience outlined here describes what happens when a
person stands up for biblical inerrancy and truth in today�s
Church. At first they are tolerated with some measure of
grace. Over time that grace turns into disdain and then
outright hostility and ostracism. The love for truth and
one�s brother in Christ soon gives way to intolerance and
graceless-ness. Anyone blessed with the gift of discernment,
prophecy and a love for responsible biblical exegesis in
todays �consumer church� is not welcome � see our article on
�therapeutic Christians�.
(263) A
Frank Exposure Of Freemasonry at Spiritual
Research Network, March 2014 Newsletter A philanthropic organization? A "syncretistic" Interfaith
spirituality? A brotherhood based on esoteric ceremonies,
Secretism and occult oaths? Indeed, Freemasonry is all these
things and much more, and their influence is most likely in
your very own community!
(264) Church Of
Wells by Matt Slick, CARM, 4/6/14 The Church of Wells has been under a great deal of scrutiny
nationally, even though it is a very small church in a very
small town located in Wells, Texas, a city of fewer than 800
people.1 The Church is very tight nit, and
exclusivistic. This makes sense since they teach that they
are the only true church. Usually, when this kind of belief
is held other beliefs are adopted such as 1) us against
them, 2) a sense of being persecuted for their faith, 3)
isolation, etc. These kinds of things are apparently
in the group. But these do not automatically make them a
cult. Instead, we must be careful not to make harsh and
quick judgments based on one or two points. Instead, it is
the overall behavior of how the church (and its doctrinal
teachings) that define a cult.
(266) Deception:
Christian
Publisher Sells Soul for Mammon by The Berean
Call, 4/18/14 WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group is planning to
release, through its liberal sister imprint Convergent
Books, a manuscript paradoxically titled God and the Gay
Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex
Relationships.
(267) Liberty
University
fines students for not listening to cultist Glenn Beck
by Pajama Pages, 4/30/14 Liberty University invited Mormon Glenn Beck to preach to
its students at its compulsory convocation last week,
handing out $10 fines to residential students who didn�t
have a suitable excuse for not attending. The Beck sermon
continues a worrying trend that signals Liberty�s rapid
retreat from Christian orthodoxy to an unapologetic embrace
of false religions and heretics, starting with
self-proclaimed messiah Rev. Moon in the 1990s, to Benny
Hinn and the Mormon church today. Though it still markets
itself as a Christian university, its definition as to what
passes as Christian is not one shared by most of the
churches that send their young people there for an
education.
(269) Pat
Robertson:
After the asteroid hit the earth and wiped out the
dinosaurs�by My Word Like Fire, 5/15/14
Pat Robertson believes that �after the asteroid hit and wiped
out the dinosaurs� � �there was a particular human being that
God touched and that was the human that started the race that
we are now part of�� Here is the full quote: ��there was a
point of time after the earth was created after these things
were done, after the universe was formed, after the asteroid
hit the earth and wiped out the dinosaurs, after all that,
there was a point in time where there was a particular human
being that God touched and that was the human that started the
race that we are now part of and I think prior to that who
knows what was here.� (start at 2:12 in video) �You�d have to
be deaf, dumb, and blind to think that this earth that we live
in only has 6000 years of existence. It just doesn�t.� (at 41
second mark in video) Ken Ham responded to Pat Robertson here:
READ
(270) The
End
of Evangelical Support for Israel? The Jewish State�s
International Standing at Lighthouse Trails,
5/29/14 We have posted the article below to show that a paradigm
shift is taking place within evangelical Christianity that
will result in further apostasy among proclaiming
Christians. When you couple the move toward anti-Israelism
within the evangelical church with the flood of homosexual
acceptance, the overwhelming embracing of mysticism
(i.e., contemplative) and welcoming of Catholicism,
and a growing hostility toward biblical Christians, it
becomes plain to see that the stage is being set to form a
one-world harlot �church� of which the Bible speaks.
(271) World
Vision
Crys �Reform� � But What About Israel and the Emerging
Church � The Story Behind the Story at Lighthouse
Trails, 6/28/14 So while World Vision is crying �reform� right now, and
most likely this will be the story that the media, both
secular and Christian, will pick up and run with, the real
story behind the scene is that World Vision is part of the
�new� spirituality/New Age �Christianity� that will help
usher in the greatest deception this world has ever seen.
And countless Christians� tax-deductible dollars will help
finance it.
(272) Christ
at
the Checkpoint: The Dangers of Deception at The
Berean Call, 6/30/14 As for Fulfillment Theology it teaches that all the
promises of the Abrahamic Covenant are fulfilled in the
person and ministry of Jesus. For those subscribing to this
nonsense, this includes the promise to Israel of the land of
Canaan. The subsequent result of this teaching is that once
again Israel�s present day restoration enjoys no biblical
significance and that those, like Christian Zionists, who do
happen to see biblical significance in Israel�s rebirth as a
nation are deluded, in error and constitute an obstacle to
peace.
(273) Kay
Arthur
With Erroneous Contemplative Interpretation Of Psalm 46:10
by Ken Silva, 7/8/14 It�s important for you to understand that Kay Arthur is
firmly within the ostensibly conservative evangelical camp.
However, phrases like learning �The Art of Being Still�
sound like something we�d hear from gurus of CSM we first
encountered in the postmodern liberal cult of the Emergent
Church, now openly operating within evangelicalism through
its foolish embrace of the Emerging Church. From all of this
by Kay Arthur�s PMI, we can see she�s appealing to � Be
still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10), which is a
classic verse misappropriated by instructors of CSM.
(274) California
Church
Disaffiliates With the Calvary Chapel Movement Over
Heretical Connections by Lighthouse Trails,
7/9/14 LTRP Note: As many of you know, Roger Oakland, of
Understand the Times, International, and Chris Lawson, of
Spiritual Research Network, are former Calvary Chapel
pastors/teachers, who both left the movement when their
warnings about the infiltration of serious false teachings
fell on deaf ears for several years and when they felt they
could no longer, in good conscience, remain associated with
the movement. Last week, Lighthouse Trails was informed of
another Calvary Chapel pastor, Steve Shively of Refuge
Church in Atascadero, California, who has made the decision
(along with his church elders) to disaffiliate from the
Calvary Chapel movement. The following letter was sent to
the Calvary Chapel Association on June 29th, 2014. We are
posting it with permission.
(276) Christian
Musician
Gungor Says Jesus Could Have Been Wrong About Creation
Story or Lied About It; Calls Genesis 1 a 'Poem'
by Christian Post, 9/3/14 Award-winning Christian musician Michael Gungor of the
musical collective Gungor, who recently rattled the
Christian world when he argued that the Bible should not be
read literally, took his arguments a little further last
month when he said Jesus could have been wrong about the
creation story, or might have lied about it to fit in with
popular culture.
(277) How
old
is human DNA? at The Berean Call, 9/5/14 Human mitochondrial DNA mutates at a known rate. Based on
this known rate, the human genome is very young � much
younger than evolutionary theory says it should be. It is
only thousands of years old.
(278) The
latest
threat to Evangelical support for Israel at the
Berean Call, 9/6/14
Targeting young Evangelicals at top Christian universities has
also been an extremely effective tool in the hands of those
seeking to erode Evangelical support for Israel. Read Part
1 & Part
2.
(279) Gaza
-
The End Of Israel? by Al Dagar, Media Spotlight,
Vol. 34-1, 9/10/14 THE FIRESTORM THAT is Gaza continues to blaze out of
control. In spite of the best efforts of politicians outside
the conflict zone known as
Palestine, peace is not a viable
option for either side despite the cease fires. The mass
media fan the flames with biased reporting that champions
the cause of either Israel or the Palestinian people (far
more often the Palestinians), while the average world
citizen remains ignorant of the true spiritual cause of the
warfare that will never abate until either Israel is driven
into the Mediterranean Sea as promised by her Islamic
enemies, or the Lord returns to deliver the nation as He has
promised in His Word.
(280) Blood Moons For The
Second Time Proven To Be A Baseless Hoax - The Boy
Cries Wolf Yet Again by James Jacob Prasch.
10/12/14 I happened to be in Israel for Sukkoth, the second of the
supposedly festal Blood Moons concocted by Mark Blitz,
whom given his abysmal track record - many now can only
consider to be a religious con artist out to sell books
about the 'Blood Moon' hoax that he invented.
(281) Be
Watchful! by Pastor Charles Haddon Spurgeon
(1834-1892) �We die daily,� said the apostle. This was the life of the
early Christians; they went everywhere with their lives in
their hands. [Most of us are not yet] called to pass through
the same fearful persecutions. But if we were, the Lord
would give us grace to bear the test. The tests of Christian
life, at the present moment, though outwardly not so
terrible, are yet more likely to overcome us than even those
of the fiery age.
(282) "Addressing
the
'Positive Gospel' of the Metaphysical Movement"
(an article from the Christian Research Journal, Fall 1988,
page 7) by Dean C. Halverson. Before we can accept Jesus Christ as our Savior we must
first acknowledge our need to be saved. When we do so, we
are saying that we have become aware of our enslaving sinful
nature, of the alienation that our sin has caused in our
relationship with God, of God's impending wrath on that sin,
and of our total inability to save ourselves. Try telling
someone in the Metaphysical movement (Religious Science,
Unity, "A Course in Miracles," etc.) about the wages of sin,
though, and they will look at you as though you are an
anachronism -- a throwback to a less-enlightened age. The
ideas of an enslaving sinful nature, of being alienated from
God, and of God's wrath are, to them, extremely
offensive.
(283) My
brother's
succession plan for Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa (Video)by
Paul Smith, 10/20/14
As Pastor Chuck Smith's brother I wanted to share with you
some of the events that occurred and I personally witnessed.
Thank you for all the prayers and encouragement.
(284) Rowan
Williams:
How Buddhism Helps Me Pray [Excerpts] at The
Berean Call, 10/27/14 The former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Williams has
disclosed that he spends up to 40 minutes a day squatting
and repeating an Eastern Orthodox prayer while performing
breathing exercises as part of a routine influenced by
Buddhism.
(286) Mark Driscoll
Kicked Out Of His Own Organization by Sandy
Simpson, 8/18/14 Driscoll was kicked out of the Acts 29 Network church
planting group, his own organization, for his �ungodly
behavior�. �Seattle megachurch pastor Mark Driscoll
has been removed from a church-planting network of more than
500 churches he helped found after a pattern of �ungodly and
disqualifying behavior.� (Religion News Service, by Sarah
Pulliam Balley, Huffington Post, 8/9/14) His behavior
is not the only problem with this guy. Check out his
false teachings and behavior over the years.
(287) Seattle
megachurch
dissolves after founder Mark Driscoll resigns at
Understand The Times, 11/3/14 Two weeks after lead Mars Hill Church pastor Mark Driscoll
resigned amid questions about his leadership, the Seattle
megachurch he founded announced Friday it was dissolving its
network of branches across four states. The church said on
its website that the best future for its branches would be
for them to becoming "autonomous self-governed entities."
"This means that each of our locations has an opportunity to
become a new church, rooted in the best of what Mars Hill
has been in the past, and independently led and run by its
own local elder teams," Pastor Dave Bruskas wrote on the
church's website. The existing Mars Hill Church organization
will be dissolved. The megachurch's controversial founder
resigned as elder and lead pastor on Oct. 14, following an
investigation into formal charges brought against him.
(288) Calvary
Chapel
Alert For Pastors and Church Leaders - Documenting the
Progression of Compromise and Ecumenical Relations
by Chris Lawson, 11/5/14 The previous introductory statement that was posted here
was rewritten for publication as an article. There are
numerous sources online now that are reporting on the
imbalanced Calvary Chapel leadership issues as well as the
growing ecumenical compromises. Many Calvary Chapel pastors
as well as the Calvary Chapel Association Leadership Council
(formerly CCOF Ministry, Inc.) are aware of many of the
growing problems, but little is being done to publicly
expose and correct them.
(289) Christians
Losing
Everything to Islam? at the Berean Call,
11/27/14 �Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for
whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count
them but dung, that I may win Christ � ( Philippians 3:8).
When Paul wrote the above in his letter to the Christians of
Philippi, he and the early church were being persecuted
(Paul was eventually executed in Rome). While today�s
Western Christians still quote his words in the context of
their daily struggles, an increasing number of Christians
around the world, especially the Muslim world, are still
literally losing absolutely everything for their
faith. (ACT Note: Be preparded, for the story of
this Christian will become all too common when Islam takes
over the world.)
(299) Calvary
Chapel
Costa Mesa's Chapel Store Compromised Again - Wanderlust
Productions' HOLY GHOST film documentary pulled two days
after it makes it onto the Chapel Store 'New Arrivals'
shelf by Chris Lawson, November 5, 2014 Praise the Lord! Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa's Chapel
Store did the right thing - they pulled the Wanderlust
Productions HOLY GHOST film documentary from the bookstore
shelf, and they are no longer selling it. How do I know? I
just got off the telephone (Wednesday, November 5, 2014,
11:51AM) with a Chapel Store employee. The Chapel Store
employee kindly informed me that the movie was recently
removed, two days after it was put on the shelf. Apparently
the church overseers dealt with this one quickly, which is
good! I appreciate the fact that the Chapel Store employee
talked to me about this, and I am happy to see that a couple
people have proactively dealt with this issue at Calvary
Chapel of Costa Mesa. Although the movie was pulled from the
bookstore shelf, one wonders how and why it got there in the
first place. Perhaps it was just a simple oversight. Or,
perhaps it was just another blatant compromise. This not the
first occurrence of this sort of thing happening at the
Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa Chapel Store. Related articles can
be found on the Internet, other documentation can be found
at the bottom of this article, and I wrote about this sort
of compromise in numerous Calvary Chapel's back in May of
2014. See my article here, Calvary
Chapel
Bookstores - Beyond Accountability?
(300) Self:
Mankind's
Number One Problem by T.A. McMahon, 3/4/15 Views about �self� today are confusing at least. The world
has a number of them. All teach the importance of one�s
having a positive regard for one�s self. The Bible, on the
other hand, has nothing good to say about self.
Nevertheless, the church, particularly in the last one
hundred years, has increasingly reflected what the world
preaches rather than what the Scriptures teach. As Dave Hunt
reminds us, �Although we cannot define self any more than we
can define soul or being or beauty, we can clearly see where
self was first manifested, how it happened, and the eternal
result. We can also see that self not only defines one
person as distinct from all others, but it also defines man
as distinct from God. What the Bible seems to mean by self
is man cut off from God, acting and possessing
independently� (Hunt, Beyond Seduction [Eugene, Oregon:
Harvest House Publishers] 153).
(301) Spiritual
Warfare
Part 6 - The Misguided Aims of the Counterfeit "Church"by
Berit Kjos - January, 2012 Almost two millennia ago, Jesus called His Church to follow
Him, treasure His Word and spread His gospel. Countless
thousands did. By faith, they faced torture and persecution,
hatred and death. Yet they rejoiced, for they knew they were
sharing the life and suffering of Jesus! His eternal
Kingdom was far more precious to them than any earthly
treasure.
(302) Ex-Mars
Hill
pastor Mark Driscoll returns to evangelical orbit
by Joel Connelly, 3/14/15 Controversial ex-Mars Hill Church senior pastor Mark
Driscoll will resurface at Hillsong 2015, two summer
conferences in Sydney, Australia and London sponsored by an
Australian-based, multi-city mega church. Joined by his
wife, Grace, Driscoll will not be in the pulpit but in the
interview chair before an audience expected to number in the
thousands. Brian Houston, Hillsong Church senior pastor,
delivered a statement Thursday night to Warren Throckmorton,
a Pennsylvania college professor who followed Mars Hill�s
2014 meltdown for the Patheos website. Said Houston:
�Well in advance of his resignation as senior pastor at
Seattle-based Mars Hill Church, we invited Mark Driscoll to
be one of our speakers this summer. �Rather than having Mark
preach or teach, I am excited about interviewing Mark and
Grace from our main platform during our Hillsong Conference
2015.
(303) Beyond
Seduction
- Does a Positive Self-Image Make You a Better Person?
by Dave Hunt & T.A. McMahon, 3/21/15 Our topic for discussion in this segment of our program is,
and has been for the last few weeks, what the Bible has to
say about self in contrast to teachings about self promoted
in the world, and, to a large degree, in professing
Christianity. Self is the solution to all humanity�s
problems according to the so-called wisdom of psychology. It
is the key to fulfilling human potential - that without a
good self-image or loving one�s self adequately, humans will
never improve their status or situation in life. On the
other hand, the Bible says that self is mankind�s problem,
and gives a prophetic warning about it in 2 Timothy:3:1This
know also, that in the last days perilous times shall
come.,2: �This know also, that in the last days perilous
times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own
selves�.� That says it pretty clearly, doesn�t it, Dave? I
think anybody could look around and see that�s where we are
today. Dave: On the other hand, Tom, a person could say,
�Well, haven�t human beings always been narcissistic lovers
of self?� So, yes, that is true, but today it�s gone beyond
that. It�s no longer looked upon as wrong, but it�s a
virtue.
(305) Number
of
Americans Who Say They Have No Religion Hits Record High,
Survey Findsat Understand The Times, 3/26/15
New data analysis on the 2014 General Social Survey
conducted by NORC and the University of Chicago has found
that although Americans are abandoning specific religions at
record high numbers, the rate of those who said they believe
in God has remained steady. The Associated Press identified
it as one of the major findings of the survey, which asked a
number of wide-ranging questions of the American public. The
data found that back in 1972, only 5 percent of respondents
said that they have no religion, but by 2014, 21 percent
said the same, which is a record high.
(306) 1
in 4 Americans Don't Believe in God; Lack of Trust in
Local Churches Cited as a Reason Why Adults Are Leaving
the Faith at Understand The Times, 3/28/15 Barna Group has released its 2015 study on the state of
atheism in America, and has revealed that one in four
unchurched adults in the country now identify as atheists or
agnostics. The study also found that rejection of the Bible
and lack of trust in the church are two main reasons why
people are turning away from faith. The study was focused on
those who have not attended church within the past six
months, and found that the majority of such people identify
as non-practicing Christians. One in four, or 25 percent,
however, were classed as skeptics, which Barna defines as
people who "either do not believe God exists (atheists) or
are not sure God exists, but are open to the possibility
(agnostics)." Of that number, nearly one-third said that
they have never attended a Christian church service in their
lives. Barna found that the three main reasons people decide
not to believe in God stem from rejection of the Bible; lack
of trust in the local church; and the "cultural
reinforcement of a secular worldview."
(308) Most
Americans
now say Jesus actually a sinner at Understand The
Times, 4/8/15 Despite more than nine out of 10 Americans agreeing Jesus
was a historical figure, what they believe about Him
diverges widely, according to a newly released survey from
the Barna Research Group, a nonprofit organization that has
been analyzing cultural trends related to religious belief
since 1984.
(309) Report:
Christianity Most Persecuted Faith Worldwide at
Crossroad, 4/10/15 Christians continue to be the most persecuted faith, though
the gap has dropped over time. In 2007 Christians were
penalized or harassed in various ways in 107 countries. That
peaked at 111 in 2010, dropped and then rose again to 110 in
2012, and dropped to 102 in 2013. Muslims were mistreated in
the second most number of countries. They were at 96 in
2007, peaked at 109 in 2012, and dropped to 99 in 2013. Jews
suffered in 51 nations in 2007 and have steadily increased,
with a large jump from 71 in 2012 to 77 in 2013. Persecution
of others stood at 38 in 2013; Buddhists were at 12 and
Hindus at 9. The second group facing persecution in more
countries in 2013 than 2012 was folk religions, rising from
26 to 34. What makes Jewish persecution numbers so striking
and frightening is that Jews make up just .2 percent of the
world�s population.
(310) "Positive
Psychology"
and the Armyat The Berean Call, 4/23/15 Army morale low despite 6-year, $287M optimism program
[Excerpts] More than half of some 770,000 soldiers are
pessimistic about their future in the military and nearly as
many are unhappy in their jobs, despite a six-year, $287
million campaign to make troops more optimistic and
resilient, findings obtained by USA TODAY show. [TBC:
Dave Hunt noted in the November 1992 newsletter, "
Psychology seeks to 'understand' how and why we think and
act as we do. Such an approach would help repair an engine
but not a person. We are not programmed robots.....Self had
its awful birth when Adam and Eve willfully acted
independently of God. That self, said Christ, must be denied
(Mat:16:24-26) It is not that man must cease to exist as an
individual with emotions, intellect and will. No, he
willingly allows God to fulfill through him the purpose for
his existence. Jesus, the perfect Man, said, 'I can of mine
own self do nothing...I seek not mine own will, but the will
of the Father which hath sent me' ( Jn:5:30I can of mine own
self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is
just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the
Father which hath sent me.). Only through denying self can
we enter into this relationship with the Father which Christ
enjoyed and begin to experience the life He has for us. May
this be our passion and joy. "]
(311) Philip Powell of
Christian Wintness Ministries has gone to be with the Lord
by CWM, 4/26/15 It is with blessed Hope I write this morning, to let you
know that your friend and fellow pastor, Philip Lewis Powell
has escaped his tent and has met with His Saviour over on
the other Shore. At 3:42am Brisbane Australia, this Lord's
Day, Sunday the 26th of April 2015, the call was given and
Philip answered.
(312) Unrepentant
Mark
Driscoll back on speaking circuit - forgives those who
'attacked' him by Warren Throckmorton,
5/6/15 UPDATE: For video of the end of Driscoll�s talk, scroll to
the bottom. Here is an account from someone who was in
attendance. So far, from the accounts I have seen, it
appears that Driscoll focused on how he has forgiven those
who he believes wronged him.
(313) Why
Impostors
Love the Church by Russell Moore, 5/8/15 Recently I read a book that kept me awake a couple of
nights. It was about �Clark Rockefeller,� and the scare
quotes are important. The man was neither �Clark� nor
�Rockefeller.� He was a German immigrant who crafted an
identity as an heir of one of America�s wealthiest
dynasties. He married, fathered a child, and was involved in
fraud, theft, and maybe even murder. And no one ever knew,
until the very end. What made me squirm was that fact that
the fake Rockefeller�s inroad to all his deception were
churches and relationships, particularly with women. He
would make the connections he needed in local congregations,
and he would charm the women there. At the same time, he
would parasitically imitate the men, watching and mirroring
back to them their convictions and opinions, even the
inflections of their voices. But, behind all of that, there
was nothing real but a predatory appetite.
(314) Biblical
versus
Cultural Christianity by Berit Kjos, 5/10/15
This chart is an attempt to answer those who judge
Christians by the atrocities committed in the name of
"Christianity" through the ages -- including our own times.
Those wars, persecutions, and cruelties had little to do
with Biblical Christianity. They had everything to do with
man's greedy, power-hungry human nature which seeks its own
ways rather than God's. The ungodly expressions of our human
nature may change from culture to culture, but the result is
usually the same: the people imagine a god that fits their
new cultural wants and values, and they learn to see this
distortion of Christianity as the true church. Biblical
Christianity means being joined to Jesus Christ through
faith in what He did for us at the cross, then allowing Him
to live His life through us, so that others might know Him
and see His love. (That love may include sharing His
warnings as well as His promises with those in need.) The
established Church, like Old Testament Israel, has always
tended to drift away from its devotion to God and become
just other institutions, subject to the same human impulses
and painful consequences as the rest of the world. Please
don�t blame human evils on a "straw-man" or a convenient
cultural distortion of Christianity. Consider some of the
differences between Biblical faith and today's cultural
deviations.
(315) The
Gospel
Of Self by Roger Oakland, 5/11/15 A brief examination of the books available in the
psychology section of any local book store will confirm the
fact that "self-empowerment" is being promoted as a key to
the future survival of mankind. There are countless books
published centering on the "self." Books on
"self-awareness," "self-determination," "self-care,"
"self-acceptance," and of course, "self-esteem". Without a
doubt we have become the "self-generation". As well, there
are also numerous "human potential" workshops, seminars and
weekend retreats offering individuals a personal pathway to
unfoldment, peace, power and prosperity: "You can be greater
than you think," or "visualize your dreams into reality," or
you can "name it and claim it." Also, therapies and
techniques are being popularized that will help you discover
how to create personal power and positive direction for your
life. In general, the gospel of "self" proclaims: "You
deserve it. Don't worry about what others think. If it feels
good, it�s OK."
(316) WorldNetDaily
Identifies
Agenda by Evangelical Leaders to Marginalize Discerning
Whistleblowers by Jim Fletcher, 5/11/15 "The Internets� have given everyone a voice today.
Obviously, that�s both good and bad. Computer technology has
really leveled the playing field, so the classic �writer
living in his parents� basement� can have a platform,
mostly, like a high-profile New York writer. . . . One gets
the feeling, though, that some of the high-profile folks
resent the heck out of all this. Case in point would be many
of what I�d call evangelical elites in America. These are
the famous celebrity pastors, ministry heads and media types
who have placed the mantle of leadership on themselves (for
the most part). What they detest is anyone questioning them
or their methods. . . . It�s well documented that Rick
Warren has a burr under his saddleback over those pesky
�discernment folks� who regularly point out the
easily-documented flaws in his �purpose-driven� agenda.
�Pastor Rick�s� association with New Age thinkers is part of
the public record (although, let�s be honest, the majority
of evangelicals in the pews will never care about any of
this, only that they can participate in a PDL �bible study,�
eat finger foods and go home feeling good about themselves).
When a researcher/writer like Warren B. Smith exposes Rick
Warren�s troubling network, the (still Southern Baptist)
pastor sometimes lashes out. Who can forget his almost
comical split response a few years ago on Twitter, when one
day he offered that one should be gracious when dealing with
those who disagree with one�s viewpoint. A few days later,
he urged his many followers on Twitter to �un-follow
negative twits.� It would be funny if it weren�t so
grotesque.
(317) Calvary
Chapel
Costa Mesa Pastor, Brian Brodersen, Says Sometimes It�s OK
to Attend a Homosexual Wedding at Lighthouse
Trails, 5/31/15 On Friday, a long-time Lighthouse Trails reader contacted
our office regarding the following situation. The person who
called had attended Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa for several
years but has not been attending for some time. According to
an article titled �Can I Attend My LGBT Friend�s Wedding?�
written by Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa�s senior pastor Brian
Brodersen, it is sometimes OK to attend a LTGB (Lesbian,
Transgender, Gay, Bisexual) wedding. He says it�s not OK to
attend the wedding if the two people getting �married�
proclaim to be believers in Christ, but if they don�t claim
to be believers then it may be OK.
(318) Christian
Booksellers�
Implosion by Jim Fletcher, 6/6/15 What was once a fine idea � the first five minutes someone
had it 60 years ago � has become one of those classic scenes
you want to look away from, but can�t. I�m speaking of the
slow destruction of the American Christian book industry.
From scandalous books offered in Christian bookstores, to
the recent bankruptcy of Family Christian Stores, the whole
affair reeks of mismanagement and greed.
(319) From
the
Synagogue To the Saviour by Doctor Max L.
Rossvally (1828-1892) Having been frequently asked whether all the details of
this story are strictly true, I take this opportunity of
stating that every incident occurred exactly as related.�
MLR
(320) Government
Crusade
Against Churches Begins With Removal Of Non-Profit Status
by Ben Shapiro, 7/7/15 In the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision mandating
that states reward same-sex marriages throughout the nation,
churches across the country prepare for the inevitable
assault on their tax-exempt statuses.
(321) Making
God�s
People Trust in a Lie� by Pastor Bill Randles,
7/24/15 It is happening all over again. In the church, as in the
last days of Judah, immediately preceding the devastation of
the Babylonian captivity and the destruction of the temple,
Christians are being inoculated to
conviction and preparedness by the soothing Words of false
prophets like Hananiah.
(322) The
Road
to Serfdom: Chapter 11: The End of Truth by F. A.
Hayek (First published in 1944) "The most effective way of making everybody serve the
single system of ends toward which the social plan is
directed is to make everybody believe in those ends. To make
a totalitarian system function efficiently, it is not enough
that everybody should be forced to work for the same ends.
It is essential that the people should come to regard them
as their own ends."[p.171]
(323) The
Persecution
Of Christians Is Intensifying As Anti-Christian Hatred
Sweeps The Entire World at Understand The Times,
8/5/15 There is very little that the entire world seems to agree
upon, but there is one very frightening trend that is now
taking hold literally all over the globe. A passionate
hatred of Christianity is sweeping across the planet, and
very few global leaders have been willing to step forward
and speak out against this rising persecution of Christians.
In many parts of the Middle East, Africa and Asia, believers
are being relentlessly attacked by extremists, churches are
being destroyed, and laws are being passed to try to prevent
the spread of the Christian faith. In some areas, the
violence has become so extreme that Christians knowingly
risk their own lives just to go to church services each
week. Would you risk your life to go to church? In North
America and Europe, the persecution is often more subtle.
Even though violent attacks are still fairly rare, Christian
beliefs are being undermined by new laws, comedians and
television shows regularly mock the Christian faith, and
many employers will immediately mentally disqualify a
potential candidate for a job if they discover that an
individual is a Bible-believing Christian. Sadly, this is
just the beginning. In the years ahead, those that choose to
be followers of Jesus Christ will face even greater
persecution than we have seen already.
(324) Humans
Pretending
To Be God by Roger Oakland, 8/14/15 Scientists worldwide are creating bizarre human-animal
hybrids that could wreak havoc on society. In the past ten
years alone, unforgettable advances in the field of genetic
modifications have left researchers and on-lookers stunned.
To give a concrete example, scientists have made mice with
an artificial human chromosome �in every cell of their
bodies�. Such an act is being praised as a �breakthrough�
which may lead to different cures for a wide scope of
disease. . . University of Wisconsin researchers have had
much success by transferring cells from human embryos into
the brains of mice. These very cells began to grow, and in
time made the mice more intelligent. While this may sound
bizarre to some, the fact mankind is tinkering with life
comes as no surprise to those who have read the Bible. The
Bible states that God is the creator of all life. In the
beginning, all life was created perfect (Genesis 1:26). The
Bible also clarifies that God has an adversary�Satan�who
hates God and His creation. Satan�s goal from the beginning
has been to destroy or contaminate the original creation.
(325) Former
Southern
Baptist Church to Allow Gay and Transgender Ordination,
Same-Sex Marriage by The Gospel Herald,
8/16/15 A historic, former Southern Baptist Church has adopted a
new non-discrimination policy which will allow it to perform
same-sex weddings and employ openly gay and transgender
individuals without telling them their lifestyles violate
Biblical mandates.
(326) Archaeologists
Uncover
Ancient City of Gath, Home to Goliath the Giant at
The Berean Call, 8/17/15 Archaeologists in a Palestinian city in Israel have
uncovered the ruins of a city that was once home to Goliath
the giant. The archaeologists have unearthed a huge gate and
a fortified wall in the modern-day city of Tell es-Safi.
They believe the gate and wall to be part of "the lower city
of Gath,� a Philistine metropolis of the ancient world,
according to Christian Today.
(327) The
"I AM" Movement by Mike Oppenheimer, 8/24/15
The �I AM� society was founded by Guy W. Ballard
(1878-1939) and his wife, Edna W. Ballard (1886-1971). After
his serving in the army during World War I, he superintended
his uncle's lead mine in Tucson, Arizona. His wife Edna was
an accomplished concert harpist, and like her husband also
had an interest in metaphysics and the occult. After three
years of marriage in 1916 their son Donald was born. Guy
Ballard was an ardent reader of theosophical/occult
literature, had heard the reports of strange occult events
that had occurred at Mt. Shasta. Guy Ballard was a mining
engineer in 1929. Upon completion of a job in the West had
decided to visit Mt. Shasta, California. Occultists believed
the mountain is the home of a lost race of mystic adepts
from Atlantis who live inside. Ballard was a student of
occult metaphysics and was captivated with the stories about
Shasta. He decided to visit the mountain to investigate the
rumor that a group of Divine Men called the Brotherhood of
Mt. Shasta were to be found there. This became the turning
point in the Ballard�s lives. Read The
"I AM" Movement - Part 1 The Occult ascended masters
teaching to Guy Ballard & The
�I AM� Movement - Part 2 history and teaching.
(328) Can
I
Attend My LGBT Friend�s Wedding? with commentary
by Jacob Prasch, 8/27/15 Please read for yourself. Brian Broderson�s position on
Same Sex Weddings. Need anyone say more? How convoluted,
pseudo-scriptural, and compromised can someone�s twisted
reasoning become; much less that of a supposed leader?
Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa is spiritually, doctrinally, and
morally dead. Somebody get a shovel and bury the corpse .
Invite Rick Warren to deliver the graveside eulogy. Just
bury it next to Chuck�s corpse. It died with him. Jacob
Prasch.
(329) Do�s
and
Don�ts of Witnessing to Cults by Chris Lawson,
8/28/15 Practical tips on sharing with the cultist at your door.
Various topics covered or mentioned: �Sanctify the Lord God
in your heart. �Humility, compassion, love and truth versus
arrogance, pride and strife. �Which �Jesus� are you
proclaiming - the biblical Jesus or a counterfeit
Jesus/false Christ? �Understanding Christian apologetics and
defending the Christian faith. �What is a cult and how do we
define cultism? �Confronting bad theology versus attacking
people and their character. �Defending the truth, speaking
truth, and giving biblical answers. �Communicating who Jesus
Christ really is. �Studying to �show yourself approved.�
�What exactly is �another Jesus�? �Weapons of righteousness,
Christian character, and individual giftedness in the Lord.
�The Christian warfare - understanding the enemy and our
victory in Christ. �The cultists "experience" and emotions
versus true biblical signs and wonders. �Cultists have been
trained and/or inoculated against the historic Christian
faith. �Biblical terminology in contradistinction to
destructive cultic redefinitions. �Sample definition
(�atonement�) and sample heresy (�baptismal regeneration�).
�Important things to remember when speaking with people.
�Practical �do�s� and �don�ts� when sharing with cultists.
Scriptures: 1 Peter 3:15; John 14:6-7; John 3:16; 2 2
Timothy 2:15; Corinthians 11:3-4; 2 Corinthians 4:4;
Galatians 5:22; Revelation 20:2; Jude 3,17,20-23; Isaiah
59:1; Mark 4:1-20; Isaiah 55:10-11; Colossians 4:5; 1
Corinthians 9:3; Philippians 1:7; 2 Timothy 4:16; Zechariah
4:6.
(330) Not
with
a bang, but a whimper�The Islamic Refugee Trojan Horse
by Bill Randles, 9/11/15 This is the way the world ends, This is the way the world
ends, This is the way the world ends, Not with a bang but a
whimper. TS Eliot, The Hollow Men To any thinking person,
the spectacle of hundreds of thousands of �refugees� from
Africa, and the horrors of the Syrian civil war, spilling
out onto the shores of Italy, and forcing themselves over
the barriers erected in Hungary is both heartbreaking and
ominous. Who wouldn�t be moved at the plight of frightened
women and children packed into rust ships, desperate to get
away from the wanton slaughter occurring in their Syrian
homeland? The apocalyptic warfare taking place in Syria
spares neither the elderly, the weak, women nor children.
Mind numbing atrocities are being committed on both
�sides�of the conflict. (Ishmael cannot find peace, He even
fights His brothers). Photos of precious children washed up
on the shores, having drowned en-route to European shores
tear at the western heart, which had once been softened by
centuries of Christian teaching. But a closer examination
reveals troubling details. Eyewitnesses report that the vast
majority of those seeking asylum are single males of
military age. These �poor souls� are already rioting,
and demanding their own food, upon arrival at their generous
host countries . Whoever heard of a houseguest demanding his
own food be served him at the expense of the host?
(331) Liberty
University
Welcomes Socialist Bernie Sanders to Address Student Body:
�We Have Same Goals� by Heather Clark, Christian
News Network, 9/16/15 Liberty University is listed among the colleges in the
Lighthouse Trails contemplative colleges list. It is said to
be the largest Christian college in the world. As Lighthouse
Trails has contended for many years, when a school starts
going down the contemplative path, views on morality,
politics, and spiritual matters begin to change, eventually
drastically.
(332) 'Mindfulness'
meditation
fad popular with celebrities can make you dream up false
memories at The Berean Call, 9/21/15 TBC: From the April 2006 newsletter: Psychotherapy is an
exercise in futility unless innate goodness resides within
man at his very core. Here�s why: if man has an evil nature,
as the Bible teaches, then it�s impossible for him to change
himself. In other words, if I�m innately evil, I will always
be evil because there is nothing within me to enable me to
change . But if I�m good within but am experiencing problems
of living, then through various psychological methods or
techniques, I should be able to tap into, utilize, or
realize that goodness and thus remedy the adversities I
experience. All the psychotherapeutic selfisms, from
self-love to self-esteem to self-image to self-actualization
to self-realization�and ultimately to self-deification�are
predicated upon the innate goodness of one�s nature.]
(333) The
Hebrew Prophets named in the Qur'an by Mike
Oppenheimer, 10/6/15 Most Muslims have not read the Bible carefully so they do
not know what it actually says about God, Mankind, or the
prophets. They know what their religion tells them, which is
more often contradictory to the Bible.
(334) Obama:
Christians
Threaten Nation by Bryan Fischer, AFA,
10/18/15 If you have ever wondered whether President Obama has an
abiding hostility to people of Christian faith, wonder no
more. He believes we are a threat to national security. If
you are a sincerely devoted follower of Jesus Christ, your
president believes you are a potential domestic
terrorist.
(335) Calvary
Chapel
Pastor Greg Laurie Posts Photo Standing with New Age
Advocate Roma Downey by Lighthouse Trails,
10/29/15 A Lighthouse Trails reader sent this photo (see below) to
us today. It is a picture of Calvary Chapel pastor Greg
Laurie, standing with Roma Downey and Mark Burnett and was
posted on Greg Laurie�s Facebook page along with this
caption by Downey: "So nice spending time with friends. Mark
and I had a lovely lunch today with Greg and Cathe Laurie
#harvestoc" Such a photo only heightens concerns as to the
direction Greg Laurie (one of Calvary Chapel�s most popular
pastors) is taking the church.
(336) Oprah�s
Latest
Attempt to Introduce New Age Spirituality to Evangelical
Church at Lighthouse Trails, 10/30/15 In light of your coverage regarding the Parliament of the
World�s Religions, which took place Oct.15-19 in Salt Lake
City, UT, it has been brought to my attention that Oprah�s
�Belief� (her 7-episode television series) was shown some
time during the conference, according to a post-conference
e-mail from Imam Abdul Majik Mujahid, Board Chair of the
Parliament of the World Religions. Oprah�s �Belief�
television series (7 episodes) premiered Oct.18 on OWN
Network and is Oprah�s latest attempt to introduce New Age
Spirituality and interfaith spirituality to the evangelical
church.
(337) United
Methodist
and Episcopalian Church Clergy Lead Prayer Rally to
�Bless� Abortion Clinic at The Berean Call,
11/3/15 In Ohio, United Methodist Church pastor, Reverend Laura
Young, says she believes pro-life protesters in front of
Planned Parenthood and other abortion facilities have
�misguided faith.� In fact, she thinks these clinics should
be blessed, which is why she went out to an abortion
facility called Preterm on October 8th in Cleveland. In
2014, Preterm was involved in the abortion-related death of
Lakisha Wilson. Young explained her acceptance of abortion
like this: �Christianity, like most faiths, is founded on
love. Watching protesters shouting judgment and hate based
on what they call religion is horrible. Is that loving God?
Is that loving your neighbor as yourself?�
(338) Godlessness
is
Reaching Epidemic Proportions by Howard Green,
11/23/15 Imagine the world with no rules, accountability, or
consequences for evil actions? This image is one where
people take a life with no remorse. It is a place where life
savings are greedily stolen, women and children are
abandoned, and even basic respect that was afforded to a
mother and father is absent. This place of our worst
imaginings is one fraught with lawless, heartless, and
treacherous people who are concerned with no one but
themselves. That would be a world where the concept of love
is foreign, while brutality, slander, and darkness become
the norm. This is not a description of total societal,
economic, or geopolitical breakdown sometime in the distant
future. It is an accurate analysis of condition of our world
at this moment. This is how a majority of people are living
life. These are the direct results of one fact: Godlessness
is reaching epidemic proportions.
(339) Praising
God
Through it All by Warren B. Smith, 11/26/15
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the
LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us,
and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of
his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and
into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless
his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth to all generations. (Psalm 100:1-5)
(340) A
Difficult Response to Paul Wilkinson by Jacob
Prasch, 11/27/15 It has been a painful ordeal for Moriel and for myself
(Jacob Prasch) personally to have, without warning, been
publicly slandered and defamed on YouTube and elsewhere on
the Internet by Paul Wilkinson as "not loving Jesus Christ",
as "teaching heresy", and even as having gone into some
brand of replacement theology simply because I and others do
not agree with his particular view of the timing of the
rapture.
(341) The
Fall
and Rise of Human Violence: Why crime plunged in the 17th
century but is rising again in the 21st by Berit
Kjos - Updated December 17, 2012 As history repeats itself, the civilized world is
regressing. Paganism, promiscuity, deception and violent
crime are on the rise, while the growing hatred for Biblical
Christianity is fanned by a global media and entertainment
industry that wants nothing more than the death of Biblical
Truth and morality.
(342) Archaeologists
uncover
King Hezekiah seal by Biblical Archeology,
12/6/15 Archaeologists discovered the impression of a seal that
bears the name of King Hezekiah and was found during recent
excavations by Jerusalem.
(343) Syrian
Refugees:
Is There A Biblical Response? by Albert James
Dager, 12/17/15 God has blinded the eyes and dulled the minds of the
leaders in the West. Even those who wish to resist the
possibility of violent jihadists coming into the U.S. by
imbedding themselves among the refugees are blind. While
proclaiming that most Muslims are peaceful, they are
ignoring the fact that virtually all Muslims believe their
destiny is to conquer the world. Violent jihad is merely one
means; peaceful jihad through immigration and procreation is
as much, or more, a threat to our culture than violent
jihad. This invasion of the West is part of God�s judgment upon
the nations that have had the advantage of the Gospel for
the past millennium and beyond, yet have rejected God�s
righteousness. But God�s will shall be done, regardless of
who wins the next election. It may be just a matter of how
soon He completes His judgment.
(344) Undertaker,
Come
Quickly: Neo Evan Christianis Has Died by Orell
Steinkamp, 12/17/15 The Neo (New) Evangelical Christian experiment has failed.
It reminds me of the Titanic. This unsinkable ship left
England amid cheers and high festivity. For many it
represented the latest in human achievement. But, alas! It
was not to be. On the high seas amid the turbulence of the
seas and surrounding icebergs its underwater hull was ripped
open and seawater was pouring in. But on board gala and
gaity was in full swing. Only a few noticed a minor listing
of the mighty ship. But the band played on even while the
water compartments were taking on water from the sea. The
Neo-Evangelical Gospel ship was also launched with great
promise. This was to be the beginning of prominence for the
American and International Evangelical movement. They openly
wanted a recognition by the religious academia and to
dialogue with culture. In no time Neo-Evangelicalism was
birthed, led by Harold Ockenga, Carl Henry, Billy Graham and
the Fuller Seminary personnel. In due time Christianity
Today became its publishing oracle and Carl Henry its
editor. The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE)
became its constituency and Fuller seminary its training
ground.[2]
(345) Walking
in
His Footsteps: A Special Christmas Message by
Author uknown 1881 �My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow
Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never
perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."
John 10:27-28
(346) Preparing
for
Persecution by Berit Kjos, 1/2/16 Jesus described the normal Christian life: "If they have
persecuted Me, they will also persecute you..." He told His
disciples, "because they know not Him that sent me." John
15:20-21 We need to take His warning to heart, count the
cost of discipleship, and pray that our Shepherd prepare us
for inevitable battles ahead. Prayerfully consider these
steps -- as a family or as an individual believer:
Pray for His guidance.
Learn from those who suffered persecution because of
their faith. (See "victory")
Memorize His Word, the victorious "Sword of the
Spirit" in every battle we face. (See Clothed with Truth)
Memorize hymns and songs that enable you to keep
praising Him and affirming His victory.
Silently practice singing to Him in the midst of all
kinds of distractions.
Practice giving thanks in all circumstances.
By His wonderful grace, "love your enemies, bless
those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and
pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you."
Matthew 5:44-45
(347) The
Five Pillars of Islam: A Christian�s Perspective by
Gary F. Zeolla, 1/3/16 The Five Pillars of Islam bring out many differences between
the god of Islam and the God of the Bible and the means of
approach thereto. The Five Pillars also bring out differences
between Islamic and Christian attitudes toward religious
practices.
(348) The
Fall
and Rise of Human Violence: Why crime plunged in the 17th
century but is rising again in the 21st by Berit
Kjos, 1/13/16 As history repeats itself, the civilized world is
regressing. Paganism, promiscuity, deception and violent
crime are on the rise, while the growing hatred for Biblical
Christianity is fanned by a global media and entertainment
industry that wants nothing more than the death of Biblical
Truth and morality.
(349) Secret
Societies
Exposed: Inside the Hidden World of Secret Societies
at Spiritual Research Network, 1/19/16 The following quotes and content on this webpage come
directly from Evangelical Truth, a ministry committed to
exposing the lies and deception of secret societies,
regardless of the consequences: "This site provides an
unprecedented insight into the mystical domain of secret
societies throughout the world. It looks at their hidden
secret society degrees, rituals, secrets and esoteric
teaching. It examines, in detail, Freemasonry, which is
widely accepted as the mother of most of our modern-day
secret society organizations. The site looks at the many
so-called Protestant secret societies, which have been
birthed by Freemasonry, like the Orange Order, the
Independent Loyal Orange Institution and the Royal Black
Institution and compares, contrasts and examines the
similarities between these neo-Masonic structures and their
ritualistic degrees. For anyone interested in the various
Secret societies of the world this site will be a valuable
resource. It essentially exposes the secret societies inside
secrets. This site creates a unique facility for those both
on the inside and outside of the many secret societies of
the world who desire to examine otherwise hard-to-obtain
internal material relating to the many esoteric secret
societies throughout the world. This informative in-depth
resource centre discloses startling evidence about the
origins, structures, secrets, degrees and rituals of bodies
which have hitherto been concealed from the public gaze.
This website will endeavour to examine in an open objective
manner the internal workings of these secret societies, and
establish their status in relation to the Christian faith
and the teaching of the Bible (a book these secret societies
so frequently employ)."
(350) Discernment
as
Free Speech: A Brief Study by Sarah Leslie,
1/28/16 Peggy Noonan wrote in her weekly Wall Street Journal column
this past December 4th her concerns that "The censorship
movement is radical. It is starting to make everyone in the
country feel harassed and anxious. It is odd to see
candidates miss a rising issue that is giving pause to so
many Americans. I pray someone will address it. Literally, I
just did. This Herescope post is an answer to her prayers.
It may be an unexpected answer and a politically incorrect
answer, but nevertheless it is a response. It represents an
exercise in the right of free speech and freedom of
religion.
(351) Once
in
Cult, Student Sees Importance of Knowing Theology
at The Berean Call, 2/4/16 Is it important for a Christian to study biblical doctrine
or should all Christians merely love Jesus and leave
theology to trained theologians? Ask David Bell, who may be
Exhibit A in the case for the doctrinal training of all
Christians....less than a decade ago he was a pastor in the
Church of God International, which branched off from the
Worldwide Church of God in 1978.
(352) Israel:
Archaeologists
Uncover Inscriptions in Jesus� Language at The
Berean Call, 2/8/16 Archaeologists in Israel have uncovered ancient epitaphs in
both Greek and Aramaic that date back to the first century.
[It was reported] that the inscriptions were found in a
cemetery that is located in the ancient Galilean capital
city of Zippori. "Zippori was the first capital of Galilee
from the time of the Hasmonean dynasty until the
establishment of Tiberias in the first century CE. The city
continued to be central and important later on," researchers
explained in a press release announcing the discovery. Four
words which are part of the inscriptions were thus far able
to be decoded. One word, in Greek, means �Jose,� a common
Jewish name during the period, the three other words are
Aramaic for �the Tiberian,� �forever,� and �rabbi.� Motti
Aviam of the Kinneret Institute for Galilean Archaeology
stated that �the Tiberian� could refer to the hometown of
the deceased, Tiberias. The word �forever� denotes that the
deceased�s burial place will always belong to him. Scholars
are unsure precisely what the word �rabbi� meant at the time
of its inscription. This discovery is important because it
proves the existence of a Jewish community in the region
from ancient times--something which the Palestinian
Authority continually denies. �The Jewish life in the city
was rich and diverse as indicated by the numerous ritual
baths (miqwe'ot) discovered in the excavation; while at the
same time the influence of Roman culture was also quite
evident as reflected in the design of the town with its
paved streets, colonnaded main roads, theater and
bathhouses. The wealth of inscriptions from the cemeteries
attests to the strong Jewish presence and the city's social
elite in the late Roman period," researchers concluded.
(Veronica Neffinger, �Israel: Archaeologists Uncover
Inscriptions in Jesus� Language,� Christian Headlines.com ,
January 29, 2016)
(353) Chronology
of
Persecution: Plots to kill Jews & Christians &
Rule an Islamic World by Crossroads, 2/9/16
Since the beginning of time, ambitious change-agents have
plotted together to fuel revolutions and transform their
world. Minor or major conspiracies have usually played an
important part in fueling radical social change. Dismissing
such secret plots as mere "conspiracy theories" has served
powerful leaders well -- at least for a while. But those who
know God see a larger picture. While human nature doesn't
change, our God still reigns! That's why the author of Psalm
2 wondered why power-hungry rulers would even try to plot
against God and His sovereign ways: "Why do the nations
rage, and the people plot [conspire] a vain thing? ... the
rulers take counsel together... saying, 'Let us break Their
bonds in pieces...'" Psalm 2:1-3 Like many leaders today,
Hitler knew how to use every crisis as an opportunity to
grab more power. So did his anti-Semitic Muslim partners
during Word War 2: Mohammad Haj min al-Husseini, (the Grand
Mufti of Jerusalem) and the rising Muslim Brotherhood. Both
aimed to eradicate Israel and radicalize the Middle East and
North Africa. Their followers have come a long way! Today,
their grand target is America. As we are told in a Muslim
Brotherhood document titled, 'An Explanatory Memorandum on
the General Strategic Goal for the Group in North America,'
"The Ikhwan [Muslim Brotherhood] must understand that their
work in America is a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and
destroying the Western civilization from within and
�sabotaging� its miserable house by their hands and the
hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God�s
religion is made victorious over all other
religions.�' (Soros-funded "expert" defends Muslim
Brotherhood) For those who trust God, this should be a time
of prayer and preparation for the challenging times ahead.
As the West becomes increasingly hostile toward
Christianity, it's fast forgetting the truths and moral
standards that laid the foundation for Western freedom and
order. Yet, we need not fear, for--"The Lord... will be a
refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And
those who know Your name will put their trust in You." Psalm
9:9-10
(354) Upper
or
Supper Room excerpt from Illustrations for Church
Service by Walter B. Knight, 3/3/16 The early Church prayed in the upper room, the twentieth
century Church cooks in the supper room.
(355) 70%
of
Americans are Christians? Seriously? by Marsha
West, 8/28/15 A recent report indicates that 70% of Americans are
Christians. If this is true, what it says to this writer is
that a whole host of people who profess faith in Jesus
Christ neglect to read the instruction manual that reveals
everything we need to know about the object of our faith.
I'm referring to the Bible. Anyone who takes the time to
read it knows what Jesus taught and how those who claim to
believe in Him must live their lives. Clearly Christians are
not reading the Book. So, isn't it a bit odd that people who
say they believe Christ died for their sins aren't the least
bit curious about who He is and what He taught while He was
here? Jesus spent the better part of three years teaching
his disciples all sorts of things such as what His mission
was (John 1:14-18) and how they were to conduct themselves.
The Lord gave commands, not suggestions. He never said:
"It's not a good idea to murder
someone...lie...cheat...steal...sleep around...commit
adultery...practice homosexual sex...get drunk...use
drugs...have a slew of idols, or anything like that." Nor
did He say: "It would be nice if you'd consider forgiving
those who do you wrong." He never tossed them the "Good
job!" compliment when they exercised discernment. Neither
was Jesus into high-fiving and "atta boys." Whenever these
sorts of things came up in conversation, He said
unequivocally, "Do not"..."You must!" Moreover, He was clear
that in order to be saved people must repent of their sins
and turn away from the sinful life. "If we say we have not
sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us" (1
John 1:10).
(356) Muslims
Slaughter
Over 10,000 Christians and Destroy 13,000 Churches in
Nigeria by Raymond Ibrahim, 3/29/16 "Over 500 Christian villagers were slain in one night." �
Emmanuel Ogebe, Nigerian human rights lawyer, March 2, 2016.
What Christians in Nigeria are experiencing is a live
snapshot of what millions of Christians and other
non-Muslims have experienced since the seventh century, when
Islam "migrated" to their borders: violence, persecution,
enslavement, and the destruction of churches. The Obama
Administration refuses to associate Boko Haram � an
organization that defines itself in purely Islamic terms �
with Islam, just as it refuses to associate the ISIS with
Islam. In all cases, the Obama Administration looks the
other way, while insisting that the jihad is a product of
"inequality," "poverty" and "a lack of opportunity for jobs"
� never of Islamic teaching. Boko Haram, the Nigerian
Islamic extremist group, has killed more people in the name
of jihad than the Islamic State (ISIS), according to the
findings of a new report. Since 2000, when twelve Northern
Nigerian states began implementing or more fully enforcing
Islamic sharia law, "between 9,000 to 11,500 Christians"
have been killed. This is "a conservative estimate."
(357) The
Beckism of Mormonism by Mike Oppenheimer,
3/31/16 Recently Glenn Beck in response to Breitbart addressed what
he says is another Smear Campaign (Mar.25, 2016). Putting
aside the politics and accusations flung from either side I
wanted to address the Mormonism that Beck himself brought up
and his continual denial of the facts of history of his own
religion.
(358) Will
A
Gateway Be Opened When The Arch From The Temple Of Baal Is
Reconstructed In Times Square? at Understand The
Times, 3/31/16 In April, part of the Temple of Baal that stood in Palmyra,
Syria will be reconstructed in Times Square in New York City
and in Trafalgar Square in London. The specific
portion that is being erected in both cases is the
48-foot-tall arch that stood at the entrance to the
temple. The Institute of Digital Archaeology is the
organization behind this effort, and the display of these
two arches is intended to be the highlight of UNESCO�s World
Heritage Week late next month. After seeing my initial
story, one of my readers observed that an arch is really
just a gateway or a portal. In other words, it can
serve as both an entrance and an exit. So could it be
possible that we will be unknowingly setting up a gate or a
portal of some sort in Times Square?
(360) When
God
Calls a Man by Roger Oakland, 4/9/16 When God places a vision in a man�s heart, events happen
God�s way according to God�s will. When man plans things
man�s way without God, events may unfold but they are the
product of manipulation. I have learned this principal the
hard way and it took me many years. Sometimes it takes a few
hard knocks to get a person�s attention. When the truth
finally sinks it is obvious that God can use anyone,
anytime, anywhere.
(361) Victory!
The
Arch From The Temple Of Baal Planned For New York City Has
Been CANCELED at Understand The Times,
4/14/16 The Temple of Baal is NOT coming to Times Square in New
York City next month. This is great news, and it
represents an incredible victory for Christians in the
United States. As you will see below, the New York
Times, Snopes and a whole host of other mainstream news
sources reported last month that everything was on track for
reproductions of the giant 48-foot-tall arch that stood in
front of the Temple of Baal in Palmyra, Syria to be put up
simultaneously in Times Square in New York City and
Trafalgar Square in London during the month of April.
But now that will not be happening. The only arch that
will be going up will be in Trafalgar Square, and it won�t
be the one from the Temple of Baal. Instead, the
Institute for Digital Archaeology has changed plans and will
be putting up a reproduction of the Arch of Triumph which
the Romans originally built in Palmyra and that has nothing
to do with Baal. So why has there been such a dramatic
change in plans?
(362) Do
you
know why Earth Day is April 22? by Kevin DeAnna,
4/22/16 School children, businesses, clergy, politicians and even
the United States military soon will honor the birthday of
Vladimir Lenin, founder of the Soviet Union. Of course, they
will call it Earth Day. Brian Sussman points out in his
explosive new book, �Eco-Tyranny: How the Left�s Green
Agenda will Dismantle America,� that the first nationwide
Earth Day was held April 22, 1970, the 100th anniversary of
the birth of the communist Bolshevik leader.
(364) �I
Never
Knew You� - Jesus by Roger Oakland, 4/25/16
There is a very sobering portion of the Bible that should
be read by every person who believes they are a faithful
follower of Jesus Christ. Following are the words Jesus
proclaimed on Judgment Day to those who stood before Him.
They had been deceived in the Name of Jesus.
(365) Atheist
Activist
Group Objects to Public School Visits to Ken Ham�s
Creation Museum by Heather Clark, Christian News
Network, 5/3/16 MADISON, Wisc. � A professing atheist activist organization
is expressing its objection to three public schools that
either have already or plan to visit Ken Ham�s Creation
Museum in Kentucky. The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF)
recently sent letters to officials with Brookville High
School in Dayton, Ohio, Jackson Independent School District
in Kentucky, and the Big Beaver Falls School District in
Pennsylvania to urge the cancellation of the trips to
Petersburg. �It is unconstitutional for a public school to
take students on a field trip to a religious venue such as
the Creation Museum, a Christian museum which promotes the
religious doctrine of creationism and lists is mission as
�to point today�s culture back to the authority of Scripture
and proclaim the gospel message,'� the letters read.
(366) Violence,
War,
Deception & Chaos by Crossroad, 5/10/16
Like nature with its storms and seasons, the world around
us keeps changing. In the midst of the spreading corruption,
are we prepared to stand firm in Christ no matter what
happens?
(367) Oswald
Chambers:
Personal Piety Combined With Flawed Theology by
Bob DeWaay, 5/17/16 We need to get back to the type of devotion described in
Acts 2:42 and leave the mystical approach behind, once for
all. We need to believe the promises of God all the while
remembering His mighty acts in history described in the
Bible. The gospel is expressed by objective truth grounded
in history such as described in 1Corinthians 15:1-11. The
Bible means what it says. The Holy Spirit inspired the
writers of the Bible. The readers need to believe what they
said and thus the Holy Spirit speaks.
(368) Study
on Church History compiled by Sandy Simpson,
5/18/16 I want to preface this study of church history by telling
you how I am going to do it. I am going to cover three
areas. First are the dates and brief descriptions of
the genesis of world religions not related to
Christianity. Second are the dates and brief
descriptions of the beginnings of movements that call
themselves �Christian� but are really false Christianity
because they teach against one or more of the core doctrines
of the Church. Lastly I will deal with the dates and
descriptions of the True Church through history to show that
God has always had a faithful remnant.
(369) When
challenges come, what�s Your �Christianity� all about?
by Mike Oppenheimer, 6/17/16 As believers in Jesus we are called to be ministers, to
reconcile people to the Lord bY the Gospel. This can take
time, patience, long suffering. It can be easy to forget
what has initially happened to us when we first believed.
The world can swallow us up in its ways to make us
ineffective. On the other hand, we can be so zealous that
pride can find a place and taint what we do and also make us
ineffective. Not only are we to disciple others but we are
to try and keep each other accountable.
(370) The
School
of Joyful Endurance by Berit Kjos, 6/19/16 Our struggles differ, but God's school of endurance fits
all our needs. And each time we pass its tests, our faith
grows ever stronger and His light of Truth shines brighter
on His pathway for our lives.
(371) Moralistic,
Mythical
and Mysticism Religions at VCY America, Host: Jim
Schneider Guest: Bodie Hodge of Answers in Genesis,
6/23/16 Bodie Hodge is a speaker, author and researcher at Answers
in Genesis and is a member of the editorial review board.
He's been involved with many books and DVD's and is a
regular speaker in the Creation Museum Speaker Series. This
Crosstalk looks at Bodie's book, 'World Religions and Cults:
Moralistic, Mythical and Mysticism Religions' Volume 2. As
Bodie made clear, there's only 2 religions in the
world�God's and not God's. All other religions take man's
ideas to supersede God and his word. So did Bodie appear on
Crosstalk to spew hate against other religions? After all,
'hate' is the word that seems to get thrown around these
days if you even question any other religion. Bodie
responded by saying he wanted to defend God and the
authority of his word. In fact, he believes that when
someone says not to attack other religions, that's an attack
on Christianity. Why? It's because God tells us to demolish
false arguments always keeping in mind that people are not
the enemy. In the first volume, Bodie hit the counterfeits
of Christianity; those belief systems that look, act or are
very similar to Christianity. This would include groups like
the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons. This new volume looks
at Eastern mysticism religions like Hinduism and Taoism,
where the adherents see everything as being an illusion; all
is spiritual and there's nothing material. Discussion also
included the New Age Movement, paganism, vitality cults,
meditation and Yoga and Sikhism. An interesting element to
the program included mention of the resurgence of Mythology.
This included Germanic/Norse Mythology, Greek Mythology and
Latin American Mythology (sometimes blended with Roman
Catholicism). Bodie noted that for each one of these
philosophies, their ultimate 'god' or creator is impersonal.
God communicated to mankind because we're made in his image
and he is a personal God. That's why we can read a
revelation from God and understand it. Since the god of
Eastern religions is impersonal, communication is
impossible. This means that any of their supposed ultimate
gods cannot reveal anything about that religion to mankind.
