SBC-SDA Ecumenical Services. A church
choir from a predominately black Seven-day Adventist church and from
two predominately white Southern Baptist churches (Huntsville, AL)
will "break down racial and denominational walls" that separate
them to join for three performances (one in each church) of the musical
cantata "Make Us One," March 22-24. The SDA is still a
cult (Kr. John Whitcomb lists six reasons for classifying it as such in
the March-April BDM Letter.) This article is available for $1.00 from: BDM,
P.O. Box 679, Bedford, IN 47421. Apostasy is still rampant in the SBC. --Calvary Contender
Heroin Popular With Youth. The psychedelic '60's turned on with LSD;
the strung-out '70's found energy in amphetamines; the hard-charging '80's
got kicks from cocaine. Today's pop culture is cultivating a dark, depressed
mood, the fruit of decades of spiritual rootlessness and family collapse.
Young people dressed in black, indulge themselves in bleak, moody introspection,
and their music wallows in cynicism, anger, and despair. Their drug of choice
increasingly is heroin. Teenage drug use is soaring, as rock groups now
openly promote it.--Calvary Contender
Pro-Abortionists' Insane Logic. When the president of the U.S. defends
a procedure (partial birth abortion) that aborts babies who are three-quarters
born and does so in the name of morality, is it really so surprising that
some people take the natural next step and assume that killing the baby
a few seconds after the journey of birth is also a moral act? Is it logical
or consistent that obtaining an abortion at nine months is fully legal but
killing a newborn baby gets you prosecuted for murder? Roe v. Wade was the
disastrous first step toward devaluing all human life.--CC
Marriage and Military Under Fire. Former Marxist David Horowitz
says he and others who hated America concluded that it could be destroyed
from within if feminists and homosexuals undermined the moral foundations
of society. Their chosen targets, marriage and the military, are now under
assault by activists and liberal judges. In feminizing the military, sexual
harassment has wrought havoc. Homosexuals plan to challenge laws banning
same-sex marriages. An activist boasts that same-sex "marriage"
is "the final tool with which to dismantle all sodomy statutes, get
education about homosexuality and AIDS into public schools, and change how
society views and treats us."--CC
Marilyn Manson's Satanic CD Popular With Youth. Satanic death-rock
band Marilyn Manson's new album "Antichrist Superstar"
was the third top selling CD in its first week of release. With his stage
name taken from suicidal sex symbol Marilyn Monroe and serial killer Charles
Manson, this ordained Satanist priest and his headbanging band openly defy
every moral principle. Wearing T-shirts that read "Kill God, Kill Your
Mom and Dad, Kill Yourself," the band celebrates hate, racism, sexual
depravity, violence, and blasphemy. Religion is a favorite theme as they
mock God and rant against Jesus. Marilyn said: "Raise your kids better
or I'll raise them for you." He said, "I'm on my way down now,
I'd like to take you with me."--CC
Abortions Decline. The U.S. abortion rate has dropped to its lowest
level in 20 years. About 1.2 million abortions were performed in 1994, down
from 1.3 million the year before, and the fourth straight decline. In 1976,
988,267 abortions were performed. The peak year was 1990 when there were
1.4 million abortions.--CC
The Koran's False Jesus. Islam's Koran depicts Jesus as a
great miracle worker and one of the greatest prophets, but says He did not
die on a cross. Muslims believe that when the Jews sought to crucify Him,
God called Him up to heaven and threw His likeness onto someone else, who
was crucified by mistake. Muslims deny the Trinity, deity, and lordship
of Jesus, and His crucifixion and resurrection. The Koran offers a false
Jesus, and a religion that relies upon violence and force.--CC
Homosexuality Accepted. The media and cultural elite promote the
idea that homosexuality is as virtuous as heterosexuality. Before, homosexuals
were seen as immoral and mentally ill; today, those who oppose their wicked
lifestyle are portrayed that way. The World said: "Gays have
been so favorably portrayed by movies, sit-coms, and the news media that
popular opinion seems to be turning their way. The acceptance and legalization
of homosexual marriage is a real possibility, something allowed in no other
culture (in history)." Those who defend homosexual marriage logically
have to also defend polygamy, marriage between siblings, or marriage between
a man and a female animal.--CC
Mormon Temple Disinformation. The Mormon Church currently
has 49 operating temples with at least 15 more planned or under construction.
