(Editor's Note: In our New & Views column we quote from many different sources. Please understand that this does not necessarily mean that we approve of all of the publications from which we quote. We will give the name of the source in the first quote and thereafter we will give the abbreviation of that name.)

Theology Professor & God's Omniscience-Greg Boyd, theology professor at Bethel College and Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. while pastor of a 3,000 member Baptist church there, makes this claim. "We create the reality of our decisions by making them. And until we make them, they don't exist . . . There simply isn't anything to know until we make it there to know. So God can't foreknow the good or the bad decisions of the people He creates until He creates these people and they in turn create their decisions." (World, 7/17/99) The division this statement made in the Baptist General Convention may have been settled and forgotten years ago, but the effect it has had on seminary students then is still alive and well in numerous pulpits among Baptist. How extremely necessary for the Lord's churches to examine prospective pastors on their belief about God, His word, and purpose for the Lord's church. Prof. Boyd either had not read of does not believe Isaiah 46:9,10. "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: . ." Pastor, it isn't enough to know the school, you need to know the professor as well before you recommend a Bible college. -(W. W. Mosley, hereafter WWM)

Church Open To Square Dancers-The Enterpriser ad read: "The Greer County Square Dancers will meet . . . at 8:00 p.m. at the Central Christian Church." This is rural home town news in a rural community where half a century ago it would never have happened. Today such news is common in rural America. To suggest this is wrong, saying nothing of it being sin and a mockery of any Christian(?) church, leaves a person open to unabashed criticism and even ostracization. Many churches going by the title of Central Christian Church are non-denominational. It very likely would be just as easy to join such churches as it would be to join the square dancers club. This is one `service' that there will be more skirts worn to church(?) than pant suits, I'm sure. If you doubt that any harm to family life can come from this you are dead wrong. -WWM

New Study On Homosexual's Children-Gay/lesbian organizations have long championed their cause by saying they are no danger to children. Among the movements in their camp is the right to adopt children. A study by two University of Southern California sociologists says "children reared by male or female homosexuals are probably more likely to try homosexual activity and are less restricted by traditional gender roles, . ." (Baptist Press, 6/22/01) This study is not based on new research but on a reevaluation of 21 psychological studies conducted between 1981 & 1998. Children of smoking, drinking, filthy mouthed natural parents are more likely to do the same as their parents. The same is true of godly parents who take their children to church and teach them God- fearing principles. Since homosexuals cannot reproduce normally, the environment surrounding the children under their care is sure to cause them to accept such a lifestyle as normal. It doesn't take a doctor of psychology to figure this out. You merely have to consult the Word of God. (Prov. 22:6) "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." The same is true about training up a child in the way he should not go. (See 2 Tim. 3:14,15) -WWM

Islam Religion & Human Rights-Humanity has no rights outside of God's written word. No right to salvation and heaven apart from the blood of Christ. No right to be a member of the Lord's church apart from baptism (immersed in water) by proper authority. No right to approach the throne of God except through Jesus Christ. Those who believe the Islamic religion will allow these rights should take note of Sudan's Islamic regime. "In the midst of an 18-year civil war, Sudan's Islamic regime continues to inflict widespread human rights abuses, including the bombing of civilian targets." (BP, 6/22/01) The war between the Islamic leadership and Christians has resulted in some 2 million deaths. This is the religion that Hillary Clinton called a "great religion." (Amos 3:3) "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Be sure Hillary will stay in step with anything to support her cause. -WWM

Religious Intolerance-"If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention. Consider the following: In certain areas of the Pacific Northwest, churches cannot construct new buildings or even expand their facilities. An Orange County, Fla., ordinance does not allow for a religious gathering of any kind in a residential area. Thus a small prayer meeting cannot be held in a private living room. Recently, a Vermont couple was denied their request for vanity license plates. The reason, their choice of ROMANS5 and ROMANS8 might be offensive to others. . . . If the seeds of persecution are being sown in the humus of present intolerance, why do so few seem concerned? There are no easy answers, but at least three possibilities exist: Acceptance, Preoccupation and Complacency." (Kelly Boggs, BP, 6/22/01) When Israel was in spiritual negligence, Isaiah said, "Here am I; send me." Paul said, "What wilt thou have me to do?" Peter and John prayed, "Grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, . . ." Where are the church members who are prepared for the intolerance the Lord's church is surely facing? Are the descendants of the old Ana-Baptist ready to die for the faith as they did? -WWM