So anything that any Eastern religion claims to know about
their religion is purely arbitrary and is simply from the
mind of man.
(372) A
Final Wake Up Call at Understand The Times,
6/25/16 We were musing in a conversation the other day about some
of the issues associated with the difficulties of doctrinal
divergence. Our discussion focused on a certain fellowship
of churches. Like countless others, we were greatly
disturbed by the seemingly steady shift to the slippery
slope of doctrinal relativism that seems to be plaguing many
within this movement at the moment.
(373) Homosexuality,
The
Most Pressing Issue of Our Times by Gary Gilley,
Think On These Things, Volume 21, Issue 6, Nov/Dec 2015
The LGBT agenda has made rapid progress in Western
civilization in the last few decades. In just a few short
years, homosexuality has gone from a disgraceful, sinful
lifestyle which most made every effort to hide, to a
psychological disorder that needed to be cured to a normal
alternative lifestyle, flaunted in public and defiantly
daring any to oppose it. When Bruce Jenner became Caitlyn
and shortly thereafter won the Entertainment and Sports
Programing (ESPN)�s Arthur Ashe Courage Award, it was noted
by some that very little courage was needed at all.
Seemingly, the majority within the sports world and the
American public in general, rallied in support around
Jenner. Those needing courage are the ones who, even in the
most gracious of ways, oppose the LGBT lifestyle and/or
disagree with same-sex marriage. The world has changed so
rapidly that many of us are getting whiplash. The church has
been put in a unique and difficult position by standing for
the truth which has been thoroughly rejected by the
majority. But in darkness light shines best. May the church
not cave to the demands of the many but honor the Lord who
has set them free from the bondage of darkness.
(374) "GOD
CALLS THIS "ICHABOD" California Appeals Court Rules in
Favor of Word for Today Against Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa
& Brian Broderson by James Jacob Prasch,
7/3/16 On the basis of 1 Corinthians 6:4-8 where it states
"it is better to be defrauded" than to take brother to court
and hang the church's soiled linen out in public, it is good
this phony law suit by Brian Broderson & Co. was thrown
out. It is doubly sad, however, that Calvary Chapel could
not have held Brian Broderson and CCCM to account within its
own ranks. Paul Smith and Chuck's family are plainly the
victims. It is a very sad day when a corrupt civil court
system has more moral and ethical integrity than what is
supposed to be The Body of Christ. Had the senior Calvary
pastors stood up and taken responsibility as God's Word
commands (1 Cor. 6:5) and not in so cowardly a fashion
deferred to ecclesiastical politics with its play for money
and power, it would not have come to public scandal like
this.
(375) What
if
we are proven wrong on this issue? by Sandy
Simpson, 7/5/16
What issue am I talking about? Most Bible scholars today
teach that God does not create homosexuals, that there cannot
be a correlation between genetics and homosexuality and that
it is clearly only a choice of lifestyle. I have believed for
many years that they are only partly correct. Although
it is true that God did not create certain people to be
homosexuals and lesbians and that lifestyle is a choice, I
also believe it will be found after more testing that there IS
a genetic predisposition to homosexuality. What if
homosexuality is proven at a later time to have a foundation
in the genetic makeup of a person? Does that make God
responsible to creating homosexuality?
(376) Answers
in
Genesis Noah�s Ark Replica Opens This Week in Kentucky
by Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post, 7/7/16 The Ark Encounter, the life-sized Noah�s Ark theme-park
attraction, held its official ribbon cutting ceremony on
Tuesday in Grant County, Kentucky, ahead of its grand
opening on Thursday, July 7th, gathering a crowd of 7,000 to
witness the historic event. Ken Ham, president and CEO of
Answers in Genesis and The Creation Museum, told The
Christian Post: �In a world that is becoming increasingly
secularized and biased, it�s time for Christians to do
something of this size and this magnitude.� He told CP that
the Ark stands as a reminder. �To remind the coming
generations of the truth of God�s word. It�s our way of
presenting the truth of God�s Word to the world,� Ham
said.
(377) Guideposts:
Teaching
Little Children to Blaspheme at Lighthouse Trails,
7/15/16 Recently, I was in a hospital waiting room and reluctantly
picked up an issue of Guidepost Magazine. I very seldom read
Guidepost because the long-time publisher, Norman Vincent
Peale, promotes heresy and diabolical religions. He has also
denied the virgin birth and the necessity of being born
again. As I perused the magazine, I landed on an article by
Anna Gentile, a hospital chaplain. The article was about
Guideposts and Gentile�s work with sick children. In the
first paragraph she wrote: �Put your hand on your chest,� I
tell the young patients in the hospital where I work. �Can
you feel your heartbeat?� They nod. �Now, with each beat,
you can say, �I am, I am, I am.�� That prayer, addressed to
the great �I Am,� is at the beginning of the journal in each
Guideposts for Kids Comfort Kit I give out, and I can�t
begin to tell you how much comfort it gives.� � Happy
Birthday, Sparkle, Anna Gentile, Guideposts, July 2016.
(378) See
the
end is getting closer� by Jacob Prasch,
7/21/16 Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an anti-terrorism
law, but for the country�s many churches, the signature
sparked a demand for prayer and fasting. The bill toughens
punishment for acts deemed to be terrorism and for the
organization of �mass unrest,� according to the Los Angeles
Times. It would also introduce prison sentences of up to a
year for those who fail to report such crimes.
(379) 'Queer
Kids
Stuff' Videos Indoctrinate Preschoolers at The
Berean Call, 7/27/16 A new video series is aimed at indoctrinating preschoolers
with the LGBT message - a strategy that one pro-family
activist says is far from new. The series, titled "Queer
Kids Stuff" teaches preschoolers what the terms "gay,"
"bisexual" and "transgender" mean in an attempt to normalize
the LGBT lifestyle with youth at an early age - a tactic
that has repeatedly been used over the years to influence
impressionable children. Advocates of homosexual behavior
admit that they are trying to get to the youngsters before
they hear anything negative about homosexuality.
MassResistance founder and director Brian Camenker expresses
concern that homosexual activists are successfully
manipulating youth at an extremely influential age. "It's
painful to watch what they do because these are such young
kids,� Camenker shared, according to Fox News. �And they are
using such very sophisticated propaganda techniques on these
innocent kids - who are very vulnerable - to get them to
believe all this stuff." He says conservatives and
Christians tend to underestimate just how treacherous the
promoters of these tactics are. "Evil, I think, is not too
strong a word because anybody that would do this with kids -
particularly without parents� knowledge or permission - but
just anybody that would do that to them there's just
something wrong � something very, very wrong," Camenker
contends. Even though no preschool programs have indicated
yet that they will utilize this �queer� series, Camenker
says that it will very difficult to determine when they
actually do. (Kellogg, �'Queer Kids Stuff' videos
indoctrinate preschoolers,� OneNewNow Online, 7/6/16)
(380) Fed
Up
With False Teaching: Calvary Chapel Church Says �So Long�
to the CC Association at Lighthouse Trails,
7/28/16 A Calvary Chapel pastor who warned of false teachings and
apostate movements seeping into the Calvary Chapel
organization has been removed from his regional leadership
position, and is now removing his local congregation out of
the Calvary Chapel Association altogether.Pastor Dwight
Douville of Calvary Chapel Appleton Wisconsin was informed
last month that he was being removed from his position as a
regional leader, a position he�s held for many years. Why?
He says because personal friendships have been put above
doctrinal truth, muddying the waters of what Calvary Chapels
are all about. And because he advocated for maintaining and
staying the course while calling out wolves and yeast
seeping into Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and the organization
as a whole since the death of founder Chuck Smith.
(381) Thousands
Fasting
after Russian President Putin Signs Law Banning Evangelism
at The Berean Call, 8/3/16 Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law [the week
of July 3] a measure punishing any kind of religious
evangelization outside of churches, which some observers
have called one of the most restrictive move in "post-Soviet
history."
(382) Would
You
Be Willing to Lose All for the Sake of Christ? at
Lighthouse Trails, 8/4/16 LTRP Note: Earlier this month Putin, the leader of Russia,
brought into existence a law which prohibits the free
preaching and sharing of the Gospel. Those in violation of
this new law will be issued severe fines. In the 1960s and
1970s, Georgi Vins, a young Baptist pastor in the Soviet
Union, was in a similar situation. By the time it was over,
he spent eight years (starting at the age of 32) in Soviet
prisons. Below is an account of his father�s own persecution
and the years leading up to Georgi�s persecution and
imprisonment for his faith. Christians today in the Western
world should realize that persecution and martyrdom have
been the norm for countless believers in the past centuries
of Christianity and even in much of today�s non-Western
world. The question we have hanging over our heads lately
is, will Western Christians have what it takes to stand for
their faith and even die for their faith? With all the
comforts and freedom Western believers have enjoyed, will
this ease of being a Christian believer help or hinder our
ability to live (or die) for our faith. Suppose a government
threatens to take away your home, your job, and your
comforts if you do not stop standing for the truth of the
Gospel and share it with others, would you be willing to
lose all for the sake of Christ? Yea doubtless, and I count
all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of
all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win
Christ. (Philippians 3:8)
(383) Twelve
Steps
In The Wrong Direction - A Biblical View of
Codependency and Alcoholics Anonymous by
Gary E. Gilley and M. Kurt Goedelman, 8/7/16 A number of years ago I wrote a TOTT article dealing with
twelve-step programs as well as codependency. Recently
that article was revised by myself and Kurt Goedelman, the
director of Personal Freedom Outreach, and published in the
PFO�s Quarterly Journal (January-March 2016). Those who
consume a steady diet of syndicated television talk shows or
digest the writings of Christian psychologists such as Frank
Minirth, [1] Paul Meier, and Henry Cloud will be surprised
to learn that there is neither scientific nor biblical
evidence to support the theories of codependency.
Codependency is a hot topic within current psychology.
Before the late 20th century the word � and even the concept
� was virtually unknown. Now, nearly everyone in one fashion
or another seems to be codependent.
(384) Contending
or
contentious? by Jim Jenkins, 8/8/16 Here is what I gleaned from this brief study. To contend
for the faith once for all delivered to the saints is
arduous, and frankly agonizing at times. What I/we need to
guard against, however, is the tendency to adopt an attitude
of combativeness with others in order to arrive at the
truth. I don't want to be a brawler. I don't want to be
'that guy.' I don't intend to ever back down, but I can
pray, even agonize in prayer... that I contend for something
rather than against someone.
(385) Gender
Unicorn
Teaches Transgender Issues at The Berean Call,
8/10/16 A North Carolina school district's pro-LGBT character the
"gender unicorn" is being used for a training session in
which faculty are told parental involvement may not be
required for students struggling with gender identity
issues. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools had recently approved
measures to allow transgender students access to the public
facilities of their choice, in defiance of state law, before
backing off for now. Included in their plans for the new
measures was a recently released training presentation for
faculty that featured the "gender unicorn" character.
(386) World
Vision's
Gaza Manager Funneled Millions to Hamas: Israel at
Understand The Times, 8/12/16 Israel has accused a manager working for U.S.-headquartered
Christian charity World Vision of funneling millions of
dollars to Islamist militant group Hamas. Mohammad El Halabi
was arrested by Israel on June 15 while crossing the border
into Gaza, World Vision said in a statement. He was charged
by Israeli authorities on Thursday. He had run the
organization's Gaza operations since 2010. According to
Israel's Shin Bet security service, El Halabi diverted
around $7.2 million of World Vision money to Hamas each
year. That is the equivalent of 60 percent of the charity's
total annual funding for Gaza.
(387) Letter
to
the Editor: �Booted Out Harshly� From My Church at
Lighthouse Trails, 8/13/16 Dear Lighthouse Trails: I really appreciate all of you at
LHTs. Thank you and God bless each one of you. I went
through a very difficult period when attending
Calvary Chapel __________. I was very uncomfortable
with what they were permitting and promoting. I was very
distressed. I had concerns about The Message bible, Billy
Graham, Anne Graham Lotz�s Circle Prayer, Greg Laurie and a
few other things. I was told to spit out the bones. I asked
them to show me that approach in Scripture�they ignored me.
I raised concerns again and was booted out harshly. It was
mean. It hurt. LHT helped me to understand the concerns were
reasonable. I am still sad for the way things ended�but God
comforts me�I am okay. I think this is what
happens sometimes, and what happened to me is mild in
comparison to other situations.This has encouraged me to
read and study God�s Word. I really appreciate all
that you do- will keep you all in prayer. June (not real
name)
(388) An
Olympic
Challenge by Dr. Jim Jenkins, 8/14/16 Those entering the stadium in Rio were aptly called
contenders. For some who read this� it is time to get up and
get back into the race. For others, it is time to find your
help in the Name of the Lord. For us all, it is time to
�contend for the faith once for all delivered to the
saints.� �But Christ as a son over his own house; whose
house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the
rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.... For we are made
partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our
confidence stedfast unto the end.� (Hebrews 3:6;14) �I have
fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept
the faith.� (2 Tim. 4:7)
(389) What
Did
the First Living Cell Eat? at The Berean Call,
8/18/16 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven,
and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they
be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all
things were created by him, and for him" (Colossians:1:16For
by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that
are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be
thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all
things were created by him, and for him:). Not long ago, I
was talking with another creationist about the impossibility
of the first living cell coming into being through natural
causes from non-living chemicals. I asked him, "Even if such
a thing were possible, what would the first living cell
eat?" Without missing a beat, my friend said: "Cellery?" The
two of us shared a good laugh together, but I can assure you
that the origin of life is no laughing matter to
evolutionists. Many evolutionists, in fact, prefer to
sidestep the issue completely, asserting that evolution
deals only with the origin of different species after that
first living cell has somehow come into being. But have you
ever stopped to think about how that first living cell could
have survived for even a millisecond? Unless its environment
was perfectly suited to sustain that cell's life, it would
have died in an instant. Unless the cell had necessary
nutrients, it would likewise quickly perish. And unless it
had the means to reproduce itself, that first living cell
would be the last. Or, perhaps, hundreds of millions of
years later, the second living cell would ooze out of a
primordial soup of non-living chemicals � and once again die
a millisecond later! No, as the great scientist Louis
Pasteur demonstrated in 1859, life comes only from life.
Pasteur confirmed what the Bible tells us � that life on
Earth came from the living God.
(390) Eusebius,
the
author of traditions and legends of Christianity
by Mike Oppenheimer, 8/26/16 In 312 The Roman Emperor Constantine accepted his own
version of the Christian faith While he was preparing for
another military campaign. The story claims he had a
vision of the cross against the sun, accompanied by the
words, "In this sign, conquer."
(391) The Meltdown of Christianity
by Roger Oakland, 8/31/16 Since the turn of the millennium, the world has witnessed a
virtual meltdown of biblical Christianity. While many are
saying Christianity is experiencing a great revival and even
a �new reformation,� this commentary will document the
demise of Christianity by showing we are experiencing the
greatest apostasy in modern-day history.
Comment
from UTT: This
survey
reflects the
reality of the
day. The
younger
generation is
no longer
biblically
literate. The
same is true
of the adult
population and
even those who
attend church
in most
places. Their
is a famine in
the land.
Those who are
still
following the
Lord are
calling out
for men and
women to be
raised up to
form a remnant. A
recent
nationwide
study revealed
on Friday 10
major findings
about the
influence of
the Bible on
American teens
and their
interaction
with God�s
Word �
including the
fact that just
3 percent of
teens read the
Bible every
day.According
to the 2016
Teen State of
the Bible
research, a
majority of
teenagers in
the United
still have a
reverence for
the Bible, but
their views
about what it
actually means
to them has
evidently been
influenced by
many of
today�s
secular
influences
that they have
been subjected
to via the
public
schools, the
media and the
entertainment
industry.
There is a lot of talk
these days in Christian circles about the great outpouring
of the �Holy Spirit� that is just around the corner. This
�outpouring� will supposedly bring �another Jesus
Movement�. [1] While this would be a
wonderful thing if the �spirit� was the Holy Spirit, there
is reason to believe we are living at a time when �another
spirit� [2] may be the spirit that is in
the forefront.Not long ago, I came across a page on the
Internet posting an interview done at the 2016 Calvary
Chapel annual pastor�s conference held in Costa Mesa,
California. The person doing the interview was Josh
Turansky. The two being interviewed were Raul Ries of CC
Diamond Bar and his son Ryan Ries of the Whoesoevers, a
heavy rock band that promotes satanic symbolism as a means
of attracting the youth to biblical Christianity.
(394) Georgia ACLU Leader Quits Over Young
Daughters� Encounter With Men in Women�s Restroom at
Lighthouse Trails, 9/16/16 ATLANTA � The head of the Georgia chapter of the American
Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has resigned from her position
over her disagreement on transgender restroom use following an
experience where her own young daughters became frightened in
encountering three large men in the women�s restroom. Maya
Dillard Smith says that she realized that her values were
different from those of the ACLU, which has backed the Obama
administration�s controversial transgender restroom mandate
for schools and has expressed opposition against North
Carolina�s restroom law. �It became very evident to me that
the ACLU and myself were simply principally and
philosophically unaligned on a number of issues,� she told
Fox�s Megyn Kelly this week. �And I found myself and at the
crux of the transgender rights and transgender restroom
controversy.�
(395) Sanhedrin
Demand
for End to Muslim Rule on Temple Mount Draws UNESCO
Response at Understand the Times, 9/22/16 Comment from UTT: This article could be classified on the
lunatic fringe. To hint that Israel has no right to declare
the Temple Mount as a Jewish Holy site is like saying that
Mecca is a Jewish Holy site. Does the United Nations have
any common sense or are they given over to a delusional
spirit? Don't ask the Pope in Rome that question. He says
that the god of Islam is his god.
(396) Islamic
Movement
in U.S. Preparing for Battle at VCY America, Host:
Jim Schneider, Guest: John Guandolo, 9/23/16 While life certainly appears to be going on normally in
most sectors of American society, preparations are being
made for war against us; a war that a particular enemy wants
to fight on our own soil. Sadly, our government has known
about the preparations for this war since the early '90's.
Our government speaks as though there's nothing to worry
about and describe those who've given us a taste of what may
come via their terrorist acts as nothing more than mentally
deranged individuals.
(397) ReThink
Apologetics
Conferences teach Christian youth to think clearly
at Spirit of Error, 9/24/16 If you live near Southern California and you have a junior
high, high school or college-aged student, I urge you to
take them to Stand to Reason�s �ReThink Apologetics Student
Conference,� tonight and tomorrow in Costa Mesa, California.
Upcoming ReThink conferences will be held in Dallas, Texas,
and Birmingham, Alabama. These conferences�featuring some of
today�s top Christian apologists�prepare students to defend
their faith against intellectual attacks from skeptics and
to learn to share their faith in an intelligent and gracious
manner. In short, they will help develop them into
clear-thinking, winsome Christians. And there�s a bonus:
when your children learn to think clearly about their faith,
they�ll be inoculated against the unclear thinking that
clouds the minds of so many who�ve bought into the harmful
teachings and practices of the New Apostolic Reformation. If
you don�t live near one of the conferences, then consider
checking out the other resources offered by Stand to Reason.
This organization is doing excellent work helping
Christians�young and old�learn to think more clearly about
issues of Christianity and the surrounding culture. Greg
Koukl�s weekly podcast is something I wish every Christian
listened to.
(398) Remembering
The
Persecuted Christians (Audio) at VCY America,
Host: Jim Schneider, Guest: Paul Popov, 10/1/16 Paul Popov is the CEO of Door of Hope International. They
are a voice and a helping hand to persecuted Christians
worldwide. When he was five years old (in 1948), his father,
Haralan Popov, a prominent Protestant minister, was brutally
taken from his family by the KGB and arrested on false
charges of being a 'spy for America'. Paul, with his family,
were branded as 'enemies of the state'.
(399) The American Media, the Change in Control
of the Internet, and the Threat to Freedom & Truth
by Bill Randles, 10/5/16 If they shut down the Internet, a light goes out. I will
then be relieved of the responsibility to write as copiously
as I have (1000 articles, several books). I will know the
darkness is descending and that soon the Lord will return .
. . we must work while it is light . . . Maranatha!
(400) Author Ray Yungen has gone to be with the Lord
by Moriel, 10/17/16 It is with a combination of rejoicing and deep sadness that
Moriel & Jacob Prasch learned that Christian author and
apologist Ray Yungen has gone home to be with Jesus. In
heaven there is indeed rejoicing. For we who remain to carry
on the battle that Ray fought with such Christ centred
integrity and dedication however, it is a day of deep
sadness. Although the separation is but temporary, until we
are reunited with Ray again in the day Jesus returns , we
shall certainly miss him dearly. Yet, as with Dave Hunt,
though Ray is absent from the body but present with The
Lord, we meanwhile, shall continue to be inspired by his
fervency, fortitude, and dedication to Christ.
(401) Praying
for
the Persecuted Church (Audio) at Crosstalk, Host:
Jim Schneider, Guest: David Curry, 10/20/16 Outside of their day-to-day comings and goings, people are
far too often oblivious to what's taking place in the world.
Sadly, many Christians are like this as well with some
attending church, coming home and not paying any attention
to the things of God or even their own faith until the
following Sunday. While America carries on that routine,
there are many people who are being killed each month due to
their faith in Christ. Christian churches and properties are
destroyed. Others are arrested with some put in prison and
even beaten or raped due to their faith. Joining Crosstalk
to discuss this issue was David Curry. David is the
president and CEO of Open Doors, a nonprofit organization
focused on serving persecuted Christians in over 60
countries. Not only does David think that most Americans
don't know about persecution happening to Christians
worldwide, he also believes most Christians in America don't
even know. He feels that people don't want to know because
if they don't know, their senses won't be assaulted. Adding
to this is the fact that the media pays little attention to
it. From a media perspective it can seem episodic, with an
incident here and there, so people think if they're not
hearing about it on CNN, then it's not happening.
Unfortunately it is occurring and in pernicious ways
throughout the world. Government may be at the heart of the
problem while at other times it may be due to extremist
groups. Whatever the cause, David believes there are about
five or six major factors driving persecution. Open Doors
ranks about 60 nations as the most difficult places on earth
to be a Christian. One is North Korea where people worship
the current leader as well as those of the past. They
imprison people for owning Bibles, they've killed people for
talking about Jesus and there are no open and free churches
in the entire nation. The good news, according to David, is
that there are 400,000 followers of Jesus in North Korea.
The church of Jesus Christ is there and still surviving
although we also know there's at least 70,000 that are in
labor camps because of their faith. In China, David noted
that there are elements of the government that understand
the importance of the Christian church due to its moral
component. Also, in the northwest part of the country
they're facing the problem of controlling radical Islamic
elements. David went on to comment about the vigilante-style
'justice' of Islamic extremism showing up in Germany and
Pakistan, the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted
Church on November 6th, the numbness of modern Christians to
the persecuted church, comments from Crosstalk listeners and
more.
(402) A
Celebration of a Servant�s Promotion by Mike
Oppenheimer, 10/23/16 In life, we come across certain people who are
extraordinary in character. Ray Yungen was just such a
person. It was Ray who first made us aware of the Catholic
contemplative mysticism and certain New Age practices
becoming popular and entering the church. He did more than
point them out, he explained what they were and why a
Christian should not participate in this kind of
spirituality. As he explained about centering prayer, also:
contemplative prayer was a means for all to find the God
within by attaining oneness with self. This is the basis for
Eastern religions from which mystical traditions originate.
Ray did not parse the truth, but he was considerate in the
way he presented it to those caught in deceptions. A
ministry is validated by a person�s example of being a
servant, willing to help others, and not just by what they
know. His knowledge did not surpass his caring, and his
passion was genuine in helping others who were deceived by
contemplative and New Age practices. Ray was always pleasant
to speak with and be with.
(403) Muslim
Dreams
and Visions by Gary Gilley, 10/28/16 Again, I understand the assertion that Isa isn�t sharing
the gospel but is merely preparing dreamers for the gospel
that is to come in greater fullness via a human evangelist.
But I still question the inconsistencies between Jesus�
preparation of unbelievers while on earth and Isa�s
preparation via dreams. Also, in some of the accounts I�ve
read, Isa does, in fact, call on the dreamers to believe in
him. So the claim that he merely prepares them to receive
the gospel isn�t always consistent with the testimony
record. Additionally, I have to wonder why Jesus wouldn�t
share the gospel with Muslims if He were appearing to them.
He�s the most capable and powerful evangelist the world has
ever known. Yes, Rom. 10:13-15 says salvation comes by
hearing the gospel preached by a human, and that is part of
the divine decree I mentioned above. But those who affirm
that Jesus is appearing to Muslims also affirm by
implication that God isn�t confined to His own decree in
these instances, so why would the human evangelist be
necessary at all except in a follow-up capacity?
(404) Millennials
Agree
With Marx More Than the Bible, Study Finds at
Understand the Times, 11/5/16 Comment from UTT: Postmodernism did not happen by chance.
Behind thie Marxist agenda there is a wide spectrum of
educators with an agenda to brainwash the world into
believing that there is no God and there are no values. As
Marxism provided the basis for the communist ideology
throughout the world, postmodernism is the current version
that has had a huge impact on the world and the church. The
education of the younger generation is the key to advancing
the program. This world view is now fully entrenched in the
church and the majority of young people have no concept what
biblical values are let alone the crux of the Christian
faith which is acknowledging Jesus Christ as Creator and
Savior.
(405) The
Calvary
Chapel Movement and the Sinking of the Titanic by
Roger Oakland, 11/8/16 I expect there will be some open discussion now by various
spokespersons of the Old Calvary and a lot of dirt thrown
around. I expect to see the whole movement shattered into
various directions. I am reminded of how God allowed
confusion to come at the Tower of Babel when he saw the
wrong in what man was trying to do. As for Calvary Chapel,
some will form alliances believing they are reconstructing
the Titanic. But that will not stop the sinking, and perhaps
that is exactly what God intended should happen. Just as
Chuck Smith himself said in the video, pastors need to
follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and His Word and forget
about political alliances and following men and their
movements. Time will tell, won�t it?
(406) Around
the
Oval Table by Corrie Ten Boom, 11/13/16 Can a piece of furniture be important? The oval table in
our dining room was the gathering place for hopes and
dreams, the listening place for prayers and petitions, and
the loving place for joy and laughter. But Sunday, it was
something more�it was the special place for family and
friends.
(407) Ironside:
“Substitution�?—He
Took Our Place by Harry Ironside, 11/21/16 Although the word substitution is not in the Bible, it
stands for a great truth that runs through the Scriptures
from Genesis to Revelation. That is, the fact that the Lord
Jesus Christ, in infinite grace, took the place of poor,
lost, guilty sinners, and made it possible for a holy God to
reach out in mercy and save all who would come to Him in the
name of His beloved Son.
(408) Commentary:
What
Do Hitler, Alice Bailey, and Replacement Theology
Adherents Have in Common? by Philip Gray,
11/22/16 What Do Hitler, Alice Bailey, and Replacement Theology
Adherents Have in Common? Basically, the answer to that
question is that in all three cases, they reject the Jews as
God’s chosen people. Those who embrace Replacement Theology
probably don’t realize that the thinking behind Replacement
Theology is some of the thinking behind occultist Alice
Bailey as well as Hitler when it comes to the Jews. Now we
are not saying that people who adhere to Replacement
Theology would want to kill the Jews as Hitler did; but
Replacement Theology adherents need to understand that
behind this view of the Jews lies a far more sinister
aspect. Satan hates the Jews (partly because he knows God
will use them in the culmination of things in the last days
to end Satan’s days). That view of the Jews can start
“innocently�? by saying the Jews and Israel are no longer
significant with regard to Bible prophecy. But it is not a
far step from that thinking to anti-Semitism.
(409) Almost Saved by
Sandy Simpson, 11/29/16 There are many so-called “Christians�? today who are
clearly “almost saved�? by their testimonies and/or
actions. But to be “almost saved�? is to be completely
lost. A person who is drowning and almost saved
drowns. A woman who is almost pregnant is not
pregnant. King Agrippa said, “You are almost
persuading me to be a Christian (Acts 26:28)�? but being
almost persuaded is not enough to be saved.
(410) The
Calvary
Chapel Association Announces Complete Separation from
Brian and Cheryl Brodersen, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, and
the Calvary Chapel Global Network at Lighthouse
Trails, 11/30/16 Understand the Times, International posted the following
letter yesterday (November 28th) that was sent out worldwide
to Calvary Chapel Pastors by the Calvary Chapel
Association. November 28, 2016 Calvary Chapel Pastors,
Pastor Chuck Smith chose a group of men to lead the Calvary
Chapel movement after his passing. The Calvary Chapel
Association Council was a plan he reiterated on numerous
occasions. A Council provides checks and balances, and a
collective wisdom to help steer us in the right direction.
The CCA Council consists of men from across the country who
are committed to the core values that have made us Calvary
Chapel. Like many of you, we have given our lives to build
Calvary Chapel churches. What makes the 1700 churches
“Calvary Chapel�? are the values Pastor Chuck instilled in
us – our doctrine and philosophy of ministry. The principles
we were taught and the transformative power of God’s Spirit
have proven to be more than sufficient. The CCA Council’s
primary goal is to maintain what has been our Calvary Chapel
identity for fifty years, while seeking the Holy Spirit for
fresh power and wisdom to advance God’s Kingdom. We believe
Calvary Chapel has a unique and important role in the Body
of Christ. Pastor Chuck left us a glorious legacy. Yet the
new Calvary Chapel Global Network, established by Brian
Brodersen, now threatens that legacy. This network goes by
the name “Calvary Chapel,�? but has no framework for
affiliation or required commitment to the Calvary Chapel
core values. Such a network will ultimately de-emphasize our
Calvary Chapel distinctives. The CCGN establishes a
different version of Calvary Chapel, and will cause
confusion. Brian claims the authority to represent, and even
more critically, to define, what Calvary Chapel is and is
not. In a recent letter to the movement, Brian quoted Amos
3:3, “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?�?
Brian’s resignation from the Council, acknowledges he
disagrees with the way the CCA Council would lead and define
Calvary Chapel. This has created a crossroads that none of
us on the Council wanted.
(411)The future of discernment
and apologetics ministries by Sandy Simpson,
12/3/16 I admit that I am very skeptical about the future of
discernment and apologetics ministries. I don't see the next
generation coming up to replace those who have stood for the
truth for so long. Fortunately many apologists have gone to
be with the Lord but who will replace them? I don't see
replacements coming up who will take the place of those who
have been fighting the fight the years.
(412)Caryl
Matrisciana
Has Gone to Be With the Lord at Lighthouse Trails,
12/4/16 Dear friends: Around midnight on December 2nd, Caryl
Matrisciana passed away peacefully at her home. She had been
battling cancer for over a year. Caryl was a devoted mother
and grandmother as well as a film maker, author, speaker,
and a valiant defender of the Christian faith. She has left
a legacy that many will draw from for many years to come.
Please pray especially for her family during this time.
There will be a memorial service at a later date that we
will announce when we have that information. For those not
familiar with Caryl and her work, you can visit her site at
www.caryltv.com.
(413)Children
at
Risk: “Ruling Soon on Obama’s Forced Transgender Treatment
For Youth�? by Michael F. Haverluck,
12/23/16 A Texas judge is expected to decide the fate of President
Barack Obama’s new rule that would take effect on New Year’s
Day and force doctors to provide transgender medical
treatment for children who desire it.The ruling will
determine whether the Obama administration will be able to
give the LGBT community yet another victory before the
outgoing president leaves office to let the current
President-elect Donald Trump take over next month. “[The
transgender] treatment would be required under Obama’s
federal rule – even if the physician is convinced it would
harm the child,�? WND reports.
(416)A
Nation Divided - The United States of America by
James Dager, Media Spotlight Vol. 39, No. 4 (Winter
2016) Darkness is enveloping the United States of America. It is
a festering cancer that has been growing for decades, but
metastasized exponentially over the past eight years. The
darkness is that which unfolds from the dark souls of a
great number of American citizens who have been deluded by
Satan to believe that the blessings bestowed upon them by
our gracious God are to be despised. In place of those
blessings, they desire anti-Christ, perverse, and satanic
“blessings�? that allow them to vent all their hatred and
animosity toward everything decent in human society.
(417)2016
Year
in Review at Lighthouse Trails, 12/31/16 Every year around this time, Lighthouse Trails presents its
Year in Review. Over the next few days, we will be posting
our top stories from different categories from 2016. This is
an opportunity to read stories you may have missed and also
to get a wide-lens glance at important things happening in
the church and the world from a discernment and biblical
point of view. As always, our primary focus at Lighthouse
Trails is the Gospel. We hope this Year in Review will point
readers to that very message. Read Part
1, Part
2, Part
3, & Part
4.
(418) Celebrity
Culture
and Social Media by Dr. David Gooding,
1/14/17 We can easily become caught up in the maelstrom of the
media circus. Deluged each day by the media with scandal,
gossip, immorality, and the details of their private lives,
we cannot help but be influenced…and defiled. Centuries ago,
James asked one of the most searching questions found in the
Scriptures: “What is your life?�? (Jas 4:14). It was asked
in the context of the mass pursuit of material treasures,
and movement without a sense of the sovereign hand of God in
one’s life. How much more applicable it is when it comes to
the pursuit of entertainment. James teaches us that life
outside the will of God is only a vapour which vanishes
away. It has little staying power, little substance and
little influence. In contrast to all the vicarious living
which marks the society around us, Paul could speak of his
life: “For to me to live, Christ!�? (Phil 1:21). Elsewhere
he could say, “Nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ
liveth in me. And the life that I now live in the flesh, I
live by the faith of the Son of God Who loved me and gave
Himself for me�? (Gal 2:20). Paul lived Christ before the
world. It brought him none of the fame men crave; it was
seemingly marked by sorrow, burden and hardship, rather than
happiness. But it was a life which brought pleasure to God,
blessing to the world, profit to the assemblies and future
honour at the Bema. It was, as well, a life which was
supremely satisfying and fulfilling to him. Listen to his
words on the eve of his departure: “I have finished my
course�? (2 Tim 4:7). Another, John the Baptist, on seeing
Christ honoured, could say, “This my joy, therefore, is
fulfilled�? (John 3:29). Paul, John and a long line of
saints have found their joy and fulfillment in living for
the Lord Jesus Christ. We follow Him, feed upon Him, and
remain faithful to Him and to His Word. Life is too short
not to invest it in an eternity which is exceedingly long!
(419) Preliminary
to
Armageddon . . . Paris Jan 15 by Bill Randles,
1/15/17 An event is occurring today which portends to be one of the
last preliminaries to the shattering events outlined in the
book of Revelation, and the end of the world as we know it.
The event is the opening of a new Embassy, the Palestinian
Embassy in Vatican City. This will be the opening of the
first Palestinian Embassy in the European Union. The main
characters in this scenario are Pope Francis and Mahmoud
Abbas, the Palestinian State and the Vatican. Mahmoud Abbas
is the recognized president of the Palestinian State. The
State has been designated by the U.N. and is to be located
in the place in which the God of the Bible gave land to
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—notably Judea and the Gaza strip.
(420) Israel
Watches
Unimpressed as Nations Gather to Decide Fate of Holy Land
by Ryan Jones, Israel Today, 1/16/17 The nations of the world gathering in Paris on Sunday to
determine the fate of the Holy Land. Israel was not among
them, and watched wholly unimpressed as the international
diplomats engaged in “pointless�? dialogue. Trying to sound
a note of balance, French President Francois Hollande said
that both Palestinian terrorism and Jewish settlements are
holding up peace in the Middle East. Israel Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu was dismissive. “The conference that is
convening today in Paris is a pointless conference,�? he
said at the start of Sunday’s cabinet meeting. “It was
coordinated by the French and the Palestinians and aims to
force conditions on Israel that conflict with our national
interests.�?
(421) Does
the world have a problem with Islam or does Islam have a
problem with the world? by Mike Oppenheimer,
1/27/17 The Messiah - Our messiah returns to save Israel and the
saints. The Muslim messiah (Isa) Jesus, comes to destroy
Israel, the churches and convert the Christians to
Islam. Why do they hate Jesus? Because he tells them
the truth of their condition which is only found in the
Bible. The words of Muhammad cannot be compared to the words
of love Jesus told his followers: “Love your enemies, and
pray for those who persecute you�? (Matthew 5:44). As you
want people to treat you, so treat them�? (Matthew 7:12).
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself�? (Matthew 22:39).
“This is my commandment that you love one another�? (John
15:12, 17). You cannot find anything of equal value in Islam
or any philosophy or religion on earth. In fact, as
Muhammad was dying, he asked Allah, to curse the Jews and
Christians (Bukhari, Vol. 1, #427). Contrast this with Jesus
asking the Father to forgive while he was dying- FOR them.
This is God’s heavenly love that is supernatural, eternal
and melts the heart of anyone who takes the time to see who
Jesus really is.
(422) Pastor
Resigns
From David Platt’s Southern Baptist Mission Board Over
Legal Brief Supporting New Jersey Mosque by
Heather Clark, Christian News Network, 1/31/17 A pastor who had served as a trustee of the Southern
Baptist Convention’s (SBC) International Mission Board, led
by “Radical�? author and former Alabama pastor David Platt
[see the LT articles on Platt below], has resigned out of
his concerns over the board’s participation in an amicus
brief supporting the construction of a New Jersey mosque.
Dean Haun, the pastor of First Baptist Church of Morristown,
Tennessee, told the Baptist and Reflector this week that he
wasn’t aware that the Board had joined in the brief until he
started receiving email and phone calls from other pastors
who were troubled about the matter. The Mission Board, the
SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and the Baptist
Joint Committee for Religious Liberty were among 20 groups
that had joined the legal filing, including the American
Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, the International
Society for Krishna Consciousness, the Sikh Coalition, the
Interfaith Coalition on Mosques and many others. The matter
centered around the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge, which
had sought to build a mosque in Basking Ridge, New Jersey,
but was denied following community opposition. It sued in
March of last year, and the Becket Fund for Religious
Liberty assembled a coalition of faith groups supportive of
the Society’s rights for an amicus brief to be filed with
the court.
(423) Five
Reasons
to Say No to a Church Covenant in Fraudulent
Authority: Pastors Who Seek To Rule Over Others, Chapter 10,
by Wade Burleson, 2/8/17 Jesus, in his sermon on the mount, had this to say about
oaths: But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by
heaven, because it is God’s throne; or by the earth, because
it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city
of the great King. Neither should you swear by your head,
because you cannot make a single hair white or black. But
let your word ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’
Anything more than this is from the evil one. – Source:
Matthew 5:34-37, Holman Christian Standard Bible Nowadays
many churches require that prospective members sign a
‘membership contract’ or ‘church membership covenant.
(424) British
Anti-Semitism
rises to record levels at Understand The Times,
2/10/17 Comment from UTT: It should be no surprise that
anti-Semitic incidents are rising in England. Statistically
this can be related to the number of Muslims that have
immigrated to England. The number of anti-Semitic incidents
in Britain rose by more than a third to record levels in
2016, according to data released Wednesday by the Community
Security Trust (CST), which monitors anti-Semitic incidents
and provides security to Jewish communities. The group
recorded 1,309 incidents of anti-Jewish hate last year,
compared with 960 in 2015, a rise of 36%, according to a
report in the Guardian. The previous record number of
incidents was in 2014, when 1,182 were recorded.
(425) The
Punishment
for reading a Bible in Saudi Arabia by Admin, The
Muslim Issue, 2/11/17 This is the new form of punishment in one of the Saudi
nations. According to reports sent to us from Arabia, this
is a new punishment used on at least one person found to
possess a bible. Since then, four more people have come
forth and confirmed that they have seen people with similar
punishments. Saudi Arabia refuses to recognize the religion
of immigrants, and allows any non-Muslim within a certain
distance of Mecca to be killed.
(426) U.S.
Preschool
Teacher Urges: ‘Kill Some Jews’ by Chelsea
Schilling, WorldNetDaily, 2/23/17 A Jew-hating Muslim preschool teacher in South Arlington,
Texas, was fired Wednesday after she urged her social media
followers to “kill some Jews�? and tweeted: “How many Jews
died in the Holocaust? Not enough…HAHAHAHA.�? Nancy Salem
taught preschoolers at the Children’s Courtyard in South
Arlington. She is also an activist with Students for Justice
in Palestine at the University of Texas, Arlington,
according to campus watchdog group Canary Mission. Salem
also supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
movement, or BDS, an anti-Israel movement that advocates
severing global economic relations with the Jewish state.
(427) Who’s
to
Blame for Bookstore Closures? by Jim Fletcher,
2/26/17 News came this week that Family Christian Stores is finally
shuttering all 240 locations. The 85-year-old chain filed
for bankruptcy protection in 2015, and now the end has come
for the Christian retail giant that employed 3,000 and
stretched across 36 states. As one writer put it, Amazon
warlord Jeff Bezos deserves much of the credit for turning
most independent bookstores into karate schools or bakeries.
But there is another, more specific reason Family Christian
Stores is gone. They did it to themselves. The explosion
came from within, as decades of pandering to the
lowest-common denominator within evangelicalism resulted in
poorly educated Christians who have read more about Jesus in
“Jesus Calling�? than from the Bible.
(428) This
is
Not a Review of “The Shack�? by Cedric Fisher,
3/7/17 I’m not going to write a review or detailed critique of
William P. Young’s book or movie both titled The Shack. The
reason is because there are already a number of good reviews
available. You can access plenty of information on
Lighthouse Trails Research. What I will do is present a
warning. First, I want to point out that there are some
heresies and deceptions that one should not need a review to
recognize and reject. The televangelist selling God’s favor,
which increases with the size of the donation, is one.
Another one is a preacher smoking pot or getting drunk on
video while claiming that it is the way to get closer to
God. One more is the preacher that declares that God has
entrusted only him with new revelation essential to
understanding the Bible. Likewise, does anyone really need
to inform a true Christian about what is wrong with The
Shack? Now for the warning. God’s word declares that the end
times will be very dangerous for Christians. There will be
many spiritually wicked individuals masquerading as servants
of God. They will present heresies and other lies for the
purpose of deceiving God’s people. However, some professing
Christians declare that it is impossible for Christians to
be deceived and apostatize. If that is true, then who is
Satan deceiving and who is apostatizing? The lost are
already deceived and cannot apostatize from faith that they
do not have. Obviously, the deception has to be very clever.
If it were disguised as an orange, it would appear exactly
as a genuine orange. Therefore, we can expect lies disguised
exactly as truth. However, if people accept enough false
oranges loaded with a mind-numbing drug, it stands to reason
that false oranges will no longer be needed. Then whatever
is being disguised by the falseness will be offered without
pretense.
(430) They
Love
Error More Than Truth by Cedric Fisher,
3/20/17 Professing Christians are fawning over every heretic,
heresy, heretical book, and blasphemous movie. They will
race off to conferences with a speaker lineup that reads
like a “Who’s Who�? in false “ministers of righteousness.�?
The truth floats on by them, but they eagerly reach out,
grab, and gush over every falsehood. But they will not
rejoice over or promote truth. Further, they refuse to
invest any time and energy defending anyone who presents
truth when they are under attack. So God sends His
messengers to warn them just as He sent prophets to apostate
Israel. But will they listen? They will not listen. We are
in the last of the last days before this earth is shaken by
the consequences of its rebellion. God knows their hearts
are hard, their ears are dull, and their eyes refuse to see,
but He sends His messengers anyway. Why? He sends them
because God is just, He is merciful, and God is love.
He is not willing that the wicked should perish. He
sends His messengers because He wants people to heed, return
to Him, surrender, reject wickedness and accept
righteousness, and be spared the consequences of their
sinfulness. But they reject God’s messengers. They call them
mean-spirited, hateful, ignorant, self-righteous, and even
diabolical, for the sole reason that His messengers pierce
their fickle and carnal hearts with anointed truth. When
they speak harsh rebukes to God’s messengers, they are
speaking against Him. Condemning God’s messengers is as
condemning the message and the One who sent it. It is as
rejecting His righteous authority.
(431) Screwtape Legacy
by Sandy Simpson, 3/22/17 The book by C.S. Lewis called “Screwtape Letters�? was a
clever idea in exposing a number of tactics of the
enemy. Those principles are still at work today in
many churches. Following is a list of some of the
things the enemy wants to see in churches and Christians in
order to bring them down.
(432) IRS
Fast Tracked Tax Exemption For Satanic Group At Elementary
School at Christian Daily Media, 3/24/17 Documents obtained by Judicial Watch show the IRS
fast-tracked tax-exempt status for an After School Satan
Club in Tacoma, Washington, while the federal agency was
discovered to be either denying conservative and Christian
groups the same status or making them wait for years.
According to the watchdog group that uncovered the IRS
scandal during the Obama administration, the After School
Satan Club at Point Defiance Elementary in Tacoma for its
tax-exempt status designation on October 21, 2014 and
received it only 10 days later on October 31, 2014.
Breitbart News reported in October of 2016 the announcement
by the Satanic Temple of Seattle for its proposal of the
After School Satan Club in the Point Defiance Elementary
school. "After School Satan Clubs will focus on free
inquiry, rationalism, science, and character building", the
temple's website says, and continues: All After School Satan
Clubs are based upon a uniform syllabus that emphasizes a
scientific, rationalist, non-superstitious world view. While
they claim the twisted Evangelical teachings of The Good
News Clubs "robs children of the innocence and enjoyment of
childhood, replacing them with a negative self image,
preoccupation with sin, fear of Hell, and aversion to
critical thinking." After School Satan Clubs incorporate
games, projects, and thinking exercises that help children
understand how we know what we know about our world and our
universe. Judicial Watch reports Reason Alliance, based in
Somerville, Massachusetts, operates as the Satanic Temple of
Seattle with Lilith X. Starr as the director. The group's
documents show the parent permission form used for children
to join the club asks for the name of the child's church and
pastor. Records also indicate that Starr told Carla
Santorno, superintendent of the Tacoma school district, that
After School Satan Clubs are led by caring Satanists. In
October of 2015, the Obama Department of Justice anounced
that Lois Lerner and other IRS officials involved in the
targeting of conservative groups tax-exempt applications
would not have criminal charges filed against them. Our
investigation uncovered substantial evidence of
mismanagement, poor judgment and institutional inertia,
leading to the belief by many tax-exempt applicants that the
IRS targeted them based on their political viewpoints."
Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs Peter J.
Kadzik wrote in a letter to House Judiciary officials. "Poor
management is not a crime" Kadzik continued, "We found no
evidence that any IRS official acted on political,
discriminatory, corrupt, or other inappropriate motives that
would support a criminal prosecution."
(433) The
Foe
We Prefer to Ignore by Berit Kjos, January
2010 Notice the VISIBLE foes in this North Korean drama. They
were the blinded puppets of Communism -- indoctrinated in
atheism and trained to hate God and His people. Meanwhile,
the INVISIBLE foes were the "spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12). Dedicated to the
destruction of Biblical faith, they are now generally
ignored in our post-modern culture. But their deadly schemes
were all too familiar to the persecuted Christians in
Marxist and other anti-Christian nations. As Pastor Richard
Wurmbrand wrote in Tortured For Christ (1967), “...there are
no nominal, halfhearted, lukewarm Christians in Russia or
China. The price Christians pay is far too great....
Communist persecution has backfired and produced serious,
dedicated Christians such as are rarely seen in free
lands.�?
(434) ‘Bible
Answer
Man’ Hank Hanegraaff Leaves Evangelicalism, Joins Eastern
Orthodox Church at Lighthouse Trails,
4/15/17 LTRP Note: The following news article is posted for
informational and research purposes and not as an
endorsement of either the content or the source. It is no
surprise to Lighthouse Trails that Walter Martin’s successor
Hank Hanegraaff (host of the Bible Answer Man) has converted
to the Orthodox Church (which is a bridge between
Protestantism and Roman Catholicism). Several years ago, we
saw something like this coming because of Hanegraaff’s
embracing of Rick Warren, Richard Foster, and other
ecumenical contemplative figures.
(435) Israel:
Replacing
What God Has Not (Booklet) by Mike Oppenheimer,
4/20/17 LTRP Note: As we approach this year’s Holocaust Memorial
Day (April 24th) and in view of a recent article we posted
where we referred to God’s view of Israel, we are reposting
Mike Oppenheimer’s article/booklet titled Israel: Replacing
What God Has Not, which we originally released four years
ago. And if you have never watched Caryl Productions
documentary film Christian Palestinianism, we highly
recommend it. In view of secular media’s bias against Israel
and much of the Protestant and evangelical church turning
against Israel as well, this is an issue that Christians
need to understand. We hope the DVD as well as Mike
Oppenheimer’s report will help with that. Both are from a
scriptural perspective.
(437) How
to
Find a Bible-Believing Church by Lighthouse
Trails, 5/6/17 We have often been asked, “How do I find a good
Bible-believing church?�? There are many believers who are
struggling to find one in their own communities. To start
with, we usually recommend they make phone calls to
potential churches and ask a few concise questions such as:
“Do you have a Spiritual Formation program at your church?�?
or “Has your church implemented aspects of the Purpose
Driven Movement anytime in the past 10 years?.�? Since
thousands of churches would answer yes to both or at least
one of these questions, they are worthwhile to ask, and it
would certainly narrow down the scope of one’s search. Here
are a few other questions that could be asked:
(438) Cry
for
Discernment! -- God's Forgotten Promise by C. W.
Booth, 5/24/17 In recent years the church universal has witnessed false
messiahs lead groups of people into the jungle and into
urban communes to commit mass suicide, the banning of prayer
in public school, mass public marriages of strangers to each
other by self-appointed earthbound-gods, the word "hedonism"
change from an evil philosophy of worldly living to
supposedly being the key to salvation, the rise of the
"unity over doctrine" movement, the advancement of the
"partially mistaken New Testament prophets" theory in
fundamentalist circles, and laughter replacing Bible
teaching in many churches. In all this, where has the
discernment of the righteous ones gone?
(440) Buried
in
Unmarked Graves by Roger Oakland, 5/31/17 Vast are the burial grounds resulting from man-centered
Christianity. When men follow men rather than the Good
Shepherd, they seek after wealth, kingdoms, power, and
illicit sexual relationships—anything to feed the flesh,
which we know is never satisfied. When this happens, it is
no longer Christianity but rather another “Christianity,�? a
dead and harmful religion (which is man’s invention)
promoting another Jesus. Religion robs the innocent from
true freedom in Jesus. The temples, the cathedrals, the
shrines, and the modern day megachurches often testify to
the accomplishments of man more than they speak of the
wonders of God, who sent His Son to redeem us from our sins.
(441) Fighting
Fear
in a Fearful Day (Booklet) by Maria Kneas,
6/6/17 The Bible tells us to “cast�? our cares (fears, anxieties,
worries, and concerns) on God because He cares for us (loves
us and takes good care of us). That means giving our cares
to God, and leaving them with Him—not taking them back
again: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for
you. (1 Peter 5:7) This is easier said than done. We have to
learn how to do it. Like many things in life, it takes
practice. We can ask God to enable us to do it, to give us
the grace for it, and to help us appropriate and work with
the grace He gives us.
(442) Baptist
Prof
To LGBT Group: Our Kids Are Not Your Kids by
Robert Oscar Lopez, The Daily Caller, 6/7/17 In a recent press release, a group called Faith in America
has announced they will intrude into multiple public spaces
of Phoenix during the yearly convention of the Southern
Baptist Convention. Their goal is to demand that Baptists
remove homosexuality from their list of sins and give Faith
in America’s advocates bargaining power for a long-term
conversation with the SBC. The conversation would hinge on
what Baptists can do to make LGBT youth—which Faith in
America calls “yOur youth�?—happier and more affirmed within
Baptist churches. Given the frightening extent of LGBT
efforts to force sexually suggestive curriculum to students
as young as four, and given the efforts by grassroots
Baptists to counter many unscrupulous tactics by people
behind these efforts, the SBC should not give any appearance
of agreement with Faith in America’s claims.
(443) Welcome
to
Rome! by Judson Casjens, 6/11/17 Gallup’s annual Values and Beliefs poll, conducted May 3-7,
2017, found that a “leftward movement in perceptions of what
is morally acceptable has been ongoing,�? with a shift in 13
of 19 issues over time (since 2001). In another section of
the same poll, Gallup found that just 24 percent believe the
Bible is the literal word of God—the lowest in Gallup’s 40
years of asking Americans about their biblical beliefs. On
several key social issues Americans responded in the most
recent survey that it is morally acceptable to use birth
control (91%), get divorced (73%), engage in opposite-sex
sexual acts outside marriage (69%), engage in same-sex
sexual acts (63%), have a baby outside of marriage (62%),
commit physician-assisted suicide (57%), view pornography
(36%) and practice polygamy (17%). Southern Evangelical
Seminary President and Evangelical leader Dr. Richard Land
said the Gallup findings on social issues and faith in the
Bible’s validity are certainly linked: “There’s been a
marked movement left in everything except adultery,�? Land
said of the surveys. “Cheating on one’s husband or wife
still remains taboo. But as more and more people view the
Bible as a book of fables, we can see an increasing level of
paganism of the United States. The apostle Paul would
recognize contemporary America because it looks a lot like
ancient Rome and Corinth—except with modern conveniences.�?
(444) Discernment
Ministries
Not Needed? Would the Apostle Paul Agree? by
Lighthouse Trails, 6/15/17 This week, someone sent us an online article, written by a
pastor who said that the church does not need discernment
ministries anymore. While the pastor’s comments that
such ministries are making great money by doing this kind of
work were erroneous, it was the pastor’s rationale and
conclusions about discernment ministries as a whole that
were most troubling. His rationale was that discernment
ministries should not be criticizing and challenging leaders
and teachers within the church (but rather outside the
church; e.g cults, Mormonism); his conclusion was the church
does not need discernment ministries and people should stop
listening to them. He lumped all discernment ministries
together, suggesting that they are all jealous of each other
and spend a lot of time fighting amongst themselves. He
suggested that many of these discernment people will end up
dying early anyway because of the high level of stress
involved. Needless to say, we found such an article very sad
because we knew there would be people who would read it and
would be persuaded by the pastor’s words.
(445) Southern
Baptists
go 'gender-inclusive' on Bible at Understand the
Times, 6/23/17 The Southern Baptists have now adopted a
“gender-inclusive�? translation of the Bible. And Gallups
warns the denomination seems to be trying too hard to appeal
to a secular, anti-Christian culture rather than simply
standing for truth.
(446) Heaven
Would
Not Be Heaven If You Went There by Gary F. Zeolla,
7/1/17 “I’m a good person. I am sure I will go to heaven.�? Are
you really a good person? Let’s see what the Bible has to
say about that.
(448) Some
Red
Flags When Evaluating a Ministry by David
Kowalski, 7/4/17 Anytime we are just getting acquainted with a ministry, we
look for ways to evaluate it. Sometimes problematic elements
are obvious from the beginning but at others the problems
are not so evident at first. Cults and heretics often do not
promote their unique, false teachings or aberrant practices
to strangers and newcomers. The Unification Church and
Scientology are two groups that are particularly noted for
this. Still, we can look for red flags that may indicate a
need for closer inspection. A red flag differs from a false
teaching or bad practice in that the red flag is a sign that
something might be wrong. Upon seeing a red flag, we should
never form any kind of conclusion without further
information. The group or person may just be imprudent or in
some sense unusual without being unorthodox or wrong in what
they do. It is nevertheless useful to know the signs of
possible problems with a minister or ministry. I have given
below twelve such signs.
(449) A
Rebellious Generation: Youth Out of Control by Jim
Schneider, VCY America, 7/20/17 Jim began this broadcast by quoting from 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
This description is indicative of the very society we're
living in today, and the participants are often young
people. He presented numerous news stories from this year
alone that prove the point.
(450) Rick
Warren,
Mark Batterson & Priscilla Shirer: Keynote Speakers at
AOG General Council by Barbara Wilhelm,
7/26/17 Currently there are several names on the bestseller list
among Christian leadership who have gained incredible
popularity. But not everything is as it appears. The Bible
calls us to prove all things (I Thess 5:21) and upon further
investigation it can be seen that three of these names have
become involved in some deeply erroneous teaching. The
Assemblies of God host an event every two years called
General Council where they bring all pastors and leaders
from across the globe together for a time of encouragement
and instruction. Unfortunately, Rick Warren, Mark Batterson,
and Priscilla Shirer, the three leaders referred to above,
have been chosen as the keynote speakers this year when
General Council meets in Anaheim at the beginning of August.
Each AG church has the authority to act independently on
their own behalf but the fact that those in authority in the
AG have chosen these three individuals is reason for great
concern.
(451) Dr.
George
Wood Responds to Lighthouse Trails Article on AoG
Resolution 3 and Israel by the Editors at
Lighthouse Trails, 8/2/17 On July 28th, Lighthouse Trails posted a commentary by
Lighthouse Trails author Cedric Fisher titled “Assembly of
God (AOG) General Council to Vote on Resolution Against
Israel.�? This commentary set off a fire storm on the
Internet, and on Saturday July 29th, Lighthouse Trails
editors received an e-mail from Dr. George Wood (General
Superintendent of the Assemblies of God). Dr. Wood is
familiar with Lighthouse Trails because of a controversy in
2013 where Dr. Wood gave his blessing and permission for
contemplative emergent Ruth Haley Barton to speak at the
2013 AoG General Council Conference resulting in some
Lighthouse Trails articles addressing the seriousness of
such promotion. Shortly after Lighthouse Trails editors
received the e-mail from Dr. Wood on the 29th regarding our
recent posting of Cedric Fisher’s commentary, we learned
that the e-mail was being distributed on the Internet.
Because Dr. Wood has made his e-mail public, we are
responding in the public arena; and because his e-mail
stated that the commentary we posted is “false,
meretricious, and slanderous,�? we are compelled to issue
this response. Below is Dr. Wood’s e-mail to Lighthouse
Trails editors in its entirety (in black bold) along with
response comments by us in indented non-bold green
paragraphs. (After you have read this section, please see a
response written by Cedric Fisher regarding Dr. Wood’s
e-mail.)
(452) Letter
to
the Editor: On AoG Resolution 3 Issue, Dr. George Wood
Should Research Those With Whom He Aligns Himself
at Lighthouse Trails, 8/5/17 I just wanted to offer my support in your efforts to reveal
the truth about Resolution 3, the AOG involvement, George
Wood’s stance, etc. I would encourage you to stay the
course. I did read some of the position papers (and, yes,
I’m aware they are not all called official “position
papers,�? but, let’s be real, people) and am appalled that
so-called evangelical, Christian “ahem, leaders�? would ask
forgiveness from a false god!! I believe that’s in the
beginning of the document. That statement alone should
be a DEAL BREAKER for ANY Christian, thereby making the rest
of the document complete heresy! Seriously, how can
any true Christian make it past that statement with any
sense of TRUTH in the rest of the document?
(453) George
Wood
Steps Down From Assemblies of God General Superintendent
Position—and Resolution 3 Is Withdrawn at
Lighthouse Trails, 8/10/17 According to numerous sources, Dr. George Wood has stepped
down from his role as General Superintendent of the
Assemblies of God denomination. One source, Charisma
Magazine, stated the following in a news article Wed (August
9th) afternoon: Douglas E. Clay was voted general
superintendent of the General Council of the Assemblies of
God USA in a stunning vote after former General
Superintendent George O. Wood removed his name from the
ballot. . . . Multiple rounds of voting took place earlier
that day. Wood participated in at least one of those rounds
of voting before removing his name from the ballot. After
Clay’s strong performance, one source suggested Wood “felt
this was indicative of a different direction.�? (source)
Also according to various sources, including firsthand
accounts by General Council delegates at the convention, the
controversial Resolution 3, which was supposed to be voted
on at this year’s Assemblies of God General Council in
Anaheim, California, was withdrawn by R3’s foremost author,
Ross Byars, after numerous Assemblies of God delegates
publicly expressed strong concern about the Resolution. One
Facebook source stated: “Resolution 3 was removed at/by the
General Council of AOG that had become a firestorm for
believers.�?
(454) Are
you a Prepper? Some things to think on as the days get
darker by Mike Oppenheimer, 8/11/17 What are you preparing for? A change in our presidency does
not have any weight on Bible prophecy about the Tribulation.
All will be fulfilled in God’s timing and in His way.
According to some Bible prophecy teachers all we have to
look forward to is the Tribulation. So one must prepare now,
become a "Christian Prepper." Yes, the world is still
headed toward the Tribulation. Bad and terrible things will
take place. Do you think you are appointed for the worst
time in the world’s history? No amount of positive thinking
or good vibes will avoid this. The day of the Lord comes as
thief in the night. 1 Thess. 5:5-6 "We are not of the night
nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others
do, but let us watch and be sober."
(455) Evolutionary
Beliefs
Versus the Unconquerable God by Roger Oakland and
Caryl Matrisciana, 8/14/17 Through evolutionary beliefs, we can see that our culture
is slamming the door on God the Creator while at the same
time opening the door to the fallen spiritual realm (the
demonic realm). As a result, people are increasingly
embracing Satan’s false promise that they are the masters of
their own world.
(456) Letter
to
the Editor: Churches Strongly Influenced by “Religious
Correctness�? at Lighthouse Trails, 8/15/17
Our Christian churches are being strongly influenced by
what I call Religious Correctness. It is similar to
Political Correctness. If you question anything, you
are told to sit down and shut up. Do not rock the boat. I am
a former Roman Catholic who now knows and loves Jesus
Christ. In Sunday school class at my church, when I
questioned Mother Teresa (soon to become a Catholic saint to
whom Catholics can pray), and I also brought up some of the
anti-biblical practices of the RCC, I was told that I could
either keep quiet or leave.