Mormons claim to practice the same ordinances in modern-day temples as were
practiced in the temple of the Bible. But where are the daily sacrifices?
Mormon temples are used 98% of the time on behalf of dead people; the temple
of the Bible was for the living.--CC
O'Hair and $627,500 Missing. Atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair,
her son, and granddaughter mysteriously vanished in summer of 1995. Two
of her tax-exempt organizations filed documents in December saying $627,500
disappeared about the same time the three did. Some say she, in poor health,
disappeared to die secretly away from Christians she had fought so long.
Estranged Christian son, William Murray, has filed petition for a
court order to become guardian of her estate. Someone said she should not
be hard to trace -- just look for a bunch of money with "in God we
trust" scratched out!--CC
NAE Head Addresses NCC. For the first time since its creation in
1942, the National Association of Evangelicals' top leader, with
the blessing of the NAE's board, has addressed the general assembly of the
liberal National Council of Churches. NCC head Joan Brown Camp
bell says she and NAE chief Don Argue have become friends through
prayer breakfasts with President Clinton, and by cooperating on causes such
as the Religious Alliance Against Pornography and helping to rebuild
burned churches.--CC
Catholic Priest To Speak At Asbury Seminary. Roman Catholic priest
and former Lutheran Richard John Neuhaus is a universalist and theological
liberal. He is president of the Institute of Religion and Public Life,
and is the Theta Phi lecturer at Asbury Theological Seminary, March
6-7. Asbury president and United Methodist minister Dr. Maxie Dunnam
has praised the Rosary, and is a member of the Roman Catholic - Methodist
International Dialogue Commission. Other recent Asbury speakers were: Fuller
Seminary president Dr. Richard Mouw and Dr. Clark Pinnock.
Wheaton College professor Robert Webber (Episcopalian) is a listed
speaker for Asbury's 1997 Ministers' Conference, Feb.3-6. He also was a
listed speaker for Dr. Jerry Falwell's recent Super Conference.--CC
Tilton's Wife Forms New Church. The second wife of healing evangelist
Robert Tilton testified during their divorce trial that she has formed
a new church. Married for two years, she said his church's main purpose
is to collect offerings, and that he has absolute authority there.--CC
Robertson Praises Pope. Religious broadcaster and Christian Coalition
head Pat Robertson had a seat of honor at Pope John Paul II's
October '95 Mass in New York. He praised the Pope profusely. In his
1993 book, "The Turning Tide," Robertson said: "Pope John
Paul II stands like a rock against all opposition in his clear enunciation
of the foundational principles of the Christian faith." He said the
Pope at his 1993 Denver visit urged American Catholics to reach out in fellow
ship to their Baptist brothers and sisters in faith.--CC
Fuller Seminary Apostasy. Fuller Theological Seminary supports women's
ordination and has some women theological professors. It was founded in
1947 to promote Biblical inerrancy. It repudiated inerrancy under president
David Allan Hubbard. Hubbard endorsed Robert Schuller's heretical
"Self-Esteem" book which re-defined sin as the loss of self-esteem,
salvation as the creation of self-esteem, and Christ as Self-Esteem incarnate.
Fuller has now become "a headquar ters for indoctrinating students
in ecumenism, psychology, and charismatic heresies."--CC
Schuller A Universalist, New Ager? As one of 16 writers who responded
to Pope John Paul's "Crossing the Threshold of Hope" book, in
a new book, "A Reader's Companion to Crossing the Threshold of Hope,"
Robert Schuller said: "God has promised salvation to all of
us. But only when we realize that we have been saved and we accept God's
love do we open ourselves to Jesus Christ." He speaks of experiencing
"the Christ within" us, and "innermost potential." He
said "meaning" lies in a God who is committed to our happiness,
and that belief in God helps us become possibility thinkers. Schuller said:
"When we know we have been redeemed and we know we are part of God's
family, we are ready to dream that great divine dream of building the kingdom
of God in the world."--CC
Webber On Salvation. Wheaton College professor and Episcopal lay
theologian Robert Webber conducts seminars on worship in ecumenical
settings (and at Jerry Falwell's 1996 Super Conference). As one of sixteen
writers who responded to the Pope's recent book, Webber seems to praise,
promote, and endorse much of the Pope's false salvation teachings. He says:
"While the Orthodox, Protestant, and Catholic ways of speaking of union
with God contain various nuances, the meaning is the same." He said:
"Today, when people say to me, `When were you saved?' I always answer,
`At my baptism.' I see the whole of my Christian life as a calling to live
out my baptism. Salvation as a process moving from evil to ultimate good
is a constant calling."--CC
Psychiatry's $40 Billion Fraud. Psychiatry is the smallest department
in the realm of health care, but is responsible for almost 90% of health
care fraud - $40 billion annually! It won't police itself and depends on
government and insurance companies to fund its over-staffed clinics, unnecessary
research, and greed.--CC
Hollywood's Religion. Hollywood loves religion, as long as its New
Age, non-western. Richard Gere (who meditates with Tibetan masters)
and Oliver Stone are Buddhists. John Travolta and Tom Cruise
are disciples of L. Ron Hubbard (Scientology). Shirley MacLaine clones
are everywhere. So, consider the source when you see the Bible and Bible-believers
castigated.--CC
"Gay" Influence. Homosexuals often complain of discrimination
in employment, but a new study reveals that 28.5% of homosexual household
incomes exceed $50,000 a year, while 21% were over $100,000 annually.--CC
China Cracks Down On Religious Activities. The Communist Party would
like to see religion entirely gone from China, but China's present policy
is to tolerate it within the confines of govern ment control. New decrees
in late 1994 restricted religious activities of foreigners and this is coupled
with a new campaign to shut down underground churches. A Communist Party
leader met in 1995 with leaders of the "official" churches and
explained that the communist-designated "religious" leaders would
be required to help "consolidate and expand the party's united front"
and to ensure that "people in religious circles play their active role
in socialist modernization better." Not surprisingly, the "sanctioned"
religious leaders promised to "contribute to national unity and the
cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. (It is sad that
the U.S.A. give most favored nation status to this unholy communist regime.
By thus doing we are helping these monsters to persecute Christians. E.L.B.)
Christian Persecution Rampant. Christians are the single largest
group persecuted worldwide on the basis of religious beliefs. Two Christian
villages in Pakistan were attacked and churches and homes were burned by
a hostile Muslim mob, Feb.6. As many as 5,000 Christian homes were burned.
The top 25 nations in the world in religious persecution are: Somalia, Saudi
Arabia, Sudan (South), China, Iran, Sudan (North), Yemen, N. Korea, Morocco,
Comoros, Egypt, Libya, Maldives, Qatar, Algeria, Vietnam, Mauritania, Afghanistan,
Bhutan, Laos, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Kuwait, Nigerian (No.), and United Arab
Emirates. In over 60 countries worldwide, Christians are harassed, abused,
arrested, tortured or executed specifically because of their faith. Christian
worship is banned in Saudi Arabia. It's illegal to wear a cross or to utter
a Christian prayer. --CC
Hybels, Campolo Praise Clinton. Bill Hybels meets with President
Clinton on a regular monthly schedule. Tony Campolo meets
with him about every 1 1/2 months. The World said Hybels, on inauguration
day, faced the President and praised "the wisdom and the leadership
and the vision in your life the past four years." He lauded "the
development of your heart, your increasing desire to know God, and to live
for Him..." He wanted Mr. Clinton to know "to the depths of your
being that you are loved by many, many of us." Campolo said: "The
idea that someone has to tell him what the gospel is about, is silly. But
living it out -- that's the question. His position toward gays and lesbians
is right." But President Clinton attends a pro-homosexual, liberal
Methodist church and has consistently supported special rights for homosexuals
and abortionists.-- CC
Shroud Of Turin A Fake. While Italians rejoiced at saving the Shroud
of Turin from a recent fire, Holy Land scholars say the shroud revered
by Roman Catholics and some others as Jesus' burial cloth is a crude forgery
by someone ignorant of Jewish customs. They present evidence to support
these charges. The Shroud's legend began in the 14th century.--CC
Presbyterians Bar Ordaining Gays. After years of contentious debate,
the Presbyterian Church (USA) has voted by a narrow margin to require
that all unmarried ministers, deacons, and elders be sexually celibate.