Female Apostle?-Recently retired Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary OT Prof. Dan Kent thinks so. In a seminar on "Women and Spiritual Gifts" he said, ". . .contrary to conservative viewsat least one apostle was a female. Her name was Junias, and she is referred to in Romans 16:7." (BP, 6/25/01) It is little wonder that the Prof. Kent is a key leader at the Christians for Biblical Equality Conferences. Junia was indeed a relative of Paul and along with Andronicus were "of note among the apostles." The reference to these two soldiers of the cross was concerning the respect the apostles had for them. Does the Professor think the 3,000 in Acts 2:41,42 were also apostles? They also "continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship." The CBEC meeting drew more than 300 people, with women outnumbering men more than five to one. -WWM

Is This America Gone?-Pilgrim Governor, William Bradford of Plymouth Plantation, made important contributions to an American educational system which kept the nation on a Christian Constitutional course for many years. The famous "blue-backed Speller," his "Grammars," and "Reader," all contained Biblical and patriotic themes and Webster spearheaded the flood of educational volumes emphasizing Christian Constitutional values for more than a century. (FACE.net) For over 100 years Daniel Webster's 1828 dictionary of the English language formed many young lives with biblical definitions of English words. When God was expelled from America's schools Christianity and patriotism rapidly declined. Both seem to be walking the plank off the USS Political Correctness to be drowned in the Sea of Permissiveness. (Psa. 127:1) "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." Unless the Lord keep our nation, this house is sure to crumble. -WWM

Abstinence-Only Outdated & Unrealistic?-This is the attitude some educators and special-interest groups proclaim. In a small western Colorado coal-mining town, Keith Lucy's "abstinence- only" proved otherwise. In Delta Co. nearly one in 10 babies belonged to teen mothers, which doubled the state average. School nurses, business owners, & pastors began preaching abstinence. (BP, 6/26/01) (Why was this ever stopped?) Six years later, the results are staggering: The number of teen mothers has been cut in half. While abstinence proponents herald Delta's success, some educators and special-interest groups aren't convinced. Listen to what the God-haters had to say: "In a joint statement released Tuesday, 35 groups among them, Planned Parenthood, the ACLU and abortion-rights lobbyists denounced the federal government's support of abstinence-until- marriage education, saying it censors other sexual options and breaches the church-and-state wall by promoting a traditionally religious stance." "Parents should be aware their children are being indoctrinated by views they may not share," said Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. What has the `Separation of Church and State' issue have to do with a community's concern of their moral and spiritual status before God? -WWM

Opposition To Abstinence In Public Schools-National Coalition Against Censorship: (includes) Planned Parenthood, American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, People for the American Way, the National Education Association, Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund (a homosexual legal group), ACT Up New York (a radical homosexual organization), SIECUS (Sexuality Information & Education Council of the United States.) (Traditional Values Coalition, 6/15/01) It seems the people who get their `kicks' from disjoining themselves from biblical standards are consolidating in an effort to dismember family life. One mother/one father families are hurriedly passing the scene of life in American. The only possible reason for a decrease in the divorce rate is the promotion and acceptance of the live-in and homosexual relationship. This may be perplexing to census takers, but be sure God's record will be legible at the White Throne judgment. -WWM

Founding Fathers Belief In God-The separation of church and state is a clique joined by many in the USA. Most of them are bed-fellows with the ACLU, etc. Listen to the advice of our first president: "No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the invisible affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency.... We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of heaven cannot be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which heaven itself has ordained." George Washington (Federalist, 6/26/01) God is well able to establish a nation or destroy it. Any nation's existence depends on the approval of God, and its usefulness to proclaim His glory. Godly nations have been used to bring glory to God, as well as ungodly nations. (Joel 2:11) "And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?" -WWM