(457) Racism,
Atheistic
Evolution, and Divine Creation by Gary F. Zeolla,
8/26/17 Many today do not believe “we are all made by the same
Almighty God�? and “all of us are created equal. We are
equal in the eyes of our Creator.�? As such, they do not
believe “Racism is evil.�? They in fact justify their racism
due to that non-belief in a Creator God. The relationship of
racism and a person’s beliefs about human origins will be
addressed in this article.
(458) Televangelist
Scam
Alert! by ApostasyAlert, 8/31/17 Major televangelists are using the Hurricane Harvey
disaster to raise money for themselves. That’s right, the
money you think is going to disaster relief may be going
into the televangelists pocket. Here’s how it works.
Televangelist solicits donations for disaster relief
claiming that his organization is helping victims with funds
and needed supplies. While that may be partially true, many
of them are set up to use only a portion of your donation
for disaster relief. The rest stays with the televangelist’s
ministry.
(459) Broken
Cisterns by James Jacob Prasch, Live at Open Door
Church, NY, 9/3/17
(460) The
Sheepdog
Guarding the Sheep at Lighthouse Trails,
9/12/17 I found that the function of the sheepdog is analogous to
the call of Christians to exercise discernment. Those
of you who might work on farms are quite familiar with the
functions of the sheepdog in guarding the sheep, I
presume. When these animals see danger, they bark to
alert the shepherds and the sheep about the wolves coming
their way.
(461) Diligence in
Holiness by James Jacob Prasch, 1999 Joshua 7:23-26: And they took them from inside the tent and
brought them to Joshua and to all the sons of Israel, and
they poured them out before the LORD. Then Joshua and
all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the
silver, the mantle, the bar of gold, his sons, his
daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent and
all that belonged to him; and they brought them up to the
valley of Achor. [Now, in the Bible, Achor means a
place of calamity, something like that, trouble,
calamitous-type trouble.] And Joshua said, "Why
have you troubled us? The LORD will trouble you this day."
And all Israel stoned them with stones; and they burned them
with fire after they had stoned them with stones. And
they raised over him a great heap of stones that stands to
this day, and the LORD turned from the fierceness of His
anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the
valley of Achor to this day. This stuff was concealed
it says, buried in his tent. How spiritual I am is not
the guy you see up here talking to you, it is the guy who
goes home and how is it that he treats his wife and his
children? What is buried in my tent? What is wrong
with me? What is buried in my tent that should not be
there? What is buried in your tent that should not be
there? Now, some things could be wrong for one person
and not another. If you have a glass of wine with
dinner, I don’t care about that but for somebody else that
can be a sin. But there are some things that are wrong
for all of us, things under the ban, things under the ban
that can put us in the fire. It says that in
Ephesians, warning Christians, it says no fornicator shall
enter the Kingdom, no liar, no thief. Some people tend
to confuse holiness with legalism. David Wilkerson is
not perfect but he has the idea that Christians should not
have TVs. I tell you what, we would be better off with
no TVs than Christian Channel Europe or TBN. I am not
saying having a TV is wrong but what is on there now?
And the Christian stuff is worse and more of a reproach than
the world. I can take Channel 4 with all of its smut;
it is less dishonoring to the name of Christ than Christian
Channel Europe because they are not doing it in the name of
Jesus. What is in the tent?
(462) Witnessing
to
someone in a cult by Mike Oppenheimer,
9/19/17 Cults have both a theological and sociological drawing on
people. More join because of the sociological aspect and
learn to accept the theological. Before you address their
doctrine, find why they have joined. Was it friends, to make
friends, to be with people with a cause? In the conversation
ask them if their joining strained their relationship with
their family and other friends not in their religious group.
Once you have discussed this you than can more easily
address the differences in doctrine they are being taught.
Always stay on the core issues and do not speak on more than
three points. Usually one or two are better. Take the most
important difference to be discussed first. If they cannot
see them than there is no reason to move on to other topics.
Even if you disagree and the person does not see what you
are saying assure them that they can contact you at any time
and you will be there for them. What you most likely will
encounter are those who think that their working for God
completes or merits salvation. They may talk about grace but
will have not experience faith through grace that results in
their salvation.
(463) Oprah
Magazine:
God Is “in�? Abortions? by Larry DeBruyn and Sarah
Leslie, 9/26/17 Humane theology was the foundation of Dr. George Tiller’s
practice. It dictates that alleviating suffering is a
Christian’s sacred responsibility. If God is in everything,
and in everyone, then God is as much in the woman making a
decision to terminate a pregnancy as in her Bible.—Dr.
Willie Parker, MD, Life’s Work: A Moral Argument for
Choice[1] Because of his “oneness�? worldview that God is
“in�? everyone and everything is “in�? God, Dr. Willie
Parker believes that God sanctions aborting-killing of
babies. The Oprah Magazine quotes him as having written in
his book, Alleviating needless suffering is a Christian’s
sacred responsibility. If God is in everything, and
everyone, then God is as much in the woman making a decision
to terminate a pregnancy as in her Bible.[2] Having quoted
Parker, it needs to be stated that while the “act�? of
abortion is outside of God’s love neither the aborted baby
nor mother are outside of God’s love. In the traumatic
aftermath of having aborted a baby, many women have found
forgiveness in and through the Cross of Jesus Christ (Romans
3:23; 1 Timothy 1:12; 1 John 1:7-9). Further, we harbor no
personal malice toward Dr. Parker nor do we wish for any
harm to come to him because he is an abortion provider. God
is his judge, and along with the rest of us, Jesus will
judge all of us (John 5:25-29).
(464) Anti-Christianity
Ascending by T.A. McMahon, 10/1/17 The Bible is very clear in its pronouncements regarding the
Antichrist and what he will accomplish, which includes
deceiving the entire world into submitting to him, taking
control of world economics, manifesting unprecedented
military might, exhibiting supernatural powers, and setting
up a religious system that involves the world’s worship of
him. In my privileged years of working with Dave Hunt, he
addressed, as few others, the increasing apostasy that was
seducing Christianity. I then began to realize that the
things he was pointing out (such as the information
contained in his classic DVD Beyond Seduction) were moving
in a direction that would culminate in a condition
unparalleled in human history. As I reaffirmed in the June
2017 TBC newsletter, the assorted false religious beliefs,
dogmas, and practices, although appearing to differ greatly
from one another, have always been rooted together and
headed toward the same end. My attitude regarding the
significance of the Antichrist and his religion changed with
the realization of something that should have been obvious
to me: all that entails the Antichrist’s deception of the
world and the seduction of Christianity does not wait until
after the rapture of the church for their effects to be
realized. Those deceits go clear back to Satan’s deception
of Eve in Genesis chapter 3, and have continued, and will
continue more aggressively, until they climax during the
reign of the “son of perdition.�? Read Part
1 & Part
2.
(465) Halloween!
A
Warning to Parents (Booklet) by Johanna
Michaelsen, 10/12/17 It is tragic that many people in the church have forgotten
that “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power
and of love and of a sound mind�? (2 Timothy 1:7), and that
includes on Halloween! Too many of our children have been
made vulnerable to a spirit of fear and to the occult where
we allow faith in God to be extinguished by participating in
the darkness of this world. After the repeal of the
Witchcraft Act in England in 1951, the Witches and Satanists
experienced a revival which is currently in full swing. You
might not know too much about Witches or Satanists, but I
guarantee you that most kids do in today’s computerized,
Internet, social-media world. For ye were sometimes
[formerly] darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk
as children of light . . . And have no fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [expose]
them. (Ephesians 5:8,11)
(467) “True
Revival
in the Midst of Persecution�? by a Pastor Who Went to
Prison For His Faith by Georgi P. Vins (Pastor in
USSR who spent 8 years in Soviet prison camps for his faith |
Author of The Gospel in Bonds), 10/22/17 At the beginning of the 1960s, the Lord sent a spiritual
revival among the Evangelical Baptists1 of the Soviet Union.
The revival preceded a great assault from the atheistic
authorities. Soviet newspapers and magazines spewed an
endless flow of articles against believers and the Christian
faith, against the Bible and God. Radio, television, and
movies were used for anti-religious propaganda. Believers
were fired from their jobs, and Christian young people were
kept out of educational institutions.
(468) “Why
Millennials
Are Ditching Religion for Witchcraft and Astrology�?
by Kari Paul, Marketwatch, 10/26/17 LTRP Note: The following news story is posted for
informational and research purposes and not as an
endorsement of the source or the content. It is also a
reminder that young people today desperately need to hear
the true biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ.
(469) Why
Have
Americans Stopped Reading the Bible? at Understand
the Times, 10/29/17 Comment from UTT: There are two truths that we can count on
revealed in the Bible: the Bible is true and Satan, God's
adversary, hates the Bible. These two truths help us to
understand the statistics that are revealed in the following
article and why fewer people read and believe the Bible to
be true.
(470) John
Newton
(1725-1807) by James Brown, at WebTruth,
10/30/17 James Brown, of Scotland, author or “Torchbearers of the
Truth�?, provides a short but useful biography of John
Newton, the author of the hymn Amazing Grace. On John
Newton’s gravestone it reads: “John Newton, Clerk, once an
infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was,
by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the
faith he had long laboured to destroy.�? This is his story:
(471) Has
God
Given Us Over? at VCY America, Host: Jim Schneider
Guest: Peter LaBarbera, 11/16/17 Peter LaBarbera is the founder and president of Americans
for Truth About Homosexuality and also a writer for
Lifesitenews.com. Early in this broadcast, Jim read an
extensive list of LGBT candidates who won seats in last
Tuesday's election. When reviewing Romans chapter 1:18-32,
is it possible that this is a sign that God is giving the
United States over to depravity?
(472) “The
Number
of Teens who Are Depressed is Soaring — and All Signs
Point to Smartphones�? by Jean Twenge, Business
Insider, 11/24/17 LTRP Note: The following news story is posted for
informational purposes. Around 2012, something started going
wrong in the lives of teens. In just the five years between
2010 and 2015, the number of U.S. teens who felt useless and
joyless – classic symptoms of depression – surged 33 percent
in large national surveys. Teen suicide attempts increased
23 percent. Even more troubling, the number of 13- to
18-year-olds who committed suicide jumped 31 percent. In a
new paper published in Clinical Psychological Science, my
colleagues and I found that the increases in depression,
suicide attempts and suicide appeared among teens from every
background – more privileged and less privileged, across all
races and ethnicities and in every region of the country.
All told, our analysis found that the generation of teens I
call “iGen�? – those born after 1995 – is much more likely
to experience mental health issues than their millennial
predecessors. What happened so that so many more teens, in
such a short period of time, would feel depressed, attempt
suicide and commit suicide?
(473) Letter
to
the Editor: More Concerns Re: Calvary Chapel Pastors and
Discernment Ministries at Lighthouse Trails,
12/12/17 LTRP Note: We are posting this, not to single out Calvary
Chapel as this is a problem in most denominations today, but
rather to once again illustrate why discerning Christians
(like many of you who read LT) are having such a hard time
in their efforts to warn the church about spiritual
deception and apostasy.
(474) Evangelical
Support
for Israel Declining, Especially Among Millennials: Survey
at Understand the Times, 12/15/17 Comment from UTT: It should be no surprise that support for
Israel by the younger millennial generation is on the
decrease. This goes along with the statistics showing that
fewer younger evangelicals actually believe the Bible is the
word of God. Propaganda from the world and church that has
embraced replacement theology has played an important role
in this phenomenon.
(475) Pew
Research
Survey Finds: “Religious Aspects of Christmas Are
Declining in Public Life�? at Lighthouse Trails,
12/19/17 LTRP Note: The following out of house news story is posted
for informational and research purposes and not as an
endorsement of the content or the source. Pew Forum on
Religion As long-simmering debates continue over how
American society should commemorate the Christmas holiday, a
new Pew Research Center survey finds that most U.S. adults
believe the religious aspects of Christmas are emphasized
less now than in the past – even as relatively few Americans
are bothered by this trend. In addition, a declining
majority says religious displays such as nativity scenes
should be allowed on government property. And compared with
five years ago, a growing share of Americans say it does not
matter to them how they are greeted in stores and businesses
during the holiday season – whether with “merry Christmas�?
or a less-religious greeting like “happy holidays.�?
(476) Universities
Strive
For "Christmas–Free" Campuses: The Holiday Season Should
Be Considered An Opportunity To Demonstrate Cultural
Sensitivity at Christian Media Daily,
12/21/17 As another Christmas quickly approaches, colleges across
the country are issuing their annual guidelines on how to
make the season as inclusive as possible. At the University
of California, Irvine, for instance, individual departments
are encouraged to "focus on celebrating a special occasion,
instead of a specific holiday," suggesting that they have a
"year–end celebration" or celebrate "seasonal themes such as
fall, winter, or spring.": The California university also
requests that academic departments "ensure that office
celebrations are not indirectly celebrating religious
holidays," suggesting that they display "diverse symbols
representing a variety of faith traditions along with
secular ones." The State University of New York, Brockport
has issued similar guidance on "culturally sensitive holiday
decorations," even advising employees to "consider a grab
bag instead of a Secret Santa gift exchange." Keep
decorations general and nonspecific to any religion. Create
a winter theme with lights and color rather than religious
icons, or include decorations from all the cultural
traditions represented in your department, the guidelines
add, saying the holiday season should be considered an
opportunity to demonstrate cultural sensitivity and
inclusivity. Harvard University’s student newspaper ran an
editorial attacking President Trump for returning a nativity
scene to the White House grounds, calling the move
"disrespectful." Bringing back the nativity scene is a slap
in the face to the remaining religions thriving within
America, the editorial declared. Placing the nativity scene
on the grounds of the most important house in the United
States is sending the message that their president forgets
those who do not practice Christianity.
(478) At
Lighthouse
Trails, Looking Back at 2017 and Pressing On in 2018
by Lighthouse Trails, 1/3/18 As we soon begin our 17th year of ministry, Lighthouse
Trails will press on in 2018 as the Lord provides the
strength, guidance, resources, and help that is needed. We
know we cannot (nor do we desire to) continue without His
hand in our lives and in the work we do. We do not lean on
our own frailties and weaknesses but rather on His strength
and His faithfulness. Our hearts go out to the countless
Bible-believing Christians who are on the front lines trying
to warn their churches, families, and believing friends of
the spiritual deception that has woven its way so deeply
into the church today and who are trying to share the
message of salvation to a lost world where hearts are
growing harder and more deceived all the time. If you are
one of these believers doing what you can to reach others,
be encouraged—the Lord is with you and will not forsake you
no matter how dark this world gets. Great is His
faithfulness.
(479) Museum of
the Bible Commentary by Sandy Simpson,
1/4/18 Let me start out by stating that I am all in favor of a
museum that shows the historicity of the Bible. If it
weren’t for some of the people involved this would be a
valuable resource. But I don't support giving
credibility to Rick Warren and his friends in support of the
Museum of the Bible. Warren has become the de facto
spokesman for this effort. It is great they are
featuring texts and archeological information about the
Bible. But I believe Warren is doing this to set
himself up as an authority on the Bible when he is actually
guilty, on many counts, of not only disobeying it but of
twisting it out of all recognition. False teachers and
those who hang with them are constantly on the lookout for
projects that will legitimize them and make them look like
they are biblical leaders in Christendom people should
follow. But true biblical leaders are those who do not
teach heresy and do not stand up for false prophesies.
Though the Museum of the Bible could do a world of good for
those lacking an understanding of the Bible and its place in
history, it is also propping up some questionable
“Christians�? who are behind it and those compromisers who
stand with them.
(480) What
Would
D. L. Moody Say Today to Moody Bible Institute About
Mingling Truth and Error? by D.L. Moody,
1/11/18 You can never reform anything by unequally yoking yourself
to ungodly men. True reformers separate themselves from the
world. But, some say to me, if you talk that way you will
drive all the members of secret societies out of your
meetings and out of your churches. But what if I did? Better
men will take their places. Give them the truth anyway, and
if they would rather leave their churches than their lodges,
the sooner they get out of their churches the better.
(481) Canadian
Government
Says Lighthouse Trails Transgender Booklet “Hate
Propaganda�? – Will Not Allow It In Their Country
by Lighthouse Trails, 2/12/18 On January 29th 2018, Lighthouse Trails released a new
booklet titled Transgenderism and Our Children, written by
LT authors Maria Kneas and Lois Putnam. The booklet
describes the transgender issue and how it is affecting
children. While the booklet does say that transgenderism is
not God’s will for any human being, there is no language in
the book to incite hate against transgenders.
(482) Why
Whistleblowers
are Often Ignored (Even in Christian Organizations)
Editorial by David Kowalski, 3/12/18 Still, whistleblowers must follow their conscience and
report misconduct when they become aware of it. If one has
been personally offended in a Christian organization the
proper first step is to confront the offender before
notifying superiors (if he or she truly repents “you have
won your brother�? [Mt 18:25]), although crocodile tears and
seemingly sincere apologies by the offender may only be only
efforts to elicit sympathy and deflect the accusation if
evidence shows the offense is part of a long series of such
acts in other circumstances or toward others. He or she may
have been through this skilled act of “contrition�? before
without a change in behavior (this happens). Regardless of
the outcome at that time (most likely the evildoer will
eventually be exposed as he or she becomes emboldened to
continue in their misconduct and to transgress in other
ways), the whistleblower has done the right thing. He or she
will be vindicated in eternity and his or her conduct will
have the approval of the highest authority — God.
(483) A
Testimony About Anti-Testimonies: Deconverstion stories,
Ex-timonies, Anti-testimonies by David Kowalski,
3/15/18 “I used to be a deluded, ignorant, and hateful Christian
like you until I learned to be better than you!�? This is
the essence of personal testimonies (variously called
“deconversion stories,�? “ex-timonies,�? or
“anti-testimonies�?) given by people who claim to have
de-converted in some way from orthodox, Evangelical
Christianity. Recently there has been a flurry of articles
pro and con about these. 1 I have personally encountered a
good number of these accounts and believe that in the
process I learned some valuable lessons about how best to
interact with people giving “testimonies�? of this kind.
(484) My
High
Tower: Seeing the World from His perspective by
Berit Kjos, 3/28/18 "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall
abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the
Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will
trust.'" Psalm 91:1-2 In His nearness, my mind is
renewed and my heart overflows with His joy. Filled with His
Spirit, I’m ready to let His compassionate love reach out to
others who need a refuge and hope. How can I bring them to
my Tower? How can my walk on earth help others see the Tower
through me? I trust Him to show me!
(485) Before
Becoming
a Believer by Penkhae Noble, 3/31/18 I received a book called, "I Dared to Call Him Father" from
that foreigner. When I read the book it really touched
my heart. When I read the book it reminded me of all
of God's dealings with me in the past and how I resisted
God. It made me understand my sin, and why I needed
Jesus. I realized that I live in a country where we
have freedom to choose any religion. But, the person
in the book I read about had to be willing to die for the
truth that Jesus is the only one who could save her.
This story made me feel very sad that I had refused
God. So, when I finished reading the book, the first
thing I thought about was that I wanted to get a Bible so I
could get to know God better. I remembered the time
that I threw the Bible away and I cried. I wanted to
get a Bible on that day. Where could I get one?
I tried to find a Christian bookstore, but couldn't find
one. Finally, it was getting late, and I decided to go
to church to ask the pastor for one. When I got
to the church, I heard a worship song, and I remembered that
this was the Wednesday prayer meeting! I remembered
how I challenged God. I surrendered to God and
confessed that I believe in Him! That day I asked the
pastor to lead me in prayer to become a Christian. She
was surprised and happy at the same time. I joined the
prayer meeting and was given a Bible. I went home very
happy.
(486) Percent
of
American Churchgoers Unfamiliar With the Term 'Great
Commission': Barna at Understand the Times,
4/3/18 A little over half of American churchgoers are not familiar
with the term "Great Commission," according to a study
conducted by the Barna Group and the Seed Company. The
"Great Commission" is a term used to describe Jesus' call to
evangelism in Matthew 28:18-20: "All authority in heaven and
on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching
them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I
am with you always, to the very end of the age." In a report
released Tuesday, Barna found that 51 percent of church
attendees in the United States were unfamiliar with the term
"Great Commission." From there, 25 percent of respondents
said they heard of it but did not recall its "exact
meaning," 17 percent knew for sure, and 6 percent said they
were not sure. "The data indicates that churches are using
the phrase less, which may reveal a lack of prioritizing or
focusing on the work of the Great Commission, but may also
indicate that the phrase, rather than the scriptures or the
labor, has simply fallen out of favor with some," noted
Barna.
(488) In
Memory
of Al Dager at Media Spotlight, 5/3/18 It is with a predictable combination of sorrow and joy that
we learned that our friend & brother Al Dager has gone
to be with The Lord. He with his beloved wife lived in the
American state of Washington in the Pacific North West. Al
has battled heart disease for some time.
(489) The
Saddest
Thing About Going to Hell by Tom Graham,
5/14/18 In a recent survey, it was determined that 35% of Baptists;
54% of Presbyterians, 58% of Methodists, and 60% of
Episcopalians DO NOT Believe in a literal place called HELL!
71% of the 8 leading seminaries in the United States Do Not
Believe in either Heaven or Hell.
(490) 5
Signs You’re Part of an Unhealthy Church by
Marielle Thomas, 5/22/18 There is no such thing as a “perfect�? church. Honestly,
there will never be a perfect church because the people who
occupy the church are imperfect. The only thing perfect in
church is the message and purity of the Gospel. Though there
is no perfect church, there are healthy and unhealthy
churches. I have been in church literally my entire life, so
I have seen the great, the good, the bad, and the downright
ugly. After witnessing and having endless discussions about
the church culture, I have compiled a list of 5 signs that
signal you are a part of an unhealthy church.
(491) The
ONE
Who Makes Sense in a Crazy Mixed Up World by
Trevor Baker, 5/24/18 Stories of school shootings, bus crashes and multiple
innocent deaths on a Toronto sidewalk have our minds left
bewildered. In moments like these, we search for answers to
it all. Some, I believe, go even deeper than that in search
of answers to life itself. It can almost be certain that at
least a few of the family members and friends of the victims
have reached out to God in their darkest hour. It is
possible that some may even have had their lives changed
forever as they looked to the Heavens. That one they call
the Savior, Jesus Christ, was there to meet them with
outstretched arms as they cried themselves to sleep. The
stories of these people who have had a 180 degree turn
around are not posted in the papers or talked about on the
evening news. This world has never been very comfortable
with those who fall in love with God, preferring to write
them off as “kooks.�?
(493) What
is
the Queen James Bible? by GotQuestions.org,
6/9/18 Answer: The Queen James Bible (QJV), also called the “Gay
Bible,�? is an edit of the biblical text done in the name of
preventing “homophobic interpretations.�? To accomplish this
goal, the publishers printed a Bible in which all negative
references to homosexuality have been removed. The Queen
James Bible was published in 2012 and is based on the 1769
edition of the King James Bible.
(494) Pew:
25%
of Survey’s Christians Don’t Buy Biblical God by
Diana Chandler, Baptist Press, 6/12/18 A fourth of self-identified Christians don’t believe fully
in the biblical description of God, Pew Research Center said
in its latest study. Rather, 25 percent of American
Christians believe in what Pew described as “God or another
higher power�? who is not necessarily all-loving, omniscient
and omnipotent as Scripture reveals. “In total,
three-quarters of U.S. Christians believe that God possesses
all three of these attributes — that the deity is loving,
omniscient and omnipotent,�? Pew found in the study of about
4,750 Americans released April 25.
(495) Southern
Baptists
Call Off the Culture War: America’s largest Protestant
group moves to cut ties with the Republican Party and
reengage with mainstream culture by Jonathan
Merritt, The Atlantic, 6/25/18 “The generational shift happening in the SBC has thrust the
group into the middle of an identity crisis,�? says Barry
Hankins, the chair of the department of history at Baylor
University and co-author of Baptists in America: A History.
“The younger generation thinks differently than the
old-guard Christian right about culture and politics, and
they are demanding change.�? To enact this change, young
Baptists nominated 45-year-old pastor J.D. Greear from North
Carolina to be president of the denomination. In a campaign
video, Greear called for “a new culture and a new posture in
the Southern Baptist Convention.�?
(498) ‘When
is
an Idol not an Idol?’ by Jackie Alnor, 7/30/18 The various polytheistic world religions – many older than
Christianity – seem to have one trait in common: they
create statues of their deities to delight in their
presence. We see statues of Buddha in just about every
Chinese restaurant we patronize. If you google ‘Krishna
statues’ you get over 600,000 hits that display offers to
purchase Vishnu and Shakti gods of marble and cement. Only
the monotheistic religions – Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam – have injunctions by their founders denouncing the
making of idols. When you read the New Testament — the
Gospels, Acts, Epistles and the Book of Revelation – the
only place where idols are found is among the pagans or as
in the last book, foreseeing the image of the beast that is
made to talk.
(501) Joyce
the
Discerner: An Exemplary Discerner of the Times by
Sarah H. Leslie, 8/20/18 The more my life goes on, the more I recognize the miracle
of Joyce’s discipleship in my life. When I get to heaven I
will be excited to thank her and point to the continuing
fruits the Lord produced in my life from her faithful
ministry to me all of those years ago. May other women
follow her example – stick to the Word alone, stand and
having done all to stand, and speak the truth in love.
(502) Imagine
There’s
No [Christian] Religion by Dr. Peter Jones,
8/21/18 Jeremiah said of ancient Israel: “Are they ashamed of their
loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do
not even know how to blush�? (Jeremiah 8:12). Since the
Sixties, pagan religion has permeated our thinking in
once-Christian Western society. Those who remember the days
when our moral principles were generally based on God’s
commandments are shocked by the takeover of morality,
exhibited even in rulings from our highest courts.
Increasingly, we hear of “non-binary�? actions and judgments
that relativize truth and morals. There is no either/or; no
external measure of right and wrong—only a blend that fits
our personal choices.
(503) "Christian Cults"
by James Jacob Prasch, 8/23/18 In the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 and Luke 21, Jesus
warned about false teachers, false prophets, false Christs.
Now when I was a young Christian it had been my basic
assumption this meant Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, things
like this. I have no doubt that the proliferation of cults
that we have seen in the last century, particularly the last
20 years is, in itself, of prophetic significance; I do not
question that. But those are not the false teachers and the
false prophets He was mainly warning of. He was warning of
those who would come in the Last Days, if possible, to
deceive the elect. (Mt. 24:24)
(504) Our
Country
Is Embracing Satanism at an Alarming Rate; Here's Proof
at Understand the Times, 9/12/18 As attendance declines at Christian churches all over
America, many Satanic groups are experiencing tremendous
growth. For some, embracing Satanism is the ultimate form of
rebellion, for others it is about making an anti-Trump
political statement, and yet others claim that they are
attracted by the very real power that they discover in
Satanism.
(505) Remaining
Cautious
and Circumspect in a Dangerous World by Maria
Kneas, 9/18/18 For me, having that ongoing connection with the Lord is far
more important than any form of entertainment. I enjoy good
entertainment, but I can live without it. However, I cannot
live without being in communion with the Lord. I constantly
need His guidance, His comfort, and His encouragement.
(506) Most
Millennials
Believe the Bible Is 'Just a Book' at Understand
the Times, 9/27/18 It appears today's younger generation is more disengaged
than ever from the Christian faith. A recent Barna Group
study reveals that only 14 percent of Millennials believe
the Bible is the literal Word of God. The 2017 study also
found that one in three Millennials view the Bible as "just
another book." And according to researchers, both
Millennials and Generation Z are more hostile to the holy
book than previous generations.
(507) “Mindfulness
Meditation
in Public Schools: Side-Stepping Supreme Court Religion
Rulings�? by Cathy Gunther Brown, Ph.D., 10/5/18 Since the 1960s, the United States Supreme Court has found
it unconstitutional for public schools to teach religious
practices such as prayer. But today, mindfulness
meditation—a Buddhist religious practice similar to
prayer—is promoted by schools nationwide. Why aren’t the
courts intervening? Because promoters assert, as the
Associated Press did recently, that “Western culture has
secularized�? this “centuries-old�? religious practice. But
what does it mean to “secularize�? mindfulness? It boils
down to a simple change of vocabulary. Promoters drop the
terms “Buddhism�? and “meditation�? and add the terms
“neuroscience�? and “scientific research.�? Meanwhile, the
same practice is taught in both public schools and Buddhist
basics classes.
(508) Did
Jesus
Perform Miracles? Half of British Adults Say No; Only 1 in
10 Back Literal Bible Accounts at Understand the
Times, 10/12/18 Close to half of British adults said in a poll that Jesus
Christ did not perform any real miracles during His time on
Earth. What is more, only one in ten said that that they
believe the word for word accounts in the Bible, as revealed
in the ComRes survey commissioned by BBC Local Radio, which
was released on Sunday. (The standard error for the full
weighted sample was about 1 percentage point.) The
poll of 2,002 British adults, which took place between
August 16 – 26, found that 46 percent of respondents do not
believe that Jesus performed miracles in any form. Another
37 percent said that they believe Jesus "made miraculous
things happen," but added that the stories in the Bible
include some which "should not be taken literally." Only 11
percent said that they believe the miracles happened word
for word as described by the Bible.
(509) China
Trying
to 'Rewrite the Bible,' Force Churches to Sing Communist
Anthems at Understand the Times, 10/15/18 The Chinese government is supervising a five-year plan to
make Christianity more compatible with socialism in which
there will be a "rewrite" of the Bible, a prominent
religious freedom activist has told Congress. The Rev. Bob
Fu, a former Chinese house church leader who immigrated to
the United States in 1997 and founded the persecution
watchdog organization China Aid, provided great detail
during a House hearing Thursday about a plan enacted by
leading state-sanctioned denominations in China to "Sincize"
Christianity. As China's crackdown on religion has seen many
house churches demolished and thousands of crosses removed
from churches nationwide, Fu warned upfront that what is
happening right now in China represents the highest degree
of persecution for independent faith groups the country has
seen in decades. "Religious freedom in China has really
reached to the worst level that has not been seen since the
beginning of the Cultural Revolution by Chairman Mao
[Zedong] in the 1960s," he told members of the House Foreign
Affairs' Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human
Rights, and International Organizations.
(510) The State
of Theology (Survey) by Ligonier Ministries,
10/17/18 What do Americans think about God, Jesus Christ, sin, and
eternity? Ligonier Ministries’ State of Theology survey
helps uncover the answers. Every two years, we take the
theological temperature of the United States to help
Christians better understand today’s culture and equip the
church with better insights for discipleship. Read some of
our key findings from 2018 below and explore the data for
yourself.
(511) Letter
to
the Editor on Proclaim 19: Lighthouse Trails Not Being
Accurate About Speakers . . . Facts Prove Otherwise
by Lighthouse Trails, 10/25/18 To Lighthouse Trails: "I looked up speakers for the
Proclaim 19 and did not find Charles Stanley on their list –
nor did I find John MacArthur as a speaker. He is only
listed as holding the worship service. From the Proclaim 19
web site: “Join us in worshiping our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. John MacArthur will be presenting the message and we
will be blessed to have an opportunity to join Joni
Eareckson Tada in singing hymns.�? There are MANY MANY
speakers – including the Vice President of United States –
Mike Pence. I really enjoy reading your informative articles
and blogs. I believe we need to be discerning in these last
days. However, one thing that I believe is very important is
to provide your readers with more complete and accurate
information in your blogs. Thank you. R _____" LTRP Comment:
Actually, our report was and remains accurate. Both John
MacArthur and Charles Stanley are on the list of speakers as
we earlier stated. As for semantics, Proclaim 19 calls
MacArthur and Stanley “speakers�?; thus, we have called them
speakers. Below are two links and a photo for those who
would like the documentation. As we reported earlier, Roma
Downey and her husband Mark Burnett have been removed from
the Speakers list, but we cannot confirm with NRB if they
have just been removed from the Speakers list on their
website or if they have been actually removed from the
speaking schedule altogether. Please understand the point in
all this. It’s really very simple: Christian leaders are
showing no discernment or wisdom in such matters as these
(and haven’t for a long time). They will share platforms
with anyone if it helps “get their own message out�? (as if
God cannot accomplish His purposes unless these leaders
compromise). Rather than exposing the works of the
Adversary, they are giving them a pat on the back. For
nearly 17 years, Lighthouse Trails has shown example after
example of this happening, and now today, the modern-day
church is so convoluted and saturated with serious false
teachings, no one knows up from down and right from left.
While damage control efforts are already underway regarding
Roma Downey speaking at Proclaim 19 (and perhaps she truly
won’t be speaking at the event anymore – we don’t know
because there’s been no announcement), you can almost be
sure that there won’t be any Christian leaders who are
attending Proclaim 19 who will be speaking up about Roma
Downey’s promotion of dangerous New Age spirituality or
about Rick Warren’s long-time emergent views on
contemplative prayer, Bible prophecy, and ecumenism with the
Roman Catholic Church.
(512) “They
Hate
Christianity But Love (Another) Jesus – How Conservative
Christians Are Being Manipulated and Ridiculed, Especially
During Election Years�? by Lighthouse Trails,
10/27/18 In May of 2013, Lighthouse Trails released a report titled,
“They Hate Christianity But Love (Another) Jesus – How
Conservative Christians Are Being Manipulated and Ridiculed,
Especially During Election Years.�? In view of the upcoming
elections and some of the things going on around the country
in the “background,�? it seems diligent to repost the report
at this time. While some of the documentation in the report
is a few years old, there are similar efforts going on today
as are described in the report. For instance, the “Vote
Common Good�? (a website created on June 2018, just in time
for the elections) bus tours taking place right now around
the country are intending on “flipping Congress.�? The line
up of those speaking on the tour are largely extreme
liberal emergent figures such as Brian McLaren, Shane
Claiborne, Frank Schaeffer, John Pavlovitz (recently
featured in a LT article), Mark Scandrette, Doug Pagitt,
Samir Selmanović, Diana Butler Bass, and Nadia
Bolz-Weber.
(513) The
end
of GOD? Claims humans will ‘worship AI Messiah’ at
Drudge Report, 11/5/18 ACT Note: This is an interesting conjecture given what the
Bible says about the antichrist. Revelation 13:14-15
"Because of the signs it was given power to perform on
behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of
the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of
the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. The
second beast was given power to give breath to the image of
the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all
who refused to worship the image to be killed." HUMANS will
worship at the altar of an Artificially Intelligent God, it
has been claimed. It is already predicted that AI will soon
be present in all areas of the workplace, with industry
experts saying it will eventually do millions of jobs
currently done by people. It is thought that every field –
from publishing to factory work – will eventually be
dominated by intelligent robots as men and women become
increasingly obsolete. But now experts believe more than
jobs are at risk in the Artificial Intelligence revolution.
Novelist Dan Brown previously warned people may no longer
worship God or pray to Jesus – instead putting all their
faith in an AI messiah. Speaking about the advent of this
technology, the Da Vinci Code writer said: “Humanity no
longer needs God but may with the help of artificial
intelligence develop a new form of collective consciousness
that fulfils the role of religion. “Are we naive today to
believe that the gods of the present will survive and be
here in a hundred years?�? According to Daily Galaxy, MIT
physicist and cosmologist Max Tegmark also said that once
this new superintelligence is vastly greater than that of a
human, the fate of mankind will depend on it.
(514) 61
Percent
of Christians Believe In These 4 New Age Ideas at
Understand the Times, 11/14/18 It's common knowledge that the New Age movement has a
strong foothold on our culture right now. Bookstores are
lined with best-selling titles teaching people how to use
crystals, how to meditate and cultivate "higher
consciousness" and how to make contact with spirit guides,
as people like Jim Carrey and Oprah Winfrey continue to push
things like Christ-consciousness and meditation on the
masses. Popular teachers like Deepak Chopra and Eckhart
Tolle continue to sell millions of copies of books teaching
the idea that God is an impersonal force in the universe and
that we are to cultivate relationship with this force by
shifting our consciousness and practicing things like
"mindfulness," "presence" or yoga. This year, Netflix
recently came out with a series called The Chilling
Adventures of Sabrina, complete with spell-casting,
incantations and demonic manifestations right around the
same time the makeup company Sephora announced that they
would be releasing a starter with kit for little girls,
complete with crystals, sage and tarot cards. A study found
that witches now outnumber Presbyterian Christians in the US
by 100,000, with 1.5 million self-identified witches as
paganism continues to grow "astronomically." Twenty-seven
percent of Americans identify as "spiritual but not
religious", including 35 percent of Protestant Christians.
This is one of the fast growing spiritual-religious
demographics in the West right now. In fact, the population
of those who identify as witches or pagans is continuing to
increase as those who identify as Protestant Christian
continues to decrease.
(515) Servival
Kit
(Series) - 1 Peter 4:7-19 by Stephen Davey,
11/17/18 In this series, Pastor Davey takes us through the apostle
Peter’s advice on how we should prepare for the end of the
world—not like doomsday “preppers�? who hoard survival gear
and freeze-dried food, but as believers looking toward the
glorious return of Jesus and our eternal existence beyond
life on this earth. Christians do need to stock up. But ours
is a “servival�? kit, and Peter gives us a checklist of 10
ways to serve and love others while we await the fulfillment
of God’s promises.
(516) Being
Thankful
Through It All by Warren B. Smith, 11/22/18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Thankfulness is our attempt as believers to express the
inexpressible—the amazing gratitude we feel for the amazing
grace bestowed upon us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
He not only saved us from our sins (1 John 2:2), He promised
to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). We are also
assured that He who began “a good work�? in us will be
faithful to “perform it until the day of Jesus Christ�?
(Philippians 1:6). A day for Thanksgiving was set aside as a
holiday so that we, as a nation, could collectively give
thanks to God for all of His blessings—to express our
gratitude for His love and protection and provision. In
years past, hymns like Come Ye Thankful People Come were
commonly sung in churches and classrooms as Thanksgiving day
approached—young and old alike openly giving thanks to God
for His abundant supply and bounty ...
(519) Consider
the
Contrast - A Christmas Devotional by Leon E. Good,
12/17/18 Recently, as I was mulling the celebration of Christ’s
first coming, I decided I would share with you an
encouragement and an exhortation regarding the one who is
both a Savior who suffered pain and death, and who will be
coming as a conquering King. As I thought of Christ’s birth,
its prophetical significance, and His prophetically promised
second return to earth, I marveled at the contrast of those
two happenings, which are both of ultimate significance to
our eternal destination and existence.
(520) It's
a
Boy by Stephen Davey, 12/20/18 Even before the miracles, parables, sea-side teachings,
salvific death, and glorious resurrection, the gospel still
illuminates these opening scenes of Jesus’ earthly
life. Foreshadowed in every detail of Act One – from
the angelic invitation to lowly shepherds to the base,
humble surroundings of a manger – is the precious and
revolutionary message that there is no caste system at God’s
table. Only the poor in spirit are invited. Read Part
1 & Part
2.
(521) Remembering
when
the grace of God came by Mike Oppenheimer,
12/21/18 His grace has made it possible for all to be saved
(forgiven and have a new life with God) but to have it
applied it must be received, and to have it received one
must place their faith in the work Jesus did for them. This
is the reason he was born, and this is why we remember his
birth. When you receive his grace and respond in faith it
means you are then born, born twice and will die only once.
Once naturally and by faith supernaturally. God has
done all He can to provide for us salvation, now it is up
you to respond.
(523) The
Worst
Christian of 2018 by Seth Dunn, 1/2/19 Who is the worst Christian of 2018? On the surface, this
seems like a foolish or even pharisaical question. The fact
of the matter is that there are none worthy to stand
righteous before God except his perfect son, the Lord Jesus
Christ. Every believer struggles with sin every day and will
continue to do so until the Lord returns and raises us anew
in glory. None of us are really better than another. Yet, we
can still fairly ask and answer, “Who is the worst Christian
of 2018?�? if we consider the question in terms of an
individual’s influence on the visible church at large. Who
out there, among the professing, has had the most
deleterious effect on the health of the body of Christ in
the year 2018? Using a number of criteria and identifying
candidates from a pool of nominees (obvious charlatans and
the theologically heterodox were not included for
consideration). I have come up with one professing Christian
who can fairly be considered “The Worst Christian of 2018.�?
(524) Would
Spurgeon
Attend the G3 Conference by Pulpit & Pen,
1/18/19 The brothers at G3 may quote Spurgeon this week, but if
Spurgeon were alive, he wouldn’t be in the room to hear it.
(525) An
Act
of Integrity: Noted Conference Speaker Cancels Engagement
at Herescope, 1/21/19 Patrick Wood, a well-known speaker, writer, researcher and
author, has just issued a public statement withdrawing his
name from the 2019 Red River Prophecy Conference that is
scheduled to be held in Moorhead, Minnesota on March
15-17th. We wish to publicly commend Patrick Wood for his
courageous act of integrity and honor him for taking a
biblical stand. Our sincere, fervent prayer is that other
men of the Gospel will boldly follow suit.
(526) All
Flocks
Need a Sheep Dog by Jackie Alnor, 1/22/19 Discernment Ministries are the Better Business Bureaus of
the Body of Christ. They operate in the Church as watchmen
who sound the alarm when the wolves sneak in unnoticed. God
raised them up due to the plethora of false shepherds that
dot the landscape around the world and eat the sheep. The
flock is God’s — not the property of a wise guy here and
there that has power — often unchecked — over the
congregation.
(527) 61
Percent
of Christians Believe In These 4 New Age Ideas at
Understand the Times, 1/26/19 It's common knowledge that the New Age movement has a
strong foothold on our culture right now. Bookstores are
lined with best-selling titles teaching people how to use
crystals, how to meditate and cultivate "higher
consciousness" and how to make contact with spirit guides,
as people like Jim Carrey and Oprah Winfrey continue to push
things like Christ-consciousness and meditation on the
masses. Popular teachers like Deepak Chopra and Eckhart
Tolle continue to sell millions of copies of books teaching
the idea that God is an impersonal force in the universe and
that we are to cultivate relationship with this force by
shifting our consciousness and practicing things like
"mindfulness," "presence" or yoga. This year, Netflix
recently came out with a series called The Chilling
Adventures of Sabrina, complete with spell-casting,
incantations and demonic manifestations right around the
same time the makeup company Sephora announced that they
would be releasing a starter with kit for little girls,
complete with crystals, sage and tarot cards. A study found
that witches now outnumber Presbyterian Christians in the US
by 100,000, with 1.5 million self-identified witches as
paganism continues to grow "astronomically." Twenty-seven
percent of Americans identify as "spiritual but not
religious", including 35 percent of Protestant Christians.
This is one of the fast growing spiritual-religious
demographics in the West right now. In fact, the population
of those who identify as witches or pagans is continuing to
increase as those who identify as Protestant Christian
continues to decrease.
(528) The
Revival
of Molech - And the Return of Bloody Barbarism by
Sarah Leslie, Herescope, 1/31/19 "And they build the high places of Baal, which are in the
valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their
daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I
commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they
should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin."
(Jeremiah 32:35) In the Fall of 1986 I attended a prominent
right to life conference in which leaders were gathering to
plan strategy before the U.S. presidential campaign of 1988.
The right to life issue had suddenly become the number one
issue motivating voters. Late the second night I was walking
down the hotel hallway talking with a friend. Suddenly
we came upon a couple entangled in a passionate embrace in
the doorway to the woman's room. It was apparent they had
been drinking heavily as they had abandoned any sense of
restraint. We quickly walked on but when we got back to our
room we broke down in tears. The couple in the embrace were
not married - to each other - and they were high-profile
leaders. They didn't see that their sin of adultery was part
of the problem! The next day after I returned home I got a
phone call about midnight. It was from another leader in the
movement, someone who had been overseeing my state work. She
demanded that I immediately deny that I had seen what I had
seen. That would mean telling a lie. I told her I could not
deny what I had seen with my own eyes, but that I had no
intention of broadcasting gossip about what I had witnessed.
She then told me that she would do everything in her power
to destroy me. And she began to work on it. A few months
later I resigned from my position because it became clear
that in her attempt to destroy me she was ruining an entire
organization.[1]
(529) ‘Heavenly
Minded; Earthly Good’ by Jackie Alnor, 2/2/19 Remember that old saying, “They’re so heavenly-minded,
they’re no earthly good”? Yes, that can be a problem for
some. But for most the opposite is true – the majority of
professing Christians are too earthly-minded, they’re no
heavenly good. The truth is in the middle. And that can be a
difficult balance to walk. We are to be in the world, but
not of the world, Scripture tells us. We should seek those
things above, not below. And yet, the Great Commission is to
go out into all the world and preach the Gospel – usually to
a hostile audience.
(530) GotQuestions.org
by Got Questions Ministries, 2/3/19
561,624 Bible Questions Answered! Do you have a question
about God, Jesus, the Bible, or theology? Do you need help
understanding a Bible verse or passage? Are there any
spiritual issues in your life for which you need advice or
counsel? Excellent site for Biblical answers!
(531) Navigators
Welcomes 2019 With Their Contemplative Trend By Promoting
Jesuit Prayer Practice by Lighthouse Trails,
2/7/19 Navigators is a Christian organization, founded in 1933 by
a young man named Dawson Trotman, that eventually became a
household name in the evangelical church.* The Navigators
motto is, “To Know Christ and to Make Him Known.” However,
Navigators and its publishing arm NavPress have been on a
contemplative trend for over 15 years, and in the January
2019 issue of the Navigator’s newsletter, “Worldwide,” it is
evident that the stakes have become much higher. Navigators
History of Promoting Contemplative Prayer In 2005,
Lighthouse Trails posted a news brief titled, “NavPress –
Whatever Happened to Navigators?” that stated, “Today,
NavPress has become a leading publisher for contemplative
spirituality books.” Some of the authors NavPress publishes
include Brennan Manning, Jan Johnson, Dallas Willard, Henri
Nouwen, and Bruce Demerest. NavPress is also publishing
Eugene Peterson’s The Message (which is a key product for
NavPress).
(532) Social
Justice: Modern Roots and Promoters by Gary
Gilley, 2/10/19 As we attempt to evaluate the social justice movement,[1]
especially in light of the debates within evangelicalism
surrounding the publication of The Statement on Social
Justice and the Gospel, it would be helpful to trace its
roots. The emphasis on social justice that is now all
but omnipresent within Christianity did not appear out of
thin air; there are predecessors and forerunners who have
paved the way for comingling of the biblical gospel with a
social agenda producing a hybrid gospel and mission for the
church. In two earlier TOTT papers, “The Social
Gospel” Parts 1&2,[2] the development of the 19th
century Social Gospel movement which led to theological
liberalism was detailed. In those articles, it was
documented that German rationalism, higher criticism,
Enlightenment and Romanticist thought were interlaced and
embraced by first European and later American Protestantism.
(533) ‘Brewery
church’ is the latest in craft of luring folks to church
by Religion News Service, 2/13/19 ORLANDO, Fla. (RNS) — Martin Luther, the famed 16th-century
rebel monk and Protestant Reformer, is known to have had a
penchant for a palatable pint of beer. He even once
exclaimed, “Whoever drinks beer, he is quick to sleep;
whoever sleeps long, does not sin; whoever does not sin,
enters Heaven! Thus, let us drink beer!” Perhaps it should
come as no surprise then that the first known congregation
founded expressly as a “brewery church” is a Lutheran
outpost, part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
and its Florida-Bahamas Synod. Castle Church Brewing
Community describes itself as “Orlando’s newest premier
destination brewery” but also makes clear that while beer is
its passion, “as a spiritual community, we exist for people
first.” ACT Note: If they truly exist for "people first"
what about those with a drinking addiction? And BTW,
Luther was not right that drinking beer will result in a
sinless life and going to heaven. This gives "seeker friendly"
a whole new look.
(534) An
abandoning of religion, faith, for a new way of
Spirituality? by Mike Oppenheimer, 2/16/19 A recent article by Michael Snyder End Of The American
Dream - November 28, 2018. These are some excerpts of it.
America is littered with thousands upon thousands of church
buildings that aren’t being used anymore. Many of our
nation’s churches can no longer afford to maintain their
structures—6,000 to 10,000 churches die each year in
America—and that number will likely grow. Though more than
70 percent of our citizens still claim to be Christian,
congregational participation is less central to many
Americans’ faith than it once was. Most denominations are
declining as a share of the overall population, and
donations to congregations have been falling for decades.
Meanwhile, religiously unaffiliated Americans, nicknamed the
“nones,” are growing as a share of the U.S. population. In
fact, the “nones” have risen from just 6 percent of the
population in 1991 to 25 percent today. That makes them the
single largest “religious group” in the United States.
Today, less than 20 percent of all Americans attend church
on a regular basis.
(535) Social
Justice by Gary Gilley, 2/17/19 Of the hot-button issues circulating right now, in both
society and the church, nothing has drawn more interest and
debate than social justice. In society at large much unrest
and controversy is evident particularly in regards to three
areas. First, there are the interrelation concerns,
expressed most clearly in the #MeToo movement, which is an
effort directed at the alleviation of sexual harassment and
assault, primarily targeting women. Next are the debates
involving human sexuality, especially LGBTQ items.
Finally, matters of race and ethnicity have surged afresh in
recent years. As these concerns filter down to the
church, to a certain extent the response of God’s people is
clear. The Scriptures powerfully condemn all forms of
immorality, sexual misconduct, and abuse. Sadly, the
church has not been totally spared the accusations of sexual
misconduct, with a number of high profile leaders recently
being exposed for the misuse of their positions of power and
abuse of women. Concerning the LGBTQ agenda, the Word
speaks with equal clarity.[1] However, this has
presented a considerable dilemma for the attractional church
which is trying to create a church setting in which the
unbeliever is comfortable and happy to join. Those following
this model of “doing” church are struggling with how to
attract unbelievers while condemning LGBTQ morality which
has become increasingly acceptable within our culture.
Finally, contrary to some Christians in the past, there are
few today who would question the evil of racism. All human
beings are created in the image of God and stand on equal
footing before Him, and should before us as well. But
in our present time and environment, the matters surrounding
race and ethnicity are not all that simple.
Misunderstandings, accusations, division, and anger abound,
and the church has not been spared. It is primarily
disputes regarding race that have gained the most attention
of late and will be the subject of this paper.
(536) How
Should the Christian Contender of the Faith Speak and
Behave? by Lighthouse Trails, 2/18/19 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper
than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
(Hebrews 4:12) Lighthouse Trails has always made great
efforts to speak the truth in love. We attempt to never be
vitriolic or judge one’s motives, not even the “worst” of
them. We leave that part up to God. We also attempt to make
sure any article we link to by a fellow researcher is of the
same caliber. While we do occasionally link to an article
that might not fall perfectly into that criteria, our
regular authors and writers are of the same mindset as us.
So how does a believer rightfully and in a godly manner
(following the example of Jesus, Paul, and the disciples)
deal with those who are bringing false teachings into the
church. In thinking about following the example of Jesus,
the disciples, and Paul, below are some Scripture verses
that might help us outline some thoughts, for while we can
show verses that talk about showing love and respect to
others, we can also show many verses that talk about how to
deal properly with those bringing heretical doctrines into
the church.
(537) Brazil's
#metoo moment: Spiritual guru accused of sex abuse
by Diarlei Rodrigues, Mario Lobao and Peter Prengaman ,
Associated Press, February 18, 2019 ABADIANIA, Brazil (AP) — For over 40 years, spiritual
healer Joao Teixeira de Faria drew people from all over the
world to this small city in central Brazil, offering
treatment for everything from depression to cancer. His work
was both praised — Oprah Winfrey called de Faria "inspiring"
while visiting in 2012 — and heavily scrutinized. Now, de
Faria, who goes by the name "Joao de Deus," or "John of
God," is in trouble with the law. Since December, more than
250 women including his daughter have come forward to allege
abuse that ranged from being felt up during treatments to
rape. The mounting accusations are turning the 77-year-old
spiritual guru into Brazil's first major figure to go down
in the #metoo era, which has been slow to take off in Latin
America's largest nation despite myriad problems with gender
equality. Meanwhile, the people in Abadiania, about a
two-hour drive west from the nation's capital of Brasilia,
are in disbelief. They also fear for their futures without
de Faria.
(538) Letter
to the Editor: My Future as a Methodist Uncertain as LGBT
Vote Soon Takes Place at Lighthouse Trails,
2/23/19 It’s getting much more difficult to find Christian books
which speak truth, about God, His Word, the church, without
a New Age, spiritual formation, emerging church agenda. I
quit going to United Methodist Women monthly meetings; one
woman uses Jesus Calling as the devotional reading. Sunday
School has become a political discussion session. Advent
will be a non-Bible movie/study guide with Stations of the
Cross on Good Friday. (All this in a Methodist church, led
by a pastor who goes to leadership meetings held at a
Benedictine monastery! In late February, the Methodists are
having a special conference, called by the bishops, to vote
on LGBT issues. [LTRJ note: The United Methodists will be
voting at their general conference on Feb. 23-26.] A
denominational split is already being discussed. I know I
will obey God and His Word. So far, I’m still a Methodist,
but for how long? I pray for His wisdom and guidance. Thank
you for your books, booklets, and Journal.
(539) What
do the fake media news and false prophets have in common?
by Mike Oppenheimer, 2/24/19
Solomon said there is nothing new under the sun. He didn’t
mean that that they drove cars and flew planes in ancient
times but was speaking of the heart of man, the ways we
stray, has, and will continue to be the same. Solomon wanted
to be a fair and just king over his people. Was he perfect,
far from it but his inclination was to do good, it was his
nature, as it was in his dad (King David) to do God’s will
for the people. Given the option to ask anything of the Lord
He asked “Therefore give to Your servant an understanding
heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good
and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of
Yours?" (1 Kings 3:9) Wisdom – it can come in many different
facets, first is common sense, the other is spiritual sense.
We are told in the Bible over and over, century after
century of false prophets (and teachers) will be among the
people. They in the past have misled them with their own
visions and dreams and interpretations of the times. They
got it wrong but the people listened to them over those who
told the uncomfortable truth. We are also told this will
increase to its zenith as we approach the end of the age.
(540) Jesus
was a 'sorcerer,' Bible a 'book of magic,' say Christian
witches ahead of first annual convention by
Leonardo Blair, Christian Post Reporter, 2/26/19 The first annual Christian witches convention is set to be
hosted in Salem, Massachusetts, this April and will feature
internationally recognized Prophet Calvin Witcher who agrees
with the convention’s host that Jesus was a sorcerer and the
Bible is really a “book of magic.” The Rev. Valerie Love,
the force behind the event who describes herself as a
practicing Christian witch and an ordained minister of
spiritual consciousness, recently launched the Covenant of
Christian Witches Mystery School to help Christians tap into
magic, which critics are condemning as "dangerous." She
insists there is nothing wrong with the idea of Christians
practicing magic despite biblical warnings against it.
(541) Can
a Christian be “spoiled”? by Sandy Simpson,
3/20/19 Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy
and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the
rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (KJV)
(542) “Christian
university [Azuza Pacific U] changes stance on gay
relationships a third time” at Lighthouse Trails,
3/22/19 LTRP Note: The following news story is posted for
informational and research purposes. "Same-sex relationships
are now, again, permitted on campus A Christian university
has once again lifted a ban on same-sex relationships on its
campus, several months after re-instating the ban after it
had initially been lifted in the late summer of last year.
Azusa Pacific University “specifically removed language that
barred LGBTQ relationships as part of a standing ban on
pre-marital sex” from its student handbook, The San Gabriel
Valley Tribune reports. The school had previously removed
the ban at the beginning of last semester. But the Board of
Trustees declared that it had “never approved this removal,”
and the ban was subsequently re-instated. Campus officials
at the time couldn’t explain how the ban had been lifted
without the approval of the Board of Trustees."
(543) Indoctrinating
The Masses (Video) by Jacob Prasch, 4/13/19 What are the signs and symptoms of indoctrination in
today's society? In this video Jacob Prasch addresses how
school, media, and culture are used to perpetuate a
narrative and how those things will ultimately be used to
set the stage for the advent of the antichrist and false
prophet as spoken of in the book of Revelation.
(544) Israel's
Election Aftermath by Ruben Rothler, 4/15/19 With the results of the Israeli elections confirmed,
Netenyahu is on course to be Israel's longest serving Prime
Minister. Without doubt, Netenyahu's political acumen and
savy borders on that of genius. He has mastered the dark
arts of discourse. He was able to successfully project
himself as the man who can continue to provide security,
identity and prosperity.
(545) “Southern
Baptist Leadership’s Mixed Message on Homosexuality”
by Tommy Jamison, 4/16/19 On January 27, 2019 Dr. J.D. Greear, president of the
Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) preached a sermon to his
congregation titled “How the fall affected us all.”1 The
message has been viewed multiple times by many, and deep
concern has been voiced over his non-biblical treatment of
Romans 1:21-32. The emphasis was on the treatment of
homosexuals by the church. There are seven points in his
message that many of us find either misleading or totally in
error ...
(546) The
Discerning Walk - A Testimony of God's Goodness by
Herescope, 4/26/19 "Quicken me after Thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the
testimony of Thy mouth." (Psalm 119:88) Recently the
publishers of this blog (Lynn & Sarah Leslie) had an
opportunity to share some of our personal testimony at the
Community Church of Devore in Devore, California. Our friend
Pastor Marco Quintana asked us to do a question and answer
session with him for their Palm Sunday morning church
service. Readers of the Herescope blog might enjoy listening
to a few of our stories about the early history of the
Discernment Research Group.
(547) Letter
to the Editor: Southern Baptist Convention Leaders Taking
SBC Far From Its Biblical Moorings at Lighthouse
Trails, 5/5/19 As a Southern Baptist, I am concerned that powerful leaders
in the Southern Baptist Convention are taking the
denomination far from its biblical moorings. Bureaucracy
within the organization is to blame, as are a few
mega-church pastors who take turns filling decision-making
posts whether elected or appointed. What can Southern
Baptists do to stop the march toward progressivism and
apostasy? Most Southern Baptists who believe the
denomination is standing strong on moral issues would be
shocked to hear leadership double-talk concerning the
normalization of LGBT behavior and involvement in Revoice.
Also shocking are stances on contemplative spirituality,
immigration, social justice/social gospel, and wealth
re-distribution. Alliances with Muslims, Mormons and the
Pope have led to compromises in the presentation of the
Gospel. The Gospel has also been distorted through LifeWay
Bookstore’s sale of books and literature written by false
teachers.
Updated! (548) Anti-Semitism
and the Rise of Techno-Media Imperialism by
Herescope, 5/17/19 Recently The New York Times prominently provided an
international media platform for an extremely offensive
anti-Semitic cartoon. If this wasn’t bad enough, the
newspaper followed it up with yet another offensive
cartoon.[4] These cartoons were strikingly similar to the
type of anti-Semitic propaganda used by Hitler in Germany
during the 1930s that paved the way to the Holocaust, the
extermination of 6,000,000 Jews. Read Part
1 & Part
2.
(549) When
men become god's throughout the universe by Mike
Oppenheimer, 5/20/19 Mormonism teaches that God (of this world) was once a
man who became a god. (DoC 130:22) Was once born as a
baby on another planet (Church News, Sept,19 1936 p.2 J. F.
Smith) died and was resurrected (Gospel Principles p.9),
progressed to become a God. Brigham Young stated “how many
Gods there are, I do not know. But there never was a time
when there were no Gods and worlds…(JoD vol.7 p.333) Joseph
Smith said we will become gods like all other gods This
Mormon god has a father, a grandfather and a great
grandfather (Doctrines of Salvation vol.2 p.47) ad
infinitum. In the Bible the Lord states: "I am he: before me
there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me"
(Isaiah 43:10). God in the Bible is presented as from
everlasting to everlasting.
(550) Shutting
Down or Staying Alert by Cedric Fisher, 5/21/19 Whatever the cause, shutting down is the worst thing a
Christian can do at this point of time. Instead of shutting
down, believers need to be selective about what they are
putting into their minds and spirits. Being informed is
essential to being prepared. Shutting down will not prepare
one to endure the harshness of the tough days ahead. It’s
one thing if believers are focusing on their relationship
with the Lord and want to spend less time on the Internet
and watching TV. However, the temptation for many (and I
have seen it already) will be to shut down by engaging in
entertainment media and outlets of benign and mundane
information. Rather than adjusting with balance, they are
going into denial, choosing to believe we have lots of time
before our society, as we know it, collapses. That’s the
“Ostrich Complex,” and professing Christians with the
Ostrich Complex will pay a severe price for what they are
enjoying now.
(551) How
to find a good church by Sandy Simpson, 2003,
Updated 2019
Here’s how to find a good church. What you need to
find is a church that not only has orthodox doctrinal
statements but teaches, both explicitly and implicitly, in
line with the core doctrines of the Faith. These are
Bible-believing Christ-centered churches that are balanced
in their theology. Be sure to test all churches before
you become involved.
(552) Your
personal Spiritual warfare by Mike Oppenheimer,
5/26/19 When we hear the term spiritual warfare it is interpreted
in different ways depending on what you have been taught
or experienced. In the Bible we read of our world as a
battlefield, the Devils kingdom opposes God’s and the
chess pieces being moved are you and I, mankind. He is
after our soul, which is man’s greatest self possession.