This was intended to ban the ordination of homosexuals, but has rattled
thousands of single, sexually active heterosexual church officers who now
must "repent, resign, or lie."--CC
Music Is Not Neutral. In his 1992 book "The Battle For Christian
Music," Tim Fisher writes: "The testimony against the neutrality
of music is overwhelming. Where would Musak (the com pany that formats music
for shopping malls, restaurants, and businesses) be if music had no effect
on people? Where would the film music industry be? If music didn't have
such a profound effect on us, why would it be such an important part of
our existence? Those who have looked beyond the current music publications
know that no one has ever taken the position that music is neutral except
for Christians in the last twenty-five years who are trying to justify bringing
rock into the church."--CC
Rock Stars Help Graham Draw Crowd. Dr. Billy Graham, now 78
and diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1989, plans to continue his crusades
"as long as the Lord gives strength." The Houston Chronicle
said, concerning his April Crusade in the Alamodome: "More than 700
churches representing over 50 denominations have joined together for the
Graham crusade, which hopes to attract South Texas youth with big-name Christian
rock acts (Amy Grant, DC Talk, Charlie Daniels Band, Michael W. Smith, Steve
Green, and Jaci Velasquez) and a Saturday service just for kids." Organizers
expected 250,000 to attend the event.--CC
Catholics Support Graham Crusade. The Houston Chronicle, reporting
on the recent Billy Graham crusade at the Alamodome, said: "But the
local Catholic community played a key role as well, a sort of payback for
the Baptist show of support during the Pope's 1987 San Antonio visit."
It added: "As a Christian leader, Billy Graham has earned a respect
that so transcends theological differences that Baptists, Catholics, and
Presbyterians come together for planning, meetings, and training sessions
months in advance to prepare for a Graham crusade." This will likely
be Graham's last South Texas crusade. Some predict he will end his Texas
ministry sometime in the future in Dallas where he retains a membership
in First Baptist Church (the W.A. Criswell church). Graham said: "I
don't see anywhere in the Bible where God's servants retired and went to
Florida."--CC
Falwell Speakers. Dr. Jerry Falwell's 1997 Super Conference
speakers include: Drs. Jerry Vine (Southern Baptist), Jay Strack
(SB), John Maxwell (PK speaker), and John Rawlings (BBF).
Dr. Billy Graham is still slated to bring Liberty University's commencement
address, May 3. A crowd of 25,000 is expected. Service Master chairman and
Wheaton College board chairman C. William Pollard is LU's baccalaureate
speaker this year.--CC
New PK Booklet. Richard Teachout, a veteran missionary to French
Quebec, has a new booklet entitled, "The Tidal Wave of Ecumenism and
the Local Church, A Lesson from Promise Keepers." He says: "I
have ministered for over 25 years in three countries where the Catholic
religion is very active and very dominant. Two years ago I began receiving
many questions from people in my supporting churches in America, questions
or sometimes even affirmations from those who believed that Catholics were
actually saved and do not need the gospel. This was a great surprise. I
have not been able to stop thinking, `What am I doing here, if these people
don't need the gospel?' Since that time I have encountered more and more
people in my supporting churches who have come to the conclusion that it
is a very good thing for Christians and Catholics to get together to worship
and serve God together."--CC
World Vision and Abortion Funding. World Vision recently found itself
in a controversy over its support of a bill that provided abortion funding
for Third World nations. A Congressman said World Vision's letter of support
of the family-planning bill "tipped the scales" in favor of the
measure. Just over a year ago WV president Dr. Robert A. Seiple said
the United Nations needs reform but said it fills a necessary role Christians
should support. World Vision is a radical new- evangelical relief agency
that has used funds donated by Christians to help Communists, Muslims, and
Catholics.--CC
Genetic Determination Or Willful Choice? A homosexual, or alcoholic,
today is treated as a helpless victim of his biology rather than as a willful
agent with control of his own conduct. This conveniently diminishes accountability
and the capacity to choose. Gone is the sense of responsibility for bad
choices, as social workers, psychologists, biologists, criminologists scurry
to find the "destining gene cluster" to blame for the abusive
behavior, youth/gang violence, homosexuality, drunkenness, etc.--CC
Graham Impressed By Clinton Compassion. Dr. Billy Graham in
his new book indicates that President Clinton made a big impression
on him during the Oklahoma City bombing tragedy. He said: "Seldom have
I seen anyone express so movingly and sincerely a genuine sense of compassion
and sympathy to those who were hurting. I felt that he, not I, was the real
pastor that day." Our President is also a very superb actor.--CC
Muslims Worship At Lutheran School. Four thousand Muslims worshiped
in April at Concordia University, St. Paul, Minn., a Lutheran Church-Missouri
Synod school. Concordia's president Robert Holst has long maintained
that the Bible contains errors, and says "multiculturalism" is
the new mission of Concordia.--CC