The Assault On Traditional Marriages-There was a time when traditional marriage relationship was considered as being husband and wife . . only. Human rights activist groups have surfaced with more in mind than the right to physical, political, & religious protection. "Rights and privileges . . . are now available [under `domestic partnerships'] to any combination of two people who register with the town clerk. But why stop at two? Why not three or six?" (Federalist, 6/26/01) Lawmakers who ignore the Word of God, listen to the voice of special interest groups who despise Christian standards, nothing but moral degeneration can be the outcome. There is no hope when any people or nation is without God and godly standards, to govern them. (Eph. 2:12) The other side of this coin has this on it. (Psa. 144:15) "Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD." -WWM

AIDS: Sickness Stimulated By Sin-As surely as abstinence will reduce teen-age pregnancies, ceasing defending homosexuality will reduce, if not stop the plague of AIDS. AIDS is long past the epidemic stage, killing some 5 million people a year. "The world is at long last waking up to the gravity of the crisis." (Reuters, 6/28/01) International agencies such as the U.N. General Assembly, are hard at work seeking ways to stop this `nuisance' to iniquitous living. `Experts' say $7 billion to $10 billion a year is needed to finance a global effort "to combat the relentless spreading of the disease." U.S. taxpayers don't have to wonder who will pay the most of this. Special programs and contraceptives will only sightly heal the poisoning of this sin, found primarily in the homosexual/prostitute crowd. It will take an act of God in the heart of a nation to prohibit such activity as being acceptable. Success from such a meeting of the UNGA will never be achieved. One reason is, a San Francisco-based gay rights group were allowed to filibuster at this U.N. meeting. -WWM

Accepting Government Help Shackles Churches-The firing of a lesbian employee brought a lawsuit against Kentucky and a state-funded religious group in April 2000. "Both the state and Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children must be held accountable," was the charge brought by the ACLU of Kentucky. Their claim: "Most people do not want their tax dollars used to discriminate . . ." (ACLU Freedom Network) The indiscriminate use of tax dollars is what has caused the national debt to sky-rocket. Take note of this recent action taken by the ACLU against this Baptist home for children when you consider government sharing faith-based charity for your church. -WWM

Are All Vacation Bible Schools Acceptable?-That depends on a number of things. Which Bible are you talking about? What religion is promoting the school? What is the doctrine of that religion or church? An "Introduction to Buddhism and Meditation for Children" was offered at Vajradakini Buddhist Center earlier this month. Their purpose? Instructor Phil Rogers said, "We're not really interested in converting anyone to Buddhism. We just feel like the teachings of Buddha are beneficial to everyone. . . Children have a spiritual life, and cultivating that is very important." (Dallas Morning News, 6/24/01) Doesn't this sound just like the devil in Matt. 4:3-10. A Holy Family of Nazareth Catholic Church mother wanted her children to attend because she has always felt meditation was very important. Seems it would be important also to meditate on the right subject. (Psa. 119:48) "My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes." Ecumenism is no longer confined to Christian(?) churches but includes other idolatrous religions. Beware of what your children are exposed to at all summer activities. -WWM

Pres. Bush Opposes Human Cloning-Claude Allen, deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, told member of the House of Representatives Pres. Bush & HHS Sec. Tommy Thompson "oppose any and all attempts to clone a human being," according to written testimony. The administration is against cloning for the purpose of reproducing a child, as well as creating a human embryo for research. (BP 6/21/01) The President did not sponsor an observance [or speaker's forums] for Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. The above actions of the leader of our nation is refreshing, considering the previous eight years of licentious permissiveness. Among the last words of David were: "The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God." (2 Sam. 23:3) -WWM

Falwell Continues His Chameleon Spirituality-The Conference of Southern Baptists of Evangelists elected a fellow lifelong soul-winner to its office of pastor adviser. Jerry Falwell was voted to the post by acclamation during COSBE's June 12 annual business meeting in New Orleans. "I believe that evangelism is the heartbeat of New Testament Christianity," Falwell said. "Southern Baptist evangelists are the best group of evangelists in the world today, and I'm highly honored to be associated with them." "That is my gift encouraging the Lord's people," Falwell said. "I've been a pastor for 45 years at the same church, and I will do my best to encourage and motivate God's evangelists to stay the course and do a better job." (BP, 6/20/01) Jerry Falwell is masterful at blending in with any crowd. He is also competent at training others to follow in his footsteps. Beware when sending your young people off to Bible college. -WWM