We are contending in spiritual warfare every day in
various ways. Influences are all around us to have us act
contrary to our new nature. We begin to enter a war in our
mind that wants to solicit the heart, the flesh wars
against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh, that
is our personal spiritual warfare. We either react in our
old nature, or in the new. This warfare can show up in
relationships, where the enemy wants to divide. When we
get wrong thoughts about a person we know or respect, it
can either be our flesh or the devils fiery dart. If it
persists after you decide it is wrong, then you know it’s
not originating from you.
(554) The
Power of Admission and Forgiveness…by BIll
Randles, 6/7/19 Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.Lord,
hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of
my supplications. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark
iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is
forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait
for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I
hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they
that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that
watch for the morning. Let Israel hope in the Lord:
for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is
plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all
his iniquities. (Psalm 130) And when he was in affliction,
he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly
before the God of his fathers,And prayed unto him: and he
was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and
brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then
Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God. ( 2 Chronicles
33:12-13) Mannaseh was a monster. He was a tyrant who
became King of Judah after his Father Hezekiah reigned. He
persecuted and killed true prophets,( he may have sawed
Isaiah in half, in a log), filled Jerusalem and the temple
with idols, and led Judah into such a complete apostasy
that she never recovered until after the Babylonian
captivity. But he was hauled away into captivity,
literally led about by a nose ring. In his misery and
humiliation, He turned to God, and asked God to forgive
him of his sins. God heard him, and had pity on him ,
answering him and restoring him back to Jerusalem.
(555) Temple
Mount (Series) at Biblical Archeology, 6/18/19 Considered sacred ground even before Biblical times and
bitterly contested in our own day, the Temple Mount is one
of the most fascinating and important places on earth.
We’ve selected several articles that highlight the Temple
Mount’s role in the three great Western religions and
focus on a key archaeological issue: Just where was the
ancient Jewish Temple located? The articles below were
hand-selected by the Biblical Archaeology Review editors
especially for members of the BAS Library.
(556) What
Will You Do When America—As You Have Known It—Is Gone?
by Paul Proctor, 7/6/19 Country singer, Lee Greenwood wrote and recorded a very
powerful and inspiring song many years ago that has all
but become the new unofficial national anthem of the
United States of America. The lyrics to God Bless The USA
begin this way: If tomorrow all the things were gone I’d
worked for all my life, And I had to start again with just
my children and my wife, I’d thank my lucky stars to be
living here today, ‘Cause the flag still stands for
freedom and they can’t take that away… Now, I’m not sure
why Mr. Greenwood would thank his “lucky stars” for the
privilege of living in the USA, right before calling on
Almighty God to bless it – but the words do make one pause
and think about the unthinkable, hopefully to reassess
what is treasured most in this country. Our flag indeed
still stands for freedom, but I’m not so sure that the
freedom for which it stands can’t be taken away.
(557) Ethnos
Dominionism by Herescope, 7/7/19 Taking a step back and looking at the larger
picture introduced in Part 2, ethnos against ethnos
(“nation” against “nation”) is an us versus them concept.
It pits sect against sect, party against party, race
against race, and group against group. (See Part 2.) In
ethnos vs. ethnos one group seeks to attain dominance over
another in a battle for power. In this prophecy about the
last days delivered by Jesus Christ, likewise each
“kingdom” (Gk. basileia, βασιλεία) wages war against other
kingdoms. Basileia vs. basileia. In other words, each
ethnos and each basileia seek to attain their own
dominion. Read Part
1, Part
2 & Part
3.
(558) A
Berean Exercise: "Christian" Magazines by The
Berean Call, 7/13/19 A staff member handed me a couple of the latest magazine
issues we received in order to review them. They were
Christianity Today (CT) and Charisma Magazine (CM). We
subscribe to them in order to keep up to date regarding
teachings that are being disseminated throughout
Christendom. In general they are representative of
seemingly diverse Christian theological positions. CT was
founded by Billy Graham and has been described as “a
mainstream evangelical magazine.” Its beginnings were
conservative, doctrinally, and Graham was considered an
icon of fundamentalism. Not too long afterward, however,
he began praising modernists (Christian liberals of that
day) and involving them in his crusades. His later
crusades included Roman Catholic priests and nuns as
counselors who were to direct those Catholics who
responded to Graham’s message back to their Catholic
churches! Those seeds have produced the Christianity Today
of our day. It is unabashedly liberal and pro-Catholic,
which underscores its ongoing disregard of biblical
Christianity.
(559) Indoctrinating
The Masses (Video) by James Jacob Prasch,
7/18/19 What are the signs and symptoms of indoctrination in
today's society? In this video Jacob Prasch addresses how
school, media, and culture are used to perpetuate a
narrative and how those things will ultimately be used to
set the stage for the advent of the antichrist and false
prophet as spoken of in the book of Revelation.
(560) An
Overlooked Reason For “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” Author
Josh Harris’ Departure From the Christian Faith
at Lighthouse Trails, 7/31/19 “I have undergone a massive shift in regard to my faith
in Jesus. The popular phrase for this is ‘deconstruction,’
the biblical phrase is ‘falling away.’ By all the
measurements that I have for defining a Christian, I am
not a Christian. . . . to the LGBTQ+ community, I want to
say that I am sorry for the views that I taught in my
books and as a pastor regarding sexuality. I regret
standing against marriage equality, for not affirming you
and your place in the church.”—Josh Harris (Instagram)
This month, the Christian world was rocked when Josh
Harris, the author of the highly popular book on sexual
purity, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, announced he was
separating from his wife, recanting his Christian faith,
and apologizing to the LGBT community for his former
conservative views on sexuality.
(561) Ameritopia
(Book) by Mark Levin, 8/4/19 The Tyranny of Utopia (Partial Chapter 1) “Where
utopianism is advanced through gradualism rather than
revolution, albeit steady and persistent as in democratic
societies, it can deceive and disarm an unsuspecting
population, which is largely content and passive. It is
sold as reforming and improving the existing society's
imperfections and weaknesses without imperiling its basic
nature. Under these conditions, it is mostly ignored,
dismissed, or tolerated by much of the citizenry and
celebrated by some. Transformation is deemed innocuous,
well-intentioned, and perhaps constructive but not a
dangerous trespass on fundamental liberties.” ― Mark R.
Levin, Ameritopia: The Unmaking of America
(562) A
Matter of Life and Death by Roger Oakland,
8/8/19 Evolution` not only robs God of His glory in creating
life, it also destroys God’s purpose of death and God’s
plan to overcome it through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ. The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death”
(Romans 6:23) and “whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Contrary
to the abrupt formation of each species as stated in the
Bible’s creation story, evolution teaches that through the
cycle of death came higher forms of life. Through endless
cycles of death in one-celled organisms came simple life.
From the death of simple life came the formation of more
complex life. Finally, through the death of apes came man.
Evolution proposes that death combined with the survival
of the fittest of a species is the mechanism which
produces new and greater forms of life.
(564) Skillet’s
John Cooper on Apostasy Among Young Christian Leaders
on George Brahm's blog, 8/13/19 John Cooper, lead singer for the rock band Skillet,
responded to the litany of recent apostasies among young
Christian leaders. In a Facebook post titled ‘What in
God’s Name is Happening in Christianity?’ put up on
Tuesday, August 13, Cooper directly addressed the reasons
given by Hillsong songwriter Marty Sampson for renouncing
his Christian faith, before highlighting the need for
Christians to stay grounded in a truth-driven faith over
an emotion-driven one. Here is the text of the post in its
entirety (not corrected for spelling or punctuation)
(565) “Illinois
Governor Mandates LGBT History Curriculum for Public
School” at Lighthouse Trails, 8/15/19 The governor of Illinois recently signed a bill that will
mandate public schools in the state teach LGBT history,
beginning next year. The new legislation will require
schools to incorporate “a study of the roles and
contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
people” as part of the American history curriculum.
Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker (D) signed House Bill 246
into law on Friday, which will require schools to
incorporate LGBT history in American history courses. The
law mandates that all publicly funded schools in Illinois
include “the roles and contributions of lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this
country and this State” in official textbooks.
(566) Candy
Machine God, or, Going to Church without Going to
Church: Millennials and the Future of the Christian
Faith by Chad Lakies, 8/25/19 Abstract: In this article,
I try to give background
to some of the sociological data that
describes the relationship between Millennials and the
church. Since the modern American religious context has
for some time been described as therapeutic, I
explore this to help explain
recent work which characterizes
Millennials as embodying and desiring this form of
religion. The result is that the problem lies not
so much with Millennials but the church
itself. From there, I try briefly to suggest how the
church became merely therapeutic and what the church might
do to recover faithfulness.
(567) The
Fading Light Of Pop-Christianity at FNW,
9/14/2019 Many Christians were shocked in August when longtime
Hillsong songwriter, Marty Sampson announced that he was
"losing his faith". In a Twitter post (that has since been
removed), Marty claims that he is "not in anymore" and
wants "genuine truth. Not the "I Just Believe It" kind of
truth". His list of reasons that Christianity is "not for
me", according to Sampson, read like a laundry list of
teenage rebellions to Christianity during youth group: - Christians are judgmental - Science disproves Christianity - Preachers fail morally - The Bible has contradictions Many Christians will read this news and wonder how
God's power fits in to a Christian leader walking away
from the Faith. Christians may wonder how someone so
influential to modern Christianity can reject the faith he
led others through. Read more at
http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=3452#u75lGrE3zOzEGIB5.99
(568) Egypt,
Babylon, or the Palm of God by James Jacob
Prash, 9./18/19 We have spoken a number of times concerning things that
teach about the Last Days. There are a number of time
periods in Israel's history, outlined in the Bible, that
prefigure what will happen in the Last Days. In watching
news reports about the riots on the Temple Mount recently,
I was reminded of one of the things that convinces me that
we are in the Last Days. Specifically, there is much
arguing over the propriety of custody of the Temple Mount.
(569) Seminary
Students Confess Their Sins . . . to Plants by
Ken Ham, 9/27/19 No, I didn’t make this up. Union Theological Seminary in
New York City actually held a chapel service where
students confessed and prayed to a bunch of potted plants.
It’s often claimed that we are in the throes of a climate
emergency, but this “confession” time actually shows these
students are in the throes of a spiritual emergency! Maybe
they need to change the school’s name to “Union Pagan
Seminary.”
(570) From
the Oracle ... at Right Wing Watch, 9/28/19 (ACT Note: We don't endorse this site but FYI) Jim Bakker
reports that, according to Jonathan Cahn, "we don't have
much more than a decade left" before the return of Christ.
(571) The
Cross and the Marijuana Leaf (Booklet) by Linda
Nathan, 9/30/19 LTRP Note: Two years ago, Lighthouse Trails released a
booklet titled The Cross and the Marijuana Leaf, written
by Linda Nathan. Because of the fast-growing legalization
of marijuana (both medically and recreationally) across
North America, we are reposting this booklet. You may
print a copy from this blog to share with someone or order
the booklet for $1.95 from our store. Either way, we hope
you will share this information with any young people you
know who think smoking marijuana is safe and OK. Even many
young people from Christian backgrounds who have been
influenced by the emerging church’s laxed views on alcohol
are considering smoking pot thinking that since it is
legal, it must be OK to use. At the bottom of this article
is a link to Linda Nathan’s Facebook page called
Christians and Pot that is definitely worth checking out.
(572) The
Send Deception by T.A. McMahon, The Berean Call,
11/9/19 For the last couple of months I have been writing and
speaking about a “Christian” gathering of nearly 50,000
young adults at a stadium on February 23, 2019, in
Orlando, Florida. This is a summation of my observations
made after viewing hours of video of the assembly as well
as my knowledge of the producers and speakers of the
12-hour, one-day event.
(573) Can
the Father, the Son and the comforter be 3
manifestations and not persons? by Mike
Oppenheimer, 11/29/19 Where is the word manifestations biblically used? A
Manifestation is called a theophany, Christophany in the
Old Testament. God physically manifested himself to be
seen by man as fire, light, a cloud and deep darkness and
as the angel of the Lord that looked like a man. Oneness
in the early church claimed God’s one person are
manifestations that are sequential in order appearing in
different ages. They did this because they recognized the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit as personal. The main
promoter, Praxeas, taught that the Father and the Son were
one identical Person and that the Father became man. By
the 3rd century Sabellius, who resided in Rome, tried to
iron out any kinks. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are
all one and the same. The one God manifests Himself in
three different ways and none of these do not have a
simultaneous existence. When you separate the Father, the
Spirit and the Son to different dispensations you can’t
have two or three as simultaneous manifestations if two do
not exist at the time as the bible shows us. The majority
oneness view today is that the three manifestations of the
one God: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, all are named the
Lord Jesus Christ. Modern Oneness considers the Son to be
human and what makes him God in the flesh is the Father
dwelling in him, which is the Spirit. In the Bible,
especially Isaiah, God speaks of himself in the plural
which is not applicable when you are one manifestation at
a time. Isa 6:8 And who will go for Us?" Isa 48:16 “From
the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord GOD
and His Spirit Have sent Me." Describing three involved.
What we see throughout Scripture are three at the same
time speaking, conversing.
(574) Southern
Baptist Convention Adopts “Critical Race Theory”—A
Dangerous Marxist “Solution” That Will Not Work
by Lighthouse Trails, 12/7/19 On November 25th, Lighthouse Trails received a link to a
YouTube documentary titled “The Stain of Albert Mohler”(1)
that documents how the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)
passed a resolution (Resolution 9) this past summer (2019)
which adopts “Critical Race Theory” (a theory that claims
to be a solution to ending racism but according to critics
is actually a theory enveloped in Marxism).
(575) Ouija
Angel Boards by Lynn Lusby Pratt, 12/13/19 “While most children in the seventies knew enough truth
to place divination in the forbidden realm of the occult,
today’s children—who often feel more comfortable with
occult games than biblical truth—see nothing wrong with
pagan practices.”—Berit Kjos “Well, would you try to
Christianize a Ouija board?” When I’ve asked that
question, heads start shaking no, as anticipated. I use
that question because most Christians know enough about
the Ouija board not to even consider using it in relation
to the Lord Almighty. Whereas, an object or practice that
is new (or at least unfamiliar) to us can seem
harmless—and Christianize-able (or able to be used in a
“neutral” way)—even when its Eastern or occult origin is
somewhat revealed. So helping people picture such a
ridiculous thing as a Christian version of the Ouija board
has helped them see that they should use a little more
discernment (and do some research) about various other
things that appear on the scene.
(576) NETFLIX
RELEASES “GAY JESUS” CHRISTMAS SPECIAL by Christian
Media Daily, 12/14/19 Christians who subscribe to Netflix are on notice the
Spirit of Antichrist is at work through the agency of the
streaming giant “And Elijah came unto all the people, and
said, How long halt ye between two opinions?” (I Kings
18:21) The Brazilian comedy group Porta dos Fundos (which
literally translates to “back door”) appears to have a
real hang-up about our Lord and Christianity in general.
Last December the group released The Last Hangover on
Netflix, a movie that blends Christ’s Last Supper with his
disciples and The Hangover into a night of drunken
debauchery where Jesus disappears. This year, in this new
Christmas special, Jesus turns 30 and brings his gay
boyfriend home to meet Mary and Joseph. The real story
here is how Christians are reacting… Some are signing
petitions, others are praying for the souls of all
involved, most of us are rolling our eyes and moving on
with our lives — because that’s what Christians do. We
don’t lop off people’s heads, which is why it is always
open season on us, which is to our credit. In this way,
lazy, cowardly garbage like The First Temptation of Christ
is useful — it exposes who the bigots are, and if this
so-called comedy troupe wants to produce a “Gay Mohammed”
special for Ramadan and Netflix wants to stream it, I will
take it all back.
(577) The
SBC Has Fallen: Southern Baptist Convention Appoints
Gay-Affirming Pro-LGBTQ+ Pastor David Uth As
President Of 2020 Pastor’s Conference by Now
The End Begins, 12/19/19 Here at Now The End Begins, we bring you regular
updates on Christian churches and denominations
as they begin to compromise and join the ranks of the
end times Laodicean church. Today we sadly add
the Southern Baptist Convention to this list of
corrupt compromisers as they now seek to bring the
LGBTQ+ into the church. It is not outreach to the
LGBTQ+ that’s the problem, because the
gospel should go to them. The problem is
they’re not giving them the gospel, they are
confirming them in their sin.
(578) Fearing God in a Fearless
New Age by Warren B. Smith, 1/5/20 Blessed is every one
that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
(Psalm 128:1) We are living in fearful times, yet the
Bible repeatedly tells us to “Fear not.” Scripture
assures us that “God hath not given us the spirit of
fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind
(2 Timothy 1:7). It teaches us that “God is love” (1
John 4:8) and that “perfect love casteth out fear” (1
John 4:18). But at the same time the Bible continually
tells us to “Fear God.” How is this seemingly apparent
contradiction regarding fear to be reconciled by those
who wish to follow God and do His will? In this
rapidly changing world, it is important to understand
how the biblical concept of “fear” is being redefined
by both the world and the church. In particular, a
variety of voices on both sides would now have us
believe that “the opposite of love is not hate but
fear.”
(579) Christianity Today: “We are
theologically conservative . . . committed to the glory
of God.”—CT History Shows Differently by
Lighthouse Trails, 1/8/20 On December 19th, 2019,
Christianity Today, the magazine that considers itself the
“flagship” magazine for Christianity released an article
written by the just-retired editor-in-chief, Mark Galli,
titled, “Trump Should Be Removed from Office.” According
to CT, the article set off a firestorm. And by our
estimates, millions have now seen the article as scores of
media outlets across the country reported on the story.1
However, that article will not be the focus of this
Lighthouse Trails report. Rather, we will be discussing
something said in a rebuttal article aimed at the critics
that came out on December 22nd titled, “The Flag in the
Whirlwind: An Update from CT’s President,” written by CT
president Timothy Dalrymple.
(581)‘Six Degrees of
Unification’ by Jackie Alnor,
1/10/20 Kevin Bacon’s infamous
idea of ‘Six Degrees of Separation’ posits that all
people can be linked together by following lines of
their first-degree associations to those individuals’
associations, etc. Some have followed this idea
to charge others with guilt-by-association, which is a
fallacious argument. In fact, I myself was a victim of
it when my late husband took a public position that I
disagreed with privately. But because of his stance, I
was ostracized by ministries I agreed with. And in
turn, when I wrote articles showing my allegiance to
those being scrutinized by the mainstream church, my
husband caught the flack with accusations in the
Evangelical community that he didn’t have his wife
under control. Be that as it may, when several people
are truly associated willingly and intentionally with
a group or clique, one can honestly draw certain
conclusions. The substantial six degrees can be seen
by: Endorsement of others’
works or books; Co-sponsoring of the
same events; Character references
on behalf of others; Mutual talking points
and vocabulary; Similar crusades; Same philosophical
goals.
(582)
Some things to consider
on the unborn by Mike Oppenheimer,
1/28/20 How we know this is
the last of the end times. One of the most apparent
ways is the cruelty and violence we see taking place.
The age of violence found in Genesis before the flood
is now repeating, just as Jesus said it would be in
the last days before His coming. It is not just from
Islam in the religious sphere but within humanity and
its culture involving children. The abortion advocates
believe it is a right of freedom, and it is their
choice alone. The cliché it’s my body is the theme of
their movement. If it’s your body why are you eating
for more than one? If it’s “your body” then you can
take drugs and drink with a child developing.
But the child will be affected also, a body that is
developing will be affected different than your own.
Why stop one from doing this destructive behavior even
when they are not pregnant, after all it is there
body? This tiny life called a fetus is composed of
hundreds of thousands of cells, that develops a
protective hormone to prevent the mother’s body from
rejecting it as foreign tissue, because it is foreign
tissue! It is not its Mother, it is another!
After a baby is born we do everything we can to make
them comfortable and save them from harm.
(583)
Technological
Advances Toward a Global Tracking System
by Mike Oppenheimer, 1/29/20 Time is moving toward
a day when the Bibles warning will be fulfilled. We
are watching the development of the cashless society
and the tracking of every citizen by the use of
biometrics, RFID's, chips, scanners etc. RFID tags are
beginning to accompany items sold, incorporated in a
global system. Passports are being prepared with
biometrics- the RFID chip will store all the
information on it. People are willing to take chips
that will track them and have all their medical
history in them. Bio tattoos are being invented for
all kinds of reasons. The technology is basically
here, all we need is a man and system to implement it.
If this is true it is the closest technology has come
to what the Bible said would be used.
(584)
“Wellness” Barbie to
Teach Children Mindfulness Meditation at
Lighthouse Trails, 2/5/20 LTRP Note: Lighthouse
Trails editors have never been fans of “Barbie” dolls,
but, no doubt, you will find the dolls in many
Christian and non-Christian homes. But regardless of
how one feels about Barbie dolls, the makers of Barbie
have taken the doll into the New Age with mindfulness
meditation as you can read below …
(585) “‘Albert Mohler and the
Gay Revolution’—New Documentary Exposes Sell-Out”
at Lighthouse Trails, 2/13/20 SEATTLE, Feb. 4, 2020
/Christian Newswire/ — Dr. ES Williams, a member of
Charles Spurgeon’s Metropolitan Tabernacle in London,
in collaboration with respected researcher, Reverend
Thomas Littleton, has produced a new video titled
Albert Mohler and the Gay Revolution. Drawing heavily
from Mohler’s own words, a strong case is made that
the President of the Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary has strayed from historical, biblical
teachings on one of the most important cultural issues
of the day.
(586)
Bible Study Tours of
Israel at Moriel Ministries, 2/14/20 Chris and Lindy Hill
have arranged and led Bible tours of Israel for over
forty years. The upcoming Spring Tour is their 103rd
trip! The Lord led Chris to this extensive
ministry because he longed to introduce believers to
the Land and the people. His burden has always
been to open up the Bible in the places where the
great events and teachings originally happened.
(587) The Gospel of Self-Esteem: Are
we really better than we think? by David M.
Tyler, 2/20/20 Over the past several
decades, the concept of self-esteem has had a powerful
influence on the Church. Christians, who have generally
thought of self-esteem as sinful, continue to be prompted by
Christian authors in their books to develop a “healthy’’
self-esteem. These authors have warned that a negative
self-esteem is the basis of most psycho-logical problems and
that it even leads to sinful behavior. If the advocates of
self-esteem are right, we must change our emphasis from
man’s unworthiness and focus on man’s worthiness and his
right to esteem himself. The Church will need to recognize
the tremendous significance that this teaching will have in
the lives of its members. But if the advocates of
self-esteem are wrong, then clearly the Church’s fascination
with self-esteem is heretical. Jesus called His followers to
imitate Him in denying themselves (Matthew 16:24). While not
endorsing all of his positions, we agree with T.B. Maston
when he stated: ‘The cross, with all that it symbolizes,
permeates and gives meaning and unity to all the ethical
teachings of Jesus.’’ Jesus consistently tied together
self-denial and the cross. The call of God into the
Christian life is a call to self-denial. The cross —
self-denial —is the path of every Christian. The antithesis
of the cross is self-love. Therefore, self-love is
classified as a‘ ‘different gospel’’(Galatians 1:6), opposed
to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
(588)
HGTV Features First-Ever
“Throuple” Seeking Dreamhouse by Ken Ham,
2/25/20 What’s a “throuple”? Well, I
predict it’s a word you’re going to be increasingly seeing
in the news media and other places. Why? Because it
represents the direction that our culture is going as it
spirals further into sexual immorality and anti-biblical
lifestyles. You see, a “throuple” is a “three-person
couple.” When we understand and embrace God’s Word, we will
know the difference between the truth and the lies, and we
won’t be deceived. Featured on HGTV’s House Hunters (once
considered a family-friendly television program) this
“throuple”—a married couple and a second woman who is in a
relationship (sealed with a “commitment ceremony” in Aruba)
with both the husband and “bisexual” wife—were seeking a
house in Colorado Springs. It needed to fit three master
bathroom sinks, mesh with all three personalities, and have
room for the couple’s two children. Reportedly, during the
episode, they shared how they met at a bar and became
involved in this relationship. And it appears that their
story, and house hunt, is featured just like any other
relationship on the show—as totally normal, natural, and
wonderful.
(589)
The American Legion Gives Big
Push for Veterans to Practice Transcendental Meditation
by Lighthouse Trails, 2/27/20 It is most unfortunate that
Stoffer’s article gives no warning of the potential dangers
in practicing meditation. His one-sided, biased view will no
doubt convince many American Legion readers (veterans) to
give it a try. And if they take Stoffer’s word for it,
they’ll probably never research the matter and discover the
real dynamics behind meditation. Stoffer’s article claims
that meditation “doesn’t change you,” but admits it
(590)
How the Tactics that Sank the
Boy Scouts Are Now Aimed at the Church by
Roberth Knight, Washington Times, 2/29/20 Therefore, take up the full
armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil
day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Ephesians 6:13Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)
The Boy Scouts of America was once an organization that
sought to instill values into boys that were largely based
on the Bible—belief in God, patriotism, helping others,
self-discipline, and heterosexual morality. Today, the Boy
Scouts, tellingly renamed “Scouts BSA” after allowing girls
into their ranks, has declared bankruptcy. Would that
financial bankruptcy were their only problem. Instead
“Scouts BSA” has been morally bankrupted as well, when the
homosexual movement from within and without forced their
perversity on the organization.
(591)
Messianic Jews in Israel Head
Toward Breakup Over NAR? by Holly Pivec, 3/5/20 How destructive is the New
Apostolic Reformation (NAR)? For one example, take a look at
the news coming out of Israel. The historically close-knit
Messianic congregations in the country are, reportedly, on
the brink of a breakup — because of controversy surrounding
NAR teachings being promoted there by an influential
apostolic network, based in Israel, called Tikkun. The
online magazine, Israel Today, recently reported on the
impending breakup in an article titled “Messianic Jews Head
Toward Breakup: Will the Local Body of Messiah in Israel
Survive the Current Serious Debates?” See the article here.
(592)
Letter to the Editor: “Critical
Race Theory”—A Political Tactic That Results in
Cultural/Marxist Segregation at Lighthouse
Trails, 3/6/20 LTRP Note: The following
letter is written in response to yesterday’s post regarding
the SBC and Critical Race Theory. Dear Editors: “Critical
Theory” and “Critical Race Theory” (CT/CRT) stratagem
originated with the Frankfurt School where some Marxists
came up with the more subtle scheme of “Cultural Marxism”—it
is a political tactic which is all about gaining power over
society (as is Marxism). In other words, CT/CRT is used to
deceive people and increase the number of Marxist-minded
individuals in order to undermine existing power so that
Marxism can take over. This overthrow will first be achieved
“culturally,” and then complete economic, political, and
societal control will follow. This is all done under the
guise of things like: releasing the Oppressed; “setting the
captives free;” social justice; helping the downtrodden;
overthrowing “white supremacy” [which is committed by all
with white skin according to CRT advocates]”; “smashing the
patriarchy;” and a prevailing “us verses them” mentality.
Religion and politics are often melded into one. As a
result, Alt-Left politics overtakes an individual’s
religion, and that person’s religion becomes Leftist
politics. (Note: It is common for a few verses to be used
and perverted in order to sway Christ-followers into Marxist
ideology (e.g. “seeking the peace of the city”; e.g. Jer
29:7; Lk 4:18; 2 Pet 3:16; 2 Tim 2:15-18).)
(593)
Letter to the Editor: Concerned
About “Neighborly Faith”—a “Third Way” to Befriend Muslims
at Lighthouse Trails, 3/9/20 LTRJ Note: As we were
preparing to post this letter to the editor that came to us
recently, we came across Christian radio host Janet
Mefferd’s Twitter comments about Southern Baptist Convention
president J.D. Greear’s involvement with a “Neighborly
Faith” event on March 5th titled “Hope in the Current Age: A
Conversation on Christianity and Islam.” Mefferd stated,
“Before Greear’s interfaith dialogue, 64% of Christian
attendees felt “positive” about Islam. After, 76% of
Christians “said their attitude toward Islam was more
positive than before!” Way to go, SBC. Is this what it means
to be “missional?” Mefferd asks the question, “Southern
Baptist pastors and laymen: Is it OK w/you that all these
SBC leaders are pushing Christian-Muslim ‘interfaith
dialogue?’ Is this why you are part of the SBC?”
(594) Fighting Fear in a Fearful Day
by Maria Kneas, 3/18/20 The Bible tells us to “cast”
our cares (fears, anxieties, worries, and concerns) on God
because He cares for us (loves us and takes good care of
us). That means giving our cares to God, and leaving them
with Him—not taking them back again: Casting all your care
upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7) This is
easier said than done. We have to learn how to do it. Like
many things in life, it takes practice. We can ask God to
enable us to do it, to give us the grace for it, and to help
us appropriate and work with the grace He gives us. And let
the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye
are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Colossians
3:15, emphasis added) There is no fear in love; but perfect
love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that
feareth is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18, emphasis
added) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
(Matthew 5:16, emphasis added) That ye may be blameless and
harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a
crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights
in the world. (Philippians 2:15, emphasis added)
(595)
When Will They Ever Learn?
by Judson Casjens, 3/20/20 So went one of the stanzas
of the 1970s song by Peter, Paul & Mary about social
justice and war. We might ask the same question about
the books believers are reading today which purport to be
Christian while inside the teaching betrays that very
notion. Rather than being instructive about living the
life Christ would have the believer live, instead, we are
given various empty promises connected to superstition,
mantras reflective of paganism, and other distortions; when
will we ever learn? There has been a continual flow of
literature and teaching which has been deceptive and even
blatantly false. One fitting example would be “The Jesus
Prayer” which put forth the recitation of the formulaic
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner,”
repeated until one’s mind is emptied by which presumably
one’s heart would be cleansed. In the Jesus Prayer can
be seen the Eastern counterpart of the rosary, which has
developed to hold a similar place in the Christian
West. In “Eastern church theology,” it is a “spiritual
method” “of prayer” called “hesychasm”1, given to “emphasize
the concrete possibility that man is given to unite himself
with the Triune God in the intimacy of his heart, in that
deep union of grace which Eastern theology likes to describe
with the particularly powerful term of ‘theosis,’ or
‘divinization.'”2 Divinization is just as it sounds;
to make divine describes the process underlined above.
(596)
Hedged In! by Sarah
Leslie, 3/21/30 "Come, my people, enter thou
into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide
thyself as it were for a little moment, until the
indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of
His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their
iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall
no more cover her slain." (Isaiah 26:20-21) Each of us can
pray that God will enable us to gain virtuous qualities,
greater strengths, and renewed courage that we did not think
we possessed. We can learn endurance, choose peace, enjoy
quiet, get some rest, and trust in God's faithfulness.
(597)
A
Time of Sorrows by Mike Oppenheimer, 3/23/20 Matthew 24:4-14 And Jesus
answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives
you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the
Christ,' and will deceive many. ” This is the first of his
warnings. We have already seen many come claiming to be
Christ, a Christ, or Have his anointing in authority. The
point he is making is that they are deceiving people on a
massive scale. v.6 “ And you will hear of wars and rumors of
wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things
must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” World wars began
early in the 20th century and we have had wars taking place
all over the globe in various sizes. Since World War 2,
there have been over 200 conflicts. V.7 “ For nation will
rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there
will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various
places.” Conflict of nations will become the norm. What
Jesus is expressing are worldwide increases. Famines will be
on a scale not seen before. Earthquakes will be seen in
various places it was not before and will increase in
frequency and strength. One thing to note in the Matthew
account is that the word pestilence (diseases, virus’) is
not found in this manuscript, according to the interlinear
Bible it was added. It was probably added because it was
recorded by Luke who was a doctor and would certainly make
sure this was included if this was spoken as he recorded the
same account.
(598)
"And I Shall Be As God" - The
Big Lie: Men and Their Claims of Deity by G.
Richard Fisher, 3/27/20 A. W. Tozer observed, ‘‘What
comes into our minds when we think about God is the most
important thing about us.’’1 The late cult apologist, Walter
Martin, refashioning the Four Spiritual Laws made popular by
Campus Crusade for Christ, had his Two Spiritual Laws: 1)
There is only one God, and 2) You’re not Him. To most, it is
a logical proposition. No human is timeless and eternal with
the ability to create from nothing. No human controls the
universe. All humans are mortal and passing. The Bible is
very clear that all of us are simply the ‘‘offspring of
God’’ (Acts 17:28-29), meaning we are just creatures created
by Him and that each one of us is part of the human family.
We are mortal and only God Himself is eternal and immortal.
However, some people have made the claim that they are
indeed God on earth.
(599)
Coronavirus and Preparing for
the Future by David Dombrowski, 4/28/20 For many, the coronavirus
has been a roller-coaster ride trying to decipher the
seriousness and magnitude of this pandemic. Coming from two
extremes, some have tried to minimize what is happening by
suggesting this is a hoax while others seem to think this is
the end of the world. Jesus spoke of a time when “the end is
not by and by” (Luke 21:9) that will be marked by wars and
commotions along with “great earthquakes . . . in divers
places, and famines and pestilences . . .” (v. 11). Jesus
said when you witness these things, “be not terrified” (v.
9). While the coronavirus definitely seems like one of the
pestilences Jesus said would come, I also believe it is
another wake-up call that God is using to get us ready to
face the future. But how do we go about preparing for the
future?
(600)
Reading the Bible Amidst World
Crisis! (Video) by Chris Lawson, 5/2/20 In an ever-changing
landscape of world events, crisis, and chaos, where do you
stand when it comes to preparing for hard times? We can do
our best to make preparations for things like cybersecurity
attacks, food shortages, outdoor and urban survival, natural
disaster survival, home defense and business security
strategies, safe investments, and more. However, when we are
confronted with the big crisis, where are our hearts and
thoughts, and do we have the peace we need during world
crisis events? Are we really reading our Bibles and trusting
the Lord each step of the way? This video is meant to
encourage you to simply sit down and read your Bible, and
rely on the Lord—amidst your preparations and/or the
implementation of emergency plans.
(601)
My High Tower - Seeing the
World from His perspective by Berit Kjos,
5/7/20 “The Lord is... my High
Tower and my Refuge.” 2 Samuel 22:2-3 My strong Tower
rises high above the ground, offering an entirely new view
of earth and its people. Its lofty shelter offers me peace
and safety in the midst of all kinds of struggles. Whether I
stand at the top or hide within His impenetrable walls, the
troubles and turmoil of the world cannot reach me. Jesus is
that unshakable Tower. My Lord has raised me up and seated
me with Him in the heavenly places. (Eph. 2:6) There He
shares with me the perspective and the safety of His
heights. In the wonderful peace of His presence, I can rest
while He shows me His majestic view of the world and the
people He loves. From His high vantage point everything
looks new and different. The Goliaths — the overwhelming
giants below, which looked so terrible at ground level -
seem tiny from up here. Why did I fear them so?
(602)
“Awaiting Our Rescue”
by Jackie Alnor, 5/18/20 “Be wise as serpents and
innocent as doves.” I think this applies to our day and age
as we await the Bridegroom’s rescue. I was asked the other
day if I believe in the pre-trib rapture. I responded that
it is my greatest hope, but I’ve never been dogmatic about
it. Perhaps that’s because I was weaned as a new believer on
Chuck Smith and Walter Martin whose Bible studies I
frequented in my first decade as a believer. Chuck was
dogmatically pre and Walter just as post. The preemies
jokingly referred to their post friends as “Post-Toasties”
and the posties called them “Escapists.” I learned their
biblical arguments and all the ones in-between. All base
their understanding on several passages, not just one. But
we loved one another as brothers and sisters in Christ and
did NOT divide over the topic.
(603)
“‘I No Longer Believe in God,’
Says Lead Singer of Christian Band Hawk Nelson”
at Lighthouse Trails, 5/28/20
The following news story is posted for informational and
research purposes. The lead
singer of the Christian contemporary group Hawk Nelson said
in an Instagram post last week he doesn’t believe in God and
“can no longer stand on stage” and sing the band’s songs
because of his new stance. “After growing up in a Christian
home, being a pastor’s kid, playing and singing in a
Christian band, and having the word ‘Christian’ in front of
most of the things in my life – I am now finding that I no
longer believe in God,” Jon Steingard wrote in a lengthy
Instagram post.
(604)
Pixar Short Animated Film ‘Out’
on Disney+ Features Studio’s First Homosexual Main
Character at Lighthouse Trails, 5/29/20 LTRP Note: The following
news article is posted for informational and research
purposes. Calling the story “heartwarming,” Disney+
announced on Thursday the release of a new Pixar short film,
which centers on the story of a man named Greg who is
nervous about revealing to his parents that he is in a
relationship with another man. While some have praised the
production, others lament that such material aims to
normalize sin in impressionable minds. “Just look them in
the eyes and say, ‘Mom, Dad, this is my boyfriend, Manuel,’”
Greg (voiced by Kyle McDaniel, who was among the Pixar crew
in “Inside Out”, “Brave” and “Monsters University”) says,
coaching himself about what to say as he is about to move in
with a man who, unbeknownst to his parents, is his
homosexual partner.
(605)
“‘It’s Destructive Unity’:
George Floyd’s Brother Condemns the Violence, Says His
Brother ‘Was About Peace’” at Lighthouse
Trails, 6/3/20 TRJ Note: The following is
posted for informational and research purposes. Posted from
Christian News Network: The younger brother of George Floyd
is pleading with protesters not to “tear up your town” as
violent demonstrations have taken place in numerous cities
across the country. In an interview with ABC News’ Alex
Perez on Sunday night, Terrence Floyd said that he
understands why people are angry, but he worries his
brother’s memory will be overshadowed by the destructive
protests.
(606)
In Such a Time as This, Let Us
Pray . . . at Lighthouse Trails, 6/6/20 As we witness the
distressing events happening all around us, let those who
name the name of Jesus Christ and put their trust in Him
pray that God’s Word and the Gospel of Jesus Christ would go
forth, that hearts would be softened, and that many would
turn their lives over to the Lord in humility, faith, and
truth. The Bible says that God is “longsuffering” and does
not want any to “perish, but that all should come to
repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Repentance means changing
direction – turning around and turning toward God. May many
do that in this country and around the world.
(607)
Leftism: The Difference Between
Spiritual and Political at Lighthouse Trails,
6/10/20 Woe unto them that call evil
good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light
for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for
bitter! (Isaiah 5:20) Some find it very offensive when I
decry “the Left” and when I espouse a “conservative”
outlook. More than a few of my brothers and sisters in
Christ have challenged me that I am being “political” and
not “spiritual.” I appreciate the concern and the
willingness of those concerned to call me out on what they
think is a drift away from the prophecy analysis and
biblical exposition which I usually offer. “Faithful are the
wounds of a friend.” I don’t consider myself “political”; I
think of myself as “spiritual.” As far as I can tell, I
write and think from a God-centered and biblical
perspective.
(608)
Out-of-House Commentary – “You
Can Be A Christian, You Can Be A Marxist, But You Can’t Be
Both” by Joshua Lawson, The Federalist, 6/14/20 LTRP Note: The following is
posted for informational and research purposes. Please also
read the Lighthouse Trails article on “Critical Race
Theory.” It’s unclear how many Christians are going along
with the current neo-Marxist collective guilt movement out
of fear, a misunderstanding of what they’ve signed onto, or
an authentic conversion to the cause. What is clear,
however, is that you can’t be a Christian and a Marxist at
the same time—not without irresolvable contradictions.
(609)
Interview with Richard Nathan –
From Communist to Christian at Lighthouse
Trails, 6/21/20 Richard Nathan grew up in
San Francisco in a family of Marxist-socialist
revolutionaries similar to those on the Left today. His
father, whom he says most resembled Bernie Sanders, taught
his three sons to hate Christianity and America and that
love was just a “bourgeois convenience.” Richard survived
the Sixties’ counterculture revolution deeply involved in
psychedelic drugs and New Age deception. Finally, in his
mid-thirties, he returned to college. At that point,
Jesus Christ showed him he was a lost sinner and rescued
him. Richard met his true Father and began life all over
again, this time learning the difference between a bad
father and a good one. Today he is an evangelist and Bible
teacher with a B.S. in Biology and an M.A. in Christian
History. For the past 28 years, he has worked in crisis
psychiatric units reaching out to the lost. A testimony for
our times and just in time for Father’s Day, this moving
interview will reveal how our Heavenly Father can make up
for the worst of earthly fathers.
(610)
Why The Nation Is Dissolving (A
Biblical Analysis, Pt. 1) at The Word like
Fire, 6/24/20 A few years ago I went to
pray and cried out to the LORD an exasperated Prayer, “WHY?”
What I was referring to was the moral, spiritual and
cultural disintegration of our Nation. It was one of those
cries, to which I didn’t even expect an answer, I was just
pouring my heart out before the LORD, in prayer and sorrow.
But I did receive an answer, a very clear thought came to me
which I am sure was of the Holy Spirit of God. It came in
the form of three passages of Scripture… Psalm 2,
Deuteronomy 28, and Romans 1 came to me as the answer to the
question of “Why” the disintegration we are experiencing, in
America and around the world.
(611)
Sorcery: Ushering In A
"Blissful" Christless Eternity - An Update by
T.A. McMahon, 6/29/20 In 2015 I wrote about an
article from the New Yorker magazine titled “The Trip
Treatment,” subheading: “Research into psychedelics, shut
down for decades, is now yielding exciting results.”
What drew my attention to the New Yorker article was not so
much my interest in the drug scene of 2015 but rather how it
relates to what the Bible has to say about the increasing
use of drugs in the End Times. It’s a significant part of
the prophetic picture prior to the return of Jesus. What
follows is a recap of my TBC article of 2015 with an update
of what’s happening in 2020.
(612)
Toying with Death—Learning to
Love Evil and Crave Violence by Berit Kjos,
7/3/20 “Are we training our
children to kill?” asked Lieutenant Colonel David Grossman,
an expert in the field of killology. For many years, he has
“traveled the world training medical, law enforcement, and
U.S. military personnel about the realities of warfare.” He
contends that point-and-shoot video games actually train
young players to accurately shoot and kill human targets in
spite of their natural, God-given resistance. His statistics
validate his frightening conclusions ...
(613)
“That in Me Ye Might Have
Peace” by H.A. Ironside How long it takes many of us
to learn that peace is found in Christ alone. We seek for it
everywhere else, but seek in vain, until at last,
disappointed, disheartened, and distressed in soul, we come
to the Lord Jesus, and lo, at His feet, our quest is ended!
Peace is far better than happiness. Happiness is primarily
that which comes from a good “hap.” “Hap” is an old English
word for chance. Tennyson wrote of one “who grasps the
skirts of happy chance.” This expresses it exactly. If the
“haps” are good, the worldling is happy; if evil “haps”
befall him, he is unhappy. But peace is something deeper. It
is the opposite of struggling, of warfare, and of soul
unrest. It is freedom from strife, or from mental agitation.
It is spiritual content such as the Lord promised to the
heavy laden, when He said: “Come unto me. . . . and I will
give you rest.”
(614)
RNS Report: Emergent Pastor
John Ortberg Puts Church’s Children at Risk of Sexual
Abuse at Lighthouse Traisl, 7/9/20 LTRP Note: The following
out-of-house news story is posted for informational and
research purposes. Lighthouse Trails has been concerned
about John Ortberg’s contemplative/emergent propensities for
many years. In this case, our concerns extend to the
protection of children in the church. Lighthouse Trails has
been a voice and an advocate for children since our
inception in 2002. We have posted numerous articles to this
effect and have published books and booklets pertaining to
child sexual abuse and the cover-up that often takes place.
Parents, if you have children who attend Sunday School,
youth group, and other youth activities, please be vigilant
in making sure your children are safe, and make sure your
church is doing everything possible to protect the children
in its care. Please see the links we have provided below
this article for further information.
(615)
Spiritual Perestroika in
America by Carl Telchrib, 7/13/20 LTRP Note: The following is
an extract from Carl Teichrib’s book, Game of Gods.* If you
haven’t read this compelling and vital book (published by
Whitemud House Publishing) which presents the history and
the inner workings of the global and spiritual one-world
movement, we highly recommend you do so, especially in light
of all that is happening today with so many young people who
have been indoctrinated to believe that a
Marxist/socialist/communist society coupled with the New Age
and mysticism would be so much better.
(616)
New York Times Blames Churches,
Not Riots, For Rise In Positive Covid-19 Tests
at Lighthouse Trails, 7/14/20
The following news story is posted for informational and
research purposes. Because Lighthouse Trails is a research
ministry, we do post out-of-house news articles from various
secular and Christian sources along with our own in-house
articles if we believe our readers can benefit from the
information. National
tension and tempers are incredibly high over the rising
numbers of COVID cases in America. We’re all on the edge
after months of lockdowns, shutdowns, quarantines, economic
instability, school closures, and the surreal nature of
social distancing. . . .Wednesday, the United States topped
3 million cases of coronavirus. Also on Wednesday came an
article from The New York Times titled “Churches Were Eager
to Reopen. Now They Are a Major Source of Coronavirus
Cases.” . . . the article paints a different picture in the
actual numbers: “More than 650 coronavirus cases have been
linked to nearly 40 churches and religious events across the
United States since the beginning of the pandemic.” I’m no
epidemiologist, but I don’t need to be, because simple math
shows that 650 out of 3,000,000 cases across our nation
means 0.0216 percent of them trace back to churches. Less
than one-tenth of 1 percent should not — and cannot — be
called a major source of this infection.
(617)
A Seismic Shift in Culture —The
New Left and Marxist-Critical Theory by Dick
Pence, 7/15/20 We are living in a moment of
time that is a cultural seismic shift. I will discuss
Critical Theory as the working engine of Marxism, but first
a little background. One article asserts that “You Can Be A
Christian, You Can Be A Marxist, But You Can’t Be Both,”
Please keep this truth in mind as you read the following
information. These two worldviews are absolutely
mutually exclusive. I am going to appeal to you to watch a
video titled Critical Theory and Racism in America with Dr.
Glenn Sunshine. It’s not short; it’s a training
tool. This is a rare opportunity to train your kids if
you wish for them to survive as Christian
conservatives. They are being bombarded with cultural
Marxism from every direction.
(618)
Manning Johnson—A Voice From
the Past Eerily Describes Today’s Social Unrest
at Lighthouse Trails, 7/19/20 Manning Johnson (1908-1959)
was at one time in his life a member of the USA Communist
Party (from 1930-1939) but left it when he realized the
truth of how Communism and socialism actually were hurting
the black people rather than helping them. In view of the
current efforts by groups like #Black Lives Matter (with
their self-proclaimed Marxism/socialism affinities), we
wanted our readers to become acquainted with Manning, who
was a Christian believer. Johnson’s 1958 book, Color,
Communism, and Common Sense, can be read freely online at
www.manningjohnson.org. There is also available the last
address he ever publicly gave before his untimely death at
51 years old. Below is an excerpt from his book. Is this not
eerily familiar to what is happening today? Stirring up race
and class conflict is the basis of all discussion of the
Communist Party’s work in the South. The evil genius,
Stalin, and the other megalomaniacal leaders in Moscow
ordered the use of all racial, economic and social
differences, no matter how small or insignificant, to start
local fires of discontent, conflict and revolt. “Who could
tell which of these issues could start a general
conflagration” that would sweep across the former
Confederate States from Maryland to Texas?
(619)
Ken Ham Steps Into “The Corner”
To Explain “One Race, One Blood.” (Ausio) by
Ken Ham, 7/23/20 Last week I was interviewed
on American Family Radio’s The Hamilton Corner program on
very timely topics: how the Bible can be used to fight
racism and prejudice, and how God’s Word also explains the
origin of the various people groups. I encourage you to
listen to this encouraging program that aired on almost 200
radio stations across America. The host of this program,
Abraham Hamilton, heard me give a talk on the topic of
racism over 10 years ago in Texas, and it had a profound
impact on him. He invited me to join him on his program to
give biblical and scientific answers to the issues plaguing
our culture. He asked some excellent questions. I encourage
you to listen to the 30-minute interview (I begin speaking
at 15:00).
(620)
Lighthouse Trails to Send Out
13th Mailing to Christian Leaders & Pastors
by Lighthouse Trails, 7/28/20 Since 2016, Lighthouse
Trails has been sending out topical booklets three times a
year to a growing list of pastors and Christian leaders. If
you would like your pastor or a church leader to begin
receiving these mailings, please send the name and a valid
mailing address to us at editors@lighthousetrails.com. The
names and addresses on this list will remain confidential.
In this July mailing (the first of 2020), we will be mailing
the following two booklets: The Enneagram—An Enlightening
Tool or an Enticing Deception? Critical Race Theory,
Southern Baptist Convention, and a Marxist “Solution” That
Will Not Work
(621)
“As They Turn To Burning
Bibles, Portland Rioters Show Their True Colors”
by Jordan Davidson, The Federalist, 8/2/20
While rioters previously attacked federal buildings,
businesses, and even officers, this weekend, they found a new
target: Bibles. A video posted to Twitter on Saturday shows
rioters holding Black Lives Matter signs tossing Bibles into a
fire. Bystanders stood and watched as the flames licked away
at the pages of the books. “Left-wing activists bring a stack
of Bibles to burn in front of the federal courthouse in
Portland,” wrote the Twitter user, Ian Cheong, who posted the
video.
(622)
Evangelical Pastor, John
Ortberg, Resigns for Allowing Son Attracted to Minors to
Work With Kids at Lighthouse Trails. 8/3/20 Pastor John Ortberg of Menlo
Church in Menlo Park, California, has resigned as the
congregation’s leader just over two weeks after a
“supplemental independent investigation” was launched into
the circumstances under which he allowed his son to work
with children despite confessing he was attracted to minors,
elders announced Wednesday. “In recent days and after a
process of mutual discernment with John and in consultation
with the Presbytery, it is with a heavy heart that the board
unanimously concluded that John should resign as Senior
Pastor of our church. He agreed and tendered his resignation
last week,” the church’s elder board said in a statement
posted on the church’s website.
(623)
Hedged In! by
Herescope, 8/4/20 It is our hope and prayer
that during these difficult times that God "would grant you,
according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened
with might by His Spirit in the inner man" (Eph. 3:16). May
you be encouraged by these words from a sister in Christ.
(624)
“Parents, Teacher, Churches Sue
Chicago School District to Stop Hindu Meditation From
Being Taught to Students” at Lighthouse Trails,
8/7/20 A coalition of parents, a
teacher and a group of churches have filed suit against
Chicago Public Schools in an effort to stop the district
from allowing Hindu transcendental meditation, and its
initiation Puja, from being taught to students. “Although
all named defendants have made statements to the contrary,
the ‘Quiet Time’ program is based in Hindu beliefs and the
practice of ‘transcendental meditation’ is fundamentally
religious in nature,” the legal challenge states.
“Plaintiffs’ rights under the First Amendment were violated
when defendants created environments within public schools
where Hindu beliefs and the practice of ‘transcendental
meditation’ were being endorsed and students were coerced to
engage in religious practices against their wills.
(625)
Biologist “Canceled” for Saying
Male and Female Exist by Ken Ham, 8/11/20 Until very recently the
statement that male and female are “real biological
categories” wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow. Most of
society, academia, and even the political arena accepted
without question that there are two sexes/genders—male and
female. But now, what was formerly a benign statement about
an obvious reality will end your career. At least, that’s
what happened to one evolutionary biologist. Colin Wright—an
outspoken critic of creation and intelligent design—claims
he has been “canceled” for speaking up on the biological
reality of male and female. In speaking out against the
transgender ideology permeating and transforming our
culture, he claims he can no longer find work in academia
because he’s been labeled a transphobe or as someone holding
ideas simply too dangerous to risk guilt by association.
(Creationists have had this same problem for decades—simply
holding to what the Bible teaches, and what is confirmed by
science, about the age and origin of the earth and life is
enough to end careers; ironically, creationists are falsely
called anti-science by people who now claim there are more
than two genders of humans, which is anti-science.)
(626)
Render Them NOT Unto Caesar
by Herescope, 8/14/29 It goes without saying that
living the Christian life today is increasingly challenging.
More and more we are seeing government orders that impinge
upon our ability to live free in Christ. In order for fellow
believers to seriously think about how they are to respond
to today’s challenges, we submit the post below for your
consideration. It presents a dilemma we faced as parents
nearly thirty years ago and how we determined we must
respond as believers in Jesus Christ. At the time, our
oldest child was reaching school-age. We had become
concerned about the state of public education in the U.S.,
particularly the incorporation of material that was clearly
at odds with the Bible. The article and link to our
testimony as homeschoolers describes the situation and our
response. We pray that as you read, you will carefully and
prayerfully consider both your commitment to Jesus Christ
and how He would have you live in these last days. What we
posit is not a response to the violation of rights under the
U.S. Constitution. While we know that we are most fortunate
to live in this country, we must never lose sight of our
obligation to live the Christian life no matter our
circumstances. While the Bible makes it clear that the role
of government is to reward good and punish evil, it is also
quite clear that government today is increasingly doing the
opposite. The ability to rely on our constitutional rights
may be fast disappearing. Standing on the Word of God is,
and always has been, our only true option. As you
contemplate your life in these times, make sure to put on
the Full Armor of God and stand upon the Rock. In the final
analysis, we cannot rely on man’s means and methods. We
cannot rely on organizational or governmental answers to
these challenges. It is not the church (corporate) that will
stand before the Lord in the judgment. Ultimately, each of
us as individuals must (and will) answer for our personal
actions. With that in mind, we invite you to carefully and
soberly read the following post. We trust it will be of help
as you look to the days ahead.
(627)
A Glorious Destiny?
by Roger Oakland, 8/17/20 There is no question about
it, the world is in serious chaos, with poverty, sickness,
and disease afflicting millions and millions of people.
Suffering seems to be at an all-time high level.
Understandably, the world is looking for answers. Many
religious leaders (including New Agers) believe we need a
new reformation. Neale Donald Walsch, a prominent leader in
the New Age, is one of those with new reformation on his
mind.
(628)
California Megachurch Wins in
Court, Resumes Indoor Services Despite Lockdown Order
by The Epoch Times, 8/18/20 A state judge in California
put Gov. Gavin Newsom’s emergency order from July
prohibiting indoor church services during the coronavirus
pandemic on hold after a Los Angeles-area megachurch filed a
lawsuit. The decision comes as thousands of Christians in
the state continue to attend in-person religious services in
open defiance of Newsom. Other churches and religious
coalitions have filed their own lawsuits against the
governor for his lockdown orders. The legal complaint was
filed Aug. 12 with the Los Angeles County office of the
Superior Court of the State of California by the
Chicago-based Thomas More Society, a public-interest law
firm specializing in religious freedom issues. According to
an NBC News summary, Newsom ordered almost all
establishments, including churches, to shut down March 19.
On June 18, Los Angeles was permitted to conduct
“reduced-capacity indoor operations at houses of worship,”
but reported cases of the CCP virus, which causes the
disease COVID-19, began to increase. In July, most indoor
activities were once again banned. Places of religious
worship in the state are now restricted to a maximum of 25
percent of building capacity or 100 attendees indoors,
whichever is lower, and singing and chanting are forbidden.
The plaintiffs are Grace Community Church of the Valley and
its pastor, John MacArthur. The main defendants are Newsom,
Attorney General Xavier Becerra, and Los Angeles Mayor Eric
Garcetti, all Democrats.
(629)
A Hurting World—1 in 4 Young
Adults Contemplated Suicide in June by Ken Ham,
8/22/20 Our world is hurting.
Coronavirus fears, record unemployment, anxiety about the
future, and more seem to be driving a spike in “adverse
mental health conditions, substance use, and suicidal
ideation,” according to a new study of American adults from
the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Reportedly, 25.5% of
Americans, ages 18-24, “seriously considered suicide” in
June and 74.9% “reported having at least one mental or
behavioral health condition during June.”
(630)
China’s
war against all religions and their own Falun Gong
by Mike Oppenheimer, 8/24/20 China has a communist
government (CCP) that has been unfriendly to any religion
whether it has a God, gods or no god. A full communist
regime has never been tried, but for now China is the
closest country to this type of pure communism. The reason
the government tries so hard to crush religious
organizations that operate independently from party control
is because their dogmas compete with the state orthodoxy. It
is especially a concern to them when they promote freedoms,
thinking of God as in control and not the state. Chinese
communist authorities are now changing the words of the
Bible, and want Christians to deny their faith. China has
intensified their persecution, with Communist officials
telling Christians they are not permitted to believe in God.
Of the five approved religions in China, Protestant
Christianity is one alongside Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, and
Catholicism in China. All Religious organizations must
register with one of five state-sanctioned patriotic
religious associations supervised by the State
Administration for Religious Affairs.
(631)
Politics
of life, or death? by Mike Oppenheimer, 8/28/20 These topics and current
trends are usually reserved for our newsletter, but with the
adverse climate taking place in our country it is especially
important at this time to understand what we are facing. In
our world politics has more influence on our society than
religion. That’s a fact most believers overlook or do not
want to accept. Government[s] rule through politics. We
should understand how politics affects the way we live life.
However, our faith overrules any amoral judgment found in
politics. Most governmental systems are found to be are
antithetical to both God and freedom. Our country was
founded upon worshipping God and freedom, with both Judeo
Christian principles, Politics does divide, and so does
Jesus. One divides people with lies, the other (Jesus)
divides people to choose - the truth. Read Part
1 & Part
2.
(632)
Welcome
the Aliens by Mike Oppenheimer, 9/5/20 Aliens continue to be a
large topic in our culture, and I don’t mean those that
crossover the border into our country, but UFO’s/aliens. The
US government has formally and continually denied that it
has any knowledge of contact with extraterrestrial life. Few
accept this explanation. As so many claim to have seen them
physically or had contact with what they cannot explain.
Only recently have the government reveal that the craft they
show on radar are “otherworldly craft,” not origination from
earth. 3 videos of what is called alien craft is
public knowledge carried by
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/research/a33413777/pentagon-ufo-program-materials-vehicles/
Our
defense security is involved appointing a US task force to
investigate further the UfO’s that are flying allover the
world. Because of our tech and video technology we catch
much more than we ever did that happens in the sky. How do
we as Christians answer that there is life outside our
planet?
(633)
Distressing “State of Theology”
Results Released at Ken Ham blog, 9/11/20 Theology matters. What you
believe about God, his Word, and the person and work of
Jesus Christ matters. Poor, weak, and inaccurate theology
leads, at best, to faith that produces no, little, or bad
fruit, is stagnant, will not stand the tough times that will
inevitably come in a sin-cursed and broken world; or, at
worst, such wrong beliefs won’t save you because you don’t
truly understand or believe the gospel of Jesus Christ!
(634)
Why We Need Remnant Truth
Network (Rtn) Tv, And Why We Need It Urgently
by Jacob Prasch, 9/14/20 RTN is designed to operate
as a multifaceted independent platform for webcasting,
complete with its own server, technical crew, TV channels,
RTN Christian Radio, its own Facebook page and blog site as
well as podcasting and its own App. Though still in joint
development by Genesis Christian Radio, Radio Azimuth TV,
Moriel, Devore Truth, Fellowship Bible Chapel, Apologetics
Coordinating Team (ACT) and others, it has been no small
venture. The question is : WHY? Most of Social Media has
gravitated in the direction of mainstream media, censoring
anything they ideologically do not like. In an effort to
control public thought and circumvent the American First
Amendment, stifle free speech etc. , Social Media is
increasingly biased and devoid of integrity. This has
certainly become true in the political sphere with pro left
wing ideology governing allowed content , but on issues
concerning Pro-Life activism, Disagreement with
homosexuality & lesbianism, fair criticism of Islam
etc., Christian interests are progressively being stifled
with anti-Christian censorship.
(635)
Pastor Disagrees with LGBT
Community, People Threaten To Burn Down His Church
at Answers in Genesis, 9/15/20 In our culture today,
disagreeing with someone (especially against the sexual,
homosexual, and gender revolutionaries) is considered
dangerous “hate speech.” Many people believe those who dare
utter such disagreement should lose their right to free
speech. This intolerance is becoming increasingly common
across the West—just ask one pastor who said that a “pride”
parade was celebrating sin . . . and then found himself and
his family personally threatened, his church the target of
arson threats, and fabricated pornographic images, featuring
the pastor, began circulating on the internet.
(636)
Biblical Discernment in
Christian Literature by Gary Gilley, 9/17/20 Biblical discernment today,
if not at an all-time low, is surely bumping along at the
bottom of the pond, and nowhere is that more evident than in
Christian literature. Most people, if a book or blog
post is written by a credentialed Christian author, and
published by at least a semi-respected Christian publishing
house, let down their guard and accept unquestionably
whatever is disseminated. This is true not only of the
average believer but also of many in leadership. For
example, Subversive Sabbath, the Surprising Power of Rest in
a Nonstop World by A. J. Swoboda, won Christianity Today’s
2019 Book of the Year award in the spiritual formation
category, and thus would presumably represent spirituality
as understood by mainstream evangelicalism today. Written by
a pastor/seminary professor, the book’s strength lies in its
reminder that the believer needs rest as grounded in the
Sabbath principle and modeled by the Lord Himself in the
creation account. If the Lord rested after His work of
creation, the author insists, so should we. On pragmatic
grounds, Swoboda promotes Sabbath-keeping since, he claims,
it will result in better health, more productivity, and
freedom from a Messiah complex, in which we see ourselves as
essential for the world to function. Yet, despite the
many accolades and awards that it has received, Subversive
Sabbath has virtually nothing to do with Sabbath teaching as
found in Scripture. Rather it is an argument for rest in a
hectic world (not a bad idea). The book, however,
distorts the teachings of Scripture on the Sabbath, leads
the reader in wrong directions, badly mishandles Scripture,
and draws from a wide assortment of nonbiblical
sources. That there is a Sabbath, or rest principle
ingrained in God’s universe, is a defendable position.
That Sabbath is to be practiced as outlined in this volume
is not. The central theme and message are well-represented
by the first quotation given by none other than that eminent
theologian Winnie-the-Pooh, “Don’t underestimate the value
of doing nothing, or just going along, listening to all the
things you can’t hear, and not bothering.”
Notwithstanding the source, this is a winsome invitation and
explains the draw of the book.
(637)
Calvary Chapel Pastors
Perspective Refutes Praying to the Dead...Yet Calvary
Chapel affiliate Pastor Steve Berger encourages praying
(talking) to the dead (Have Heart book and Have Heart
website FAQ page) by Chris Lawson, 9/20/20 One wonders why Brian
Brodersen, Don Stewart, Josh Turansky, and the Calvary
Chapel Association Leadership Council allow Steve Berger
(Calvary Chapel affiliate pastor and church leader) to
continue selling his books in a Calvary Chapel context—as a
Calvary Chapel affiliate church. This is very
confusing...is it not? Pastor Steve Berger's "Grace Chapel
Leipers Fork, Franklin, TN" church is listed as a Calvary
Chapel affiliate church on the CalvaryChapel.com church
finder. For many years now Steve Berger's church contact
information has come up in the Calvary Chapel church locator
search results, when one searches for Grace Chapel, Steve
Berger, Leipers Fork, or Grace Chapel Franklin, etc.
(638)
Earning A Psychology Degree In
Witch Doctoring by The Berean Call, 9/25/20 “For the wrath of God is
revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in
unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is
manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since
the creation of the world His invisible attributes are
clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made,
even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without
excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not
glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in
their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the
glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like
corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and
creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to
uncleanliness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor
their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of
God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature
rather than the Creator, who is blessed forevermore.” Does
that remind you of a chapter in America, the Sorcerer’s New
Apprentice, chapter 6, “The Resurgence of Nature
Religion”? I think, Tom, for myself, the thing that
strikes me about Andrews’ time period from then till now is
how this nature of religion, the worship of the creation,
has manifested so profoundly and so powerfully. Whether it’s
through the sense of mysticism now connecting to the “god
within,” which is just nothing more than a natural
manifestation according to that type of thinking; or to
literally the creation itself, whether it’s Earth Day, or
it’s the climate change narrative—it’s not just simply
religion, it plays out in the realm of politics, culture,
ethics, morality. It’s all affected.
(639)
24% of Evangelicals Agree
“Gender Identity Is a Matter of Choice” by Ken
Ham, 9/27/20 According to a recent
survey, 24% of so-called evangelical Christians in the U.S.
agree “gender identity is a matter of choice.” Of this same
group, 20% disagree that “sex outside of traditional
marriage is a sin” and 18% agree with this statement, “the
Bible’s condemnation of homosexual behavior doesn’t apply
today” (and 10% aren’t sure!).
(641)
Is your
church changing? by Mike Oppenheimer, 10/15/20
Change can be good, or, it can be bad. It’s becomes bad when
your church has done things biblically and now is open to
doing things other ways, using models of expansion from
other church programs or bringing in certain men whose modus
operandi is to produce a revival that are of the Latter
Rain, then it has become not good. The fact is there are so
many changes introduced to churches in our day it’s hard to
know where to begin to list them. There are so many
non-biblical practices that have become ingrained in
churches. The most important need of the hour is to know the
Word in its truth, and this comes by discernment. But this
is also the most attacked and belittled activity from those
who want to bring the wrong changes. Let me begin with the
most pervasive teachings that has been among us for years.
(642)Where
are we are today? by Mike Oppenheimer, 10/16/20
l/l/98 a statement was made by former U.S. congressman,
Peter Hoagland. I quote the statement from the book
manuscript. "Fundamental, Bible-believing people do not have
the right to indoctrinate their children in their religious
beliefs because we, the state, are preparing them for the
year 2000, when America will be part of one-world order
global society and their children will not fit in." What do
you think of that? Though this has not been produced on
their scheduled time, is it possible that we will wake up
one day to find we have suddenly been thrust into a system
contrary to our biblical beliefs and wonder how we got
there? If you think this statement is bad what I have heard
from others is similar and far worse. So many are working
for a global world government that they are willing to
sacrifice our lives our system of Government based on
freedom to achieve it. Many think they will be excluded
immune to this new social totalitarianism, they will not! Ps
36:4 An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression
of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. For
he flatters himself in his own eyes, (elitists) When he
finds out his iniquity and when he hates. The words of his
mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise
and to do good. He devises wickedness on his bed; He sets
himself in a way that is not good; He does not abhor evil.”
Evil will always triumph over good if God’s standards are
abandoned. It is the way the Lord has set things up.
(643)
Earning
A Psychological Degree In Witchdoctoring interview
by T.A. McMahon and Carl Techrib, 10/22/20
Carl: The connections that you’re drawing are important for
people to realize. We’re living in an age when spirituality
is “in,” along with the desire for finding the “higher
self,” to go within, looking inwardly now, for the answers.
To hear that voice, that inner voice within one’s self, and
we’re at a time right now, Tom, where we see the blending of
humanism, spirituality, coming together, and making the
claim that there is no higher authority than yourself. The
danger becomes this: when you’re searching for truth
internally, what else is manifesting? What else, from a
biblical point of view, is coming forward. Well, we
certainly have been talking about the doctrines of demons,
and if you take a look at channeled writing, take a look at
the work of shamanism, if you take a look at, even, let’s
say the channeled writing of so-called alien visitor, it
always points away from the true God and points to self, or
to nature—that is where we “find the answers.” And that is
very problematic from a biblical worldview. Not only that, I
see this as a manifestation—a higher manifestation—of, you
could call it that supernatural connecting point between the
world of the demonic, including the worldviews being
presented, and a culture now absolutely enamored with
occult, New Age, esoteric concepts. I see the West opening
the door—opening the door through psychology, opening the
door through entertainment, opening the door in so many ways
while we are searching for “spirituality” to open the door
to something that truly is spiritual but certainly isn’t
beneficial.
(644)
Was
Christ Jesus A Myth Derived from Mithra, the Persian Sun
God? by C.W.Booth, 10/29/20
In spite of the fact that the Mithra myth imitated the
Hebrew God (YHWH) and borrowed many concepts found in the
Hebrew-Christian Bible in no way sanctifies the myth; it was
always a counterfeit of earlier originals. Jesus, on the
other hand, being the human and living continuation of the
story of Abraham, Israel, and David, does have corporeal and
historical authenticity. This sets Jesus apart from Mithra
and highlights the all important and necessary differences
between a well documented human-divine life which changed
the world, and a myth that was constantly adapted to and
changed by the world. The story of Jesus' life changes
lives, makes men holy, and promises redemption from sin,
even to this day. Mithra is today exposed as an all but
forgotten myth which changes no life for the better. That is
the eternal difference between Jesus and Mithra, between a
genuine original and a counterfeit, and between reality and
fiction.
(645)
The
Perverts And Those Who Protect Them posted by
Marsha West, 10/31/20
This is a time for all Christians to uncover the complete
truth about the pedophile rings operating here and abroad,
sometimes with the protection of Catholic church officials
and sometimes with the connivance of other members of the
elite. It’s what Catholic Bishop Fulton J. Sheen in 1947
called “Signs of Our Times.” He referred to the emergence of
“a counter-church” with “all the notes and characteristics
of the Church, but in reverse and emptied of its divine
content.” (Cliff Kincaid – Renew America) Before Joe
Biden committed a major gaffe by urging the eventual
abolition of the oil and gas industry, he endorsed the idea
of 8-year-old transgenders. This went beyond gaffe status to
outright insanity…. What’s more, it was part of his appeal
to the transgender “community.” In this case, he called for
“zero discrimination” against kids who want to parade around
like members of the opposite sex. He didn’t rule out these
confused kids getting sex-change operations. Ignoring this
form of child abuse, Savannah Guthrie of NBC News asked
Trump during a televised town hall about the belief by some
of his supporters in “a satanic pedophile ring” operating
behind the scenes.
(646)
Drinking
from the Cup the Father has Given Us by Mike
Ratliff, 11/7/20
No, I do not want the Socialists to destroy our country and
enslave us the way George Orwell described in his book 1984.
However, that is exactly what many of them are planning on
doing. If they do, does that mean God has forsaken us? Of
course not! No, let us rejoice that there is a day coming
when you and I will be with Him in glory. In that day we
will see this life from His perspective instead of the
temporal. We will then see that all the things in our lives
that we did not enjoy or suffered through were actually the
fires of purification in our lives that God used to produce
the character in us that brings Him glory.
(647)
Being in
the state of not hearing or seeing by Mike
Oppenheimer, 11/8/20
The loss to hear accurately results in the loss of common
sense exercised in everyday living. Ever get your eyes
checked? How about your hearing? Prov. 20:12 “ the hearing
ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both.” HOW
you see or hear matters. No one hears or sees perfectly all
the time, but that should be our goal. When you hear
something, do you reinterpret it to you own predilection? Or
do you try to understand it from the words that were said
from the person? This is extremely important, because it
will tell you whether you are living in reality or making up
your own reality, which leads to living in an alternate make
believe world.
(648)
Sure
by Mike Ratliff, 11/9/20
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made
known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He
received honor and glory from God the Father, such an
utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory,
“This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”— 18 and
we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we
were with Him on the holy mountain. 2 Peter 1:16-18 (NASB)
... The Word of God is sure, it is absolute, objective
truth. Our enemies tell us that there is no such thing.
Romans 8 tells us that we who are in Christ have nothing to
fear from them so we are to stand firm and not fear. Right
now it looks like our whole world is going after their
nonsense. We have our mandate, we have the truth. Let us
obey our Lord.
(649)
The
High Cost of Spiritual Discernment by Bob
Kirkland, 11/11/20
God offers no cheap discipleship program. In Luke chapter
fourteen, the Lord gave three reasons why we cannot be His
disciple. He warned His followers to “count the cost”:
Christ said if family or even our own lives are more
important than truth, we cannot be His disciple (Luke
14:26). If we refuse to bear the cross He gives us to bear,
we cannot be His disciple (Luke 14:27). If we are not
willing to forsake all that we have, we cannot be His
disciple (Luke 14:33). Discernment only comes from God, and
He will not give discernment to anyone who is not willing to
pay the price to be His disciple. Therefore, the first thing
one who wants discernment must do is decide if he or she is
willing to pay the price. Beware—it is very expensive.
(650)
To
All Parents of Students Considering Attending Gordon
College at Lighthouse Trails, 11/18/20
My son is a freshman at Gordon College. We enrolled him
because we believed the school is a solid Christian college.
But now, we have serious issues with what is going on campus
this semester. We and many other parents of Gordon students
are extremely concerned with the direction things are going.
So if you are considering sending your student to Gordon
College next year, please contact me at my e-mail address.
The biggest symptom of what we see is a falling away from
the biblical principles that the school stands for, is the
division being caused on campus by the Black Lives Matter
movement. Student BLM activists have been exhibiting less
than Christ-like behavior, such as racially divisive signs
on campus. And one of the most serious concerns is that
students who oppose BLM, or oppose social justice/Critical
Race Theory are being vilified, intimidated, harassed, and
even coerced into participating in activities which they do
not agree with! These are all symptoms of a bigger problem,
in which social-justice ideology is supplanting a biblical
worldview on a college campus which we were certain would
provide a solid basis for my son’s learning and spiritual
growth. That is all in doubt now! I have attended or
listened to chapel messages where Scripture was twisted (by
college professors!) into a social-justice theme. My son has
not learned much about God’s Word in many of these chapel
services. Racial issues seem to be overly-discussed in many
classes, and activities and events are almost all themed on
racial issues—but again, always slanted towards those who
support BLM and social-justice causes. If you disagree, you
are disapproved of, or you are forced to stay silent.
(651)
Remembering
the Forgotten Pilgrims by Bill Randles, 11/26/20
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place
which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed;
and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he
sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country,
dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with
him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath
foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith
also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and
was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she
judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there
even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars
of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea
shore innumerable. (Hebrews 11:8-12)
(653)
Critical
Theory, Intersectionality Spreading Like ‘Gangrene’ At
Sebts by Marsha West, 11/28/20
“So, why is the president of a Southern Baptist seminary
promoting such views that weaken the idea that we can
understand and have objective knowledge? Why are your tithes
and offerings going to support training the next generation
of pastors to read the Bible through an immigration lens?”
(Capstone Report) Southern Baptist seminaries are
infected by Critical Theory and Intersectionality, according
to Southern Baptist pastor Dr. Tom Buck. Buck, pastor of
First Baptist Church Lindale, Texas, detailed the problems
of these godless ideologies infiltrating SBC seminaries with
a focus on the problems at Southeastern Baptist Theological
Seminary (SEBTS).
(654)
“US
Supreme Court Rules NY Gov. Cuomo’s ‘Severe Restrictions’
on Church Attendance Unconstitutional” by Heather
Clark, Christian News Network, 12/1/20
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that New York’s “very
severe” limitations on church attendance in the state’s
COVID red and orange zones violate the First Amendment right
to free exercise of religion and are not the least
restrictive means of preventing infections. “Not only is
there no evidence that the applicants have contributed to
the spread of COVID–19, but there are many other less
restrictive rules that could be adopted to minimize the risk
to those attending religious services,” the court stated in
a 5-4 opinion Wednesday evening, with new justice Amy Coney
Barrett being among the majority. Chief Justice John Roberts
sided with his liberal colleagues. In October, Gov. Andrew
Cuomo signed Executive Order 202.68, which presented updated
regulations for various public facilities, including fitness
centers, hair salons, restaurants, taverns and houses of
worship.
(655)
The
Real Problem by Mike Ratliff, 12/2/20
I have been posting here on my blog for the past several
months about the evils of Critical Race Theory &
Intersectionality and how many “Christian” leaders have
corrupted their ministries by going full bore transforming
their focus from Orthodox doctrines to include these
non-Biblical, man-focused subjective non-truths. We have to
wonder what would cause these people to do such a thing. Tom
Ascol of Founders Ministries, one of the leaders against
this evil Tweeted the following today: PSA: Critical Race
Theory & Intersectionality are not the problem. They are
deadly symptoms of deeper problems. Evangelicals give only
lip service to God’s Word. We have a crisis of man-fearing,
unbelief, & cowardice. That’s how CRT/I gained a
foothold.
(656)
Investigation
Into Ravi Zacharias’ Alleged Misconduct Excludes Sexting
Scandal at Christian Research Network, 12/4/20
“Following my three-part series on the sexting scandal, and
reports by Christianity Today and WORLD, the C&MA
announced that it has commissioned a new investigation into
Zacharias’ alleged misconduct.” (Julie Roys – Roys
Report) The independent investigation commissioned by
Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) into
allegations of misconduct by its late founder, Ravi
Zacharias, does not include the sexting scandal involving
Lori Anne Thompson.
(657)
“The
House Votes to Decriminalize Marijuana at the Federal
Level” at Lighthouse Trails, 12/5/20
LTRP Note: The following is posted for informational and
research purposes and not meant as an endorsement of the
source or the content. Lighthouse Trails’ authors Richard
and Linda Nathan have written extensively regarding the use
of recreational marijuana. You can read their report, The
Cross and the Marijuana Leaf here. By Matthew Daly
Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Democratic-controlled
House on Friday approved a bill to decriminalize and tax
marijuana at the federal level, reversing what supporters
call a failed policy of criminalizing pot use and taking
steps to address racial disparities in enforcement of
federal drug laws.
(658)
Top
Twenty Secret Sins of 2020 America by Linda
Harvey, 12/16/20
Had enough of 2020? Time to move on? There’s one “great
reset” we may all welcome, and that’s the need to get this
miserable year behind us. But first, let’s shine a bright
light into the tunnels, alleyways, and shadows of 2020. Sin
breeds secrets. “My people perish for lack of knowledge,”
Hosea 4:6 tells us, and why? We all choose what authorities
we consult, yet some sources are deceitful. Those in
positions of power have an increased responsibility not to
“suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18). In
2020, an avalanche of secret sins in America managed our
destinies through private deals and backroom corruption.
Let’s open the curtain and examine the most egregious sins
of the past year.
(659)
Interim
Report Finds Ravi Zacharias ‘Engaged In Sexual Misconduct
Over Many Years’ at Christian Research Network,
12/24/20
“RZIM leader Carson Weitnauer published a scathing letter,
accusing RZIM’s “secretive board and senior leaders” of
misleading the staff and public.” (Julie Roys – The
Roys Report) The firm hired by RZIM to investigate
allegations of sexual misconduct by Ravi Zacharias has
released an interim report, finding “credible evidence” that
Zacharias “engaged in sexual misconduct over many
years.”
(660)
A
Battle Against Lies by Cliff Kincaid, Renew
America, 12/25/20
“As we see possible parallels between the fates of Nixon and
Trump, Postgate author John O’Conner and others are being
featured in the film “Plot Against the President” about how
the intelligence community targeted Trump in much the same
way they brought down Nixon.” The Christian existentialist
philosopher Soren Kierkegaard wrote about the corruption in
the Danish State Church, declaring that everyone knew
privately that the system was rotten and corrupt but they
would not say so publicly. “Just as one says that death has
marked a man, so we recognize the symptoms which demand to
be attacked. It is a battle against lies,” he said.
(661)
7
Ways Governments Used The Coronavirus Pandemic To Crush
Human Rights at Christian Research Network,
12/27/20
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito warned in November that
the pandemic imposed “previously unimaginable restrictions
on individual liberty, from freedom of speech down to the
right to a speedy trial, since almost every activity
involving human contact has been restricted.” (John Hayward
– Breitbart) Human rights activists were generally
downbeat about the global state of affairs in the wake of
the coronavirus pandemic, often pointing to 2020 as one of
the worst years in memory for declining civil liberties.
Here are seven ways governments have used the Chinese
coronavirus pandemic to diminish human rights and civil
liberties.
(662)
The
Gospel Of Racism Is Harming The True Gospel Message
posted by Marsha West, 12/29/20
“I think Black Lives Matter is a demonic joke straight out
of the pit of hell. Black lives only matter if white people
are involved. If 60 black youths are killed during a July
4th weekend, the world’s media don’t care. If some celebrity
was found to pose in black-face 30 years ago, the press
would circle them like sharks.”
(663)
Can
the “cancel culture” be cancelled?
by Sandy Simpson 1/4/21Cancel culture” is
defined thusly, "Cancel culture (or call-out culture) is a
modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of
social or professional circles - either online on social
media, in the real world, or both. (Wikipedia)
Sorry, but there actually is no way to cancel the cancel
culture. Well, there is one very important exception. The
reason I say that is because the cancel culture is based on
a worldview that is postmodern, existentialist,
subjectivist, politically correct (PC), and socialist. We've
seen this crop up recently in politics where we find out
that people who have bought into this kind of mindset are
not interested in actual dialogue because they are unable to
argue their points. So rather than discuss objections, they
want to silence or get rid of their opposition in any way
possible. This is all because they delusionally believe that
they are right and everyone else is wrong and they shouldn't
have to have a dialogue about anything. If you try to talk
to them you find out rather quickly that they apparently
have lost the ability to employ common sense or logical
processes and have given themselves over to emotionalism.
They consider themselves to be free thinkers but in
actuality, they are the most conformist generation we have
seen in recent history.
(664)
When
Things Look Bleak ... by Nicholas Batzig, 1/7/21
“When we are tempted to trust in some particular person or
political party to provide deliverance and security, we have
a vain hope. The God who made heaven, and earth, the sea and
all that is in them, is the One who provides deliverance and
security for His people. This God has secured a city that
has foundations–a lasting city–for His people.” Like many
other Christians, I am deeply concerned about the direction
in which our country has been moving and the speed at which
it continues to move. The murder of the unborn, the
celebration of every form of sexual immorality, the increase
in public acts of violence, perpetual discrimination, sex
trafficking, and a rise in religious intolerance certainly
top the list…. If the outrage and anger we witnessed in 2020
is any indicator of things to come, the future looks bleak.
Along with the decay of the moral fabric of our society is
the inevitability of opposition to Christ and His church.
This rightly leaves believers unsettled in heart and mind.
However, so many scramble to get behind a political leader
in order to alleviate fears. Conspiracy theories abound to
justify in the minds and hearts of the fearful why they
should be fighting for a political solution. However, when
fears or concerns rise up in our minds and hearts, what does
God call us to do? Thankfully, He has given us all that we
need in His word. The Psalms alone provide us with enough
encouragement to trust in the God who made the heavens and
the earth, when everything around us seems bleak. Consider,
for instance, Psalm 124.
(665)
1.8
Million COVID Deaths and 42 Million Abortions from
Way of Life Ministries, 1/19/21
In 2020, there were a reported 1.8 million deaths associated
with Covid-19. This was the big, never-ending news, but in
the meantime there were 11 million deaths from communicable
diseases other than tuberculosis, 8.2 million deaths from
cancer, 5.1 million deaths from smoking, 2.5 million from
alcohol, 1.8 million deaths from tuberculosis, 1.4 million
deaths from road accidents, and 1.1 million from suicide.
But the largest loss of life by far were the 46 million
deaths by abortion (“More than 42.6 million abortions,”
Christian Headlines, Jan. 5, 2021). And we are convinced
that 42 million is much lower than the terrible reality,
since many high abortion countries do not keep accurate
statistics. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of
God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans
6:23).
(666)
Racism
and Critical Race Theory Part 1 The Current Conversation
by Gary Gilley, 1/26/21
Among the most pressing issues of our times are those
surrounding systemic racism. I write this even in light of
an extremely important Presidential election and being
engulfed in the Covid-19 pandemic because, as important as
these other two issues are, racism has become so divisive
and explosive that it has the potential of shaping our world
for years to come. Volumes have been written and spoken on
this subject from every persuasion, and my comments will
likely add little. However, as issues concerning
racism are not only cultural but also spiritual, it is
important that we examine how racial debates and
disagreements are affecting Christians and the church.
(667)
Russell
Moore-Led ERLC A Threat To SBC Funding, Unity Report Finds
by Leonardo Blair, The Christian Post, 2/4/21
“The report, which was released Monday, noted that while
giving to the SBC’s Cooperative Program has been trending
downward for years, Moore’s leadership and perceived liberal
politics has led to hundreds of churches withholding funds
to the program, threatening to withhold funding or even
cutting ties with the denomination.” Nearly two years after
a motion to defund the Southern Baptist Convention’s Russell
Moore-led Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission was
rejected by messengers, a new report from a task force
commissioned to study the denomination’s public policy arm
has found it to be a major threat to the funding of the $15
billion Protestant Christian organization’s Cooperative
Program.
(668)
The
Prosperous Lifestyle of America’s Anti-Prosperity Gospel
Preacher by Julie Roys, 2/8/21
For decades, John MacArthur has railed on prosperity
preachers, likening them to “greed mongerers” who led
First Century cults. Recently, he’s also taken aim at
scandal-plagued evangelical leaders, like the late apologist
Ravi Zacharias and former Hillsong Pastor Carl Lentz, saying
these celebrities were in ministry only for the money.
That’s why “liars and frauds and false teachers” are in
business, MacArthur said in a recent sermon. “False teachers
always do it for the same reason—filthy lucre, money.”
Yet according to financial statements and tax forms obtained
by The Roys Report, John MacArthur and his family preside
over a religious media and educational empire that has over
$130 million in assets and generates more than $70 million a
year in tax-free revenue.
(669)
Max
Lucado Compares Holy Spirit To Woman, Calls Him
‘Mother-Heart Of God’ at Christian Research
Network, 2/11/21
Before we get to Reformation Charlotte’s piece on popular
pastor Max Lucado, we need to give you fair warning to flee
from this man. Lucado’s lack of spiritual discernment is
stunning. As you will see, he has given credence to
egregious false teachers, which is bad enough, but now he
tells his audience that the Holy Spirit is “the mother-heart
of God” which not only sounds strikingly like the teachings
found in New Age spirituality, it is decidedly unbiblical.
Now to Jeff Maples’ piece over at RC: Max Lucado, author and
pastor who, in recent years, has taken a sharp turn to the
left in embracing not only the woke social justice movement
but taking a soft stance on homosexuality, has now taken an
even sharper turn away from biblical orthodoxy by comparing
the Holy Spirit to a mother…
(670)
“Open
Letter From the International Board of Directors of RZIM
on the Investigation of Ravi Zacharias” at
Lighthouse Trails, 2/13/21
From the RZIM Board: It is with shattered hearts that we
issue this statement about the allegations against RZIM’s
Founder, Ravi Zacharias. Following allegations made in late
August of 2020 that Ravi had engaged in sexual misconduct
and abuse in connection with two day spas, we commissioned
Miller & Martin PLLC, a law firm with experience in
corporate and sex crimes investigations, to conduct an
independent investigation [see the 2/9/21 full report –
caution to readers: contains disturbing and graphic
information]. We gave Miller & Martin a broad scope to
pursue any avenues that they judged to be relevant to the
accusations, and we emphasized that our only purpose for the
investigation was to ascertain the full truth. Having
received the results of the investigation, we are publicly
releasing the investigation report in the exact form that we
received it. We have been waiting to make an extended
statement in the hope that the full findings of the
investigation would allow us to speak more accurately and
meaningfully. We also wanted to ensure Miller & Martin’s
independence in their investigation, assessments, and
reporting of the findings. . . . Tragically, witnesses
described encounters including sexting, unwanted touching,
spiritual abuse, and rape.
(671)
Study:
Moral Relativism the “Majority Opinion” of Gen Z
by Ken Ham, 2/18/21
Gen Z—today’s teenagers and young adults—are the most
atheistic generation yet in America, according to George
Barna. Given that, it’s not surprising that a new study
found that “moral relativism” (“morally right and wrong
changes over time, based on society”) is the belief of a
whopping 74% of young adults in the US. A majority (65%)
also believe “many religions can lead to eternal life.” Our
very relativistic culture—which is just getting more and
more relativistic each year—reminds me of Judges 21:25, “In
those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what
was right in his own eyes.” This is a consequence of a
famine in the land, a famine of the “hearing of the words of
the Lord” like Amos proclaimed (Amos 8:11). Sadly, so many
churches have watered down the teaching of the Word, taking
on an experiential emphasis. Proverbs 29:18 states, “Where
there is no prophetic vision [i.e., no teaching of the Word
of God] the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who
keeps the law.”
(672)
What
The Biden Administration’s ‘Equality Act’ Would Do
by Ryan T. Anderson, The Heidelblog, 2/26/21
“An individual shall not be denied access to a shared
facility, including a restroom, a locker room and a dressing
room, that is in accordance with the individual’s gender
identity.” Witness the so-called Equality Act, which
candidate Biden vowed to make a priority and which is set to
be voted on by the House this week. What’s the Equality Act?
And who could be against equality? Don’t let the name fool
you. The act “updates” the law Congress passed primarily to
combat racism, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and adds
sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes
akin to race. So if you have any reservations about gender
ideology — as even many progressives do; just ask J.K.
Rowling — you’d now be the legal equivalent of Bull Connor.
(673)
House
Passes ‘LGBTQ’ Equality Act Despite Serious Concerns Over
Its Constitutionality Relating To Religious Liberty
at Christian Research Network, 3/2/21
(Christian News) The Democratic-controlled U.S. House
of Representatives passed the controversial Equality Act in
a 224-206 vote on Thursday despite growing concerns over how
the legislation would affect religious liberty, women’s
sports, as well as other concerns. The bill now heads to the
Senate for consideration. The Equality Act’s passage
included the support of three Republicans, including Reps.
Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and John Katko and Tom
Reed of New York, who joined the Democratic majority in
voting to pass the bill. “The LGBT community has waited long
enough,” said Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., who is a
homosexual and the lead sponsor of the bill. “The time has
come to extend the blessings of liberty and equality to all
of Americans regardless of who they are and who they love,”
Cicilline asserted.
(674)
“Amazon
Quietly Bans Books Containing Undefined ‘Hate Speech’”
by Petr Svab, 3/8/21
Amazon has adopted a rule against books that contain
anything the company labels as “hate speech.” It appears
there was no announcement of the new rule. It was only
noticed by media after the online retailer recently banned a
book that criticizes transgender ideology. It isn’t clear
what Amazon means by “hate speech” or even if it used that
label to drop that particular book. In general parlance,
Americans hold widely diverging views on what constitutes
hate speech, a 2017 Cato poll found. Some tech platforms
describe it as speech that disparages people based on
characteristics such as race, gender, and sexual
proclivities. But insider evidence indicates the companies
aren’t clear on where to draw the lines, perpetually redraw
them, and at least in some instances ignore violations when
politically convenient.
(675)
Jd
Greear Defends Staff Member Who Had Gay Hookups Online And
Looked At Gay Pornography by Jeff Maples, 3/9/21
“While Greear doesn’t go as far as to affirm homosexuality,
Greear has insisted that the Scriptures only “whisper” about
homosexuality while addresses other sins–such as greed or
boasting–in a much greater way. He’s also called on
Christians to stand up for LGBTQ rights.” In a podcast, JD
Greear defended a former staff member who said that while he
was on his personal pastoral staff and “very active” in his
church for many years, he secretly looked at gay porn and
hooked up on gay dating sites…. Despite the fact that this
went on for years, Greear defends him saying that he needs
to “feel his pain” and “learn to grapple with his questions
from his point of view.” Interestingly, this is the same
staff member that Greear defiled the pulpit with when he and
this guy danced together to a Whitney Houston song and
Greear “shook his rump.”
(676)
A time
of testing of your faith: What do you do when it all
happens? by Mike Oppenheimer, 3/14/21
What happens when people’s love grows cold, when people are
unable to hear and accept the Word during the time when
plagues, earthquakes and all the signs that Jesus spoke of
take place? Our slumbering in the church has turned into a
coma for some. Others are waking up from a coma and rubbing
their eyes and cannot believe what they are seeing as the
condition of the world and the church! This is not the way
it used to be many are saying, but the world has changed
dramatically. The cabal of politicians and false teachers
are now too numerous to count. We have watched political
corruptions occur and it has its affect on the Church. A
general separation is actively taking place throughout the
world and in the Church. The world offers an amoral
lifestyle and the church is being pressured to conform as
well.
(677)
California
Curriculum Leads Kids In Chant To Aztec God Of Human
Sacrifice at Christian Research Network, 3/15/21
The curriculum singles out Christianity for particular
demonization. Cuauhtin claimed that white Christians
committed “theocide” by killing indigenous gods while
replacing tribal cults with Christianity. White settlers
established a regime of “colonially, dehumanization, and
genocide,” characterized by the “explicit erasure and
replacement of holistic Indegeneity and humanity.” Next
week, the California Department of Education will vote on a
new ethnic studies curriculum that seeks to root out “white
supremacy,” “colonization,” and the various evils of
American culture. The curriculum aims to reverse
Christianity’s alleged “theocide” against Native American
gods by leading students in a chant to various indigenous
deities, including the Aztec god of human sacrifice….
(678)
“Amazon
Quietly Bans Books Containing Undefined ‘Hate Speech’”
at Lighthouse Trails, 3/16/21
Amazon has adopted a rule against books that contain
anything the company labels as “hate speech.” It appears
there was no announcement of the new rule. It was only
noticed by media after the online retailer recently banned a
book that criticizes transgender ideology. It isn’t clear
what Amazon means by “hate speech” or even if it used that
label to drop that particular book. In general parlance,
Americans hold widely diverging views on what constitutes
hate speech, a 2017 Cato poll found. Some tech platforms
describe it as speech that disparages people based on
characteristics such as race, gender, and sexual
proclivities. But insider evidence indicates the companies
aren’t clear on where to draw the lines, perpetually redraw
them, and at least in some instances ignore violations when
politically convenient.
(679)
Who
Or What Is The Force That Drives The Left To Cancel
Conservatives? by Marsha West, 3/17/21
It has become clear to discerning Christians that the
Spiritual Forces of Darkness engineered America’s shift to
the far left. And anyone who chooses not to toe the
line, anyone who won’t buy into the “woke” narrative or
dares voice their disagreement with the totalitarian Left
finds themselves “cancelled” (smeared, maligned, demeaned).
This is especially true for followers of Jesus Christ.
Americans are no longer surprised to hear that conservatives
who are invited to speak at a college campus are shouted
down and pelted with food and water bottles. Fearing for
their lives, many of them are forced to flee when the
opposition literally gets in their face, shouts obscenities
and threatens bodily harm. Liberals are never interested in
having a dialogue with those who disagree with them
principally because this dialogue would only serve to
highlight the ridiculous nature of their positions. Rather,
they prefer to intimidate by using tactics that could at
best be described as destructive and unhinged. Sadly, thanks
to our public education system, our younger generation is so
lacking in critical thinking skills that if they get into a
debate they know they cannot win, especially when it
involves politics and religion, they resort to bullying and
even violence as the world witnessed during the BLM
“peaceful protests”. Portland Oregon, where
riots—oops—peaceful protests went on nightly for several
months will never be the same after the BLM/antifa targeted
areas of that once beautiful thriving city for destruction.
(680)
Updated! Racism
and Critical Race Theory Part 1 The Current Conversation
by Gary Gilley, 1/26/21
Among the most pressing issues of our times are those
surrounding systemic racism. I write this even in light of
an extremely important Presidential election and being
engulfed in the Covid-19 pandemic because, as important as
these other two issues are, racism has become so divisive
and explosive that it has the potential of shaping our world
for years to come. Volumes have been written and spoken on
this subject from every persuasion, and my comments will
likely add little. However, as issues concerning
racism are not only cultural but also spiritual, it is
important that we examine how racial debates and
disagreements are affecting Christians and the church.
Read Part
1, Part
2 & Part
3.
(681)
Dealing
With Discouragement by Mike Ratliff, 3/25/21
23 Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot
him. Genesis 40:23 (1599 Geneva Bible) My natural tendency
is to heartily participate in self-pity, outrage, and
un-forgiveness thereby opening doors in my heart that Satan
enters causing me to become discouraged. When this happens
to me, I find that my circumstances drive me to become very
negative and impatient. I suppose that this is one of my
besetting sins which clings closely to me ready to cut in on
me causing me to drop out of the race God has set before me
to run with endurance (Hebrews 12:1-2)
(682)
“Christian
Baker, Jack Phillips, Sued Again for Refusing to Bake
Transgender Cake” by Milton Quintanilla, 3/27/21
Jack Phillips, a Christian baker who has previously been
targeted by LGBTQ activists for refusing to bake cakes for
them, is facing another lawsuit for his refusal to bake a
cake celebrating a gender transition. Phillips, who is the
owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado, holds
previous legal victories, including one from the U.S.
Supreme Court in 2018. At the time, the Christian baker went
on trial after he refused to bake a wedding cake for a
same-sex couple. (LTRP Note: Christian Headlines did not
explain this correctly. Phillips did not refuse service to
the same-sex couple in general, but he refused to bake a
cake with writing on it that exalted the LGBTQ lifestyle –
there’s a big difference.) At the present time, he is being
sued by Autumn Scardina, a transgender attorney who wanted a
cake that was blue on the outside and pink on the inside in
celebration of her transition. She had attempted to order
the cake in 2017, on the same day when the Supreme Court
said it would hear Phillip’s same-sex wedding case.
(683)
A
Word From the Past for Today: “Open Letter To Evangelical
and Protestant Pastors – Now is the Day to Turn Back to
God’s Word” at Lighthouse Trails, 3/30/21
LTRP Note: Ten years ago, author and evangelist Roger
Oakland wrote an open letter to evangelical pastors
beseeching them to turn away from false teachings,
complacency, and ecumenicalism and stand true to God’s Word
in these last days. Although Roger is no longer in active
ministry, his words and warnings are as relevant today as
they were a decade ago – perhaps even more so.
(684)
Jesus
& The Cancel Culture by Herescope, 4/1/21
The whole point of what is now called “Cancel Culture” is to
shut down (“cancel”) those who speak out TRUTH, FACT, or put
forth actual hard SCIENCE or documentable DATA. We know the
source of this suppression – the “father of LIES” (John
8:44) who works ceaselessly to STOP the SPEAKING of the
GOSPEL. He will attempt to STIFLE any method or media we use
to communicate the BIBLE. As Christians we are called
to TEACH the GOSPEL despite any opposition or affliction. In
so doing we follow in the honorable footsteps of the Old
Testament prophets, the New Testament apostles, and Jesus
Christ Himself. What follows is a unique perspective
on the battle for and against the TRUTH as seen in an
overview of the life of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
In order to convey the sense of these passages we will
creatively employ words, terms and phrases used in current
“Cancel Culture” vernacular. It is our hope that this unique
perspective will encourage us to “be strong in the Lord, and
in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).
(685)
Get
Ready For The Next Phase Of The Cancel Culture: It Will Be
The Most Diabolical Yet by Leo Hohmann, 4/2/21
“They are one in the same. The goal is to destroy America’s
foundation and those who adhere to it. America’s foundation,
the writings and speeches of the founding fathers, the Bill
of Rights and of course our Judeo-Christian foundation upon
which the Constitution is based. That is their enemy.”
By now, everyone is aware of the agenda embraced by
America’s public schools — teaching children to be ashamed
of their country, which they are told was founded by white
supremacists. According to this narrative, embedded in many
high school curricula including the popular 1619 Project,
all of America’s historic successes, its rise to super-power
status, its robust middle class, are illegitimate, because
those who built this country did so on the backs of Native
Americans and African slaves. There is nothing redeemable
about America or its Constitution, because these are the
products of systemic racism. This racism was baked into
every institution, be it state and local governments, law
enforcement, school systems, the business world, religious
institutions, you name it. All of these institutions are
eaten up with “white privilege” and must be turned upside
down and “reimagined” according to leftist “woke”
principles.
(686)
Woke
Comes For Christian K-12 & Homeschools at CRN,
4/15/21
(Capstone Report) With the Association of Christian
Schools International (ACSI) promoting diversity and
multiculturalism to its member Christian schools, the Woke
virus is set to spread from seminaries and colleges into
Christian K-12 schools. And, it won’t even spare
homeschoolers. As we reported earlier, the ACSI partnered
with UnifiED to provide diversity, inclusion, racial
reconciliation and multiculturalism training to Christian
schools. What is important to note is the widespread reach
of ACSI. Not only does ACIS serve the accreditation function
for day schools and hybrid schools, but it produces
homeschool curricula.
(687)
Christian
University Faculty Revolt After Board Votes To Affirm
Biblical View Of Sexuality by Faithwire, 4/29/21
Matt Bellinger, an assistant professor of communication at
the college, described the board’s decision to affirm
biblical sexuality as “so out of touch with the convictions
and values of the SPU community,” arguing it “calls into
question the legitimacy of the board’s leadership.” (Tré
Goins-Phillips – Faithwire) The faculty members at Seattle
Pacific University — a Christian college in Washington state
— have cast a vote of “no confidence” in the leadership of
the school’s board of trustees, which, last week, voted to
affirm a biblical interpretation of sexuality.
(688)
‘I
Kissed Dating Goodbye’ Author Trashes Book With
‘Bull-Dyke’ Pastrix at CRN, 4/30/21
Graphic language warning (Protestia) Joshua Harris,
author of I kissed dating Goodbye and well-known apostate
recently sat down for an interview with Nadia Bolz Weber, a
tattooed, self-described “Bull-Dyke” and host of The
Confessional Podcast. Nadia, the former pastrix of House for
All Sinners and Saints (which the church body refers to as
an acronym – HFASS – and they pronounce it “half-ass” – an
ELCA congregation). She left the church a few years ago and
was replaced by a gay man married to a drag queen….
(689)
Pastor
Arrested In London at Moriel Ministries, 5/3/21
Pastor Arrested After Sermon on Marriage, Police Cite
Complaints of 'Homophobic Comments' A 71-year-old pastor of
a north London church was arrested on April 23 under the
United Kingdom's Public Order Act for allegedly making
"homophobic comments" during a public sermon, video shows.
(690)
SBC
President Continues To Promote Same-Sex Attraction
‘Christianity’ by Protestia, 5/6/21
(David Morrill – Protestia) In a multi-series Q&A
podcast, Southern Baptist Convention President JD Greear has
gone to Rebecca McLaughlin – purveyor of Same-Sex Attraction
(SSA) “Christianity” – for the answers to questions on all
things relating to sex, race, and faithful Christian
witnessing – continuing his promotion of the myth of gay
Christianity and that homosexuality is merely something the
Bible whispers about. Many of McLaughlin’s answers and
claims are verbatim repetitions of her appearance at the
Gospel Coalition’s 2019 National Conference. What is SSA
“Christianity?” It is a movement within the larger
evangelical movement that narrowly defines the sin of
homosexuality to include only acting upon one’s sinful
desires, and defines the sinful desires themselves as simply
a part of a person’s identity and something God is content
with not changing in the heart of the believer. Rather than
instructing believers to “Put to death therefore what is
earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil
desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry”(Colossians
3:5), SSA teaches that a regenerate believer can maintain
their evil desires – even turning them into a cross to bear
for the sake of the Gospel. For further reading, read Cody
Libolt’s article Understand the New TGC Orthodoxy on Gay
Christians.
(691)
“Modern
Science” Says There Are Six Sexes? by Ken Ham,
5/8/21
A few weeks ago CNN published a news piece that contained
the statement, “It’s not possible to know a person’s gender
identity at birth, and there is no consensus criteria for
assigning sex at birth.” Such a statement is obviously
anti-science—the “consensus criteria” for establishing “sex
at birth” has been known since Eve gave birth to Cain, and
Adam said, “It’s a boy!” Well, CNN isn’t alone at being
anti-science. A Democratic state legislator in Texas, who
attended Harvard, recently stated, “I want us to all be
aware of recognize [sic] is that modern science obviously
recognizes that there are many more than two biological
sexes. In fact, there are six . . . ” Does modern science
really recognize “six really common biological sexes” in
humans? No. There are two: male and female. The “gender
identities” so popular today are not biological sexes—they
are determined by the feelings of the person claiming the
gender identity. But feelings do not determine truth.
Instead of relying on our feelings, we must turn to the Word
of God for absolute truth and, by the power of God’s spirit
and the gospel, line our feelings up with God’s Word and
truth. And besides, because we are sinners (Romans 3:23) and
our hearts are “deceitful above all things and desperately
wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9), we can’t trust our feelings!
(692)
Truly
Magical! Disney’s Critical Race Theory Training Turns To
Pixie Dust Overnight by Stacy Lennox, PJ Media,
5/16/21
“The training assigns behavior, feelings, and attributes to
employees solely based on their race. They were doing it in
all directions, not just to white employees. It is a lawsuit
waiting to happen.” (Stacy Lennox – PJ Media)
Last week, journalist Christopher Rufo broke the news that
Disney was deploying employee training based on the
principles of critical race theory. According to the
documents he obtained, the company had some of the most
explicit and divisive content based on the principles of
critical race theory leaked yet. It posits that black
employees are fragile and not able to tolerate questions
about their point of view. It also uses concepts found in
Robin DiAngelo’s White Fragility to encourage
self-examination of feelings white employees have probably
never had ...
(693)
ELCA
Elects Openly Transgender Bishop by Ken Ham,
5/18/21
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America—a very liberal
denomination—has just elected a bishop to serve in that
church who is a woman who identifies as a man and uses the
pronouns “they/them.” She is the first transgender person to
be elected to the position of bishop in the US in any major
denomination. It’s sad to continue to see the church
ignoring God’s Word and encouraging others to do the same in
the name of “tolerance” and “love.” But encouraging others
to rebel against God’s created design for them as either
male or female (Genesis 1:27) isn’t loving—it leads them
into sin and slavery to that sin (John 8:34). I believe we
can apply, in principle, the same words God spoke through
the prophets to the Israelites to this situation: I take no
delight in your solemn assemblies . . . offerings, I will
not accept them . . . Take from me the noise of your songs;
to the melody of your harps I will not listen. (Amos
5:21-23) But they will not find him; he has withdrawn from
them. (Hosea 5:6) My people are destroyed for lack of
knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you
from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the
law of your God, I also will forget your children. (Hosea
4:6) For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they
have left their God to play the whore. (Hosea 4:12) Instead
of starting with man’s ever-changing and depraved opinions
and compromising with the pagan religion of our day, we need
to start with God’s Word in all areas. I would urge this
bishop to repent of her compromise, believe God’s Word, and
encourage others to do the same.
(694)
Russell
Moore Leaves The Erlc, Jumps Ship To Even More Progressive
‘Christianity Today’ at CRN, 5/20/21
“Christianity Today is the progressive rag known for giving
a platform to every weird and liberally insidious bent. They
came out swinging against the storming of Capitol Hill by
laying the responsibility for the mayhem at the feet of the
“white American church” and any leaders who voted for and
supported President Trump.” (Protestia) Russell Moore,
the head of the Ethics and Religious and Liberty Commission
(ERLC) who recently took a personal hit when he was torched
by the SBC’s Executive Committee for the way he runs his
organization, summarized by the phrase, “The direction of
the ERLC is a significant source of division and creates a
very real challenge to reversing CP [Cooperative Program]
decline,” has left the ERLC and joined forces with the
paragon of liberal virtue, Christianity Today.
(695)
Mefferd:
Russell Moore now where he belongs – with evangelical libs
by OneNewsNow, 5/21/21
After eight years at the helm, Russell Moore is out as the
head of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics &
Religious Liberty Commission – and those within and without
the SBC are breathing a sigh of relief. Moore (pictured)
announced on Tuesday he was resigning his post as president
of the ERLC (effective on June 1) to take a job as "public
theologian" at Christianity Today. In a press release
recognizing the work of his ERLC staff, he touts
accomplishments on behalf of human dignity, religious
freedom, and racial reconciliation and justice. However,
during his tenure with the ERLC, Moore became more and more
estranged from those in the Southern Baptist Convention who
were concerned with a leftward drift of the denomination.
Texas-based radio talk-show host Janet Mefferd was among his
early critics.
(696)
Letter
to the Editor: “Christian” Professor Finds “Warm Welcome”
at Wheaton College to Teach and Promote Critical Race
Theory at Lighthouse Trails, 5/22/21
LTRP Note: Because Wheaton College has been promoting and
embracing both contemplative spirituality and emergent
ideologies for many years (as Lighthouse Trails has
documented), it makes perfect sense that they would now
embrace the social justice, Marxist-influenced movement.
They all go hand in hand (but most Christian leaders,
colleges, and pastors have failed to recognize this).
Wheaton College. Dear Lighthouse Trails: First, I wanted to
thank you for your booklet, Critical Race Theory, as it is a
great tool to reveal/expose the lies being promoted to
unwitting evangelicals (young and old) in these days. Also,
the booklet glossary S is for Social Justice is a great
introduction to terms being used to propagate lies. Thank
you also for your new release Color, Communism, and Common
Sense as Manning Johnson’s story is a powerful example of
how God can open up a precious man’s eyes, to the truth of
the Bible and the Gospel, exposing the lies of the
world/Satan.Second, I wanted to let you know that a current
Wheaton College professor is promoting Critical Race Theory
(CRT). His name is Nathan Cartagena, assistant professor of
philosophy at Wheaton College. In an April 28, 2021
interview with Jim Wallis’ Sojourners Magazine, he spoke
with Sojourner’s Magazine assistant news editor Mitchell
Atencio, about his views andongoing relationship with
Critical Race Theory (CRT).
(697)
The
Church in the 21st Century by Sarah Leslie,
5/27/21
Conference recordings are now posted on a variety of
platforms for the recent conference The Church in the 21st
Century. We appreciated the opportunity to share our
personal testimony in the Lord, answer questions, and
present some of our research. (See the end of this post for
links to the research we cited.) When Pastor Marco Quintana
invited us to speak, he mentioned the conference theme was
inspired by Dr. Francis Schaeffer's 1970 book The Church at
the End of the 20th Century. Providentially, it was a book
that we had recently pulled off the shelf and dusted off. In
fact, this book inspired our recent apologetics article
series on the freedom of speech found in the Gospel, and we
quoted it in our previous post. We have included a few
excerpts from his book in today's post because it is so
relevant to the subject matter discussed at the conference.
(699)
Lesbian
At The Gospel Coalition Says Using Preferred Pronouns Is A
Question Of Conscience at CRN, 6/3/21
Reformation Charlotte has published information before about
a lesbian from Campus Crusade (CRU) who has been teaching a
pro-homosexual message to children in CRU. Gilson is heavily
platformed by The Gospel Coalition as well as John Piper’s
Desiring God ministry. Rachel Gilson, who works for CRU as a
Director of Theological Development Northeast, said in an
uncovered video that, even in the context of “gay marriage,”
God hates divorce and said that it’s okay for gay couples,
after they come to Christ, to remain legally married so long
as they remain celibate.
(700)
Dealing
With Critical Race Theory At The SBC Conventionby
Denny Bark, 6/4/21
I am pre-registered as a messenger from my church to the
Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville next month. Because
of the aftermath of 2019’s infamous “Resolution 9,” one of
the most important items of business before the Convention
will no doubt be a resolution relating to Critical Race
Theory (CRT). I am not a prophet nor the son of a prophet.
So I could be wildly off in this prediction, but I
anticipate that we won’t leave Nashville without a strong
resolution against Critical Race Theory.
(701)
Media
Hype Narrative For Guiding Children To Doubt Their
Biological Sex by Penny Starr, Breitbart, 6/8/21
“Paul McHugh, M.D. the University Distinguished Service
Professor of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine, warned puberty is a complex biological
process that has been “over-simplified” to the detriment of
children with gender dysphoria who are being treated with
puberty blockers.” Media outlets and left-wing activists are
trying to build support for transgenderism by claiming that
children can choose their future lifetime sex when they are
just four-years-old.
(702)
Pride:
The Sin at the Root of Pride Month by Ken Ham,
6/11/21
In a recent address commemorating “Pride Month” (the
month-long celebration in June of all things LGBTQ),
President Joe Biden revealed that nearly 14% (about 210) of
his “1,500 federal agency appointees identify as lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender and queer.” This is just one
example of the frenzied celebration of all manner of sexual
perversions as individuals, corporations, organizations,
and, sadly, even some “Christian” groups trip over
themselves trying to be the most enthusiastic in their LGBTQ
activism. But what are they really celebrating? Obviously,
on the surface, they are celebrating sexuality identities
and sexual diversity—really, what the Bible calls lust and
perversion of God’s original design. But that’s not
ultimately what those waving rainbow flags in a Pride parade
are really celebrating. Their celebration is reveling in the
sin at the root of sexual perversions and a myriad of other
sins—pride!
(703)
Ed
Tarkowsk: Writings Now Posted Online in New Location
by Herescope, 6/13/21
Before there was a Herescope blog there was Herescope a
column in our 1990s magazine The Christian Conscience. One
of the first writers for this column was Ed Tarkowski, who
wrote a 6-part expose of Rodney Howard-Browne and the
so-called “laughing revival.” He would go on to become one
of the early discernment researchers and later posted a
collection of his articles on the Internet. This research is
still current, as religion and politics continue to coalesce
HERE. For research history on Browne, see HERE. After Ed’s
passing in 2012, his wife Mary maintained his writings
posted online. When Mary passed away Ed’s daughter contacted
me and said the website would be going down. She graciously
gave Sandy Simpson (Deception in the Church) and me
(Herescope) permission to post Ed’s writings online. Sandy
immediately posted Ed’s original material on his site and it
can now be accessed at:
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/Apostasy%20In%20The%20Church.pdf
(704)
SBC
Downgrade at SRN, 6/17/21
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s
clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know
them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn
bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good
tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18
A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree
produce good fruit. Matthew 7:15-23 (NASB) Read verses
19-23 on the site. The last SBC President, J.D. Greear, was
so obviously a shill for the left, i.e. liberals, that
whatever he said or did was really no surprise and most of
us considered him something of a doofus…. However, the
current 2021 SBC Convention has just elected a new
President, Ed Litton who is from Alabama. Here is a link to
some info about him. I have been all over Facebook and the
Internet today looking at discussions about him. What I have
seen is not encouraging. Some of my friends looked at his
church’s website and found that their doctrinal statement
about the Trinity was more Modalistic than what is accepted
as Orthodox by the SBC. Also, in my own study of of his
background I found that he is all about unity through
building bridges, that is, compromise. The Word of God
clearly teaches us that Christian Unity is based where?
(705)
New
SBC President Not Just A Liberal, Might Be A Rank Heretic
at CRN, 6/19/21
If you weren’t aware, this week, a new Southern Baptist
President was elected amid growing schism between the
enormous amount of progressives and the few remaining
conservatives in the denomination. Once again, the liberal
won–and he isn’t just a woke, social justice flaming
progressive, he might even be a rank heretic. Ed Litton, the
new Southern Baptist President, is the pastor of Redemption
Church in Saraland, AL….
(706)
The
Spiritual Damage Caused By The Rebellion Of Women
Preachers In The Church at CRN, 6/26/21
“Is damage being done by the promotion of female preachers?
Yes. Historically, women preachers have tended to stress the
sensate and the mystical over and above rational, sound
doctrine. In other words, the trend among them has been to
emphasize spiritual experience over dogmatic and exegetical
theology. And, with this trend has come the suggestion —
either tacitly or directly — that spiritual experience
itself is self-authenticating, and ought not to be
challenged or disbelieved.” Man’s natural wisdom is
perpetually pitted against the wisdom of Almighty God. And,
this opposition to God’s wisdom is most commonly disguised
as pragmatism. In fact, numerous heresies frequently began
as ‘pragmatic’ decisions….
(707)
Disney
Holds “Pride Celebration Spectacular” (Complete with Drag
Queen) for Kids by Ken Ham, 6/29/21
When you think Kermit the Frog, you probably don’t picture
him teaching your children about sexual immorality alongside
a drag queen, but welcome to 2021! Disney+ (Disney’s
streaming platform) recently tweeted, “We’re throwing a
#DisneyPlusPride party! Join us Sunday, June 27 for the
first ever #DisneyPlus ‘This Is Me’ #Pride Celebration
Spectacular.” The whole event was streamed to Facebook and
YouTube and hosted by “Nina West,” a drag queen who recently
appeared on Nickelodeon’s Blues Clues to sing a song about
the colors of the LGBT flag. To those who’ve been watching
Disney’s descent into celebrating all things LGBT—and
actively and purposefully marketing them to children—this
comes as no surprise.
(708)
Tolkien
Society Goes Woke, ‘Finds’ Transgenderism, ‘Antiracism,’
And Queer-Ness In The Lord Of The Rings by PJ
Media, 7/5/21
“Perhaps the Tolkien Society is acting on the assumption
that no one will be able to speak on behalf of J.R.R.
Tolkien to express what would certainly have been his utter
disgust at having his works twisted to support the LGBT
agenda.” This weekend, the Tolkien Society is hosting a
virtual Summer Seminar, a short academic conference on a
theme pertaining to scholarship about J.R.R. Tolkien, the
British scholar and author of The Lord of the Rings.
(709)
Churches
Burned To The Ground In Canada In ‘Anti-Church Hate Crime
Wave’ at CRN, 7/9/21
In a tweet on July 3, British Columbia Civil Liberties
Association executive director Harsha Walia tweeted, “burn
it all down,” referencing the churches. At least 20 churches
in Canada have been burned or vandalized, and Rebel News
founder Ezra Levant questioned Canadian Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau’s response to the mounting crime spree
Wednesday on “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”
(710)
Despite
Opposition, Anti-White CRT Indoctrination Continues
Spreading Like A Virus at CRN, 7/12/21
Which brings us to our next CRT Hall of Shame example,
Manhattan’s posh Spence School, which caters to New York
City society girls. It broke a few weeks ago that Spence had
shown a graduation-day video to eighth-grade students that,
as parent and Hispanic tech exec Gabriela Baron put it in a
scathing letter, “openly derides, humiliates and ridicules
white women.” From the schoolroom to the board room to video
on Zoom, Anti-whiteness 101/Divide-and-Conquer Theory
(a.k.a. Critical Race Theory) has swept across America like
an invading horde. In fact, despite spirited opposition from
parents and others coast to coast, it continues spreading
due to pseudo-elite embrace.
(711)
Educators
Face Termination For Proposing Male-Only, Female-Only
Bathrooms In Schools by Greg Piper, 7/15/21 Oregon educators are fighting for their jobs after starting
a campaign to keep biological males and females in their own
school restrooms and locker rooms and make it optional for
school employees to use their students’ preferred gender
pronouns. Assistant principal Rachel Damiano and science
teacher Katie Medart of North Middle School face a
pre-termination hearing before the school board Thursday…
(712)
‘The
Jesus Music’ Trailer Launches, But A Third Of The Featured
Artists Are Pro-Gay at CRN, 7/21/21 A trailer for The Jesus Music has just dropped; a Lionsgate
documentary that delves into the roots and origins of
Contemporary Christian Music. Released by the Erwin
Brothers, who directed movies such as “I Can Only Imagine’,
‘I Still Believe’, and ‘Woodland’, “This documentary reveals
Jesus Music’s untold story – from its humble beginnings at
the Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California through its
transformation into the multi-billion-dollar industry of
Christian Contemporary Music today.”
(713)
Damaged
Goods by Mke Ratliff, 7/23/21 There is a push in the United States to make it illegal to
preach the truth from God’s Word where it pertains to the
sin of homosexuality. Of course the emphasis of those laws
or initiatives is to protect the rights of certain people
based on their sexual preference, which is also called gay
rights. They say that to preach what the Bible says about
homosexuality is to foment hate; therefore, the laws are
placed under the umbrella of hate crimes.
(714)
Racism
and Critical Race Theory by Gary Gilley, 7/27/21 Among the most pressing issues of our times are those
surrounding systemic racism. I write this even in light of
an extremely important Presidential election and being
engulfed in the Covid-19 pandemic because, as important as
these other two issues are, racism has become so divisive
and explosive that it has the potential of shaping our world
for years to come. Volumes have been written and spoken on
this subject from every persuasion, and my comments will
likely add little. However, as issues concerning
racism are not only cultural but also spiritual, it is
important that we examine how racial debates and
disagreements are affecting Christians and the church.
In trying to get a handle on the recent social unrest and
the factors behind it, we will approach the subject in four
steps: Examine the current conversation, including an
understanding of terms being used; Present an overview of
the Christian history leading up to the present unrest,
including progressive views stemming from the 1960s and
1970s; Investigate the claims of Critical Race Theory,
racism, and social justice in light of Scripture, including
how unbiblical answers color our understanding of the
gospel, the church, and the Scriptures; and Discuss
appropriate biblical responses and actions going forward.
Read Part
1, Part
2, Part
3, Part
4 and Part
5.
(715)
Nearly
40 Former Mars Hill Elders Issue New Statement: Mark
Driscoll Is ‘Unfit’ And ‘Unrepentant’ by
Protestia, 7/28/21 Nearly 40 elders who once worked at Mars Hill Church and
served alongside Mark Driscoll during the most tumultuous
years of his career have released a public statement
outlining their dismay that their former leader has
continued his abusive tactics at his new church; calling on
him to step down and to enter into a process of conciliation
with those he abused. Comprising of “the majority of the
pastors who served at the church between 2011 and 2014, when
formal charges were raised against Driscoll” and released to
Christianity Today, the letter comes in light of several
reports – covered extensively by us here and here – which
detail that Mark Driscoll has devolved even further since
Mars Hill imploded on account of his abusive behavior.
(716)
Major
Evangelical Figure Comes Out As Gay by Marsha
West, 8/13/21 “Followers of Jesus Christ have to completely disregard the
teaching in the pages of Holy Writ to cling to their belief
that God condones sex outside of marriage. Anyone who is
involved in sex outside marriage is committing a sin against
God. Period. This I know because the Bible tells me
so.” Jonathan Merritt is “one of America’s most
prolific religion writers” and a reporter for various news
agencies including Religion News Service. He is also the son
of former Southern Baptist Convention president James
Merritt. In 2019 the pastor’s son chose to denounce
evangelicalism and “seek God elsewhere.” On his 39th
birthday Jonathan Merritt jumped out of the closet with both
feet after years of repeated denials that he is a
homosexual. Before I get to the details, you’ll need some
background.
(717)
Fake
Propheets by Sarah Leslie, 8/18/21 Christians tend to think of FALSE prophets in terms of
purveyors of heretical religious doctrine within the Church
only. We also recognize false prophets in cults, the occult
and the New Age Movement. But for the past half century we
have also witnessed the rise of false prophets coming from
seemingly secular paradigms in society such as
Progressivism, Humanism, and Postmodernism. But these
worldviews come with their own belief systems, codes of
ethics, and behavioral norms. In other words, these ungodly
systems promote a DIFFERENT spirituality based on FALSE
theses which are not biblical Truth. In our lifetimes we
have watched as advocates of these worldviews use their
platforms of influence to proselytize their dogma. Read
Part 1: The White
Lab Coats, Part 2: The
Fishbowl and Part 3: Fake
Normal.
(718)
The Turning by Mike
Oppenheimer, Let Us Reason Newsletter, August 22, 2021,
8/23/21
Lying
has always been with us but has now reached epidemic
proportions having no limits. I’m shocked when I
occasionally hear the truth from those who more often lie.
The fact is, that liars are accepted more quickly than those
who tell the truth, because they lie so well. There are
Liars in the pulpits of the church, liars in politics, liars
in medicine, everywhere you turn you can’t get a straight
and honest answer, it becomes more than frustrating as we
find ourselves yelling out loud at the TV or radio ‘you’re
lying.’ The question is how can all this be turned
around?
(719)
‘Christian
Evangelicals Are America’s Taliban’: Actors, Journalists
Equate American Christians To The Taliban by Megan
Basham, 9/1/21 (Morgan) Freeman has taken even sharper aim at other
members of his own faith…He claimed, “Evangelical
Christianity is the greatest threat to human existence
today. It must be laid waste.” MSNBC host Joy Reid stirred
up controversy earlier this week when she compared Christian
conservatives to the Taliban. But Reid is hardly the only
public figure on the left making that analogy. Actor Tim
Russ, best known for playing Lieutenant Commander Tuvok on
the sci-fi series “Star Trek: Voyager” and Principal
Franklin on Nickelodeon’s “iCarly,” tweeted Monday that,
“The Taliban are as fanatical about their beliefs and
culture as the millions of people right here in the U.S. who
believe in religion, conspiracy theories, and alternate
reality.”
(720)
The
Media’s Absolute Contempt For Christians by
Jonathan Van Maren, 9/3/21 “The use of gay special interest stories for purposes other
than those of actual news: perhaps making up for lost time,
or perhaps just rubbing things in the faces of those not yet
up to speed with the changed mores of the age. Either way
something strange and vaguely retributive is in the air.” At
the 2018 Oscars, while Hollywood was in the throes of
revelations about Harvey Weinstein’s serial predations,
Jimmy Kimmel took the stage to mock those who still hold to
a Christian view of sexuality.
(721)
NDAfree
– Opposing the Practice of Churches and Ministries
Silencing Victims by Trinity Foundation, 9/6/21 During an episode of Leah Remini’s TV series about
Scientology, a chilling strategy from L. Ron Hubbard is
displayed onscreen. “Dominance of others is a control
system. We are not looking for pleasant control–we are
looking for effective control.” Sometimes, there is little
difference between Scientology and churches that claim to be
Christian. Pastors and televangelists have employed the same
techniques, using legal threats to control victims. At the
heart of this scandal is the use of Non-Disclosure
Agreements (NDAs).
(722)
Karl
Marx’s view of God, Religion, the World and You by
Mike Oppenheimer, 9/14/21 What had happened to twist this man from Christianity to
such a strong hatred of God and the world? Georg Hegel was a
German occultist who birthed the mind-changing dialectic
process. His diabolical philosophy was most likely the
engine to Karl Marx's anti religion/Christian vehemence.
Engel, an atheist, attended the University of Berlin at the
same time as Marx. Engle became a Hegelian by 1839, and
joined the ‘Young Hegelian’ by 1841. Marx met him and the
two became friends in 1844. Marx Meeting new friends and
being influenced wrong. As the Bible teaches bad company
corrupts good morals. Read Part
1, Part
2 & Part
3.
(723)
Science
Is Dying; Superstition Disguised As Morality Is Returning
by Victor Davis Hanson, ‘Science,’ They Said, 9/19/21 “How can the government hector citizens that they have a
moral duty and a legal obligation to be vaccinated, when it
does not ask vaccinations of unvetted refugees flying in
from Afghanistan?” The scientific method used to govern much
of popular American thinking. In empirical fashion
scientists advised us to examine evidence and data, and then
by induction come to rational hypotheses. The enemies of
“science” were politics, superstition, bias, and deduction.
(724)
Cartoon
Network And HBO Max Are Launching A Bunch Of New Shows To
Wokeify Your Kids by Joel Abbott, 9/22/21 “The line-up also includes Jessica’s Big Little World, a
spin-off of Cartoon Network’s Craig of the Creek, which
featured gender non-binary and other LGBTQ characters.” In
case anyone out there is still letting their kids watch
Cartoon Network (or started letting their kids watch HBO),
there’s more woke programming coming down the pipeline to,
well, program your kid in the ways of rainbows and
“tolerance.”
(725)
Anti-Semites
Get Their Wish: Democrats Yank Money For Israel Defense
by A.J. Kaufman, 9/24/21 “To comprehend just how much contemporary progressives
detest Israel, let’s remember that the Iron Dome is a
defensive weapon. It has not only saved thousands of Jewish
lives from missiles attacks emanating from Islamic terror
groups but countless Palestinian lives.” The left finally
found a spending measure they dislike.
(726)
The
Turning by Mike Oppenheimer, 10/2/21 Lying has always been with us but has now reached epidemic
proportions having no limits. I’m shocked when I
occasionally hear the truth from those who more often lie.
The fact is, liars are accepted more quickly than those who
tell the truth because they lie so well. There are liars in
the pulpits of the church, liars in politics, liars in
medicine; everywhere you turn you can’t get a straight and
honest answer. It becomes more than frustrating as we find
ourselves yelling out loud at the TV or radio “you’re
lying.” The question is how can all this be turned around?
(727)
SBC’s
Legal Counsel Resigns After Executive Committee Pressured
Into Waiving Attorney-Client Privilege at CRN,
10/12/21 “We are seeing the effects of Russell Moore’s Chicago-style
political tactics against the Southern Baptist Convention as
the denomination now begins to be deconstructed and handed
over to the leftists for full control. Amid waiving
attorney-client privilege, the legal firm that has
represented the Southern Baptist Convention for 56 years has
now abruptly resigned, citing the inability to effectively
serve the denomination without attorney-client privilege.”
If you’ve been following the sham “sex abuse” investigation
of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) you’re probably
aware by now that the Executive Committee–who has been
accused by leftists including former ERLC head, Russell
Moore of covering up sex abuse–caved to the demands of the
leftists and waived attorney-client privilege.
This multi-part report was authored by
Sarah H. Leslie circa 2000-2003 as part of effort to warn
the nation’s homeschoolers of a newly forming false “choice”
initiative in education reform. The original concerns are
still in effect to this day.
(729) The
hardening of the soft new world order by Mike
Oppenheimer, 10/20/21
As stated in the last newsletter this would be a deeper dive
into what is ACTUALLY taking place. The main reason is
for us to prepare for what is coming if this is not resisted
and halted, the need to pray and speak up has become a
necessity. This newsletter contains a tremendous amount of
information and facts, links to those with expertise; they
are not blatherskites. I also encourage you to do your own
research.
Updated!
(730) Fake
Propheets by Sarah Leslie, 8/18/21 Christians tend to think of FALSE prophets in terms of
purveyors of heretical religious doctrine within the Church
only. We also recognize false prophets in cults, the occult
and the New Age Movement. But for the past half century we
have also witnessed the rise of false prophets coming from
seemingly secular paradigms in society such as
Progressivism, Humanism, and Postmodernism. But these
worldviews come with their own belief systems, codes of
ethics, and behavioral norms. In other words, these ungodly
systems promote a DIFFERENT spirituality based on FALSE
theses which are not biblical Truth. In our lifetimes we
have watched as advocates of these worldviews use their
platforms of influence to proselytize their dogma. Read
Part 1: The White
Lab Coats, Part 2: The
Fishbowl, Part 3: Fake
Normal, Part 4: Fake
Choice, Part 5: Fake
Enforcers & Part 6: Fake
Fear
(731) The
Gospel Coalition Wants Effeminate Men by
Evangelical Dark Web, 10/29/21 It’s no secret that The Gospel Coalition is one of the
worst publications that claims to be Christian media. They
are weak on just about every hot issue going on in the
church whether it be Critical Race Theory, Revoice, or
Branch Covidianism. Around the globe, The Gospel Coalition
acts as state propaganda to the church. A recent article
titled “Men, Are You Submissive?” is aimed at making men
docile in the face of growing government tyranny and
ecclesiastical abuse. It is written by Michael Kruger, a
Reformed Theological Seminary professor.
(732) Lesbians,
Racists, Charismatics, And Matt Chandler Headline 2022 IF
Gathering Conference at CRN, 11/2/21 “Why should Christians be concerned about this? After all,
it’s just an aberrant movement that really has nothing to do
with God. These people are outside of the Church, right? The
only problem with that theory is that these are the people
bringing this godless ideology and influence into the Church
and they are seducing people away from God and the gospel….”
The IF Gathering conference has been a blemish on the
Evangelical Church since it started in 2014 hosting people
from nearly every aberrant theological sect of Christendom
while avoiding any actual gospel content.
(733) Pro-Gay
Feminist Episcopal Priestess Preaches At Prominent PCA
Church In New York at CRN, 11/6/21 The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) is the supposed
“conservative” Presbyterian denomination as opposed to the
Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), the flaming, godless, radical
leftist hell-hole of a professing Christian denomination.
Like the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)–the Baptist
counterpart to mainstream Evangelicalism–the PCA has been on
a left-wing trajectory for a number of years.
(734) Meta:
The Final Disconnect From Reality? at CRN, 11/8/21 The metaverse will not necessarily tell you what to think,
but it will entirely change the way you think. It will
rearrange your logic circuits in a way that you cannot
distinguish between what is real and what is not. Your
metaverse will become as real to you as the nose on your
face. Mark Zuckerberg hasn’t lost his mind, but he wants you
to lose yours… to the metaverse. He is investing billions of
dollars to make sure that his rebranded company, Meta, will
be the industry leader in the same way that IBM dominated
the computer industry for many decades.
(735) Is
It Slander Or Is It Discernment? at CRN, 11/10/21 8 But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and
you are all brothers. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your
father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 Do
not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is,
Christ. 11 But the greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever
humbles himself shall be exalted. Matthew 23:8-12 (NASB)
This discernment ministry stuff is not for everyone. I often
wonder if I am cut out for it at all. I do not like
conflict. On the other hand, God gifted me with the makeup
that loves the truth and seeks justice because it is His
truth and I am compelled, quite often, to speak out when
false prophets besmirch His truth and the Gospel is treated
as optional by certain “evangelicals.”
(736) The
Gospel Coalition Contributor Says If You Don’t Believe In
Social Justice, You’re A Heretic at CRN, 11/12/21 Justin Giboney, a co-founder of the social Marxist
organization known as the AND Campaign and a prominent The
Gospel Coalition (TGC) contributor, says that a rejection of
redemptive social justice is a rejection of orthodoxy. To
phrase this in simpler terms, Giboney is essentially saying
that unless you’re on board with the Marxist
oppressor/oppressed ideology and its tenets of class
warfare, you’re a heretic. Yep, he said that–out loud. (See
his tweet on the site)
(737) Southern
Baptist Pastor And ERLC Leaders Suggests Paul’s Words Are
Not Authoritative at CRN, 11/14/21 Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2:12: I do not permit a woman to
teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to
remain quiet. In the neverending battle for orthodoxy in the
Southern Baptist Convention, every single day, we face the
influx of liberalism–both theological and practical. As the
fight over wokeness, #metoo, and religious freedom ramp up,
those who should be leading the charge to biblical fidelity
seem to be the ones fighting against the historic biblical
orthodoxy that the true Church has held for two thousand
years.
(738) How
‘Witchtok’ Lets Kids Dabble In The Occult From Their
Phones by Taylor Anderson, The Federalist,
11/20/21 [The] neopagan practice involves shamanistic states of
trance induced by dancing, chanting, percussion, meditation,
and the manipulation of other ritual tools such as power
bundles, crystals, wands, feathers, and knives.” Virtually
all of these neopagan practices can be found on #WitchTok.
Although lip-syncing, synchronized dancing, and comedic
skits tend to catch the most attention on TikTok, another
form of art is gaining popularity: witchcraft.
(739) Fear
Is Deadlier Than Viruses by Dennis Prager,
Townhall, 11/25/21 “Please understand that when you hear only one opinion, and
that opinion is designed to make you afraid, there is a good
chance that your fears are irrational.” The most famous
words of Franklin Roosevelt, America’s longest-serving
president, were, “The only thing we have to fear is fear
itself.” One wonders if any world leader would or could say
that today. We live in the Age of Fear.
(740) Astroworld
Tragedy and a Generation Under a Demonic Spell by
Gregory Reid, 11/27/21 Occultism and Satanism are on the rise among youth. TikTok
is showing new trends where youth are showing others how to
call on their “other personalities” to help them develop
multiple personalities. Naturally, they will be calling on
demons without knowing it. It’s just the next step up from
when schools were teaching kids to find their “imaginary
friend” and talk to them. We are already seeing some real
dangerous manifestations of these things when the “multiple
personality” or “other” begins taking over. I’ve also seen
videos of the next insane iteration of the gender blending
pronouns like “ze” and “zer,” as two spiritually marred and
confused kids told others they refer to themselves by their
“demons.” Only a few years ago, this would have been
considered psychotic thinking. But we continue to see the
results of our nation disconnecting from God. We’re not
caught by surprise because Paul laid it out very clearly in
Romans 1. We must not give in to the lies but, as believers,
actively resist the evil. I’m grateful there is a growing
movement among parents (who are finally waking up to what
we’ve been warning about for decades) who are realizing that
many schools and school boards and a lot of curriculum are
seeking to indoctrinate and socially alter our children—and
they are determined to put a stop to it. It’s not about
politics. It is about resisting evil and protecting our
kids, and not just ours but others. I soberly remember what
was spoken at a national educators conference in 1988 by a
keynote speaker: “Our job as educators is to sweep out the
last vestiges of Judeo-Christian thought from our schools.”
God bless every teacher who is simply there to teach,
especially those of the household of faith. They need our
prayers. The recent tragic deaths of several lives at the
Astroworld “concert” was heartbreaking and alarming. We
already know how many music stars are caught up in the
occult, and some, like JZ, Beyonce, and Little Naz claim
allegiance to the “illuminati” or Satanism in some form. I
had never heard of the rap artist Travis Scott. And yet he
and the other bands drew nearly 50,000 people, mostly youth
and even children brought by their parents. That’s a
shocking amount of youth. And to hear what? Just a casual
look at Scott’s lyrics reveals the typical filthy, violent
antichrist content so many in the rap world (and other rock
genres) are putting out. When you hear how over-the-top
perverted and extremely x-rated the lyrics are, you realize
that we’ve got a whole generation that is being drawn into
that world by seduction, mesmerization, and a giving in to
the demonic appeal of the music.
(741)Sexual
Indoctrination Of Children In Public Schools by
Bonnie Chernin, Renew America, 11/28/21 “Planned Parenthood and other abortion organizations hope
to destroy the traditional American family unit so they can
push their abortion agenda on children. What better way to
do that than to propagandize children during school hours
when parents are not watching what’s going on”. The news
that Vermont is the first state mandating free condom
distribution to kids in middle schools and high schools
comes as a major disappointment to parents. The condoms will
be provided free by Planned Parenthood of Northern New
England.
(742) Illinois’
Esther Joy King After ‘Wild Wild West’ Afghanistan Rescue
Effort: I Know People Who Are Still In Kabul by
Ashley Oliver, Breitbart, 12/6/21 During the withdrawal, King said she “was part of the Wild
Wild West civilian effort” and that she “got 51 young girls
from [her] parents’ high school out of Kabul.” She added
that she had a “front row seat to the horrors” that took
place in Afghanistan, like “young 15-year-old girls being
beat up by the Taliban because our State Department
outsourced visa checks to Taliban hooligans right in front
of the airport.” An Illinois Republican with ties to
Afghanistan said that she aided in the August U.S.
evacuation efforts after Taliban forces took over the
country and that she knows people who are still stuck there.
(743) Manning
Johnson – 1958: The Communist Plot to Exploit Blacks
at Lighthouse Trails, 12/7/21 - LTRP Note: The following
is an extract from Manning Johnson’s 1958 book, Color,
Communism, and Common Sense, which Lighthouse Trails
reprinted a special edition in 2021. As LT author Roger
Oakland has often said, history repeats itself, and we can
see that from today’s events. Lighthouse Trails stands
against any form of racism because we know that God loves
all people and tells us to love all people, and the color of
one’s skin should make no difference in how we are to treat
others and regard them. That said, Manning Johnson uncovered
the exploitation of black people by those who pretended to
care about them. That was over 60 years ago, but we see the
same thing happening today.
(744) "No
New Thing Under the Sun" - New Herescope Archive Hosts Old
Articles by Sarah Leslie, 12/9/21 There is a treasure trove of articles, some published
before Herescope was a blog, that will soon become
accessible on the Internet. This is thanks to Sandy Simpson
over at Deception in the Church who has kindly offered to
post a collection of our earlier articles that have stood
the test of time.
(745)Where
are we herded to? (…if we do not change direction)
by Mike Oppenheimer, 12/12/21 - Now that
numerous goals of certain leaders have become publicly
known, people can see how we are being reshaped and where
our country (and the world) is herded to. We are being
treated as sheeple by the state. There is far less restraint
on evil these days, as the government allows lawlessness to
thrive, just like the Bible said it would be in the end. The
socialist progressives (neo communists) circumvent the
Constitution so there is no law in the land, they choose
what to obey or enforce.
(746)
Christians
Decreasing As More U.S. Adults Not Affiliated With Any
Religion, Study Shows by Marisa Dellatto,
Forbes, 12/15/21 The amount of people in the U.S. who identify as
Christian has decreased in the last 10 years, as the
amount of people who are unaffiliated with any religion
has increased by nearly the same amount, according to
data released Tuesday by Pew Research Center. Shontae
Scott of Atlanta clutches her hands on her bible Tuesday
while watching live coverage of the funeral of Coretta
Scott King at the Samson's Health and Fitness Center
next to the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church February
7, 2006 in Lithonia, Georgia. Shontae Scott of Atlanta
clutches her hands on her bible Tuesday while watching
live coverage of the ... [+] According to the study, 75%
of Americans identified as Christian in 2011—in 2021,
that number shrunk to 63%, a 12% decrease. Ten years
ago, roughly 18% of Americans were not affiliated with
any religion, identifying as agnostic, atheist or
“nothing in particular”—that number grew to 29% in 2021,
an 11% increase. Protestants experienced the largest
decrease: While 51% of U.S. adults identified with the
Christian denomination in 2011, only 40% did in 2021, an
11% drop. The amount of U.S. adults who identified as
Orthodox Christians (1%) or members of the Church Of the
Latter-Day Saints (2%) stayed the same throughout the
decade, and people who identified as Catholic shrunk
just 3%, from 24% in 2011 to 21% in 2021. The study also
found that 41% of U.S. adults said religion was “very
important” in their lives, compared to 33% who said it
was not important and 25% who said it was somewhat
important.
(747) They’ve
Successfully Taken Christ Out Of Christmas And
Replaced Him With Gay Pride at CRN, 12/16/21 Christmas is a Christian holiday, no matter how you
look at it. Spare me the arguments that it has Pagan
origins and actually borrows from other festivals and
was only later Christianized as a holiday. Let’s just be
real; without Christ, there never would have been a
Christmas. There never would have been an advent. There
never would have been a reason to celebrate the birth of
the savior of the world–the greatest gift to mankind
from God the world has ever seen. Christmas is about
Christ.
(748) The
Trend Toward Normalizing Pedophilia Must Be Halted
by Jennifer Bauwens, FRC, 12/17/21 “What we’ve learned is that unbridled curiosity has
mostly remained unchecked in the ivory tower, and some
scientists are exploring lines of inquiry about children
that should remain unthinkable.” Americans are awakening
to the call to protect children from being sexualized.
Following the national news coverage of local school
board meetings in Virginia, many U.S. citizens are
shocked to learn that today’s elementary school lessons
include material that would make most adults blush.
(749)
Fake
Enforcers (Part 5 of Fake Prophets) by Sarah
Leslie, 12/20/21 As I write this, our country is reeling from a
pandemic, violence, fraud, and propaganda. Divisions run
deep. Cities are engulfed in flames. Vitriolic
accusations are hurled from citizen to fellow citizen,
neighbor to neighbor. Anger, hatred, rage, and violence
seem to reign in many people's hearts. In a time of
siege--like the one we find ourselves in now--we would
do well to allow the Holy Spirit to get between us and
everything we are watching. We need to listen as He
gently encourages us.
(750)
The
Gospel Coalition Publishes Christmas Advent Song
Featuring Transgender Artwork at CRN, 12/30/21 “…take a look at what is behind them while they sing.
The artwork is by Zach Oren, who describes himself as a
“cis queer male,” who has done several pro-LGBTQ
paintings depicting men in dresses…and other various
forms of sexual perversion.” The Gospel Coalition, which
is well-known for abandoning the actual gospel in favor
of the social gospel, a heresy known as
Rauschenbuschism, recently published their Best Movies
of 2021. The list, which is their recommendation for
entertainment to families and children, featured a
number of R-rated movies for sexually explicit content,
children smoking pot, and some pro-abortion talk.
(751) How
acceptable is the Occult in American society? by
Sandy Simpson, 12/31/21 - In the latest AARP Magazine of
December 2021/January 2022 they ran a “Special Report”
called “Your Dream Retirement” by Rhonda Kaysen. The
page is called “Live by your own rules” with a byline that
reads “These creative and often innovative housing
approaches show that anything goes in the pursuit of your
best life”. A number of 55+ villages are
featured. I was frankly appalled to read about one in
our area called Adawehi Wellness Village located in
Columbus, North Carolina.
(752) TikTok
Videos About Transgenderism Dominate Platform With 26
Billion Views by Tré Goins-Phillips – Faithwire,
1/1/22
…TikTok is “hugely influential and it’s full of videos that
portray medical transition as cool and edgy.” There is no
shortage of pro-LGBTQ content on the video sharing app
TikTok. An analysis by the Daily Mail found TikTok videos
including the hashtag #Trans have garnered more than 26
billion views, the outlet reported, many of the clips
featuring footage captured by young people playfully
documenting their transitions from one sexual identity to
the other, often undergoing hormone treatments to block or
halt puberty, or recovering from body-modifying surgeries to
appear more like the opposite sex.
(753) The
Gospel Coalition’s ‘Best Movies Of 2021’ Include Abortion
And Sex Propaganda, Children Smoking Pot, And R-Rated
Blasphemy at CRN, 1/3/22
“Apparently, we have to turn to the foul-mouthed graphic
sex-filled pagan entertainment industry to get our
theology.” It should go without saying that The Gospel
Coalition (TGC) has absolutely nothing to do with the gospel
or any other biblical teaching or exhortation. The Gospel
Coalition is nothing more than an outlet for the carnal
consumption of worldly influence into the Church by
compromised Evangelicals who are bound together by their
propensity toward embracing the culture. It is, in fact, The
Gospel-less Coalition.
(754) Family
Of Ravi Zacharias Uses Old Image Of Disgraced Apologist To
Promote New Humanitarian Org by Stephanie Martin –
ChurchLeaders, 1/5/22
Some people question the appropriateness of the post,
especially because Zacharias allegedly demanded sexual
favors of spa workers. “He put the women he abused into
slavery to his sinful actions. Feeling the hypocrisy.” In
February 2020, three months before apologist Ravi
Zacharias died from cancer at age 74, a post on his
Facebook account urged Christians to help end slavery and
rescue the 40 million people trapped in it worldwide.
(755) More
Allegations Surface Against Televangelist Perry Stone
by Warren Cole Smith – Ministry Watch, 1/6/22
Allegations of sexual misconduct began surfacing against
televangelist Perry Stone last year. His Cleveland,
Tennessee-based ministry, Voice of Evangelism, announced in
July that he had taken a leave of absence after admitting
that he had acted inappropriately with female employees. “I
confess at times I’ve been inappropriate in all this
weariness of just non-stop ministry,” Stone said in the
message. “I let my guard down and I’ve asked, of course, God
to forgive me for that."
(756) The
current climate of hating life in the womb by Mike
Oppenheimer, 1/9/22
If Jesus were born today would Mary be shamed into having an
abortion? If her friends were like those today she would
have a lot of social pressure to comply with the current
consensus of the culture, the spirit of the age. We live in
a time when certain people are wanting to see population
control implemented by whatever means available. They see
this as a necessity to curb the overuse of land and to have
sufficient food. They use this argument for their unholy
actions. More often called by its scientific title of an
embryo or fetus they avoid the identification term of child,
baby or human. They change the wording to purposely hide the
actual activity of life to soften the impact. Ending a life
by calling it Health Care is probably the most obvious and
insidious way to obfuscate the meaning.
(757) Lifeway
Still Peddling False Teachers Including ‘Gay Christianity’
Revoice Resources at CRN, 1/14/22
Check out some of the books LifeWay is peddling to Christian
consumers, books that are chock-full of heresy and steeped
in the world of the occult. The books are written by false
teachers, a.k.a. wolves in sheep’s clothing. Six years ago,
a small but growing discernment blog broke the story that
Alex Malarkey–also known as The Boy Who Came Back From
Heaven—had recanted his story and said that he made it all
up. The blog, Pulpit & Pen, was at the time run by
Southern Baptists who were heavily involved in Southern
Baptist life.
(758) David
Platt Is Setting His Church Up For A Huge Fall, Get
Out…Now! at CRN, 1/15/22
“As soon as it became culturally acceptable and normal to
embrace same-sex attraction, these compromised Evangelicals
began to embrace it. You can rest assured that as soon as
the culture embraces pedophilia, these churches engrossed in
this movement will too.” It pains me to have to even write
this as David Platt was one of the first Bible teachers that
helped me understand good, biblical doctrine. I was a fan of
the early Secret Church services before Platt left Brook
Hills Church in Alabama to become the leader of the Southern
Baptist Convention’s (SBC) International Missions Board
(IMB).
(759) Tim
Keller Promotes ‘Biblical Critical Theory’ by Ray
Fava – Evangelical Dark Web, 1/16/22
Tim Keller is renown for having a rather cryptic social
media presence. In an instance of not speaking in riddles,
Tim Keller came out and promoted Chris Watkin’s lecture on
“developing a biblical critical theory.” The most obvious
critique is that putting the word “biblical” in front of
something that is not biblical is oxymoronic. However, Chris
Watkins redefines Critical Theory in a long rambling lecture
as Third Wayism. Third Wayism is an attack on objectivity,
most specifically the objective line between good and evil.
(760) Facebook
Marks Christian Theology As ‘False Information’ In Post
Published By Prominent Theologian at CRN, 1/18/22
This is basic biblical Christian theology. What does
Facebook know about Christian theology and what right do
they have to mark Christian theology as “false information.”
This weekend, prominent Evangelical author, Dr. Everett
Piper, published a column in the Washington Times, a
right-leaning secular publication not to be confused with
the far-left Washington Post, explaining how Critical Race
Theory is incompatible with Christianity.
(761) ‘The
Chosen’ Biblical Consultant Met Christ Via New Age/Eastern
(Type) Meditation? by John Lanagan – The Word Like
Fire, 1/20/22
Many of the people involved with The Chosen are now very
influential–Christians listen to them. Which is proving more
and more unfortunate as some things these folks are involved
with or advocate are far from biblical. As Don Veinot (of
Bethel, Redding) notes, “If Richard Rohr, the Eastern
practices of Contemplative Prayer and the Enneagram are
spiritual tools that those associated with The Chosen admire
and advocate, fans are very likely to trust these “tools” as
safe and helpful in their personal spiritual pursuits." That
would be a tragedy.
(762) Who
will you serve, God or the World? by Marsha West –
Christian Research Network, 1/23/22
Recently I was going through my archives and stumbled on an
article I penned in 2005, “Who Will You Serve, God Or The
World”. Fifteen years ago I was pretty worked up over the
moral depravity liberals were introducing into America’s
public schools right under parents’ noses. Back then higher
education had a bastion of professors spewing lies and
Marxist propaganda into the malleable minds of college
students, some of whom bought into what they were taught,
hook line and sinker. Bad as it was, few parents seemed to
notice. Those who did notice didn’t much care, even though
Marxists are the enemy of God, religious liberty, and
freedom. In 2005 I tried to warn parents that professors and
teachers had their sights set on kids in grades K-12. Not in
my wildest imagination did I anticipate the corruption of a
whole generation of youth through entertainment, school
books riddled with revisionist history, smartphones and
access to social media.
(763) The
‘Social Trinity’ Vs. Nicene Christianity by Gene
Vieth – Patheos, 1/26/22
“It isn’t surprising that liberal theologians would take a
traditional Christian doctrine, turn it inside out, and make
it support some contemporary preoccupation. That’s
what liberal theologians do. That’s what liberal
theology is.” What God do you worship? For Christians,
the object of their faith is the one God in Three Persons,
the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
(764) JD
Greear Laments Christians Leaving His Woke Church
by Ray Fava – Evangelical Dark Web, 1/27/22
At Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, JD Greear gave
a chapel sermon bashing his church to an audience of future
pastors. The sermon raises the question as to how much
Summit Church is hemorrhaging members as a result of JD
Greear’s regular wokeness and Branch Covidianism. It’s worth
mentioning that JD Greear has a church location enforcing a
vaccine passport system.
(765) The
Gospel Coalition Author Employs Gay Rights Activist As
Personal Pastoral Assistant At Church at CRN,
1/28/22
If you’ve followed CRN at all over the last year, you are
most likely well-aware that we believe The Gospel Coalition
(TGC) to be a subversive progressive propaganda machine
designed to turn the Evangelical Church sharply to the left.
TGC employs a broad range of activists — from feminism to
homosexuality to social justice — and most of them are tied
either to the Southern Baptist Convention or to the
Presbyterian Church (PCA).
(766) Church
Hosts ‘Drag Me To Church’ Event To Attract LGBTQ Pagans
by Protestia, 1/29/22
During a Sunday service only Satan could love, a Minnesota
church hosted a ‘Drag Me to Church’ event, a celebration on
the sabbath that turned into a drag show at the end, in
order to attract lost LGBTQ persons to the progressive,
affirming congregation. The Congregational Church of Austin,
which is part of the United Chruch of Christ Satan
denomination, is little more than an ode to their father the
devil. Every part of it, from the music to the pastrix to
the sermonette, is completely upside down and backward.
(767) There’s
Good News And Some Really Bad News On America’s Religious
Freedom Front by Mark Tapscott – PJ Media, 2/6/22
“The federal government has started its own database on
Americans of faith. We cannot allow this to happen. We
cannot allow a federal database categorizing people by their
religion or medical status. What possible good can be
accomplished by these government lists? I cannot think of
one.” There is good news from the federal courts on the
First Amendment’s guarantee of the right of every American
to express and practice their religious faith (or lack
thereof), but things look much worse in the executive
branch.
(768) The
“Deconstruction” Myth and Matter by Dr. Shelton
Smith, 2/7/22
In recent months there has been a rash of well-known
professing Christians who have announced that they were
“deconstructing” their Christian faith.* The term was new,
but what it described is not new at all. Several of these
individuals have been entertainers. One was a contemporary
Christian music personality. One was the “lead” pastor of
one of these new-breed, newly branded “contemporary”
churches. They are people who at some previous point in
their lives had decided they would be Christians. What they
believed and what they had been taught about salvation and
other scriptural subjects is not at all clear. What is clear
is that they said they were Christians, and for a time they
identified themselves that way.
(769) TGC
Author Tells Parents God Uses Transgenderism And
Homosexuality To Make Kids More Like Christ at
CRN, 2/9/22
“I’m wanting the young people who come to this event to know
that Jesus is the one person that they can fully trust with
their sexualities, identities and gender because he is both
their Creator God and a human being who knows what it is
like to grapple with a sexuality, identity and gender….” —
Ed Shaw One can only wonder how much longer Jesus will wait
before unleashing full wrath and judgment on those who
continue to blaspheme His name. I wish I could say that I
was surprised by such an absurd assertion, but clearly, with
the history of The Gospel Coalition and it’s many LGBTQ
activists it continues to platform, nothing is surprising
anymore.
(770) Abortion
the World’s Leading Cause of Death . . . Again by
Ken Ham, 2/13/22
What was the leading cause of death worldwide in 2021? Well,
the same as it was in 2020. Of course, ultimately it’s
because of sin! But what’s the leading cause of death from a
number’s perspective in today’s world? It was an utterly
unnatural cause of death that only affects the most
vulnerable. What was it? Abortion. That’s right, abortion
was yet again the leading cause of death both globally and
here in the United States last year. According to The
Christian Post, 42.6 million unborn children lost their
lives to abortion in 2021 alone. Combined with other deaths,
100 million people died last year—nearly half dying because
they were murdered in their mother’s wombs. How does this
number of deaths compare to the other leading causes of
death?
(771) Parents
Willingly Hand Children To Sexual Deviants At ‘Church’ For
Drag Queen Dance Party at CRN, 2/16/22
A few weeks ago, Reformation Charlotte reported that an
institution masquerading as a “church” allowed a drag queen
to take the pulpit to indoctrinate children and then hold a
“prayer time” with them. As the man dressed in risque
flamboyant clothing sat with the children, he taught them
all about how the Lord Jesus Christ lived a perfect life and
died in their place on the cross so that they could live.
Just kidding, no he didn’t...
(771) Updated!Fake
Prophets by Sarah Leslie, 2/17/22 Christians tend to think of FALSE prophets in terms of
purveyors of heretical religious doctrine within the Church
only. We also recognize false prophets in cults, the occult
and the New Age Movement. But for the past half century we
have also witnessed the rise of false prophets coming from
seemingly secular paradigms in society such as
Progressivism, Humanism, and Postmodernism. But these
worldviews come with their own belief systems, codes of
ethics, and behavioral norms. In other words, these ungodly
systems promote a DIFFERENT spirituality based on FALSE
theses which are not biblical Truth. In our lifetimes we
have watched as advocates of these worldviews use their
platforms of influence to proselytize their dogma. Read
Part 1: The White
Lab Coats, Part 2: The
Fishbowl, Part 3: Fake
Normal, Part 4: Fake
Choice, Part 5: Fake
Enforcers, Part 6: Fake
Fear & Part 7: Fake
Awakening.
(772) Christian
Apps Are Monetizing Your Prayers For Millions by
Protestia, 2/22/22 “One of the companies that the app sells/shares their data
to is Facebook, resulting in people receiving targeted ads
on the social media sites depending on what you prayed
about. Prayed about a cheating spouse? You might be directed
to a book about “Better/stronger Marriage.” Prayed about
your weight gain? There is a banner promoting a juicer
available on Amazon for only $79.99.” (A) new report from
Buzzfeed has delved deep into the world of Christian apps,
demonstrating the lengths they’ll go to acquire and then
profit off your personal information. One such entity is the
Pray.com app, which has a daily user base of around 10
million people.
(773) New
80-Page Report! Ravi Zacharias And RZIM Spent $1,000,000
Suing Abuse Victim by Protestia, 2/27/22 “They also recount that there were allegations in 2008-2011
about Ravi being seen holding hands of a woman who was not
his wife, as well as a suggestion that he acted
inappropriately with a massage therapist. The report further
reveals that RZIM, for all their claims of transparency and
willingness to be open, has not been particularly helpful or
forthcoming in providing them with information.” After it
was revealed that esteemed apologist Ravi Zacharias was a
sexual predator and that his organization RZIM, run by his
family and an anonymous board helped cover it up, the board
commissioned a report to investigate and detail how they as
an organization failed to properly handle the allegations.
(774) Gender-Fluid
School Bathroom Rapist Takes Third Victim, Court
Proceedings Allege by Frankie Stokes – National
File, 2/28/22 “This has invited speculation that cover-ups and
retaliation by school district officials in the other two
cases have persuaded the victim to remain silent.” New
revelations from court proceedings in the Loudoun County,
Virginia school bathroom rape case show that the convicted
rapist, a biological male who claimed to be gender-fluid and
donned a skirt before preying on a female student, is
alleged to have a third victim.
(775) Pronoun
Passports Are Coming to Public Schools by Linda
Harvey, 3/1/22 Insanity over pronouns has hit the Midwest. Children and
teachers are being pressured to declare their pronouns, and
parents are livid. In the Olentangy school district near
Columbus, a middle school language teacher required all the
students to stand up and declare his or her pronouns. A high
school teacher in that same district told the class to let
her know if she should change a student’s pronouns when
contacting parents. In the Dublin (OH) City Schools, a class
of elementary students was asked to name their individual
pronouns. At Hilliard Davidson High School (a Columbus
suburb), teachers are called to the principal’s office and
forced to apologize to a student if an unwanted pronoun is
used. At that same school, an assistant principal now signs
his correspondence with “he/him” following his name. How
long before children are called to the principal’s office
for being unwilling to state their pronouns? Or will all of
our children go along with this? They will unless their
parents spell it out for them.
(776) Million
Dollar Homes Become Status Symbols Of Televangelists And
Pastors by Barry Bowen and Pete Evans, Trinity
Foundation, 3/2/22 Donors, where is the money going? When a televangelist’s
ministry or pastor’s church owns a private jet, you can
almost be certain the leader lives in a mansion. That is one
of the lessons Trinity Foundation has learned from
investigating religious fraud and excess for more than 30
years. In April 2021 the Houston Chronicle’s Jay Root asked
Trinity Foundation for assistance on an article series about
church parsonages in Texas.
(777) Post-Christian
Ideologies At Christian And Secular Colleges by
David Talcott – truthXchange, 3/3/22 “Christian schools must recognize that these new
progressive ideologies pose an existential threat to their
continued existence. As colleges around the country struggle
with enrollment and face the risk of closure at an
unprecedented rate, Christian schools must send a clear
message that their education is fundamentally different from
what goes on in secular institutions. Parents, donors, and
k-12 educators must have confidence that what happens at
Christian U will build on, rather than tear down, the early
education of their students.” For some time now,
truthXchange has been warning the church about the inroads
that post-Christian ideologies are making into Christian
colleges. The pagan worldview that reasserted itself in
America in the late 20th century has now incorporated new
ideas about sexuality, race, and other hot-button topics. A
recent series of articles in mainstream outlets shows just
how bad things have become in both secular and Christian
higher education.
(778) Post-Christian
Ideologies At Christian And Secular Colleges by
David Talcott – truthXchange, 3/4/22 “Christian schools must recognize that these new
progressive ideologies pose an existential threat to their
continued existence. As colleges around the country struggle
with enrollment and face the risk of closure at an
unprecedented rate, Christian schools must send a clear
message that their education is fundamentally different from
what goes on in secular institutions. Parents, donors, and
k-12 educators must have confidence that what happens at
Christian U will build on, rather than tear down, the early
education of their students.” For some time now,
truthXchange has been warning the church about the inroads
that post-Christian ideologies are making into Christian
colleges. The pagan worldview that reasserted itself in
America in the late 20th century has now incorporated new
ideas about sexuality, race, and other hot-button topics. A
recent series of articles in mainstream outlets shows just
how bad things have become in both secular and Christian
higher education.
(779) As
Russia Wages War, Us Army Trains Officers On Gender
Identity by Adam Kredo – Washington Free Beacon,
3/6/22 “All Army personnel, from soldiers to commanders and
supervisors, are required to participate in the training by
Sept. 30, 2022, according to the spokesman.” While Russia
wages a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. Army is
putting its soldiers through training on gender pronouns and
coaching officers on when to offer soldiers gender
transition surgery, according to an official military
presentation on the subject obtained by the Washington Free
Beacon.
(780)Updated!Fake
Prophets by Sarah Leslie, 3/12/22 Christians tend to think of FALSE prophets in terms of
purveyors of heretical religious doctrine within the Church
only. We also recognize false prophets in cults, the occult
and the New Age Movement. But for the past half century we
have also witnessed the rise of false prophets coming from
seemingly secular paradigms in society such as
Progressivism, Humanism, and Postmodernism. But these
worldviews come with their own belief systems, codes of
ethics, and behavioral norms. In other words, these ungodly
systems promote a DIFFERENT spirituality based on FALSE
theses which are not biblical Truth. In our lifetimes we
have watched as advocates of these worldviews use their
platforms of influence to proselytize their dogma. Read
Part 1: The White
Lab Coats, Part 2: The
Fishbowl, Part 3: Fake
Normal, Part 4: Fake
Choice, Part 5: Fake
Enforcers, Part 6: Fake
Fear Part 7: Fake
Awakening. & Part 8: Fake
Revival
(781) Kindercare
LGBTQ Curriculum Teaches Infants And Toddlers How To
Explore Sexuality, Gender Identity, And Other Sexual
Perversions at CRN, 3/14/22 “Teachers are then instructed to turn these children into
LGBTQ activists by making rainbow flags and other propaganda
pieces designed to show support for sexual perversion.” If
you haven’t noticed, the left wants your children. And they
are hell-bent on getting them however they can. If it isn’t
through drag queen story hour at your local public library,
elementary school, or even something that calls itself a
“church,” then they’re going to get to your infant through
4-year-olds through your preschool program.
(782) American
Millennials—What Do They Believe? by Ken Ham,
3/15/22 What does the Millennial generation in America believe?
This is the generation that is currently raising the next
generation and is massively influential in which direction
the nation will head. Well-known researcher George Barna
recently released a “Millennials in America” report that
confirmed, once again, that the Millennial generation is
extremely secularized and knows very little about God and
his Word. According to The Christian Post, the report shared
that:
9 out of 10 millennials are syncretists, picking a
mixture of beliefs from different religions so as not to
appear “intolerant.”
Being “born again” doesn’t result from repentance and
faith in Christ’s sacrificial, substitutionary death and
resurrection but refers to being a good person, doing good
deeds to merit one’s salvation.
Only 28% believe the Bible is the Word of God.
Two out of three millennials believe they are
“Christians,” yet their responses indicate they are not
true disciples following Jesus as Lord.
Three out of four believe all religious faiths are of
equal value.
56% reject the existence of absolute truth.
A scant 4% of millennials hold to a biblical worldview
regarding God, life, and morality.
Only one in four millennials believes they can trust
Christian pastors.
A high percentage identify themselves as “DONTS,”
meaning they don’t know or even care if God exists.
(783) The
Gospel Coalition Author Implies Jesus Knows What It’s Like
To Be A Homosexual at CRN, 4/1/22 “The lengths these people go to to try to justify their
homosexuality are simply astonishing at times. This isn’t to
say that a homosexual can’t come to Christ and still
struggle with their desires. However, teaching that Jesus
understands because He too struggled with similar desires is
quite blasphemous.” You’ve probably heard of the “gay
Christian” ministry called Living Out. Living Out has been
in partnership with the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics
and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) as well as The
Gospel Coalition (TGC) and the late [disgraced] Ravi
Zacharias’ International Ministry (RZIM).
(784) Americans
Sour On Disney’s LGBTQ Agenda by Matt Margolis –
PJ Media, 4/11/22
Disney’s boasting about indoctrinating kids with LGBTQ
propaganda isn’t sitting well with the American public,
according to a new Rasmussen Reports survey released
Tuesday. According to the poll, only 28% of American adults
believe the emphasis on “inclusion” and “diversity” makes
children’s entertainment better. However, a plurality — 45%
— thinks it will make children’s entertainment worse, while
only 18% say it won’t make a difference.
(785) ‘God
Is Queer,’ Duke Divinity Students Proclaim by Hope
Rawlson – Juicy Ecumenism, 4/19/22
Praying to “the Great Queer One,” students at United
Methodist-affiliated Duke Divinity School proclaimed God’s
acceptance and support for LGBTQ relationships in a Pride
worship service March 22. Divinity Pride, a student group
affirming the “dignity, faithfulness, and strength of
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, Intersex,
Asexual, and gender/sexuality non-conforming Christians,”
sponsored the worship service.
(786) MSNBC:
Jesus Would Be A Groomer - Desantis Is Like Russian
Rapists by Mary Dowling – Independent Sentinel,
4/23/22
MSNBC has really gone off the rails. MSNBC analyst Matthew
Dowd claimed Wednesday that if Jesus Christ were still on
the Earth today, he would be called a “groomer,” “woke,” and
a “socialist.” “This is something that I have tried to talk
about: Being a Christian, having grown up Catholic [link
added], having been an altar boy, and all of that. How
the faith has been captured by a small segment of our
society who have tried to define it in a way that Jesus
never had defined it. And actually the opposite way of
Jesus,” Dowd claimed.
(787) Tim
Keller Urges Churches To Remain United With Baby Killers,
Gay Activists, And Anti-Christian Marxists by The
Dissenter, 4/28/22
“This flies in the face of Scripture itself which commands
us not only to break unity with them (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)
but also to purge them from our ranks (1 Corinthians 5:13).”
“Show me your politics, and I will know your religion.
Acting like these things are disconnected is gnostic and
foolish – unless you’re doing it on purpose. Either way, it
is wicked.” —M.L. Nowlin, Twitter. I couldn’t have put
it better myself as this is exactly what I’ve been arguing
for years at The Dissenter.
(788) When
“Cancel” Needs to Happen! by Ken Ham, 4/29/22
I’ve often spoken disparagingly about the cancel culture we
live in. But a recent news article reminded me that
sometimes it’s a good thing to “cancel” something. The state
of Florida recently rejected 41% of the mathematics
textbooks it received because they failed to meet or (more
frequently) violated state standards. According to Governor
Ron DeSantis, the rejected textbooks “were impermissible
with either Florida’s new standards or contained prohibited
topics.” And what were the main offending topics? “It seems
that some publishers attempted to slap a coat of paint on an
old house built on the foundation of Common Core, and
indoctrinating concepts like race essentialism, especially,
bizarrely, for elementary school students,” DeSantis said in
a statement.
(789) Tim
Keller Doubles Down On Uniting With People Who Sacrifice
Children To Molech by The Dissenter, 5/6/22
“As we reported last week, Tim Keller is relentlessly
downplaying the seriousness of abortion while urging
churches and their congregations not to divide over the
“political” issue of abortion.” I’ve refrained from stating
what I really think about people who pervert the gospel to
advance their own ideological agendas, particularly those
who would brush off the practice of abortion as an optional
issue for Christians to concern themselves with the
legality. But the fact of the matter is that these people
make me want to vomit, and they should make you feel the
same way.
(790) Commentary:
Whoopi Goldberg, the Holocaust, and Managing
Misinformation by Chris Katulka, Israel My Glory,
5/14/22
LTRP Note: The following is posted for informational and
research purposes. The blaze has subsided since Whoopi
Goldberg insisted the Holocaust “isn’t about race,” but the
embers are still burning. Goldberg’s comment started a
firestorm during a January filming of her television show
The View on ABC. The comedian-turned-daytime-television-host
then doubled down on her remark and called the Holocaust an
example of white-on-white violence. Although ABC suspended
Goldberg for two weeks and she issued an apology, the
incident demonstrates how few people today comprehend the
true nature of the Holocaust and how the American
conversation about racism clouded Goldberg’s understanding.
She admitted later on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
that she can’t visualize racism apart from skin color. . . .
It is disturbing that a 2020 survey of adults under 40
revealed 1 in 10 never heard the word Holocaust. Almost
two-thirds of American young adults were unaware that 6
million Jews were systematically murdered during World War
II. And the greatest shocker of all was that more than 1 in
10 believe the Jewish people caused the Holocaust. Click
here to continue reading.
(791) Fearing
Discovery And Depositions, David Platt Appears Ready To
Settle Lawsuit by Capstone Report, 5/16/22
“All these departures from church precedent unfolded over
the last 10 months since Platt used his underhanded tactics
to seize control of the church by overriding the will of the
voters.” McLean Bible Church has set May 18, 2022, to vote
on a settlement resolution that grants most if not all the
requests made by dissident conservative members of the
church in a lawsuit filed against David Platt, MBC elders
and the church.
(792) Study
Finds 37% Of Pastors Have Biblical Worldview: Spiritual
Awakening ‘Needed In Our Pulpits’ by Anugrah Kumar
– (Christian Post), 5/19/22
A new study from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona
Christian University has found that just 37% of Christian
pastors in the United States have a biblical worldview,
demonstrating that spiritual awakening is “needed just as
desperately in our pulpits as in the pews,” according to the
pollster. The nationwide study of about 1,000 Christian
pastors found that just slightly more than a third (37%) of
the U.S. pastors hold a biblical worldview. The majority
(62%) possess a hybrid worldview known as Syncretism.
(793) Sickest,
‘Disgusting, Horrific’ Exploitation Of Children by
Mary Dowling – Independent Sentinel, 5/20/22
This post will make you sick if you’re normal. How anyone
could engage in this type of child abuse and still walk free
is perplexing. We are turning into a US hellhole. The World
Professional Association for Transgender Health
(WPATH), the international medical association sets
the guidelines for transitioning children as if that should
be happening at all.
(794) Southern
Baptist leaders mistreated abuse survivors for decades,
report says by Bob Smietana, Religion News
Service, 5/23/22
For decades, a handful of leaders in the nation’s largest
Protestant denomination treated sexual abuse survivors as
enemies of the church, denied responsibility for the actions
of local churches and downplayed the number of sexual abuse
cases in those churches, all in the name of protecting the
institution, according to a report released Sunday (May 22).
(795) Fanatic
Cult Leader Klaus Schwab: ‘The Future Is Being Built By
Us’ by Mary Dowling – Independent Sentinel,
5/25/22
“Panels included: investing in China, averting a global food
crisis (partnered with CNN for this), staying the course for
climate change, equitable responses to the pandemic
(partnering with Politico and focusing on Moderna’s CEO),
equitable economic outlook for the US (partnering with the
NYT), shaping the future on investing (partnering with
Reuters), defining the US (WSJ on stakeholder capitalism).”
On Day 1 of the World Economic Forum, attendees – the global
elites – unabashedly flew in on their private gas-guzzling
jets to discuss climate change.
(796) Are you “woke” or
“awake”? by Sandy Simpson, 5/26/22 Romans 13:11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is
already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now
salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. Now
that we have the “woke” culture bearing down on everyone in
the world, without regard to your right of belief and
self-expression, I thought it might be appropriate to
compare this overbearing current worldview with the
worldview of God as expressed in His word.
(797) Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary grad and Revoice Leader Says
Being Pro-Life Means Honoring Trans People by The
Dissenter, 6/1/22
“Collins is attempting to hijack the pro-life movement to
include both anti-gun sentiments as well as pro-transexual
sentiments.” Revoice is a conference that promotes “gay
Christianity” and has actually advocated for homosexual
Christian relationships and for, of course, calls for an end
to the “victimization” of homosexuals, to which they coined
the term “sexual minorities.” Preston Sprinkle, one of the
co-founders of Revoice, refers to sexually confused men who
dress, think, and act like women, as “theologically
conservative.”
(798) Southern
Baptist Sex Abuse Investigation Firm Comes Out In Full
Support Of Homosexuality And Sexual Immorality by
The Dissenter, 6/9/22 The Southern Baptist Convention has been embroiled in
scandal after scandal over the past year since Ed Litton,
the current Southern Baptist Convention president took
office at the convention last year. Embroiled in his own
plagiarism scandal, Litton was elected to implement and
oversee an investigation into an alleged mass cover-up
scheme of sex abuse within the Southern Baptist Convention.
(799) The
SBC Pitches Its Tent Toward Sodom With Guidepost
by Capstone Report, 6/11/22
From Guidepost Solutions site: “Uncovering facts. Assessing
risk. Protecting facilities. Monitoring progress.” Guidepost
Solutions supports radical pro-LGBTQ+ ideology. The Race
Marxists are now promoting radical pro-LGBTQ ideology in the
Southern Baptist Convention. The Russell Moore fanboys tried
to destroy the Southern Baptist Convention with Critical
Race Theory (CRT) and Intersectionality.
(800) An
Assessment of the New Revised Standard Version: Gaywashing
in the Translation by Robert A. J. Gagnon, 6/15/22
The NRSV has been updated (NRSVue) to make a number of
changes. The most noteworthy has been to “gaywash” and
eliminate clear reference to homosexual practice in the
offender list in 1 Corinthians 6:9. Previously the NRSV
translated as among the serial and unrepentant behaviors
that could get even self-professed believers excluded from
the Kingdom of God “male prostitutes” (the Greek word is
malakoi) and “sodomites” (the Greek word is arsenokoitai).
They have now changed “sodomites” to the nebulous “men who
engage in illicit sex,” which does not indicate to English
readers the connection to homosexual practice provided by
the Greek word, contrary to both morphology and context. A
textual note added by the NRSVue committee claims that the
term is unclear. It isn’t. The word literally means “men
lying with (i.e., having sexual intercourse with) a male.”
It is a specifically Jewish and Christian term formed from
the Greek (Septuagint) translation of Hebrew Levitical
prohibitions of man-male intercourse in Leviticus 18:22 and
20:13.
(801) The
Southern Baptist Convention Is Useless And Deserves
Nothing But Mockery by The Dissenter, 6/16/22
“This is the Southern Baptist Convention today. It is where
this denomination is. It is a dumpster fire, apostate, under
the judgment of God and is led by the prophets of Baal—and
it should be treated as such.” Last night, one of the worst
possible candidates to lead the Southern Baptist Convention
(SBC) defeated the conservative candidate in a landslide
victory. In reality, liberalism, wokeism, egalitarianism,
feminism, and lack of integrity defeated biblical
Christianity in the 2022 Southern Baptist Convention
presidential election by over 20 percentage points.
(802) Welcome
To Secular Relativist Hell by Stephen Kruiser,
6/17/22
“People who truly believe that they have the right to the
world being exactly as they want it have no problem
justifying any means to help craft their impossible world,
from ruining careers to ending lives. It’s the impetus for
everything from Twitter cancel culture mobs to mass
shooters.” Well, I’m not a casual observer and have no
problem saying that this country’s woes can be traced to the
abandonment of God and moral absolutes for the false comfort
of secular relativism.
(803) Charlie
Kirk, TPUSA Host ‘Pastors Summit’ Headlined By Atheist
by Marsha West, 6/19/22
The atheist isn’t the only one that should be avoided.
Others include David Barton of Wall Builders and Sean Feucht
of Bethel Church. Chris Rosebrough of Fighting for the Faith
once said about Barton: Dave Barton…is flat out deceitful…he
needs to clean up his act…he is discrediting himself and he
is discrediting Christianity by engaging in deception.’”
David Barton has also appeared on arch heretic Kenneth
Copeland’s show. Because of Charlie Kirk’s lack of
discernment, CRN cannot recommend the Pastors Summit.
(804) Queering
The Southern Baptist Convention by Capstone
Report, 6/20/22
“The radical Leftists started with Critical Race Theory
(CRT), advanced to the issue of women pastors…and are now
open about working with and celebrating pro-LGBTQ partners.”
Southern Baptists like most conservative Americans were
alarmed when it was revealed that Disney was grooming
children into radical LGBTQ sexual ideology. Yet, Southern
Baptist elites did nothing about it. They continued to hawk
discounted tickets to Disneyland and now the newly elected
President of the Southern Baptist Convention celebrated his
win at—wait for it—Disneyland following the Southern Baptist
Convention in Anaheim.
(805) USA
Is Canceling God But The State Is Ready To Step Up
by Mary Dowling – Independent Sentinel, 6/23/22
“Free speech, the right to self-defense, privacy, and
ownership of private property will soon be a thing of the
past. We’re becoming earth worshippers instead.” The US is
on the way to canceling God and the current replacement is
the State. At least, the Left – now embracing far-left
ideology – is hoping that is what will happen. The number of
Americans who believe in God has dropped to the lowest level
in the 78 years Gallup has asked the question, per a Gallup
poll out Friday, Axios reports.
(806) Breaking:
Supreme Court Overturns Roe V. Wade, Casey With Dobbs
Decision by Athena Thorne – PJ Media, 6/24/22
On Friday, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in the
much anticipated Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health
Organization case, overturning the pro-abortion precedent
set by Rose v. Wade and Casey. “The Constitution does not
confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled; and
the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people
and their elected representatives,” wrote Justice Samuel
Alito. “It is time to heed the Constitution and return the
issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.”
(807) JD
Hall, Pulpit and Pen Founder, ‘Disqualified’ from Ministry
by Montana Church by Bob Smietana, 6/27/22
The founder of a controversial Christian website known for
its criticism of evangelical leaders for being too liberal
has resigned from his church for “serious sin.” Montana
pastor Jordan Daniel “J.D.” Hall is no longer listed as
pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Sidney, Montana and
has been removed from the staff of Protestia, a website
originally known as Pulpit&Pen. While the church has not
yet publicly acknowledged Hall’s departure, as of Sunday the
church’s leadership page can no longer be found. Also on
Sunday, Protestia issued a statement saying Hall had
resigned as pastor of Fellowship Baptist and is
“disqualified from pastoral ministry.” “Earlier this week,
the team at Protestia received allegations of serious sin
committed by our brother JD Hall,” the statement reads.
“After correspondence with leadership at Fellowship Baptist
Church, we learned that JD was determined by the church to
have disqualified himself from pastoral ministry, had
resigned from the pastorate, and submitted himself to a
process of church discipline. Due to JD’s removal from
pastoral ministry, we likewise have removed him from
ministry with Protestia.”
(808) The
Real Danger To America by Bill O’Reilly, 6/29/22
“There is no question that the Democrats are using guns and
abortion to advance party politics. Instead of respecting
citizens who believe that killing the unborn is wrong, Nancy
Pelosi and her acolytes demean and defame them.” Once again,
we’ve become the United States of Hysteria. The two Supreme
Court rulings last week will not affect society much (as I
will explain), but the outcry from the left-wing cadres is
instructive and very important for alert Americans to
understand.
(809) Pride
In Seattle – Warning, Graphic, Naked Men Flashing Children
by Mary Dowling – Independent Sentinel, 6/30/22 Sodom and Gomorrah. The perverted LGBTQIA+PRIDE parades
have turned into marches and performances of bizarre
exhibitionism at family ‘fun’ events. Little children are
forced to look on as they are sexualized by the radicals.
This is sheer decadence and a distortion of the family and
family fun events. What is PRIDE proud of, anyway?
Exhibitionism? Sexualizing young children? What?
(810) Russell
Moore’s ‘Justice’ Conference Featured Multiple
Pro-Abortion, Pro-Gay Speakers by The Dissenter,
7/1/22 Russell Moore, the former “ethicist” for the Southern
Baptist Convention who is practically anything but ethical,
will be featured in an upcoming conference in Chicago titled
“What Hath Justice to do With Righteousness?” The conference
was hosted by ERLC contributor and Progressive Baptist
Church, Chicago pastor, Charlie Dates and claims that it is
“bringing together preachers and practitioners (lawyers,
activists, writers) to help raise up a new generation to
lead the fight for justice rooted in righteousness.”
(811) Marvel
Introducing Gay Spider-Man With A ‘Fearlessly Femme
Identity’ by Protestia, 7/2/22 “It’s not surprising, as everything is gay now.” Marvel has
revealed upcoming plans for a “Fearlessly Femme” gay Spider-
Man, according to writer and editor Steve Fox helped,
writing on Twitter before he made his tweets protected.
“Surprise: I had the huge gay honour of helping to co-create
Web-Weaver, who’ll make his debut in Edge of the
Spider-verse this September!” “Something I realized
immediately when conceiving Web-Weaver is that he can’t –
and shouldn’t – represent ALL gay men,” Fox said. “No single
character can. His fearlessly femme identity is central to
who he is, but it’s not the STORY… Which you can experience
for yourself in September.”
(812) Survey:
More Than 750,000 Dead, 30 Million Injured Because Of
COVID Vax by Veronika Kyrylenko – The New
American, 7/3/22 The United States federal bodies responsible for the
nation’s healthcare policies keep turning a blind eye to the
devastating number of deaths and injuries associated with
experimental gene therapeutics against Covid, aka Covid
vaccines. All severe reactions to the shots are proclaimed
“rare.” Steve Kirsch, California tech entrepreneur and
founder of the Vaccine Safety Research Foundation (VSRF),
has estimated that the shots have left as many as five
million Americans unable to work, 30 million injured, and
more than 750,000 dead, as of June 24, 2022.
(813) Letter
to the Editor: Sad Day for Church in the UK—(Wesley’s)
Oldest Methodist Church in World Now Offering Same-Sex
Marriage at Lighthouse Trails, 7/9/22 Dear Lighthouse Trails: Some further sad news regarding the
Christian church in the U.K. This news is from the BBC today
(June 30th): “World’s oldest Methodist church to allow gay
marriage.” The article states: The world’s oldest Methodist
building will now offer same-sex marriage after voting
unanimously in favour. The New Room is a Chapel first
set up in 1739 by John Wesley in the city of Bristol. From
the 30th of June 2022, the chapel will be able to officiate
weddings for LGBTQ+ couples living in Bristol. After a vote
to allow same-sex marriages within the movement in 2019, the
decision was made at the Methodist Conference last year to
give local churches the option to conduct marriage
ceremonies in specific buildings. One of the saddest days in
the history of the so-called Christian Church in the UK
today! God bless. A.C.
(814) Long
COVID and periods: The unspoken impact on female
well-being by Maria Cohut, Ph.D.,
MedicalNewsToday, 7/16/22 Many people with long COVID — who keep experiencing
COVID-19 symptoms months after the disease should have
subsided — have been pointing out that it has also affected
their menstrual cycles. Medical News Today wanted to find
out more.
(815) Stunning
official Canadian data show vaccines now RAISE the risk of
death from Covid by Unreported Truths, 7/17/22 Vaccinated people are now more likely to be hospitalized or
die from Covid, even after adjusting for fact they're older
than the unvaccinated, according to official government
estimates from the Canadian province of Manitoba. In May,
the most recent month for which figures are available, only
9 percent of Covid deaths and 14 percent of hospital
admissions in Manitoba occurred among unvaccinated people,
even though they are 17 percent of the population. Manitoba,
which has about 1.4 million residents, also provides figures
that are adjusted for the fact that vaccinated and boosted
people tend to be older. Those show that in May, vaccinated
but unboosted people were about 50 percent more likely to be
hospitalized or die of Covid than unvaccinated people.
People who had received boosters had roughly the same risk
of hospitalization or death as the unvaccinated. ... That
means vaccinated people are more likely to die of Covid.
(816) DC’s
Iconic Lutheran Church Of The Reformation Hosts Drag Queen
Story Hour During Sunday Worship at CRN, 7/20/22 Drag Queen Story Hour has been a perversion plaguing public
libraries and schools around the nation for several years
but what about Drag Queen prayer time for children during
Sunday morning worship at church? In a recent spate of
pulpit perversion, churches have been inviting drag queens
to come in to address the children as parents willingly hand
their kids over to these perverts.
(817) Webster’s
Dictionary Re-Defines ‘Female’ To Include Men at
CRN, 7/21/22 “Sooner or later, something will have to give, and either
the entire world caves to the ever-growing side of the
irrational woke, or by the grace of God, a miracle would
have to turn things around and bring this world back to
sanity.” In an era of subjectivism and confusion unlike any
time in recorded history, one thing we’ve always been able
to rely on is the objectivity of language. Historically,
language has bound people groups together as they are able
to communicate effectively and understand the thoughts and
intentions of others through the words they speak. Sadly,
that is no longer the case as the woke crowd has been
fighting long and hard to destroy objective truth.
(819) Southern
Baptist Pastor Compares Abortion To Eschatology, Says
Southern Baptists Must Accept Different Views at
CRN, 7/24/22 “If the child, through no fault of his own, is not
conceived by consent of both parents or by incestual
consent, that child has no right to protection. That child
is less than human.” Abortion is the taking of innocent
unborn life. Abortion is cruel, intolerable, and for the
true, born-again believer who understands the value of life
given by God Himself, is a repulsive act of rebellion
against our Creator.
(820) Woke
Pastor Says There Are ‘Lesbian Angels’ Who ‘Consensually’
Flirt With Queer Christian Women by Protestia,
7/31/22 “She’s isn’t a nobody, even though it wouldn’t matter if
she were. Rather, she continues to rise in the ranks through
the ELCA.” The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA)
is a raging dumpster fire of blasphemy and perversion. Given
their love of everything Antichristic, it is no exaggeration
to say that sitting through an actual church service at one
of their pagan temples is a foretaste of the hell that
awaits them if they don’t repent. I mean, here are just a
few of their greatest hits.
(821) Gay
Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) Leader, Revoice Speaker,
Who Says Tim Keller Helped Him Shape His Views Brags About
Dancing At Gay Bars at CRN, 8/2/22 “It is certainly fair to blame Tim Keller for this.
Keller’s views are toxic and spiritually poisonous and have
only served to muddy the waters on cultural issues in the
Church. Keller’s views have never been grounded in the
authority of Scripture—it’s why he can deny the literal
Creation account.” In 2019, ... a Campus Crusade for Christ
(CRU) leader—who identifies as “LGBTQ”— was teaching
students that the Scriptures do not teach that homosexuality
is sinful. Quoting a lesbian TGC author, Rachel Gilson,
Grant Hartley tweeted the following: “There is no command in
scripture to be straight; there
is a command to be faithfully single or faithfully married,
and you can do either of those without being straight." -
@RachelGilson at #Cru19
(822) Portland
School District Indoctrinates Students To Become LGBTQ
Activists In K-5th Grade by John Rigolizzo – Daily
Wire, 8/3/22 Portland’s public school system is indoctrinating its
students to become queer activists as early as kindergarten
through 5th grade. Documents obtained by writer and activist
Christopher Rufo show that from as early as kindergarten,
students are taught the tenets of radical queer gender
theory. They are taught that ideas about human sexuality are
“colonized,” that white colonizers from Europe forced their
views on other people and cultures, and that current
discourse around sex and gender is still affected by
colonization.
(823) Desiring
God Author, Marvin Olasky, an author for John Piper’s
Desiring God ministry, Favorably Promotes Pro-Abortion
Activist Who Defends Legalizing Abortion at CRN,
8/5/22 “Another tweet from earlier this year…Olasky argued that
law on its own won’t stop abortion so we should instead
support Democrats and social justice.” From a Christian
perspective, there should be no argument that abortion is
murder, is always wrong, and the innocent should be afforded
the God-given right to protection against it by the civil
government. But it isn’t just Pagans that are now defending
abortion rights as the Supreme Court overturns
Roe—professing Christians are coming out of the woodwork in
droves. In fact, even though we understand the decision will
have little effect nationwide, at least for now, on the
number of abortions performed, arguably one of its greatest
effects is to expose those “Christian” leaders who have
marketed themselves as “pro-life” and “conservative” as
frauds.
(824) Tim
Keller Says The Gospel Alone Isn’t Enough To Convince
People To Turn To Christ, Social Justice Must Accompany
by The Dissenter, 8/10/22 “The purpose of the parable of the Good Samaritan was to
demonstrate that nobody can be saved by the works of the law
and was not a prescription for social justice.” Tim Keller
has proven himself to be a master manipulator of the
Scriptures—so much so that some of the best and most
well-intentioned pastors of our day have bought into some of
the falsehoods he teaches. Keller is a perfect example of
those Jude spoke of creeping into the church unnoticed and
perverting the Scriptures (Jude 1:4).
(825) Convention
For ‘Christian Dragqueens’ Gets New Speakers by
Protestia, 8/11/22 “The event is being put on by Bonnie Violet, a queer
chaplain whose wild bio you can see below, and our favorite
drag clown, whose sermon we recently featured.” In what is
likely a world’s first, a group of progressive Christians
(In reality, a collective of pagans and self-deceived
God-haters) who announced they were putting on ‘Spiritual
DragCon 2022‘ in the fall have added several speakers to the
line-up.
(826) Department
of Justice to investigate Southern Baptist sexual abuse
by Religion News Service, 8/15/22 (RNS) — Federal officials have begun an investigation into
sexual abuse in the nation’s largest Protestant
denomination, Southern Baptist Convention officials
announced Friday. A spokesman for the SBC Executive
Committee’s lawyers said that the committee “has received a
subpoena. No individuals have been subpoenaed at this
point.” Southern Baptist leaders pledged to cooperate fully
with investigators, who will be looking into several SBC
entities, according to a statement released by the SBC
Friday (Aug. 12).
(827) Robert
Jeffress Invites Trinity-Denying Heretic To Lead Sunday
Worship by The Dissenter, 8/18/22 “Oneness Pentecostalism is a branch of the Pentecostal
movement that denies the Trinity. It is a heretical movement
that teaches that God reveals, or manifests, himself in
three ways at different times, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
but rejects the belief in three separate and distinct
concurrent persons of the Godhead.” There have been times
when I’ve appreciated some of the stances that Southern
Baptist megachurch pastor, Robert Jeffress has taken,
particularly when it comes to culture and morality.
(828) Pedophiles
Are Proliferating In Our Schools by Larry Sand –
Frontpage Mag, 8/25/22 “Eric Burgess, a high school English teacher in Rosemead,
CA was found to have repeatedly groomed students for sex,
and had sexual relationships with female students over a
20-year period. Infuriatingly, he was allowed to resign
without admitting to any wrongdoing and continued to receive
his salary for another six months.” In the social hierarchy
of prison inmates, mob bosses, bank robbers, and cop killers
tend to get respect. But “short eyes,” those convicts who
have committed crimes against children, especially sexual
abuse, are hated, harassed, and abused. In schools, however,
this group of detestable perverts rates a “meh.”
(829) Mennonites
Go Gay, Pass Resolution Allowing LGBTQ Weddings And
‘Repents’ For Excluding LGBTQ People at CRN,
8/26/22 “The pastor of Portland (Oregon) Mennonite Church and
representing the “Inclusive Mennonite Pastors” said, “This
resolution is not punitive. It does not punish pastors,
members or congregations who refuse full participation of
queer people in their churches." Similar to the Amish, the
Mennonite Church was formed out of the Anabaptist movement
and, like the Amish, in many ways has become synonymous with
a simple lifestyle apart from modern luxuries.
(830) Southern
Baptist Leaders Join Leftists Signing Pro-Vax Statement
Calling Francis Collins A Faith Healing Minister
at CRN, 8/27/22 “It’s already come to light in recent months that these
vaccines are useless and have ultimately caused more harm
than good. Evidence is mounting that these vaccines are the
cause of unforeseen illnesses, heart issues, and other
serious medical problems including autoimmune disorders.
Yet, the people who signed this statement want us to believe
that it is a miracle of science, and that Francis Collins is
the number one Apostle.” Biologos, the pro-evolution
“science” wing of professing Christendom of which Tim Keller
has been a major contributor over the years, has released a
pro-vaccine statement with over 8 thousand signatures which
include original signers like Southeastern Baptist Seminary
professor, Ken Heathley. Other signers include Evangelical
leftists like Veggie Tales creator, Phil Vischer and also
David French, Philip Yancey, N.T. Wright, and National
Association of Evangelicals director, Walter Kim.
(831) How
Doug Wilson And Co. Are Wailin’ On The Culture War
at CRN, 8/29/22 There is a growing concern over The Federal Vision (FV)
again in North American Reformed Churches, here is why and
here’s how to stop it: Very few (at least initially) are
attracted to its theological positions. Most people aren’t
interested in Baptismal Regeneration, Padeocommunion, and a
questionable view of Justification. They aren’t being drawn
by the Romanizing Tendency of FV. It’s something else. The
major draw is what they are saying in the areas of gender
roles, politics, culture, and issues within the church. Doug
Wilson is addressing these issues at a rapid pace. He
responds to issues in real time.
(832) How
Matt Chandler’s Elders Violated Scripture at CRN,
9/2/22 The announcement that Matt Chandler would be taking a leave
of absence following allegedly inappropriate DMs came with
little information opening the door to much speculation as
to whether or not The Village Church is covering up a deep
sin or whether Matt Chandler even sinned at all. However,
what is far more clear is that the elders at Village Church
were derelict in their duty, and that is while we still do
not know whether they are covering up sin or adding to the
law of God. And while this is to be mildly expected from a
church helmed by a wolf, the precedent that this is
expanding upon is quite detrimental to the church.
(833) David
Platt’s Church Holds Class With Book Written By
Pro-Abortion Obama Staffer by The Dissenter,
9/4/22 McLean Bible Church will be offering a class based on this
book which Platt’s church says will help them “understand
civic and cultural engagement as a way to obey Christ’s call
to love our neighbor, but to do so with both love and
trust-compassion and conviction.” A prominent Obama campaign
staffer tied to Russell Moore, the ERLC, and The Gospel
Coalition, has proposed a federal law legalizing abortion up
to 15 weeks. Who is Michael Wear?
(834) Checkbooks,
Bank Cards And Bank Statements Reveal Pastor Priorities:
Pastor James Macdonald And The Ethics Of Gift Giving
by Barry Bowen – Trinity Foundation, 9/5/22 “It has been said, ‘Show me a person’s checkbook and I can
tell you what he cares about.’” – Social Action, 1964 James
MacDonald, the controversial former pastor of Harvest Bible
Chapel (HBC), is attempting to restore his
reputation. In July, MacDonald posted on his
website copies of checks as proof that he reimbursed (HBC)
for personal expenses incurred during his time as pastor.
One reimbursement check, dated December 28, 2018, was for
$27,172.39!
(835) Barna
Survey: Only 4% Of Executive Pastors Have Biblical
Worldview + Why This Is at CRN, 9/7/22 In a new nationwide survey released by George Barna for the
Arizona Christian University, it’s revealed the majority of
Christian pastors do not have a biblical worldview, with the
Executive Pastor having the lowest that is on par with the
culture at large. Barna defines “biblical worldview” as
believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is
totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan
is considered to be a real being or force, not merely
symbolic; a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by
trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a
sinless life on earth; and God is the all-knowing,
all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the
universe today.
(836) “Mennonites
Pass Resolution Repenting of Excluding Homosexuals”
by Way Of Life News, 9/8/22 At their annual assembly this summer, the Mennonite Church
USA passed two resolutions on the issue of accepting
unrepentant homosexuals as members. The “Resolution for
Repentance and Transformation,” repenting of harm done to
LGBTQ people and calling for broader inclusion, passed by a
majority of 55.7% (“MC USA Delegate Assembly widens the
circle for LGBTQ people,” Mennoniteusa.org, June 1, 2022).
An “organization resolution” updated the membership
guidelines so that pastors are no longer prohibited from
performing “same-sex covenant ceremonies.” That one passed
by a majority of 82.8%.
(837) Check
Out This Rank Heresy Study Bible That Lifeway Is Releasing
at CRN, 9/10/22 “The work by Henry Blackaby known as “Experiencing God” was
a gateway to the modern “God told me” language that is so
common within our evangelical culture today. We must be
honest, that method of discerning the will of God assaults
the sufficiency of Scripture and it has a charismatic
foundation.” LifeWay, the publishing arm of the Southern
Baptist Convention, is no stranger to compromise, false
teachings, and even rank heresy over the years. After all,
they’ve sold materials ranking from “gay Christianity”
proponents like Matthew Vines to anti-Trinitarian heretics
like T.D. Jakes and have published materials from the likes
of experiential hyper-charismatics like Priscilla Shirer.
(838) What
We Are Witnessing Is Sodom And Gomorrah On A Worldwide
Scale at CRN, 9/15/22 “Sexual immorality was the last and final, and clearly the
most egregious form of rebellion against God, that served
not only as the catalyst to God’s judgment but as part of
the judgment itself. To summarize the judgment presented in
Romans 1, rebellion against God begins to manifest in
seemingly insignificant ways, namely, the refusal to honor
and acknowledge Him.” In Genesis 19, God sent two angels to
the city of Sodom where they were greeted by Lot and urged
to take shelter at his home rather than in the midst of the
city. The two angels, who were sent in the form of men,
decided to stay with Lot. Later that evening, the militant
LGBTQ community of Sodom surrounded Lot’s home and held a
Pride festival, demanding that Lot and his household not
only tolerate them but celebrate and participate in their
movement.
(839) Disney
And NBC Team Up To Promote Pro-Abortion Films by
Micaiah Bilger – LifeNews, 9/18/22 “Stacy Smith, founder of the AII, said the overturning of
Roe v. Wade prompted them to create the new grant.”
Walt Disney World, a company founded to bring joy and
entertainment to children, now openly supports the killing
unborn children in abortions. Townhall reports Disney, NBC
Universal, Google and other companies have partnered with
the University of Southern California Annenberg Inclusion
Initiative (AII) to encourage college students to create
films promoting abortions.
(840) The
Decline Of Christianity In The U.S. by Thomas
Gallatin – The Patriot Post, 9/20/22 “How many of these “Christians” were nominally so because
of their cultural upbringing? If they grew into early
adulthood and left the faith, did they ever really believe
in the first place? Are we simply witnessing the ripples of
a rock that sank long ago?” A recent Pew Research Center
study estimates based on various scenarios that Christians
in America will become a minority in the next two to five
decades. Since the 1990s, the study notes, the number of
Americans leaving Christianity has been accelerating, as the
number of those identifying as nonreligious or “nones” has
ballooned over the last couple decades.
(841) Ligonier
Survey Demonstrates Most Evangelicals Are Heretics That
Hold To Damnable False Beliefs by Ligonier,
9/23/22 “We’re not talking about the mainstream apostate Protestant
denominations, we’re talking about Evangelicals who are
supposed to believe that the Bible is true, inerrant, and
authoritative in all matters.” There is a difference between
holding loosely to beliefs where Scripture is not clear and
holding to demonstrably false beliefs where the Bible is
abundantly clear. When one denies the clear biblical
teaching of Scripture, it becomes an issue of rebellion
against God and His word placing one in serious danger of
God’s judgment.
(842) Disgraced
And Defiant Pastor Tullian Tchividjian Headlining Men’s
Conference by Protestia, 10/15/22 “Without any sign of observable repentance, Tchividjian
waited a few years, then jumped back in the pulpit and
planted a new church, keeping busy by turning his ministry
disqualifications into a cottage industry. Attacking the
Christian church as “elitists” and “judgmental,” the fallen
minister capitalized on ungodliness to attract unsanctified
followers.” Disgraced pastor Tullian Tchividjian will be the
keynote speaker at the Man Up conference this weekend,
demonstrating what it looks like when undiscerning, naïve,
and foolish-minded churches are willing to set aside all
Biblical standards in order to host an evangelical
celebrity, damaged as he may be.
(843) Breaking:
Org Promoting Woke Jesus Gave $700k To ERLC by
Capstone Report, 10/16/22 The Woke organization behind the misguided $100 million He
Gets Us Campaign gave over $700,000 to SBC entities
including a $701,000 grant the entity formerly led by
Russell Moore, according to federal tax records filed by the
organization The Servant Foundation and doing business as
The Signatry. The tax documents for 2020 show a $701,000
grant to the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the
Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and another $7,000 grant
to the North American Mission Board (NAMB).
(844) Another
Satanic Drag Show Troupe Actively Recruiting Kids
by Mary Dowling – Independent Sentinel, 10/23/22 One of the videos in this piece is disturbing to watch.
Nonetheless, this sort of twisted behavior is going on right
under our noses, even in conservative communities and
churches, as you will see. The drag queen “trend” is rapidly
spreading throughout this country. Let me be clear that what
is going on is without a doubt satanic. If parents and
grandparents don’t put a stop to the sexualizing/grooming of
children NOW, this sort of moral depravity will get way
worse. Here’s Mary’s story: A bar in Eugene, Oregon, is
hosting a drag show featuring an 11-year-old child who
regularly dances, performs, and solicits cash tips from
adults. The venue also holds “bondage,” “fetish,” and
“voyeur” nights, inviting adults to explore “the darkest
parts of dreams.”
(845) Non-binary
Student Numbers “Soar,” Up Nearly 600% by Ken Ham,
10/25/22 This is truly horrifying. The largest public school system
in Maryland recently had their students—from elementary
through high school—fill out a form “designed to understand
and support a student’s gender identity” (423 forms have
been submitted in four years). It asks students for their
“‘identified name,’ ‘identified gender’ and their preferred
pronouns.” And the results are shocking. In 2019, this form
found just 35 students throughout the whole system who
identified as “non-binary” (identifying as something outside
the male-female “binary”). The same form in 2021 (the
results were just made public) found . . .
are you ready for this? 239 students identify as non-binary.
239!!! That’s a jaw-dropping 582% increase in just two
years! The majority (129) of these “non-binary” students are
middle schoolers—children aged 11–14—identifying as neither
male nor female. A few (18) were elementary-aged and the
rest (92) were in high school. This confusion and rejection
of God’s created order of male and female is not biological,
it’s the direct result of public schools and the media
grooming children for gender confusion from the time they
are very young. Introducing the idea of pronouns, the gender
spectrum, and transgender ideology to very young children is
confusing them and sending the numbers skyrocketing.
(846) Mark
Driscoll Claims Mars Hills Elders Tried To Oust Him From
Church Using False Allegations Of Adultery by
Protestia, 10/27/22 During his recent Sunday sermon, ‘pastor’ Mark Driscoll
released a bombshell, claiming that the reason he resigned
from the pastorate at Mars Hill after previously saying he
wasn’t going anywhere and would submit to a period of church
discipline, is that the Holy Spirit revealed to him a secret
plot by the church elders to get him to step down by falsely
accusing him of adultery, freeing him to leave. Driscoll’s
Mars Hill Ministry imploded in 2014 after his elders accused
him of being arrogant, crude, bullying, harsh, and
overbearing…. Rather than stay and submit to the ignominy of
church discipline, Mark took his ball and went home,
resigning and starting a new church in Arizona (the
1000-member Trinity Church) that notably does not have
elders who can reign him in and keep him in check.
(847) 80%
of Teenagers Expect To Cohabitate by Ken Ham,
10/28/22 We certainly do live in a very secularized culture. The
once-Christianized veneer (the Judeo-Christian ethic based
on biblical morality) has worn off, and secularism and moral
relativism have taken its place. And study after study just
continues to confirm how secular this nation really has
become. For example, according to a new study, nearly
80%—almost 8 in 10—of US teenagers (15–19 years old) “expect
to cohabit before marriage.” The vast majority of teenagers
today expect that, sometime after high school, they’ll move
in with a “romantic partner.” That may sound benign to some,
but the Bible says that’s fornication, a sexual sin that
flies in the face of God’s “very good” design for marriage
and sexuality ...
(848) Neopagans,
Satanists, Witches, And New Agers by Emmy Griffin
– The Patriot Post, 11/2/22 The rise in the occult as a religion has infused leftist
ideology, and it’s growing at the expense of Christianity.
As children, we were told that witches weren’t real; they
were merely the villains in many a fairytale and easily
defeated by the good, kind, and true heroes of the stories.
As we grew, we learned there were in fact people out there
who claimed to be witches, but they weren’t all that bad.
Now, as adults, we see the plethora of occult paraphernalia
that has flooded the marketplace of ideas and commerce.
Neopaganism and New Age are trying to supplant Christianity
in America.
(849) Warning:
A Popular Social Media Platform Is ‘Drawing Young People
Into The Occult’ by George Upper – The Western
Journal, 11/4/22 “The extent of the problem is ginormous, as some of those
young people might say. As of this month, the #WitchTok
hashtag had engendered over 33 billion views among TikTok’s
global user base. That’s over four views for every person on
earth — and I’m not even on TikTok, so someone out there is
doubling up.” What are your kids or grandkids watching on
TikTok? You might want to find out. According to a report
yesterday from Newsweek — attempting to capitalize on the
Halloween weekend, no doubt — the popular short-form video
hosting service TikTok “is drawing young people into the
occult.”
(850) New
Poll Will Frighten You About The Future Of America
by Stacy Lennox – PJ Media, 11/7/22 “There are objective truths about all of these issues.
Hillary Clinton’s campaign paid for the Steele dossier and
shopped it to law enforcement agencies. The nation and
Trump’s presidency were held hostage by low-quality
opposition research. Investigating it cost Americans around
$40 million. COVID-19 was never dangerous for children, and
the vaccines carry real risks, especially for men under 40.
It is also most likely that the virus emerged from a lab in
Wuhan, China, not a vat of bat soup.” A new poll from
Summit.org, in partnership with McLaughlin & Associates,
shows that an increasing number of Americans do not believe
absolute truth exists. All the talk about “my truth” and
“her truth” has had a measurable effect. Instead of people
viewing those phrases as a way to describe an opinion or a
perspective, younger Americans believe truth can vary from
person to person.
(851) Study:
Gen Z Is Less “Open-Minded and More Intolerant” Than
Previous Generations by Ken Ham, 11/9/22 Western culture generally prides itself on being
open-minded and tolerant of everyone and everything—but do
they live up to their own ideals? Not according to a new
study out of Great Britain. This study found that Gen Z
(today’s 13–24-year-olds) “is less open-minded and more
intolerant than older generations.” According to the report,
“[a] quarter of Gen Z say they ‘have very little tolerance
for people with beliefs that they disagree with.’ They don’t
believe in unrestrained free speech, with nearly half
agreeing that ‘some people deserve to be canceled.’”
(852) California
megachurch leader, grandparents charged with murder,
torture in death of 11-year-old daughterby
Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 11/11/22 A California megachurch leader and her parents have been
arrested on charges including murder and torture in the
death of the woman's 11-year-old daughter. Leticia
McCormack, a leader at Rock Church in San Diego, founded and
led by former NFL player Miles McPherson, was booked in jail
Monday on a charge of murder, three counts of torture, and
three counts of willful cruelty to a child in the death of
Arabella McCormack, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office
reported. On Thursday, McCormack's leadership profile had
been removed from the megachurch's website.
(853) Canadian
Doctors Support Euthanasia for Newborns by Ken
Ham, 11/11/22 Should “severely disabled” newborns be killed by doctors? A
group of physicians in Canada thinks so. A doctor
representing the Quebec College of Physicians recommended to
a special committee that the parents of babies born with
“severe deformations” and “very grave . . . medical
syndromes” should have the option of Medical Assistance in
Dying (MAID) for their babies. In Canada, abortion is legal
for any reason up until birth and is paid for by public
health care (taxpayer dollars), so this recommendation to
allow parents to request the death of their newborn is
hardly surprising. But why only “severely disabled”
children? (And who defines “severely”?) In their wicked
worldview, a child can be murdered (and that’s what it
is—murder) up until birth for any reason, so why can’t a
newborn likewise be killed for any reason? After all, the
only difference between a newborn and a full-term baby is
that one baby has passed through the birth canal and the
other hasn’t! Why should that be the difference between life
and death? Of course, in a biblical worldview, we can say
both the killing of unborn children and of those who have
been born is absolutely evil.
(854) Blasphemy:
Holy Spirit Ouija Board Lets You ‘Communicate Directly
With Jesus Christ’ by The Dissenter, 11/12/22 I don’t know if this qualifies as the unforgivable
blasphemy of the Holy Spirit that Jesus spoke of in Matthew
12:31, but it sure seems close. A company called Holy Spirit
Games has released a new Ouija Board-like game called the
Holy Spirit Board which claims it will let you communicate
directly with Jesus Christ. According to the product
description on Amazon, “The Holy Spirit Board is the only
spirit board designed to directly contact our lord and
savior Jesus Christ!
Recently a saying has been showing up in
ads on TV and popular songs. This saying is disturbing
because it highlights an attitude that seems to be taking over
the hearts and minds of the youth today.
(856) Report:
Former Ravi Zacharias International Ministries Leaders Are
‘Disqualified’ For Unrepentant Abuse And Deceit by
Debbie Licona, 11/15/22 “Our determination is that Michael Ramsden, Sarah (Davis)
Phillips, and Abdu Murray have not displayed a godly sorrow
nor demonstrated the fruit consistent with repentance for
their actions. They have acknowledged that “mistakes were
made” but have not specifically owned their actions or
expressed remorse to those they hurt. Nor have they repaired
the damage they have caused.” On December 22, 2020, Miller
& Martin PLLC released an interim report on its
“independent investigation into allegations of sexual
harassment raised against Ravi Zacharias.”[2] The interim
report “found significant, credible evidence that Mr.
Zacharias engaged in sexual misconduct over the course of
many years.” This abuse was consistent with that which was
reported in the past and in the news. More serious abuse was
also uncovered.
(857) Watch
These Climate Cultists Smash Stone Tablets Atop Mt. Sinai
As Part Of Their ‘Climate Repentance’ by Not the
Bee, 11/16/22
In a not-so-subtle slight to Judeo-Christian beliefs,
environmental activists smashed stone tablets atop Jebel
Musa in Egypt, the mountain many believe to be Mount Sinai
where Moses received the ten commandments written by the
hand of God on stone tablets. Watch
the video on the site. Singing Leonard Cohen’s
“Hallelujah” while they smash the tablets feels way too
similar to the “this is the god that brought you out Egypt”
moment in Exodus. Yikes!
(858)“God
Created Adam and Eve”—a Hate Crime? by Ken Ham,
11/18/22
Genesis 1:27 is very straightforward: “So God created man in
his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and
female he created them.” Unlike the gender confusion of our
day, God’s design is clear. But is saying such a thing
“transphobic” or a “hate crime”? Well, one former athlete in
Greece, Vassilis Tsiartas, recently “received a [10-month
suspended] jail sentence and a fine” for two 2017 social
media posts that cited, among other things, God’s design of
“Adam and Eve” in response to proposed legislation. He was
then sued by the Transgender Support Association, who
believe that his sentencing is “particularly important for
the transgender community.” This Greek court has ruled that
free speech does not apply to Tsiartas’ beliefs based on the
Bible (and this is certainly not the first time this has
happened). Instead, those who promote body mutilating
surgeries, sterilizing hormones, and radical ideology to
children and young adults are free to say whatever they
want. But those who believe God’s Word, and the simple truth
that we’re created male and female, are vilified and
punished. It’s an upside-down world today where truth is
error and error is truth! But this should not surprise us in
a world that rejects God and his Word. This is a spiritual
issue. Sadly, this kind of persecution of Christians is only
going to continue. Again, that’s not surprising—Jesus said
the world would hate us because it hated him first (John
15:18)! But truth matters, and error has consequences! For
the sake of men and women, girls and boys, all made in God’s
image (Genesis 1:27), we must stand for truth and reject the
lies of the world, pointing people to the hope of the
gospel, not the irreparable damage of surgery and hormones.
Jesus is the answer everyone needs!
(859) Is
Netflix Going To Make Chronicles Of Narnia Woke?
by Ray Fava – Evangelical Dark Web, 12/1/22
With the recent fallout from the horrendous Amazon Prime
Lord of the Rings series, The Rings of Power, the
thematically not far off Chronicles of Narnia adaptations
may be the next franchise to be destroyed by Hollywood’s
liberal agenda and incompetence. Netflix is not known for
longevity of series quality. Many of their shows have some
sort of “third date rule” whereby the third episode or
season of a show will offload a bunch of homosexual
propaganda.
(860) The
Gospel Coalition Uses The Book Of Ruth To Defend Same-Sex
Civil Unions by The Dissenter, 12/5/22
“In the example of Ruth and Naomi how is that relationship
enhanced or harmed by any external civil policy whatsoever?
The idea of such a thing is smuggled into the conversation
in an attempt to lend credence to its thesis. There’s no way
anybody would ever find that there without this cultural
corruption as a backdrop for doing so.” In a recent article
at The Gospel Coalition, Joe Carter, a co-pastor at David
Platt’s McLean Bible Church and a former employee of the
Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty
Commission attempts to argue from the Book of Ruth in favor
of same-sex civil unions.
(861) Top
10 Ways America Is Being Groomed to Normalize Pedophilia
by Linda Harvey, 12/8/22
Respectable pedophilia. Are you ready for this? I’m not and
I will be screaming against it until the last breath. But
it’s coming unless a massive parent brigade shows up in both
schools and in another venue that must be deployed to
overcome this depravity: churches. The truth of God,
proclaimed by His saints and confirmed in the power, blood
and resurrection of Jesus Christ, fueled by the conviction
of the Holy Spirit can prevail over the tragedy of child
corruption. We can do this. But first we must face how we
are all being groomed, as child sexuality is being packaged
and sold to America, even as the latest fashion trend (e.g.,
Balenciaga). We must refuse to be enablers and then take
steps to end this diabolical trend. Here are the top 10 ways
that child sexualization is being normalized in America.
(862) Retired
Navy Seal Made Famous After Coming Out As Trans Announces
Detransition: ‘Destroyed My Life’ by Emma Colton,
Fox News, 12/12/22
A retired Navy SEAL who became famous nearly 10 years ago
after coming out as transgender announced he is
detransitioning and called on Americans to “wake up” about
how transgender health services are hurting children.
“Everything you see on CNN with my face, do not even believe
a word of it,” Chris Beck, formerly known as Kristin Beck,
told conservative influencer Robby Starbuck in an interview
published earlier this month. “Everything that happened to
me for the last 10 years destroyed my life. I destroyed my
life. I’m not a victim. I did this to myself, but I had
help.”
(863) Drag
Queens Performing In Kindergarten Classes? This Is Getting
Really Ugly by The Dissenter, 12/13/22
“It’s time for parents and concerned community members to
take a stand and say enough is enough. We must protect our
children from these deviant circus clowns and the
inappropriate and damaging messages they are spreading.
Let’s put a stop to these grotesque performances once and
for all.” It’s absolutely disgusting and completely
unacceptable that men wearing dresses are being allowed to
perform for Kindergartners. Just the thought of grown men
prancing around in garish, over-the-top outfits, sporting
heavy makeup and fake breasts, while young children watch,
is enough to make anyone’s stomach turn.
(864) 3
Horrifying Examples of the War on the Family by
Ken Ham, 12/16/22
We’re in a war. It’s a spiritual war, and the attack is on
the institutions God ordained: marriage and the family. But
it’s even more insidious than that. The assault on marriage
and family is because our enemy, Satan, wants to destroy all
those who bear the image of God and the best way to
accomplish this is to undermine marriage and family. Destroy
marriage and the family, and you’ll destroy society. Destroy
society, and humans no longer flourish and more people die.
(865) Amy
Grant Plans To Host A Gay Wedding by Ray Fava –
Evangelical Dark Web, 12/18/22
Amy Grant is the queen of contemporary Christian music
and known for hits like “Baby Baby,” “Breath of Heaven,” and
“Find A Way.” She is also known for being one of many CCM
artists who is seriously compromised Spiritually. Her
position on the issue of homosexuality and transgenderism
has been well documented as not biblical, but recently she
dialed this up to eleven. Earlier this week, Amy Grant was
receiving honors from the Kennedy Center who declared her
the queen of Christian music in an award ceremony.
(866) Mistakes,
Misconceptions And Misuse Of The Christmas Story That
Misrepresent The Magnitude Of Its Message by Don
Boys, 12/19/22
“Parents must not fall into the quicksand of modern
celebration by succumbing to the Santa Claus myth which
distorts the truth of Christ’s birth by subtly blending
truth with the myth of Santa Claus. Parents must never lie
to their children about Santa Claus, making him similar to
Christ who knows when you’ve been good or bad.” A Man was
born and lived in the Middle East many centuries ago who has
vastly influenced my life. I cannot look at a sunset, watch
hummingbirds hover at my kitchen window, observe the
intricacies of a rose, or hear the lisping of a child
singing, “Jesus Loves me this I know,” without thinking of
that Man and His lasting impact upon the world.
(867) SBC
Megachurch Worship Service Features Willy Wonka, Flying
Santa, Lyrics About Vodka, And No Jesus Christ by
The Dissenter, 12/20/22
As many times as we’ve written about this circus in South
Florida that calls itself a church for its lavish displays
of secular paganism, nothing should surprise us anymore. But
the fact that this entertainment venue continues to
associate with the Southern Baptist Convention and the
Southern Baptist Convention continues to fellowship with
them, it’s worth pointing out that they are continuing to
decline into absolute apostasy.
(868) The
Light Of Christ In A World Of Darkness by Alistair
Begg, 12/26/22
In his 1939 Christmas broadcast to the British nation, King
George VI read from a poem by Minnie Louise Haskins: I said
to the man who stood at the gate of the year, “Give me a
light that I may tread safely into the unknown.” And he
replied: “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into
the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and
safer than a known way.” While those words were obviously
meaningful to George VI and his subjects amid an escalating
war with Germany, they still find an echo in the hearts and
minds of men and women today. We live in a time of great
uncertainty and anxiety. Whether the context is geopolitics,
the national economy, clashing worldviews, or even our own
family lives, people today are treading into the darkness,
looking for some light that will show them the way.
(869) Oh
Joy! Church Rewrites Classic Christmas Carol To Promote
Leftist Queer Political Agenda by The Dissenter,
12/29/22
All Saints with Holy Trinity in Loughborough really pulled
out all the stops this year with their inclusive and
oh-so-woke revision of the classic Christmas carol “God Rest
Ye Merry, Gentlemen”. Instead of mentioning Jesus as the
savior of sinners, the updated lyrics now reference “queer
and questioning” individuals and “women, who by men have
been erasing”. Because nothing says “Merry Christmas” quite
like completely removing the central themes of the holiday
and replacing them with modern political buzzwords.
(870) WEF’s
Metaverse To Help Establish Global Governance And
Surveillance by Mary Dowling – Independent
Sentinel, 12/30/22
“These people are de-growthers and de-populationaists. We
will all go back to a time without modern conveniences, but
we can turn on our devices to live in a far better,
recreated virtual world resembling the real world – the
Metaverse.” The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Davos
conference 2023 will unveil a new enterprise, “Building the
Metaverse Initiative.” They’ll release key studies and
details. It looks like a worldwide surveillance project.
(871) American
Girl Doll Pushes Gender Transition To 3-12-Year-Olds
by Mary Dowling – Independent Sentinel, 1/1/23
Parents are outraged, calling it the “new Pornography” and
part of an “evil agenda.” Another parent said the gender
ideology has become increasingly “predatory.” American Girl
doll by Mattel has published a guide that advises girls as
young as three to transition their gender. It also promotes
puberty blockers. Screenshots shared by the DailyMail and
parents on Facebook reveal that there is more to this guide
than advertised.
(872) SBTS
Dean, Hershael York, Reveals Unbiblical *Nuanced* Mindset
Behind Restoring Adulterous Pastors by Paul Brown,
1/5/23
“At this point in the argument, York decides to throw his
theological truck into a four-wheel drive and vault headlong
into the ditch of eisegesis, giving his own opinion on the
matter without any regard for what the scripture
definitively and directly says about the issue….” The recent
restoration of Pastor Johnny Hunt by a group of four pastors
after a brief six-month hiatus from ministry has reignited
discussions amongst evangelicals in regard to the issue of
pastoral disqualification, including questions about what
sins would disqualify a pastor from ministry and the
question of whether a pastor who is removed from the
pastorate for the sin of adultery should ever be restored to
the pulpit.
(873) Mark
Driscoll Releases e-Book On Sex That Describes In Graphic
Detail Various Sex Acts by The Dissenter, 1/7/23
This is for real. The man has no shame. No sense of decency.
Rom 16:17-18 certainly applies to “pastor” Driscoll. Mark
Driscoll was once a prominent figure in the religious
community, known for his edgy, aggressive sermons and
punk-inspired worship services. However, his penchant for
inappropriate language and disturbing behavior ultimately
led to his downfall. In 2014, Driscoll was embroiled in a
scandal involving emotional and spiritual abuse of his
followers, plagiarism, and financial misconduct. These
heinous actions caused his empire to crumble, and he was
forced to face the consequences of his actions.
(874) “Social
Media’s Antisemitic Underbelly” by Chris
Katulka-Israel My Glory, 1/11/23
witter and Instagram recently locked rapper Kanye West out
of his accounts after he posted, “I’m a bit sleepy tonight
but when I wake up I’m going full death [sic] con 3 on
JEWISH PEOPLE.” West is a social media influencer with more
than 49 million followers between the two social media
platforms. What he says, sells, and shares reaches a global
audience in seconds. His antisemitic post followed an
interview with Fox News’s Tucker Carlson in which the rapper
claimed Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump’s
Jewish son-in-law, arranged the peace agreements between
Israel and the Arab nations “to make money.” In a separate
interview, West claimed Kushner “is an example of how the
Jewish people have their hand on every single business that
controls the world.” Besides being untrue, his statement is
a textbook antisemitic trope that singles out the entire
Jewish race for the world’s problems. His words follow a
disturbingly familiar pattern: When there is no one left to
blame, you can always point the finger at the Jewish people.
(875) PCUSA
Supplied Children To Homosexual Pedophile Ring by
Ray Fava – Evangelical Dark Web 1/22/23
“…the apostate church has blood on their hands for supplying
children to this house of horrors. And this all stems from
their promotion of homosexuality, in direct contrast with
God’s word.” Last summer a story of a pair of homosexuals
molesting the children they adopted made headlines, only to
be forgotten. This past week, Townhall’s Mia Cathell has
unveiled a series of reports that have opened this story to
the wider scrutiny it deserved. Was the tragic horror story
of two homosexual molesting children they were allowed to
adopt the natural result of Obergefell? The Zulocks are
certainly evidence attributable to this conclusion.
(876) Matt
Chandler To Join Revoice ‘Gay Christianity’ Founder For
Conference by The Dissenter, 1/27/23
“America has completely embraced a revolutionary sexual
ethic that far surpasses even the worst descriptions of
sexual anarchy in the Bible. Yet, every time I think
humanity couldn’t sink any deeper into the muck and mire of
its own depravity, I’m reminded that godlessness has no
bottom.” Preston Sprinkle, one of the founders of Revoice,
the “gay Christian” movement within Evangelical churches,
has been instrumental in shifting the church’s doctrinal
stance on homosexuality and other aberrant sexualities. It
is through Sprinkle’s extensive relationships with
mainstream Evangelicals such as James Merritt, Matt
Chandler, and even names like Beth Moore, that he has been
able to popularize what was once denounced as forbidden
fruit by Evangelicals.
(877) “U.S.
Is ‘Most Permissive Country’ When It Comes to Transgender
Treatments, Study Shows” by Milton Quintanilla -
Christian Headlines, 1/30/23
According to a new study, the United States displays further
tolerance for transgender treatments than Europe. The group
Do No Harm, which published the study, found that “the
United States is the most permissive country when it comes
to the legal and medical gender transition of children.”
During an interview with Fox News, Dr. William Malone, a
board-certified endocrinologist, said that doctors who find
the procedures risky fear scrutiny from politicians and
reputable medical associations. “We are dealing with what
may be the biggest medical and ethical scandal of modern
times,” he told Fox News Digital. “Transgender medicine is
big business, and youth who are transitioning today will be
medical patients for life – for the next 60-plus years.
(878) ‘He
Gets Us’ Campaign Organizers To Spend $1 Billion Promoting
Woke Jesus+ $20mil At Superbowl by Protestia,
2/3/23
“Their campaign was woke, focusing on how Jesus was a
marginalized immigrant refugee who was bullied for his
empathy.” Last year an anonymous group of wealthy donors
launched a 100 million dollar campaign for Jesus- the
largest of its kind- with the “He Gets Us” thesis being
plastered across TV and social media, aimed to attract
cultural Christians and pagans to consider the man Jesus,
and the way he relates to humankind.
(879) Satan
goes prime time - Giving the devil his due! by
Mike Oppenheimer, 2/8/23
The Grammies are awarded by the National Academy of
Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States, their
intention is to recognize outstanding achievements in the
music industry. Of course with the current trends in culture
we would expect transgenderism and gay to be front and
center in this current intolerance of the natural order of
creation. The 2023 Grammy awards this Pop star singer who
describes himself as non-binary, he won a grammy for best
pop duo; giving credit to Madonna and receiving the
overwhelming applause of the audience. Sam Smith, preformed
a BDSM Devil-themed exhibition of his song “Unholy” at the
Grammys; in flames, in a red leather suit, and devil horns
with a top hat. (the words to song contain some significant
and familiar mentions) Most people think this is more of a
dramatic comedic rendition and do not give it a second
thought because they don’t believe there is an evil being
that’s parades around in red with horns and a tail, and
neither do we (as Christians). This is just entertainment,
they claim none of this is real, but we say he is real, and
there is a subtle subterfuge taking place on the public,
especially children who are their targeted audience to
nullify his existence. Of course this showcasing at the
music awards does not actually depict the real satan who is
adverse to all that is called good, who is the most
conniving, narcissistic being, who inspires pride in
mankind, to be self absorbed and closing their minds to the
reality of his existence. He makes the issues he is involved
with super complex; confusing, and it certainly divide us as
people. What is seen are only soft renditions of his actual
influence on the mind and heart of people. But when one does
not understand the spiritual influences on this world they
will make fun of those who actually know of them. Are the
majority of people that claim this is not real saying, ‘the
satanist are serving/worshiping and living a figment of
their imagination? Go tell them they have a make believe
religion, that satan and his way of living is not
real. They don’t think so. Go ask former Satanists who
came out of this lifestyle and you will find it is far more
serious and real than any banal arguments you may use that
exhibit your dithering or dismissive conclusions. Today
Satan, who is the devil is getting way too much publicity
due to the naïve and inane who are impervious to other views
that they claim are all invalid. Satanist say Christ
Jesus is not real.
(880) Evangelical
Group’s Naive Embrace Of U.N.’s ‘Climate Science’
by Donna Laframboise, 2/13/23
“It’s understandable that the average person has no idea
what really goes on. As someone who has watched the climate
world for more than a decade, I’m sorry to report that the
IPCC does not deserve our trust. The National Association of
Evangelicals’ naive embrace of this organization is
therefore unwarranted.” Last summer the National Association
of Evangelicals, an organization largely in America but with
some representation in my country, Canada, published a
report that urges Christians to care deeply about climate
change. Titled “Loving the Least of These,” it relies on the
work of a United Nations entity to make its case.
(881) We’re
In Trouble With Teen Girls: Dr. Marc Siegel Analyzes CDC’s
‘Shocking’ Teen Mental Health Report by Maria
Lencki – Fox News, 2/15/23
Fox News contributor Dr. Marc Siegel says social media may
have a lot to do with America’s mental health crisis among
teenage girls. A recent report from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention revealed teen girls are battling
record levels of violence, sadness and suicide risk. The
findings also revealed sexual violence among teen girls has
increased 20% between 2017 through 2021, while hopelessness
increased from 36% to 57%.
(882) Rihanna
making the FCC work, work, work, after Super Bowl viewers
file 103 complaints by Nardine Saad, LA Times,
2/25/23 (ACT Note: I was frankly glad to see there were others who
found Rihanna's performance at the Superbowl lewd and
disgusting) The Federal Communications Commission, which
regulates interstate and international communications
through cable, radio, television, satellite and wire,
received an assortment of grievances about the "Umbrella"
singer's "rude, obscene 'performance'" that described her
sexualized lyrics and her background dancers' gyrating
choreography as offensive or inappropriate ... her
white-clad background dancers — who have been compared to
sperm, clouds and pillows — used body language that was
enough to upset audiences across the country who did more
than just tweet their gripes. A fraction of the football
game's viewers (113.1 million average but 118.7 million for
halftime) likened Rihanna's set to pornography and lamented
the decline of decency, according to the list of complaints
posted on the FCC's website. "Inappropriate touching and
dance moves, very raunchy for a family to watch. Little kids
do not need to see this," said one complaint from Rockton,
Ill.
(883) Bible
Answer Man, Hank Hanegraaff, Platforms Open Homosexual to
Help “Save the West” by The Dissenter, 3/2/23
I predicted that it would just be a matter of time before
Christianity would be abandoned altogether in favor of an
ecumenical alliance for social or economic causes. Whether
it be right or left, when you abandon Christianity, you have
no problem joining with haters of God to promote political
issues. That is exactly what Hank Hanegraaff is now doing as
he recently hosted Spencer Klavan, a man who is openly
practicing homosexuality and “married” to another man, on
his podcast. In the first few minutes of the podcast,
Hanegraaff explains how he wasn’t sure if his audience would
appreciate him hosting a homosexual, but then ultimately
decided he would do so because, well, he “has a life-long
devotion to the principles of the West.”
(884) Major
Endorsements Retracted After TGC Publishes Blasphemous
Article by The Dissenter, 3/4/23
Brace yourselves. If you’ve been following the news cycle
the last couple of days, you’re probably aware of the
extremely gross, vile, and filthy article published by
Joshua Butler at The Gospel Coalition that depicted Jesus
ejaculating his “seed” into His bride (the Church) in the
same way that a man ejaculates into his wife. Thankfully,
after much pushback from conservatives and exposure from
publications like The Dissenter, TGC decided to remove the
article from the website.
(885) Canada
Urged to Expand Assisted Suicide to “Mature Minors”
by Ken Ham, 3/7/23
In June 2016—not even seven years ago—Canada legalized what
they call “medical assistance in dying,” or MAiD, to
“support [Canadians’] autonomy and freedom of choice, and
protect those who are vulnerable.” But this is not about
protecting the vulnerable at all—it’s about killing the most
vulnerable. And that’s exactly what’s happened as Canada has
gone from allowing for medically assisted murder of “merely”
the elderly and terminally ill to considering the murder of
those suffering from mental illness (that was set to go into
law this month but has now been postponed) to now the
suggestion that “mature minors” should be allowed to choose
MAiD. A “Special Joint Committee recommended the Government
of Canada give terminally-ill minors the authority to
request euthanasia if the minor is believed to have sound
judgment.” Whether or not the minor has this vague “sound
judgment” is to be determined on a case-by-case basis by
MAiD personnel. But what if parents disagree with their
child’s desire to have a doctor or nurse murder them? Well,
that parent is “interfering” with their child’s wish and the
committee recommends the government side with the child and
override the parent’s wishes. In other words, a child knows
what’s best, not the parent, and the government owns the
child anyway so they can do whatever they want—no matter
what “interfering parents” desire.
(886) ‘We
Were Wrong’ – Evidence Shows ‘Puberty Blockers Are Neither
Safe Nor Reversible’ Says Canadian Doctor Who Helped
Pioneer Puberty Blocker Drugs by Brian Lupo –
Gateway Pundit, 3/20/22
“Blocking the sexual development of children is a highly
authoritarian intervention. Children are asexual, and
so they can’t understand the impact of impaired sexual
function. We are roughly 10 years into this
large-scale experiment and already we have reports on issues
with cognitive development, bone mineral density, and
fertility. All the up-to-date evidence shows that
puberty blockers are neither safe nor reversible.“ Dr. Susan
Bradley, who helped pioneer “gender affirming care” in
Canada, has now spoken against the popular model of “gender
affirming care” by placing children on puberty blockers,
according to an interview with the Daily Caller.
(887) The
Push To Normalize Weird Sexuality In The Church Is
Increasing At An Alarming Rate by The Dissenter,
3/23/23
“The goal for Sprinkle is to transform the Church’s attitude
toward the LGBTQ movement and cause the Church to see LGBTQ
people as people who have been mistreated by churches and
society rather than as people who are committing a grave
offense against their Creator who are in need of repentance
and salvation.” The LGBTQ movement in America has been
striving for decades to promote the acceptance of
homosexuality and other abnormal sexual behaviors. Sexual
immorality, in all of its forms, has been present in every
major society throughout history, as per historical and
biblical accounts. However, as we see all throughout
Scripture, it has also repeatedly been the cause of God’s
wrath.
(888) Okay,
I’m Done, End Tolerance Of Child Abusing Freaks by
Mary Dowling – Independent Sentinel, 4/3/23
“Stop this disgusting behavior of psycho freaks towards
children.” Watch the videos! The movement to seduce children
sexually at a young age is very real and clearly observable.
No more excuses. It’s psychotic, and supporting this in the
name of tolerance is as extreme as it gets. The Left is
corrupting young children. They’re taking the innocence of
childhood and destroying it. More than that, they want to
mutilate their bodies and put them on powerful medications.
(889) The
Sex Cult Of Dionysus Is Taking Over The Nation, And Most
Of The Church Is Silent by The Dissenter, 4/4/23
The recent event at the Minnesota State Capitol building,
where a drag show was held for Transgender Day of
Visibility, has caused outrage and controversy. The cult of
Dionysus was a Greek mystery religion centered around the
worship of the god of wine, fertility, and ecstasy. This
cult involved frenzied dancing, music, and sexual rituals,
particularly including homosexual practices among male
worshippers.
(890) James
MacDonald, former Harvest Bible pastor, charged with
felony assault and battery by Religion News
Service, 4/14/23
MacDonald, a once popular radio preacher who helped found
what was one of Chicago’s largest churches, was fired in
2019 and deemed unfit for ministry. He has continued to
guest preach at churches and run an online ministry. Tanya
Sierra, assistant director of communications for the San
Diego County District Attorney’s Office, told Religion News
Service in an email that MacDonald was arraigned on March 29
and pleaded not guilty. He faces a June 14 readiness hearing
before a July 6 preliminary hearing. MacDonald has been
charged with “assault by means likely to produce great
bodily injury” and battery with serious bodily injury,
according to a complaint filed in the Superior Court of
California for the County of San Diego. If convicted, he
could face up to seven years in prison. Defense attorney
Michael Pancer, who represents MacDonald, said in a
statement that MacDonald “has never, nor would ever,
intentionally harm another human being.”
(891) Biologos
Publishes Guide On How To Worship Mother Earth On Earth
Day: A Biblically Balanced Response by The
Dissenter, 4/22/23
Who’s behind BioLogos? Progressives Tim Keller and Francis
Collins. “BioLogos urges us to “confess” our role in
“environmental degradation.” This movement, like many
progressive ones, seeks to instill a sense of collective
guilt, which can ultimately leads to collective punishment.
For example, when a single mass shooter attacks a school and
kills innocent children, the left blames society as a whole
and then advocates for widespread gun control, which does
nothing to address the root cause of individual sin.” In
recent years, extreme environmentalism has taken center
stage in the public discourse, with numerous
overly-impassioned voices calling for a radical reevaluation
of our relationship with the natural world, as though the
future of humanity is solely dependent upon “Mother Earth.”
(892) Looking
For Answers To The Autism Epidemic In All The Wrong Places
by Joan Swirsky – RenewAmerica, 4/24/23
According to the Atlanta-based U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention’s latest statistics, in 2020 one in
36 children (approximately four percent of boys and one
percent of girls) was estimated to have autism spectrum
disorder, estimates that are significantly higher than those
in all previous years. White children are about 19 percent
more likely than black children and 65 percent more likely
than Hispanic children to be diagnosed with autism. Experts
offer various reasons for the general increase in this
condition.
(893) UN
Seeks to Decriminalize Child Sex, Sex Work, and Abortion
by Ken Ham, 4/25/23
No, I am not exaggerating or being salacious with the
headline for today’s blog. The United Nations organization
really does want sex with minors (they give no age limit to
what a minor means!), sex work (including “pimping” out
women and men), and abortion completely decriminalized. All
this, and more, in the name of so-called “human rights.”
It’s the depravity of man on display for the world to see.
(894) Rejecting
The Modern Social Justice Movement And Recovering The
Church’s Biblical Mission by The Dissenter, 5/9/23
In recent years, an alarming trend has emerged within the
modern church, as a growing number of congregations are
embracing social justice ideologies and even Marxist
principles. This infiltration of worldly doctrines has led
to a departure from the core tenets of the Christian faith,
as churches prioritize societal transformation over the
proclamation of the gospel. These churches claim to seek to
address systemic inequalities and fight for the rights of
the marginalized, yet often adopt political stances that
align with Marxist thought.
(895) Religious
Riptide: Eastern Spirituality Comes West – A Short History
by Carl Teichrib – Midwest Christian Outreach, 5/10/23
“A study of the Bagavad Gita, the Rig Veda, the Upanishads,
the writings of Confucius and Lao Tsu, the sayings of
Buddha, the life of Muhammad, I Ching, Tai Chi, Kung Fu,
pyramid power, astrology, astral projection, Zen Buddhism,
the Egyptian and Tibetan books of the dead, primitive tribal
religion, shamanism, spiritualism, Greek mythology, Greek
philosophy, and a host of lesser dabblings brought me no
closer to peace of mind or health of soul.” Secularism
didn’t supplant religion in the Western world, as some
Twentieth Century humanists had anticipated. Instead, new
spiritual expressions and movements entered the landscape,
often with roots firmly planted in the metaphysical soil of
the East. This article, excerpted from my book, Game of
Gods: The Temple of Man in the Age of Re-Enchantment,
explores some of these changes.
(896) The
Lauren Daigle Songs You Sing In Your Church Were Written
By A Homosexual by The Dissenter, 5/14/23
Perhaps your memory stretches back to 2018, when the
acclaimed Christian musician, Lauren Daigle, found herself
at the center of a maelstrom? Her notoriety was not merely
the result of her “angelic voice,” but her intriguing
venture onto the openly lesbian Ellen DeGeneres show. To
discerning Christians, her appearance was nothing more than
an ill-conceived attempt to curry favor with left-wing
sympathizers—she simply dismissed the Scriptures to promote
herself and her music.
(897) Featured
Lifeway Speaker Who Says God Raised Up Homosexuals As The
Most Credible Voices On Sexuality Defends Rachel Gilson
by The Dissenter, 5/20/23
Yesterday, The Dissenter broke the story that a Southern
Baptist Convention-approved women’s conference during the
annual meeting would be featuring a speaker who preached a
sermon a few years ago stating that homosexuals who are in a
“gay marriage” might stay together because “God hates
divorce.” This same woman, Rachel Gilson, also said during a
podcast that homosexual “Christians” can live out their
sexuality faithfully whether they are attracted to men,
women, both, or even potted plants.
(898) Now
The North Face? Another Brand Pushes The LGBTQ+ Agenda To
Children by J.W. Baker, 5/28/23
Outdoor apparel brand The North Face has recently made
headlines for its collaboration with a prominent figure from
the “drag queen” community as part of their latest
collection, “Out in Nature.” With Sodomite Pride Month
approaching, the brand now offers clothing adorned with
vibrant rainbow colors, including items for children. In a
promotional ad shared on The North Face’s Instagram page, a
mustachioed man masquerading as what he thinks a woman looks
like, named Pattie Gonia, leads the campaign by announcing
the Summer of Pride tour.
(899) Harvard
Researchers Expose Google Targeting & Manipulating The
Minds Of Children by Matt Agorist – The Washington
Standard, 5/29/23
“This trillion-dollar tech titan exploits its unparalleled
monopoly in the search engine domain to inflate liberal
ideologies, stifle conservative voices, and most alarmingly,
manipulate the malleable minds of our children.” With the
curtain pulled back on the Twitter files this year, the
gears of the debate machine have been grinding relentlessly
on the topic of censorship and perceived liberal
establishment bias within social media behemoths like
Twitter and Facebook. And while they’ve undoubtedly earned
their place in the critical spotlight, the focus on them has
allowed a far more devious predator to lurk largely
unchecked in the shadows: Google.
(900) Are
you ready for a world cataclysmic event? by Mike
Oppenheimer, 5/30/23
I have said expect the unexpected in the days we live in.
Everyday news shows this to be true. This has become
precarious for believers/conservatives (2 Tim.3:1) who face
a moral culture change that reverses the Judaic Christian
traditions in our society, as the majority of what is being
promoted is amoral. Before Christ’s first coming the demonic
activity was increased on earth, this is how we know his 2nd
coming is near, this same activity has increased
dramatically. There is time to keep quiet and a time to
speak, there is a time for peace and there is a time for war
(Eccl.3:1-8), we are in the latter time. We are experiencing
a spiritual war on the morals we once lived by, what was
ingrained in us as our nature, from beginning, made in
the image of God. This is a war of light against darkness.
Light has never been the majority but it has never been in
the minority in our countries history as it is today. We
must speak up and become active to the challenges before
there is no time to speak as we relinquish our ability to
speak and have our God given freedoms taken apart piece by
piece.
(901) The
Chosen Doubles Down On Pride Flags On Set at CRN,
6/1/23 Dallas Jenkins once said: “I felt like God was saying that
‘this will be the definitive portrayal of My people and this
is what people are going to think of around the world when
they think of My people. And I’m not going to let you screw
it up.’” And yet Mr. Jenkins managed to screw it up royally.
With that quote in mind, read Ray Fava’s follow up piece
where he reveals that Jenkins, who allegedly heard directly
from God, has dug himself a hole that he may not be able to
crawl out of: The Chosen published a behind the scenes video
showcasing a pride flag on the set of a show depicting
Jesus. Unsurprisingly, controversy ensued. Evangelical Dark
Web may have been one of the first to cover it, but the
Daily Wire would mainstream the story.
(902) Russell
Moore’s Condemnation Of Uganda’s Anti-Gay Law Is A
Trainwreck Of Deceit And Stupidity by Protestia,
6/3/23 “To Moore, the “self-evident and unalienable rights to
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (obviously
cribbing the U.S. Constitution) includes the right to
homosexuality. This would have been a surprise to its
drafters.” This is a Twitter thread from Paul Biegler,
adapted into article form. Read Russell Moore’s full article
[on the site] for the context, as Moore makes a horrible
case here. First, he strawmans his opponents as arguing that
Leviticus mandates civil penalties for homosexuality, when
in fact, they argue that Leviticus allows civil penalties
for homosexuality.
(903) Why
Is Calvary Chapel Platforming A Homosexual Activist To
Push Politics? by The Dissenter, 6/4/23 “You can see him on stage at this church, dressed like a
woman and talking with a seriously effeminate lisp, as the
church congregation laughs and applauds him for blasting
Hillary Clinton.” We live in an era where the lines between
the Church and the world are increasingly blurred. One might
argue that the waters of the sacred have been muddied by the
fingers of the secular, tugging insistently on the hem of
the holy. One such instance that demands attention is the
increasing involvement of Christian congregations, like
GodSpeak Calvary Chapel, with organizations such as Turning
Point USA.
(904) The
U.S. Department Of Education Is Turning Public Schools
Into Sodom And Gomorrah by The Dissenter, 6/5/23 If one were to peruse the chronicles of biblical history,
one might find unsettling parallels between the accounts of
Sodom and Gomorrah and the state of modern America. Cities
fraught with vice, idolatry, and abject disregard for God’s
law, Sodom and Gomorrah were cautionary warnings of what
ensues when a society unreservedly embraces immorality.
God’s judgment was swift and unflinching—the cities were
reduced to ashes as a divine declaration against sexual sin.
(905) The
Absurdity Of Liberal Schools Promoting Porn And Banning
Bibles In Their Libraries by Marsha West, 6/7/23 “Take for example these disturbing incidents in elementary,
middle, and high schools across the USA, where books on
transgenderism and homosexuality, brimming with sexually
explicit language and detailed graphic depictions, are
openly endorsed.” Bear witness to the appalling descent into
farcical absurdity that has overtaken our educational
system, the utter degradation of pedagogical values wrapped
neatly in a mantle of feigned moral superiority. Our case in
point? The Davis School District of Utah, stepping forth
with a peacock-like display of censorial righteousness,
banning the Bible, the very cornerstone of Western
civilization, from the hands of our impressionable youth.
Their reasoning? The supposedly disturbing sexual and
violent content within its hallowed pages.
(906) Preston
Sprinkle Tells Tim Keller That Jesus Didn’t Use Theology,
He Just ‘Loved’ Homosexuals Into The Kingdom at
CRN, 7/6/23 Everybody knows the theological argument that homosexuals
and their allies use to justify their sinful behaviors and
to rebuke those who believe that homosexuality is
incompatible with Christianity. Essentially, the argument
goes like this: Jesus ate with sinners. Yep, that’s it.
That’s the argument, and whether they like theology or not,
it’s a theological argument—albeit, a terrible one. We would
expect, however, a theologian as seasoned as the late Tim
Keller to know better though, and when presented with such a
terrible argument, we should expect him to at least offer
some pushback.
(907) Martin
Luther would be rolling over in his grave by
Anonymous, 7/9/23
- Judgment is certainly coming if the church
doesn't get on its knees and pray and repent. The only
question is "when" and what will judgment look like? I
wonder if it will take the form of taking the number and
giving themselves over to the Man Of Perdition. True, not
all churches are like that and these guys are only like the
tip of the spear, or the tip of the iceberg, but I don't
think that matters. God will not be mocked. Video:https://youtu.be/PIz-yuLShoY
(908) Most
Southern Baptist Leaders Worship A False Jesus at
CRN, 7/12/23 “Jesus does not compromise with us. He does not barter or
negotiate His teachings—they are not commodities to be
traded. They are unassailable edicts from the Most High,
immutable and timeless.” This morning, I stumbled upon a
tweet that sparked a sudden revelation or insight within me.
The problem with the Southern Baptist Convention is that so
many Southern Baptist leaders and pastors desire a false
Jesus—one who is willing to compromise with their desires of
the flesh.
(909) Portland
‘Trans’ Surgeon Mutilates Pre-Pubescent Children
by Mary Dowling – Independent Sentinel, 7/18/23 “He says his procedures, which include robotics, are
experiments, and he’s “figuring out what works.” In five to
ten years, he’ll know more.” Daily Mail Online reported a
horror story about a pink-haired surgeon in Portland who
performs transition surgeries on pre-pubescent children. The
doctor from Hell admits they face a lifetime of infertility,
incontinence, and sexual dissatisfaction. He deleted the
video describing what viewers see as his evil and Nazi-style
experiments.
(910) Dems
Open Borders To Child Rapists Then Back Light Sentences
by Mary Dowling – Independent Sentinel, 7/21/23 “You have to wonder if these Democrats are voted into
office by sex traffickers or if they pay them off.
California is now a sanctuary, a haven for these monsters.
They have political power whether they vote or not. Allowing
people like this to come into the country and remain means
they will one day govern us, as they do in Mexico and other
hellholes.” Democrats have left our borders open, and it has
become a broad invitation to child traffickers. It doesn’t
stop there—Democrats also support light prison sentences
when the monsters are caught.
(911) Should
Christians Support Turning Point USA? by The
Dissenter, 7/22/23 “I could post a list of churches that are hosting Charlie
Kirk and TPUSA, but it would be pointless as the list is
huge. If you want, you could check out this Google search
and see for yourself. The bottom line, churches are
compromising the gospel in favor of self-serving politics.”
I’ve never been a fan of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) or its
movement. I really just don’t care much for the
personalities involved in it, particularly, Charlie Kirk.
But there are a lot of churches—so-called conservative
churches—that are embracing, promoting, and platforming
them.
(912) Fox
News Is All In On Satan, Genderism, SPLC, Abortion
by Mary Dowling – Independent Sentinel, 7/23/23 “While the Satanic Temple says they don’t worship Satan,
they perform unbaptisms, want permission to perform ritual
abortions, and erect statues of Baphomet on government
property.” Fox News banned matching donations to Billy
Graham Ministries and Franklin Graham. However, they allow
them to the Satanic Temple, the Trevor Project, Planned
Parenthood (and local Planned Parenthood branches), and the
Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). They also allow
donations to the Virality Project on censorship.
(913) TGC/Lifeway
Lady-Preacher Says Christians Should Affirm Some Marxist
Slogans To Truly Be Christian at CRN, 7/25/23 “More video has surfaced of McLaughlin preaching at a
National Association of Evangelicals conference telling
people that Christians should look at a sign that contains
various Marxist slogans, and instead of throwing them all
out, go through them line-by-line and affirm the ones that
the Bible affirms. So that’s what I am going to do now.” A
prominent LGBTQ activist that TGC relentlessly promotes is
Rebecca McLaughlin. McLaughlin, herself, openly admits that
she is romantically attracted to other women. During this
presentation at The Gospel Coalition, she states, “I’ve been
romantically attracted to women since childhood, and if I
were not a Christian I’d likely be married to a woman, not a
man.”
(914) Refuting
Queer Theology In The Church: The Queering Of Scripture
And God by The Dissenter, 7/28/23 “These proponents of queer theology, in their quest for a
gender-fluid understanding of God, are desperately twisting
the Scripture, venturing into uncharted territories laden
with speculative and unsubstantiated theories. They are
attempting to chart a new gospel of perversion, detached
from the entirety of God Himself, and then using the name of
God to affirm their own rebellion against Him.” In an era
where absurdity appears to have become the new norm, an
article at New Ways Ministry titled Queer Theory and
Theology Can Help Widen Church’s Understandings of God and
Creation epitomizes this trend with stunning arrogance. The
claims made in this hit piece against orthodox, biblical
Christianity are, to put it mildly, bewildering—even
disorienting.
(915) “We
Are Totally Awash in Pseudoscience”: Nobel Prize-Winning
Physicist on Climate Agenda by Nathan Worcester,
7/29/23 Nobel Prize-winning physicist John Clauser is not afraid to
go against the flow. . . . The physicist, who also won a
third of the Wolf Prize for his quantum mechanics
contributions, shared some of his views on climate during a
recent talk in South Korea soon after his election to the
CO2 Coalition’s board of directors. “I believe that climate
change is not a crisis,” Mr. Clauser told the audience at
Quantum Korea 2023. He also described the United Nations’
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as “one of
the worst sources of dangerous misinformation.”
(916) Transvestite
Tops iTunes “Christian” Music Charts, Rivaling Elevation
Music, Lauren Daigle by The Dissenter, 8/1/23 In 2021, The Dissenter reported that Grace Semler
Baldridge—an open lesbian who goes by the stage name,
Semler—had beaten out Lauren Daigle for the number one spot
on the Christian music charts on iTunes. Baldridge was also
nominated by GLAAD for the 2020 Award for Outstanding
Digital Journalism for her documentary series, State Of
Grace, and push against “gay conversion therapy.” But who
would have guessed that a drag queen, a transvestite, a man
who mockingly dresses as a caricature of a woman, would
actually top the “Christian music” charts in 2023? But
that’s exactly what is happening.
(917) Former
president of Baptist state convention under investigation
for alleged abuse by Religion News Service, 8/2/23 (RNS) — The Rev. Bob Stine, former president of the
Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention, will be required to
answer questions in court in September after police in
Madison, Wisconsin, recommended he be charged with sexual
assault. The Dane County district attorney’s office said the
case involving Stine, pastor of Midvale Baptist Church in
Madison, is under review. No charges have been filed. “The
DA’s Office has received the referral from Madison Police
Dept,” the DA’s office said in an email about Stine. “He is
scheduled to appear for an Initial Appearance on 9/7/23 at
8:30 AM.” Police have investigated allegations that Stine
inappropriately touched children during a group visit to a
state park in 2021, according to television station WISC in
Madison. That investigation led the state’s Department of
Children and Families to revoke the license for Kid’s Best
Child Care, a day care run by Midvale Baptist, in late June.
(918) TGC
Says Barbie Movie Matters Because 10 Percent Of Women
Leave Church Over Misogyny by The Dissenter,
8/9/23 “People may stop professing to be Christians, and people
may stop going to a building they call “church.” But people
don’t depart the faith because of interpersonal disputes or
perceived societal wrongs. Rather they leave these
institutions because they were never genuinely rooted in
Christ, to begin with.” The Gospel Coalition has made quite
the proposition suggesting that a novel source of
enlightenment awaits the Church in the most unlikely of
places: Barbie. Their article confidently boasts, “Why
‘Barbie’ Matters for the Church.” Indeed, amidst centuries
of church history, doctrinal councils, and rigorous biblical
exegesis, it seems we’ve inadvertently overlooked the
profound spiritual insights that might be gleaned from
Hollywood’s take on our favorite plastic protagonist. A
remarkable oversight, truly. How did Augustine or Luther,
the Apostle Paul, or even Jesus Himself, miss that?
(919) Deborah
Birx Promotes Pro Abortion Aids Relief At Christianity
Today by Ray Fava – Evangelical Dark Horse,
8/14/23 “PEPFAR is nothing but another perpetual government waste
program, so why should a generation of Americans Christians
be rallied to the cause, especially one that was sold
through hyperbolic alarmism?” Covid brought many vile
characters within the government bureaucracy into the
limelight. So-called public health experts that only
occasionally became newsworthy figures became household
names. Trump’s Covid task force included several of these
dark figures, including Anthony Fauci, Robert Redfield, and
Deborah Birx, who was most known for bedazzling her masks
after previously dissuading their use.
(920) “NEA
Hates Children, America, and Common Sense” by
Linda Harvey, 8/15/23 Reports from the recent annual meeting of the National
Education Association, the nation’s largest teacher’s union,
are shocking. The new projects approved by delegates from
schools all over the country, added to the collective
policies endorsed by this organization over many years, are
heartbreaking and portend disaster for our country and our
schools.The reality is that, with almost 3 million members
and scads of money, whatever the NEA supports is often where
America goes. The Democratic Party jumps to the NEA’s
tune. And the union’s actions certainly impact the education
our children are receiving—or not receiving. Providentially,
many Americans are waking up and rejecting what this corrupt
organization is selling. At this year’s meeting, delegates
rallied outside the Orlando convention center, waving
rainbow signs and placards proclaiming “Freedom to
Teach” and “Freedom to Learn.” They are predictably
enraged at parent concerns over outright pornography,
inaccurately labeled book “banning.” The NEA majority
despises Florida’s parental rights’ bills and anti-woke
limits on child indoctrination.
(921) PCUSA
Pastor Says Jesus Would Have Been An ‘Abortion Doula’ +
‘Blessed Are Those Who End Their Pregnancies’ by
Protestia, 8/19/23 Todd then adapts the Beatitudes into a grotesque pro-choice
mantra, which she repeats several times throughout this
sermon. “If Jesus were giving his sermon today, he might
also have said, ‘Blessed are those who end pregnancies, for
they will be known for their loving kindness.” Rebecca Todd
Peters is a professor, author, and Presbyterian Church (USA)
‘Pastor.’ She has been active denominationally and
ecumenically for over twenty-five years and represents the
PCUSA as a member of the Faith and Order Standing Commission
of the World Council of Churches. A lover of all things
baby-killing, she also serves on the Clergy Advocacy Board
of Planned Parenthood and was recently elected Vice
President of the Society of Christian Ethics.
(922) “H2O,
Not CO2 May Be Driving Summer Heat Wave” Says Studies
by James Murphy, The New American, 8/21/23 Lost in all the hysterical proclamations of “historic”
summer heat waves and “hottest day ever” proclamations this
summer is a theory that H2O, not CO2 and other trace
atmospheric gases, may be driving hotter-than-normal
temperatures. Both NASA and the European Space Agency
seemingly endorse the notion that a gigantic undersea
volcano that erupted from December 2021 until mid-January
2022 may have spurred a dramatic increase in water vapor —
the Earth’s main greenhouse gas — contributing to higher air
temperatures this year. When the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai
volcano erupted, it reportedly spewed a stupendous amount of
H2O as water vapor into the atmosphere, enough, it is said,
to have filled no less than 58,000 Olympic-size swimming
pools. “The violent Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption on 15
January 2022 not only injected ash into the stratosphere but
also large amounts of water vapor, breaking all records for
direct injection of water vapor, by a volcano or otherwise,
in the satellite era,” a study published in Geophysical
Research Letters reported. Click here to continue reading.
(923) Putin's
War - A Doomed Endeavour by Rubin Rothler LL.B,
LL.M, 8/24/23 It seems that we are approaching the end game of sorts in
Ukraine. Putin appears to have (almost) placed all his cards
on the proverbial war table.
(924) Russell
Moore Says John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress ‘Leaves Me
Cold’ by Protestia, 8/26/23 On a recent episode of his podcast, former ERLC president
and current Editor-in-Chief of Christianity Today Russell
Moore offered up the smarmy, self-satisfied confession that
he doesn’t like John Bunyan or his famous book Pilgrim’s
Progress, saying it leaves him “cold” for its emphasis on
encouraging believers to test themselves to see if they are
in the faith. Following several links… “The Pilgrim’s
Progress” is a religious allegory by John Bunyan, the
renowned 17th Century Reformed Baptist and English preacher,
and perhaps the most influential Christian literature after
the Bible.
(925) Are
Lockdowns Coming Back? These Fauci Comments Are Fueling
Suspicions by Leah Barkoukis – Townhall, 8/27/23 “If you have a vaccine available, you might want to lock
down temporarily so you can get everybody vaccinated.”
Anthony Fauci’s recent comments during a Wayne State
University event have some concerned that a lockdown 2.0
could be on the horizon, despite the social, emotional,
financial, and educational toll it took on children, adults,
and society at large.
(926) Are
we hearing the sound of freedom? by Mike
Oppenheimer, 8/28/23 “It is the weakest and least powerful that are affected
first when freedom is taken away.” Can we honestly and
openly address the global crime of children being abducted
and trafficked? This is what 'The Sound of Freedom' movie
has brought attention to, on an ongoing issue taking place
right before our eyes, human trafficking and modern-day
slavery. The movie is based on the story of activist Tim
Ballard, a former DHI involved in capturing pedophiles, who
started an organization OUR, Operation Underground Railroad.
This should be the most important topic that concerns us all
as it has to do with our most precious vulnerable and
innocent among us, our children.
(927) This
Video Proves Walt Disney Is Rolling Over In His Grave…
by Revolver, 8/29/23 If you’ve been paying even the slightest attention, you’ll
notice that Disney has undergone a dramatic transformation
in a relatively short span. We’ve transitioned from classics
like Beauty and the Beast to modern interpretations like
Snow Brown and the Seven Diverse People at breakneck speed.
What we’re seeing today is a far cry from Walt Disney’s
original vision and values. He’d likely be turning in his
grave if he knew what was happening. While the debate rages
on about why Disney has changed, be it the influence of
“Karen” feminists in HR and marketing departments or
pressure from global agendas like the WEF’s equity program,
what often goes overlooked is the fact that Disney’s shift
reflects a larger societal issue: American kids just aren’t
being kids anymore.
(928) Debunking
Leftist Myths About Jesus – Jesus Was A Universalist
by The Dissenter, 8/31/23 “In Matthew 7:21-23, [Jesus] warns that not everyone who
calls Him ‘Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only
those who do the will of His Father.” In this ongoing
series, we continue to strip away the veneer of faux
spirituality to expose the rotting core of myths that have
led many astray in their understanding of Christ and His
teachings. These fabrications are not harmless
misunderstandings—they are perverse distortions designed
primarily to accommodate secular progressive ideologies.
(929) 1,609
Global Scientists Rightfully Debunk Climate Hysteria
by Larry Bell – Newsmax, 9/3/23 Any claim of a consensus that “science is settled”
regarding the existence of a dire climate crisis emergency
caused by carbon dioxide is a deceptive, destructive, and
costly fraud. A “World Climate Declaration” made public by
the non-profit scientific Global Climate Intelligence Group
(CLINTEL) in August endorsed by 1,609 informed scientists
and professionals — including two Nobel Laureates, John
Clauser (USA) and Ivar Giaever (Norway/USA) — clearly says
otherwise.
(930) Christianity
Today Now Promoting AI Sermons by Bob Unruh, WND
News Center, 9/11/23 An editorial at Not the Bee is reporting that Christianity
Today has begun promoting pastors “that use AI for sermons”
and is asking the obvious question, “Why?” The magazine,
which actually was begun by Billy Graham but has changed
significantly over the years, wrote how, “I Used ChatGPT for
Six Months to Help My Pastoral Ministry. Here’s What
Worked.” The commentary is from a “young Taiwanese pastor.”
Yu-Li Lin explains, “Since ChatGPT became publicly
accessible last year, we’ve heard reports that artificial
intelligence (AI) will replace jobs and disrupt other
aspects of our lives. Such changes may not currently be
apparent to individual local churches in Taiwan. But in
recent months, a number of Christian thinkers have been
discussing how AI might either aid or possibly replace
humans when it comes to pastoral care and preaching.”
(931) Acts
29 Pastor Says Gay Atheist Came To Christ Through A
Psychic Tarot Card Reader Consulting A Native American
Spirit Guide by The Dissenter, 9/12/23 In a cultural landscape teeming with ideological disarray,
even the dialogue surrounding Christian interaction with the
LGBTQ movement has been pulled apart by polarizing
narratives. A particularly concerning viewpoint comes to
light through the Acts 29 Network, which we wrote about last
week, as represented by Justin Anderson and Mike Sullivan.
Their perspective, under the guise of compassion and
inclusivity, distorts biblical truths to a dangerous extent
that it could mislead even the elect, if that were possible.
This compromising theological view is not just
problematic—it could lead souls astray, particularly when
dealing with issues of sin and repentance.
(932) Only
2% Of Parents With Preteen Children Have A ‘Biblical
Worldview by Protestia, 9/14/23 “A majority of the youngest teens (61%) either believe
Jesus Christ sinned while He was on Earth or hold open the
possibility He did. Not even half (45%) believe that God
created the universe. And an overwhelming majority believe
that there are no absolute, objective truths.” Veteran
pollster and researcher George Barna is reporting that less
than 2% of parents with children under the age of 13 have a
“biblical worldview,” according to his new book Raising
Spiritual Champions: Nurturing Your Child’s Heart, Mind and
Soul, with the overwhelming number of parents reporting a
“hodge-podge mixture of competing and often conflicting
worldviews.”
(933) Southern
Poverty Lawsuit Against Child Protectors Could Set
Precedent for Normalizing Adult-Child Sex by
Philip Zodhiates, 9/17/23 The nature of this article is alarming and disturbing, and
I’d be wrong not to warn you. But it is vital you know what
is taking place in the ongoing battle to protect children.
Our most innocent ones face perhaps the most egregious
danger so far, something of which the most informed
Americans are not likely aware. So if you have a heart that
mourns for helpless children, please read on, no matter how
hard it is for you to deal with such a horrible topic—a
subject many don’t want to believe is true.
(934) Dallas
Jenkins, ‘The Chosen’ Creator, Insists Mormon Friend Is A
Christian. ‘He Loves Jesus…I’d Go To War With And For Him
Any Day’ by Protestia, 9/22/23 ‘The Chosen’ director Dallas Jenkins doesn’t
understand the gospel or Christianity, and this is no more
apparent than his continued efforts to insist Mormons are
Christians who love Jesus. ... Case in point, in a recent
Facebook post, he praised Derral Eves, one of the executive
producers of the hit show The Chosen, who also happens to be
a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
(935) Half
Of U.S. Young Adults Say Open Marriages Are ‘Acceptable’
by Breitbart, 9/25/26 “Acceptance of open marriages is most prominent among
adults who identify as lesbian, gay, and bisexual, with 75
percent calling open marriages “acceptable,” compared to 29
percent of heterosexual individuals.” Young adults, as well
as Democrats, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those living with a
partner are most accepting of open marriages — “a marriage
where both spouses agree that they can date or have sex with
other people” — Pew Research Center found.
(936) David
Platt Steps Down As Lead Pastor, Assoc. Pastor Who Says He
Wants To ‘Torch All White People’ To Take Over by
The Dissenter, 9/26/23 “So who is Mike Kelsey? You may remember from a few years
ago when we reported that Kelsey said in a podcast that he
wanted to “torch all white people” because they weren’t woke
like him.” Men like David Platt—who spend the majority of
their time in ivory towers barking commands at the rest of
the Church to “stop being racist” while urging them to give
up their own “positions of power” to people of color—have a
really hard time wrapping their heads around why the common
person is fed up with the woke movement and want nothing to
do with it. Growing increasingly frustrated as David Platt
himself pushes cultural Marxism from his own pulpit, it
doesn’t dawn on Platt that these people are simply fed up
with the unbiblical nonsense.
(937) Timothy
Keller: Turning Believers Into Unbelievers? by Tom
Hill, 9/28/23 “Sadly, Keller did not follow Jesus’ example. Early in his
article, “Creation, Evolution, and Christian Laypeople”,
Keller described the opposition between creationists and
evolutionists, specifically identifying professing believers
and unbelievers who, like the rich, young ruler, doubt God.”
“…when the Son (Jesus) cometh, shall he find faith on the
earth?” (Luke 18.8) Jesus never accepted unbelief! He
challenged His own to believe fully; indeed, He often
rebuked His disciples for their unbelief:
(938) Canadian
School Libraries Remove All Books Published Before 2008
by Ken Ham, 9/29/23 I’ve said over and over that “inclusivity” means anything
but including everyone—it means tolerating, promoting, and
celebrating one viewpoint and excluding all others. This was
demonstrated yet again by a decision made by a school
district in Ontario, Canada, which directed school libraries
“to remove all books [published] prior to 2008” in the name
of “equity” and “inclusion.” Yes, it’s very ironic that in
the name of inclusion, vast swaths of literature—including
much of the best-known and best-loved literature—was
excluded from the school libraries belonging to the Peel
District School Board. And the result was very empty
shelves!
(939) Seriously,
stop using Temu by Kim Komando, 10/3/23 It took just 17 days for China-based shopping app Temu to
whizz past Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat and Shein in the
Apple App Store top downloads in the U.S. (Amazon is nervous
about this, FYI). I warned you about Temu’s security
problems back in April. Its sister app, Pinduoduo, was
caught using malicious code to bypass cellphone security
settings to spy on other apps, read notifications and
messages, and even change settings. Now, the U.S. government
has accused Temu of data risks.
(942) Faithless
In America by Brian Mark Weber – The Patriot Post,
10/8/23 “Socialists and communists can’t afford competition, so
they destroy it. People of faith, on the other hand, worship
a higher being, not the government. They look for hope,
strength, and inspiration not only beyond political systems
but to another world beyond the one here on Earth.” The
numbers tell a grim story: Americans are turning away from
God. “Evidence is growing that Americans are becoming
significantly less religious,” writes New York Times
columnist Nicholas Kristof. “They are drifting away from
churches, they are praying less and they are less likely to
say religion is very important in their lives. For the first
time in Gallup polling, only a minority of adults in the
United States belong to a church, synagogue or mosque.”
(943) TGC
Compares Pro-LGBTQ Pop Star To The Revealing Of Jesus In
His Eternal Glory To His Followers by The
Dissenter, 10/14/23 There’s a bewildering trend overtaking certain corners of
Evangelicalism, and it’s impossible to ignore the glaring
departure from orthodoxy when publications like The Gospel
Coalition keep putting secular pop culture on a pedestal.
After an inconceivable attempt to extract spiritual value
from Hollywood’s latest blockbuster, Barbie, TGC has now
turned its sights on secular pop icon, Taylor Swift—a
plummet into a canyon of worldly preoccupations. Such
contortions to align the church with the modern secular
zeitgeist are foolish at best, but undoubtedly destructive.
If we weren’t already convinced of TGC’s wayward trajectory,
this latest piece it published—and then deleted—should erase
all doubt.
(944) Christianity
Today Staff Made Extensive Campaign Donations Between 2015
And 2022…All Went To Democrats by Megan Basham –
Daily Wire, 10/15/23 “The fact that modern CT staff have financially supported
pro-abortion, pro-sexual perversion candidates does not
surprise me at all. The magazine long ago lost its biblical
moorings and has been under the influence of progressives
and leftists for years. It’s tragic. And it’s a reminder to
evangelicals that institutions that faithful Christians
build are always in danger of drifting left.” The media has
long framed Christianity Today, founded by Billy Graham in
1956, as America’s most influential Christian news outlet.
The Washington Post, for instance, regularly describes it as
evangelicalism’s “flagship” magazine,” as does The New York
Times. A review of federal election records, however,
indicates that the views of the magazine’s leadership and
staff may be far out of step with ordinary evangelicals.
(945) Dr.
Names ‘The Greatest Perpetrator Of Misinformation’ During
COVID by Mary Dowling, 10/17/23 Johns Hopkins University professor Dr. Marty Makary told
the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic
during its first hearing on Tuesday, “The greatest
perpetrator of misinformation during the pandemic has been
the United States government.” He listed examples. COVID was
spread through surface transmission. That vaccinated
immunity was far greater than natural immunity.
(946) Inside
The Chosen’s Prosperity Gospel Sermons by Ray Fava
– Evangelical Dark Web, 10/20/23 “The Chosen views itself as something that can be preached
from, and it’s clear that The Chosen is meant to placate a
seeker-friendly audience rather than adhere to the biblical
accounts.” The Chosen has had a troubling year, despite
being the most profitable TV show marketed to Christians.
Earlier this year, The Chosen showcased the pride flag in
their behind the scenes promotional content. The Chosen has
since doubled down on that. Dallas Jenkins would claim that
The Chosen is not a ministry. This, actuality, is a lie.
(947) JD
Greear Platforms Lesbian, Pro-Abortion Activist District
Attorney To Lecture The Church On Morality by The
Dissenter, 10/22/23 In a decision that undoubtedly exposes the theological and
moral lapses within certain corners of modern
evangelicalism, JD Greear, the highly influential pastor of
Summit Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, recently hosted
Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry for what was
termed a “family discussion” on racial issues and faith.
Let’s be clear: Greear’s decision to give a platform to
Deberry, an openly lesbian and pro-abortion activist, is
nothing short of a blasphemous betrayal of biblical
Christianity and dereliction of his pastoral duties.
(948) Scholastic’s
Cowering Compromise Is Still A Loss For Conservatives And
Christians at CRN, 10/23/23 “Books promoting agendas like homosexuality and
transgenderism and pushing narratives of systemic racism
aren’t just presenting an alternate viewpoint. Make no
mistake, these activists aim to indoctrinate our children
into a worldview devoid of sanity and devoid of God.” The
renowned children’s book publisher, Scholastic, recently
released a statement regarding the selection of books
offered at its ubiquitous book fairs, a fixture in American
elementary schools for decades. Scholastic’s feeble attempt
at compromise misses the mark, and here’s why. The
well-known children’s book publisher finds itself trapped.
On one side, activists demand that young kids be exposed to
ideologically charged books.
(949) Max
Lucado And The ‘He Gets Us’ Campaign by Ray Fava –
Evangelical Dark Web, 10/26/23 One of the most overlooked aspects of both the He Gets Us
Campaign and The Chosen is the Big Eva industry working
behind the scenes to fund and market products that
ultimately put out a substandard Jesus. The He Gets Us
Campaign seemingly came out of nowhere with the ability to
put up the funds for major ad buys including Super Bowl
commercials. Evangelical Dark Web exposed much of the
nefarious figures behind He Gets Us back in February.
However there is still more to this story that is worth
revisiting and shining a brighter light on and that is the
network behind them.
(950) Halloween:
Gender Deceivers’ Favorite Holiday by Linda
Harvey, 10/31/23 So now even Playboy can’t help itself. A recent centerfold
is a deceiver—a man pretending to be a woman. It’s Halloween
costume season in America, where even decadent Playboy can’t
keep its mission straight and features fake news, complete
with fake body parts. You’ve probably noticed that a
cultural revolution is in full swing, engineered largely by
promiscuity promoters and “LGBT” advocates. It’s based on
deception, depravity, subterfuge, endless dirty tricks and
no treats. So is it any wonder that Halloween is their
favorite, special holiday? It’s one more reason this event
is something for concerned families to avoid.
(951) Transvestite
Pastor Commits Suicide Following Exposure by Ray
Fava – Evangelical Dark Web, 11/9/23 “Anytime a homosexual or transvestite commits suicide, the
world will immediately blame the church, as is happening
here. But his behavior warranted harsh judgment from the
community. His behavior should receive disdain and be
publicly shamed. He even lied through omission to his
congregation regarding the revelations. A congregation was
betrayed by a wicked pastor who deceived them, and rather
than disavow this man, FBC Phenix City has taken a mournful
approach on their Facebook Page, even setting up a memorial
cross on their lawn.” Fred “Bubba” Copeland is the mayor of
Smiths Station, a 7,000-person town, while also serving as
pastor of FBC Phenix City. Through reporting, a conservative
Alabama digital outlet, 1819 News released a series of
exposes on the mayor and pastor of a small town whereby they
revealed that Copeland was digitally moonlighting as a
transvestite under the persona “Brittini Blaire.”
(952) Rosaria
Butterfield Names Preston Sprinkle, Revoice, And CRU As
Teaching Heresy On LGBTQ by The Dissenter,
11/15/23 Last Friday, author and speaker Rosaria Butterfield spoke
at the convocation for Liberty University. Rosaria
Butterfield is a former tenured professor of English and
women’s studies at Syracuse University who became a
Christian in 1999. Her conversion story, which includes
leaving a lesbian lifestyle, is detailed in her memoir, “The
Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert.” After coming to
Christ, Butterfield quickly began a career in Evangelicalism
where she would speak about her conversion story. However,
she quickly became caught up in the wrong crowd at outlets
like The Gospel Coalition and a lot of her teachings she has
even admitted herself, were false teachings.
(953) Calls
Mount For SBC’S ERLC President Brent Leatherwood To Be
Removed by Ray Fava – Evangelical Dark Web,
11/16/23 “In an organized fashion, Southern Baptists have launched a
petition for his removal.” Yesterday, Evangelical Dark Web
reported that Brent Leatherwood gave a press conference in
which he had harsher words for Steven Crowder, the person
who leaked the Nashville Manifesto, and those who amplified
it, than even the trans[gender] school shooter, Audrey Hale.
In the performative press conference, Brent Leatherwood
employed ERLC staffers for his personal project of
attempting to suppress the Nashville Manifesto from the
public.
(954) What
The Media Aren’t Telling You About A Trans Mayor’s Suicide
by Mia Cathell – Townhall, 11/18/23 “Aside from wearing plus-sized women’s clothes and
undergarments, the mayor authored violent erotica
fantasizing about murdering a female constituent—a real-life
resident living in Copeland’s community—and assuming the
victim’s identity.” “Transgender rights” activists and the
LGBTQ-allied mainstream media are mourning the horrific
death of a crossdressing Alabama mayor who committed suicide
with a handgun after a conservative news site “involuntarily
outed” the transsexual politician. Fred L. “Bubba” Copeland,
the Republican mayor of small-town Smiths Station, died of a
self-inflicted gunshot wound during a welfare check that
reportedly turned into a slow-chase police pursuit. Copeland
killed himself on November 3, two days after the publication
of an exposé by 1819 News, the brainchild of right-wing
think tank Alabama Policy Institute, that unmasked the
middle-aged mayor’s double life he secretly lived as a
closeted “transgender curvy girl” in the midst of
“transitioning.”
(955) What
is Thanksgiving Day? by Marsha West, 11/23/23 “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift” (2 Cor.
9:15). Thanksgiving is an American holiday that stretches
all the way back to a time long before America became a
nation. The Pilgrims landed in 1620. They faced brutal
conditions and were woefully unprepared. Roughly half of
them died in that first year. Then they had a successful
harvest of corn. In November of 1621 they decided to
celebrate a feast of thanksgiving. Edward Winslow was among
those who ate that first thanksgiving meal in 1621. He
noted: “Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four
men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner
rejoice together after we gathered the fruit of our labors.
…And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at
this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far
from want.”
(956) Ex-CIA
Director Michael Hayden Smears Patriotic American
Christians: ‘No Different’ From Hamas Terrorists
by David Ng, 11/25/23 Former NSA and CIA chief Michael Hayden, who has fashioned
a post-government career attacking and censoring
conservatives, is spending his Thanksgiving week smearing
patriotic American Christians who own firearms, claiming
they are “no different” from Hamas terrorists. On Wednesday,
Michael Hayden responded to a post on X that juxtaposed two
photos: one of a woman holding an American flag, Bible, and
handgun; the other of Palestinian terrorist Reem Riyashi,
who killed herself along with four Israelis in a 2004
suicide bombing that was claimed by Hamas and the Al-Aqsa
Martyrs Brigade.
(957) Snares
Of The Modern Church – Political Correctness by
The Dissenter, 11/30/23 “The adoption of terms like “racial justice” or “gender
justice” reflects a similar drift from biblical principles.
While the pursuit of true justice is undoubtedly Christian
(Micah 6:8), these contemporary terms with adjectives in
front of them carry with them connotations and agendas that
are far removed from the biblical concept of justice.
Biblical justice is grounded in the character and law of
God, not in the whims of cultural opinion or political
ideology.” It’s been a few weeks since I published an
article in this series, Snares of the Modern Church. But I
wanted to touch on something today that even the best of us
are affected by. It’s easy to get caught up in the language
and reconstructionism of the day, especially in the
labyrinthine corridors of modern society, where the shifting
sands of social opinion have reshaped the landscape.
(958) A
Missing (or Ignored) Link: They Like Jesus But Not the
Church (or Israel) by Lighthouse Trails, 12/1/23 In light of the October 7th attack against Israel and the
subsequent anti-Israel, antisemitic demonstrations around
the world (including within “Christian” circles), it’s
important for Bible-believing Christians to understand the
role that many popular evangelical figures have played over
the last couple of decades in bringing about a disastrous
paradigm shift within the church, part of which includes a
revised and dishonorable view of Israel. This
spiritual-outlook shift has resulted in much of the
proclaiming church now embracing immoral and harmful beliefs
such as homosexuality, the New Age (via occultic practices
like Yoga and contemplative prayer), “same-sex marriage,”
transgenderism, “wokeism,” and replacement theology (i.e., a
view that often leads to antisemitism and some say is
actually a form of antisemitism).
(959) ELCA
And PCUSA Pen Open Letter Asking USA Govt. To Deny Israel
Weaponry+ Accuses Israel Of War Crimes by
Protestia, 12/4/23 The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) and the
Presbyterian Church (USA) have signed their name to an open
letter pleading with United States Secretary of Defense
Lloyd Austin to refrain from giving Israel access to
weaponry support for their ground offensive in Gaza, all the
while repeating terrorist talking points and regurgitating
Hamas propaganda. The move comes just weeks after
denominational heads blamed Israel for the terrorist
attacks, suggesting they brought it upon themselves.
(960) The
Post-Christian Media Is Enormously Ignorant About
Christianity by Jonathon Van Maren, 12/8/23 “…the [fact is that] media would like to portray ancient
Christian beliefs held by the vast majority of Christians
for 2,000 years as dangerous and radical – as “Christian
nationalism” rather than simply Christianity.” One
aspect of the post-Christian era in the West is that
ordinary Christian views held by ordinary Christian people
are almost entirely unknown to a growing portion of our
populations. It should not be news that Christians in public
positions hold beliefs that virtually all Christians have
held for thousands of years and yet, because of the
monumental ignorance of the press and several successive
generations cut off from their civilizational inheritance by
a derelict and deformed public school system, many seem to
treat these revelations with shock.
(961) Drag
Queen Stands In Pulpit At Washington National Cathedral To
‘Pray’ To ‘Know Our Bodies’ by The Dissenter,
12/15/23 Weird stuff. It just keeps getting weirder. Yesterday, we
reported that drag queens were holding a “drag nativity”
event depicting both Mary and the infant Jesus in drag. We
also reported how a church was decking its halls in kinky
drag decor and decorating its tree with drag queen
memorabilia. And earlier, we reported that a homosexual
couple, one of whom is particularly profane and gross in
speaking about his sexual experiences with animals, had
purchased two twin baby boys through the surrogacy programs
and also how the Supreme Court recently sided with a
Washington law that bans Christian intervention in LGBTQ
youth counseling. This is all from just this week.
(962) Here’s
The Real Reason Why So Many American University Students
Hate Israel by Robert Spencer – PJ Media, 12/17/23 “The students who are most passionate about hating Israel
know the least about the conflict because they are suffering
from a social contagion, not acting upon a reasoned
conclusion. Those who actually study the issue, if they do
so thoroughly and honestly, will come out supporting Israel.
Our nation’s colleges and universities are doing their level
best to prevent that outcome. It’s simple, really. Why do so
many college and university students hate Israel? Because
they know nothing about it, and have bought into the
propaganda they’ve been fed.
(963) “New
Trans Textbook for Psychiatrists Could Harm Millions of
Kids, Critics Say” by Darlene McCormick Sanchez -
The Epoch Times, 12/18/23 A new “cutting-edge” textbook on transgenderism written
with the help of activists will be used to train
psychiatrists and could harm millions of children in the
future, some experts have warned. “Gender-Affirming
Psychiatric Care,” just released on Amazon at $58, is a
textbook printed by American Psychiatric Association (APA)
Publishing. The textbook signals early on that it’s more
subjective than objective, quoting a feminist studies
professor saying, “Scientific neutrality is a fallacy.”
(964) CRT,
Genocide, And The Importance Of Christian Universities
by Jesse Johnson – The Cripplegate, 12/19/23 “CRT poisons all that it touches. Because at its core CRT
is ahistorical, it gets history almost exactly wrong. This
is clearly seen in how they categorize Jews as oppressors,
and thus not subject to the protection of campus mobs
calling for their annihilation.” Since the October 7
terrorist attacks in Israel, students at many American
Universities have taken to protests celebrating the
intifada, and calling for Palestine to overthrow Israel
“from the river to the sea.” In some cases Jewish students
have been hounded and locked inside buildings. Jewish owned
business near several universities have been targeted with
harassment and stormed by mobs.
(965) Drag
Queen Church Puts On Mock Courtroom Performance
Deliberating Anti-Homosexual Passages by The
Dissenter, 12/21/23 In an era where the Scriptures are regularly co-opted and
twisted by progressives as a battering ram against
conservatism, particularly concerning LGBTQ issues, it’s
crucial to confront the misleading exegesis propagated by
certain progressive movements. A “church,” (a false church,
of course), recently put on an absurd courtroom performance
depicting the deliberation of certain Greek terms in the New
Testament passages from 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy. These
clowns attempt to redefine the clear biblical stance on
homosexuality, even embracing rank heresy to do so.
(966) The
Constant Battle Against Constant Lies by Cliff
Kincaid – News With Views, 12/22/23 Wondering why people lie for a living, I remember that,
during my studies in college, I came to admire the Christian
existentialist philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard, who wrote
about the corruption in the Danish State Church. He declared
that everyone knew privately that the system was rotten and
corrupt but they would not say so publicly. “Just as one
says that death has marked a man, so we recognize the
symptoms which demand to be attacked. It is a battle against
lies,” he said. I was a partner with AIM founder Reed Irvine
for several decades and documented through the AIM Report
and several books the “misdeeds” of our Big Media
establishment. He taught me a lot. Unfortunately, media bias
has gotten worse, not better, and even infects such one-time
“conservative” outlets as the Drudge Report.
(967) Netflix
Toddler Show Features Little Boy Dancing In Dress For
Homosexual ‘Dads’ by The Dissenter, 12/24/23 The Netflix series “CoComelon Lane,” a popular show aimed
at toddlers, has recently raised eyebrows for an episode
featuring a young boy dressed in a tutu and tiara dancing
for his two homosexual “dads.” In this particular episode,
the boy, Nico, is seen trying to decide what to wear for a
family photo session. His dads encourage him to “just be
you,” leading Nico to choose a tutu and tiara. This scene is
part of a song and dance sequence where Nico also tries on a
firefighter and chef outfit before settling on the tutu and
tiara.
(968) Three
Marks Of Progressive-Lite Evangelicals by Drake
Isabell – Christ Over All, 12/29/23 “What I am saying is that we should at least have eyes wide
open regarding what exactly these progressive-lite
evangelicals are doing, to look beyond the smokescreen of
“nuance” and “winsomeness” and pay attention to the larger
pattern of their teachings. In the name of “niceness,” they
are dulling the sharp edge of the call for repentance that
our world desperately needs to hear.” We live in contentious
times. With virtually every event or story comes a flood of
news reports from both major news outlets and a seemingly
endless array of bloggers and podcasters, and these reports
demonstrate the sharp ideological differences between
various segments of our Western population. It can be
difficult for Christians to find trustworthy voices that
both report the facts and give sound, biblical insight into
current events.
(969) Has
Hitler Won On The Left? by Carl R. Trueman – First
Things, 12/31/23 When is a crime victimless? When its perpetrators enjoy the
status of victims, at least according to the nihilistic
tastes of the West in our day. That is the lesson of
reactions to various events in recent years, from the
looting that accompanied many of the “mostly peaceful” BLM
protests of 2020 to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7
this year. The response to the violence in Gaza was
especially chilling. While there is always room for debating
whether a response is proportionate to the act of
aggression, the jubilation and exhilaration expressed by
American academics, students, and some politicians over the
Hamas attacks started before the Israeli counter-attack.
(970) “Climate
Scientists Say We Should Embrace Higher CO2 Levels”
by Katie Spence- The Epoch Times, 1/2/24 While governments pour billions of dollars into lowering
CO2 emissions, several climate experts say CO2 is essential
and higher levels are not a problem. The Earth has entered
“uncharted territory” and life is “under siege.” The public
has failed to heed this message and now “time is up,” warns
a recent report from Oxford Academics’ BioScience. The
authors of the report say the catalyst behind the dire
warnings is escalating concentrations of carbon dioxide
(CO2). To salvage what remains, the authors say a much
faster phase-out of oil, coal, and other fossil fuels is
necessary. Failure could cause water and food shortages,
plus extreme heat, for a third to half of the world’s
population.
(971) Southern
Baptist Plagiarism Questions Resurface After Harvard
Presidency Resignation by Ben Zeisloft – The
Sentinel, 1/6/24 Former Southern Baptist Convention President Ed Litton
retains his role as a trustee at Southeastern Baptist
Theological Seminary despite documented instances of
plagiarism in his sermons, a reality which resurfaces in the
wake of Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigning
because of unearthed instances of plagiarism in her academic
work. Conservative activists and reporters documented
several dozen examples of plagiarism in roughly half of the
academic papers published by Gay which, combined with
backlash over a recent hearing about campus antisemitism,
led to her resignation on Tuesday.
(972) Letter
to the Editor: On The Chosen and Its Attempt to Strip
Christ of His Deity at Lighthouse Trails, 1/10/24 As many did, I bought the Season 1 DVD of The Chosen and
watched it with great anticipation. By the time I reached
the end of Season 1, I had an uneasy feeling in my spirit. I
couldn’t put my finger on why but I had no desire to watch
the 2nd season. My sister, a strong believer, told me
when she thinks of Christ now, she “sees” the actor who
portrays Him in The Chosen. That was a HUGE red flag
to me. A short time later, I sent her a very good article—it
could have been one from Lighthouse Trails—and I reminded
her of her statement. Praise God, my sister’s eyes were
opened, and she never watched another episode. Thank
you for your gift of discernment and your courage to go
against the grain. I believe The Chosen series is a cleverly
packaged, deceitful attempt to strip Christ of His deity in
people’s minds and to relegate Him to the position of a
nice, charismatic guy with some good teachings and funny
friends. In my mind, that’s heresy at its worst and
should be avoided by any true follower of Christ Jesus, our
Messiah and God. As he was in the Garden of Eden,
Satan is subtle and effective. God bless you and protect
your ministry from Satan and his minions. Maranatha!
(973) USA
Is A Massive Trafficker Of Children For Sex And Labor
by Mary Dowling, 1/13/24
We have illegals in our airports, our schools, our parks,
and on the streets, and African migrants collect cans to
stay alive. There is nothing humane about that….” James
O’Keefe interviewed a border agent, and the information is
horrifying. There is no better word to describe it. What
brought the agent to tears is the trafficking of children.
He said the most troubling thing for him, and it’s more than
troubling – it’s evil – is the trafficking of women and
children. The agent further added that every agent knows
what’s going on.
(974) Exposed:
Biden’s Monstrous ‘Anti-Terror’ Plan To Censor Christians,
Conservatives Before 2024 Election by Victoria
Taft – PJ Media, 1/19/24
“Phase two of the program uses seminars produced by the
University of Rhode Island’s Media Education Lab that “train
educators across the country on how to divert students away
from conservative ideas and media sources skeptical of the
administration’s agenda.” American taxpayers gave an initial
$700,000 to fund the project used to destroy your freedom of
conscience.”] When they’re not siccing the FBI on Catholic
Churches or dragging upset fathers from school board
meetings, there’s a new and equally monstrous plan to shut
up conservatives terrorists before the 2024 election.
It is sponsored by your friendly Department of Homeland
Security (DHS). Careful guys, don’t trip on your jackboots.
(975) Southern
Baptists And Evangelicals Join Together To Create A
Scripture-Twisting Program Promoting Open Borders
by The Dissenter, 1/21/24 “Rather than upholding biblical truth and discerning the
times, these leaders and pastors have become willful
participants in a larger socialist agenda, championing a
cause that undermines the integrity of both Scripture and
national sovereignty. This silly Challenge put out by these
religious socialist influencers stands as a disturbing
epitome of propaganda, skillfully exploiting Christian
compassion to propel a leftist, Marxist agenda in the
Church.” In a world where discerning truth has become
optional for most of her inhabitants, it’s becoming
increasingly important for truth lovers to unmask the real
agendas behind seemingly benign initiatives. The Evangelical
Immigration Table (EIT), a group often presented as a
faith-based coalition offering biblical insight into
immigration policies, is, in fact, a facade for the
Soros-funded National Immigration Forum that seeks to
promote a Marxist revolution.
(976) Stop
the Genocide! by Mike Oppenheimer, 1/22/24 When they talk of Palestine, they mean all of Israel, not
just a portion. When they speak of’ the river to the sea,’
they are taking a phrase, a term from the Bible, using it
against what God has spoken for Israel, his people of the
land. That is how backward everything is in our day. This
discord should not be confusing to anyone who can think.
Those who support these inhuman murderers may as well cheer
for serial killers or the devil himself.
(977) What’s
The State Of Global Religious Freedom In 2024? by
Chris Queen – PJ Media, 1/24/24 Every day on the calendar has those “special days” —
commemorations or observations of one thing or another. Most
of them are silly, like International Sweatpants Day (Jan.
21) and National Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day (Jan. 22),
but some have actual significance. Last week, one of those
days probably passed most of us by. Every Jan. 16 has been
National Religious Freedom Day since 1993, but that probably
didn’t cross the minds of many Americans.
(978) Alistair
Begg Doubles Down On LGBTQ Wedding Remarks, Gets The Boot
From American Family Radio by The Dissenter,
1/26/24 “We are grateful that AFR has done the right thing, and we
agree with them that the goal is always reconciliation, but
reconciliation in the truth.” Last week, The Dissenter
reported that Alistair Begg, a prominent pastor associated
with The Gospel Coalition, urged Christians to not only
attend [a transgender] wedding, but to also buy them a
gift—a position that starkly contradicts the biblical view
of marriage as a sacred union exclusively between a man and
a woman. This alarming advice from Begg, a respected figure
in evangelical circles including the late R.C. Sproul’s
Ligonier ministry, represents a growing trend of Evangelical
leaders to abandon sound Christian doctrine in favor of
man-pleasing cultural orthodoxy. It is a glaring example of
the moral compromise seeping into the church under the guise
of progressive tolerance.
(979) Side
B Theology Exposed: The Push For More Homosexual Pastors
by Ray Fava – Evangelical Dark Web, 1/27/24 “The Revoice organization is working behind the scenes in
more ways than it appears…” Side B Theology is one of the
most pressing compromises in Evangelicalism today. It
asserts that homosexual desires and identity are not sinful,
in a partial affirmation of homosexuality and
transgenderism. Logically, this could be carried over to
pedophilia. A few weeks ago, Evangelical Dark Web reported
on Preston Sprinkle hosting a conference on Preston Sprinkle
wanting more churches to have homosexual leaders.
Evangelical Dark Web infiltrated the webinar and the
findings are quite interesting.
(980) The
Meaning Of Non-Binary Sexuality by Peter Jones –
truthXchange, 1/28/24 The days ahead will be tough, but Jesus, our Lord, is in
control and “he will win the battle,” as Martin Luther wrote
in his great hymn so many years ago. As the author of Psalm
121:2-3 stated: “He will not let your foot be moved; he who
keeps you will not slumber nor sleep. My help comes from the
Lord who made heaven and earth.” There is much confusion in
our day regarding sexuality, both in the church and in the
culture. Father James Martin, SJ, one of the attenders at
the official Synod on Synodality (the meeting of all
Catholic leaders now taking place over several years),
affirms publicly that “we cannot deny the reality of
same-sex relationships as integral to the meaning of the
church as the People of God…Both heterosexual and homosexual
people embody the truth of their dignity as imago Dei in
their sexuality.”
(981) Alistair
Begg Refuses To Repent, Attacks American Evangelicals In
Awful Sermon by Ray Fava – Evangelical Dark Web,
2/1/24 “It’s clear that Alistair Begg is not a serious pastor
anymore…” You may think that the reaction to Alistair Begg’s
compromise on gay weddings was too harsh, but actually, it
has not been harsh enough. Whatever reputational credibility
Begg stored up in his decades of ministry, he threw away in
a recent sermon where he refused to repent and attacked
those who called him out. The sermon is even worse than his
initial statements.
(982) Russell
Moore’s New Curriculum Exists To Give Pastors ‘Plausible
Deniability’ For Avoiding Politics In The Pulpit
by Protestia, 2/4/24 “This clip is representative of how many of these
gospel-centered parachurch organizations work. They
encourage pastors to focus narrowly on the gospel while
these organizations disciple people with bad application
that smuggles in leftism and egalitarianism.” Months after
former ERLC President and current Editor of Christianity
Today Russell Moore joined forces with David French, who
recently came out in support of gay marriage and child
genital mutilation, and Curtis Chang, who launched the
website ‘Christians and the Vaccine’ where he routinely
shamed Christians for refusing to get vaccinated to launch
‘The After Party” a teaching curriculum to educate
Christians on how to have a proper view of politics, we have
begun to see the rotten fruit of their ministry endeavor.
(983) Haters
Hosting After School Satan Clubs Say They Aren’t About
Satan. Don’t You Believe It by Victoria Taft – PJ
Media, 2/6/24 The devil’s making headlines again by coming to your kids’
schools in 2024. It’s nothing new, of course. We know the
spirt of darkness never went anywhere. The inspired Word of
God speaks of Satan. Hollywood gave Satan his own TV show,
“Lucifer,” and there have been other TV shows and movies
about the personification of evil. They don’t even hide it.
But the people who bring you the “After School Satan Clubs”
say they’re really not proselytizing about evil, they’re
just anti-Christian. Codswallop.
(984) The
“Harvard of Christian Schools” Going Woke? by Ken
Ham, 2/11/24 A recent Fox News article, “When the ‘Harvard of Christian
Schools’ Goes Woke,” details what is happening at Wheaton
College. The school’s “woke” actions include banning
biblical words such as “service” (due to how such a word
“may invoke power dynamics across socio-economic, racial,
and cultural lines”) and “mankind.” This article didn’t
surprise me in the least!
(985) Letter
From a Jewish Born-Again Believer: May We Not Be Apathetic
and Indifferent at Lighthouse Trails, 2/12/24 I am a born-again Christian believer who is also Jewish. My
mother is Jewish, and I was raised on stories of the
Holocaust. Therefore, antisemitism hits me hard, at gut
level; and the news of the attack on October 7th when Hamas
attacked Israel, killing more than 1,400 people including
babies and the elderly, was absolutely devastating. Jews
were raped (including raping babies); they were beheaded
(including beheading babies); and many were burned alive.
And the people who did these things were so proud of what
they were doing that they used their phones to make videos
of it and post those videos on social media.
(986) Under
New Management: ‘He Gets Us’ Attacks Christians In Woke
Super Bowl Ad by Ray Fava – Evangelical Dark Web,
2/13/24 “Is it any surprise that He Gets Us chose to depict
pro-lifers as villains and homosexuals as fabulous?” One of
the most talked about Super Bowl commercials appears to be
the one from the He Gets Us campaign. The company ran two
ads last year and decided to upgrade from stock images in
black and white to AI images. Yet the messaging went from
vapid to one far more subversive and hostile to actual
Christians.
(987) Open
Homo Sex In The Capitol: No One Is Scandalized by
Peter Jones – truthXchange, 2/20/24 “Democrat Staffer Who Filmed Himself Having Sex in the
Capitol Won’t Be Charged.” So reads the headline reporting a
video posted by the above-mentioned staffer which showed for
the first time ever a nearly naked man on all fours inside
the Capitol office building. The video wasn’t just nude
posing either. The male staffer and his boyfriend filmed
themselves engaging in homosexual sex inside a meeting room
of the Capitol Building. Sen. Ben Cardin, who employed the
staffer, simply dropped the issue. Aidan Maese-Czeropski,
the staffer in question, was defiant in the aftermath,
claiming he was “being attacked for who I love to pursue a
political agenda.” He did not mention who was attacking him.
In fact, he got off scot-free, and was able to make this
stark statement of the normality of his sexual non-binary
actions.
(988) Christianizing
The Climate Cult by David Morrill – Protestia,
2/22/24 “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire” is no doubt a familiar
idiom for discerning Christians. For climate alarmists, the
idiom is no doubt, “Where there’s smoke, there’s an opening
for Marxism.” The latest smoke pointing to another SBC
seminary fire came in the form of a video of a pagan earth
worship ritual performed at the World Economic Forum in
Davos. Atmospheric scientist, evangelical Christian, and
aggressive Twitter blocker Katharine Hayhoe – along with
five other panelists – was subject to the bizarre ritual
before the discussion commenced.
(989) Trump
Pledges To Defend Christianity Against The Left, Which He
Says Wants ‘To Tear Down Crosses’ by Breitbart,
2/25/24 Former President Donald Trump promised to use a second term
in the White House to defend Christian values and even
suggested he’d shield the faith’s central iconography,
warning a convention of religious broadcasters on Thursday
night that the left wants “to tear down crosses.” “Remember,
every communist regime throughout history has tried to stamp
out the churches, just like every fascist regime has tried
to co-opt them and control them. And, in America, the
radical left is trying to do both,” Trump told hundreds of
cheering attendees at the National Religious Broadcasters
International Christian Media Convention in Nashville.
(990) The
Last rebellion, Mankind’s open door into Marxism continues
by Mike Oppenheimer, 2/28/24 Mankind has been making steady progressive steps all along
but now we have giant leaps in technology. Where is it
leading us? Is it a where, or is it to a who? All these
conveniences from technology have entangled us and
technology has gone wrong. Now we are being introduced to AI
and robotics. The world has changed rapidly, and there are
those today who want Technology to do the thinking for us.
It’s a preprogrammed system within itself, set with the
concepts and values of its creators, who for the most part
are amoral. Man’s sinfulness knows no boundaries, especially
by those who willfully fight against God and his ways, which
is the majority of leaders in the tech industry. When
Darkness imposes its influence on a nation, first goes
common sense, then goes fiscal sense, then goes moral sense,
and then the last bulwark to collapse, then goes spiritual
sense (Scripture). What’s the state of the Church, if we go
by temperature it's far lower than 98.6. The love of many
has grown cold. Few care what is taking place and even fewer
are involved in saying or doing something about it.
(991) Right
Now Media Brings Left-Wing Partisan Political
Indoctrination To Church Small Groups by Paul
Brown, 2/29/24 Attempts to gain political power and enact laws that
reflect Biblical values by Christian conservatives like U.S.
House Speaker Mike Johnson are rhetorically slapped down
with the labels of “Political Idolatry” and “Christian
Nationalism.” With less than nine months until the 2024 U.S.
Presidential election, political operatives of all stripes
are hard at work using all means of persuasion to push the
electorate to vote for their candidate. In early 2023,
Protestia reported on the launch of The After Party, a
left-wing political indoctrination campaign produced under
the guise of a church small group curriculum.
(992) Letter
to the Editor: I Was in a Dark and Dangerous Spiritual
Deception at Lighthouse Trails, 3/3/24 Dear Lighthouse Trails: Thank you for your article on
testing the spirits. I have neglected to test the spirits.
Here is a short summary of what happened to me, which is
actually a huge story coming out of lies into Truth in the
past almost five years. In short: I used to be a Clinical
Psychologist. I had a humanistic view and understanding of
life, quite liberal and “politically correct” with that
“good person” kind of idea. I also went into New Age,
eastern ideas, esoteric, although I grew up in a traditional
Protestant church. I always had a need for more knowledge,
about what is going on in the world and also my own life. I
was quite a conscientious child and person, and I remember
people (some family or friends/others) would remark to me
that I am too uptight and need to lighten up a bit).
(993) Atheist
Group Asks Irs To Strip Tax-Exempt Status From Megachurch
After Political Endorsement From Pulpit by
Protestia, 3/6/24 The Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) is asking the
IRS to remove the tax-exempt status from Calvary Chapel
Chino Hills church after Senior pastor Jack Hibbs seemingly
made a political endorsement of former MLB player Steve
Garvey to the California Senate from the pulpit, a violation
of their 501(c)(3) status. In a letter sent to the IRS they
explain: On Sunday, February 25, 2024, Pastor Jack Hibbs
once again used his Sunday service to endorse a political
candidate, telling his congregation to “vote for Steve
Garvey” in the upcoming CA primary.
(994) The
Toxic Fruit of Reformed Theology, Part 1: Replacement
Theology by Kelleigh Nelson, 3/12/24 So many have asked, “Where is the Church?” As Dr.
Sigler well knows, today’s church leaders are bereft of the
truth regarding the Lord’s eternal promises to the Jewish
people and have long ago left the original doctrinal
veracity of the Apostolic age. In upcoming portions of this
series, the more famous Church fathers who expounded on
Justin’s Replacement theology, will be discussed, including
Tertullian, Chrysostom, Augustin, Origen and Constantine,
all of this leading to today’s Christian Palestinianism.
(995) Biden
Imports Immigrants Through Secretive Flights, Documents
Show by Jordan Elliott – The Sentinel, 3/19/24
“Federal officials omitted the list of the airports through
which illegal aliens have been entering despite requests for
the information from the Center for Immigration Studies.”
Biden administration officials imported some 320,000 illegal
aliens through American airports directly from foreign
countries last year alone, according to documents recently
obtained by the Center for Immigration Studies through
public records requests.
(996) The
West’s Descent Into Madness by Laura Hollis –
Townhall, 3/23/24
If it is possible to watch a society — an entire
civilization — go insane, we are watching that phenomenon in
real-time. Across all forms of media, the headlines bring
fresh evidence daily. Western civilization — that
aggregation of cultural, political, social, and religious
traditions that have formed the basis for European societies
and those of their current and former colonies and
territories — is committing suicide, using every weapon —
philosophical, legal, political — at its disposal.
(997) Is
Religion Losing Influence in Public Life? by Pew
Research Group, 3/26/24
A recent Pew survey was released which found that 80% of US
adults say religion’s role in American life is shrinking, up
from 74% in 2022. While there was some good news, most of it
was bad news, showing that we live in a “religious
sentimental” culture that has no interest in the things of
God. The survey was conducted from February 13–25, 2024,
among a US representative population sample of 12,693 US
adults.
(998) It
Needs To Stop by Rob Pue – News With Views,
3/27/24
The indoctrination and grooming of our children by demonic,
perverted public school officials, teachers and school board
members is staggering. It’s one thing if you’re an
adult and want to act out sexual deviancy in your own
life. But as the LGBTQP+ crowd has told us, they’re
now coming for our kids, and they’re not ashamed to admit
it. Parents who object are labeled “domestic
terrorists.” As a kid, I attended a public school in a
small, rural town in the 1970s and early ‘80s. Even
though it was a small public school, as I look back today,
I can see we were — even then — being indoctrinated with a
“globalist” agenda.
(999) SBC
Women’s Conference Speaker Appears In Promo Video With
Transgenders Promoting LGBTQ Ideology In The Church by
The Dissenter, 3/28/24
“This represents the usual attempt to downplay the
sinfulness of same-sex marriage by redefining it as a
Christian ordinance rather than a Creation ordinance. It
suggests that God’s teachings on marriage are only
applicable within the realm of Christianity.” Rachel Gilson,
a self-described same-sex attracted woman who spoke at the
Southern Baptist Convention’s women’s conference in 2023 has
now appeared in a promo video released by Preston Sprinkle’s
Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender.
New Sandy
Simpson Messages in Books, CDs
& DVDs
NEW
BOOK!
Reverse Paradigm Shift by Sandy Simpson
We live in a topsy-turvy
world of opposing ideas.It is easy to get lost and overwhelmed.We as
Christians often don’t realize how much we have been
diapraxed by the world, the flesh and the devil.Our paradigm
has been altered to such a degree that, without the
solid foundation of Scripture, we are often set adrift
without the anchor God has provided us.Our paradigm is our worldview, our
understanding of reality.Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit and
the written eternal Word, we really have no hope of
understanding reality, our cultures, or our lives.I have
written this book to clue the reader into some of the
issues that surround the modern born-again believer
and how to reverse the shift that has exponentially
changed our perspective in some cases.Fortunately, in the foreknowledge of our
Lord, He provided us with a roadmap to navigate our
fallen world.We
don’t need a new map, as Emergent Church advocates
claim.We
need the tried and true map of the ages.There is “nothing new under the sun”.There have always been false prophets and
false teachers who are there by the will of the enemy
to mislead and ultimately destroy the faith of many.We are
clearly living in the Apostasy foretold in the Bible
that has been growing preceding the appearance of the
Antichrist.We
need to carefully test ourselves to be sure we are in
the Faith, and then hold on to the hope we have in
Christ.