Homosexuals Can Change If They Want To-An explosive new study led by Columbia University psychiatry professor Dr. Robert L. Spitzer said some homosexuals can turn straight if they really want to. Mental health groups dispute this. Homosexual-rights activists insist they are born with a "gay gene" or some uncontrollable element that leads to homosexuality. But homosexuality (and adultery) is a sinful behavioral choice. Homosexuals and adulterers can be saved and delivered just like other sinners. Dr. Spitzer said: "Like most psychiatrists I thought that homosexual behavior could only be resisted and that no one could really change their sexual orientation." He added: "I now believe that to be false. Some people can and do change." -CC

Self-Esteem, NEA, School Violence-Years ago, in an international study of 13-year-olds all taking the same math test, Koreans came in first, Americans last. A question asked was, "Are you good in math?' Only 23 percent of Koreans said "yes," while 68 percent of Americans said "yes." Aren't we proud of our proud kids! Much of the blame for our public schools lies with the National Education Association. It supports abortion on demand, school health clinics, and the aggressive agenda of the "gay-rights" movement (5/5 World letter). Americans have raised their kids in a culture of death and told them it's OK to kill their unwanted babies. Why the shock when they kill each other? (4/21 World letter) -CC

Jubilee Campaign To Cancel Poor Debt-The total foreign debt of the 41 poorest nations is over $207 billion. This does not include the over $3.25 trillion debt of middle-income countries such as Mexico and Brazil (5/21 Chr. Today). The Jubilee 2000 movement has convinced the "rich" nations of the world to write down the debt of impoverished nations. The World Council of Churches, Catholics, and other liberals have pressured the G-7 nations to forgive much of the debt. Some aid in the past has gone to third world dictators who rob their people blind and have borrowed heavily to finance Marxist revolutions (3/1/00 CC). The U.S. is the largest contributing member of the IMF at 60 percent of funds. -CC

Africa Rich But Poor-Even with 30 percent of the world's minerals, Africa is considered the poorest of all the continents (Jan-Mar Baptist World). Africa staggers under a debt burden of over $200 billion. Jubilee 2000 (supported by the Baptist World Alliance), without economic reform, help in replacing corrupt leaders, and evangelization of this spiritually "dark continent," seems rather futile. AIDS has reached epidemic proportions in Africa, leaving death and orphaned children in its wake. -CC

Falwell's Church A Member Of SBC For `Several Years'-Dr. Jerry Falwell is slated to speak June 10 at the Southern Baptist Pastors Conference in New Orleans, in conjunction with the SBC's annual meeting. In promoting the SBC, he writes (5/01 NLJ): "Several years ago, my Thomas Road Baptist Church joined the Southern Baptist Convention. Liberty University became an officially-approved SBC university two years ago. [I]t is a great delight to fellowship with America's largest Protestant denomination.The SBC is presently engaged in the most formidable global evangelistic effort in the New Testament era." An official press release from Falwell's office (10/24/96) was carefully worded but clearly implied they were not joining the SBC (8/7/98 Sword of the Lord). Yet at the June 1998 SBC meeting, he and ten messengers from his church were there and voted. It is misleading for Falwell to say that "All six SBC seminaries are now led and taught by biblical inerrantists" when dozens of SBC schools are still led by liberals (see 5/1 CC book review). And he apparently can overlook the SBC's membership in, and major support of, the apostate Baptist World Alliance which held it General Council meeting in Cuba last year (see 9/15/00 CC), and seemed to have been used by Castro for propaganda purposes. -CC

Graham's Affinity With Catholicism-Dr. Billy Graham wrote the foreword in the book, John Paul II, A Tribute, and has often praised the Pope. Dave Hunt comments (5/01 Berean Call): "Anyone, Catholic or Protestant, recognizes that by commending the Pope and Roman Catholicism as the true faith--Billy Graham has implicitly renounced the Protestant Reformation. His embrace of Catholicism implies that the Catholic bishops were actually in biblical agreement with their victims and preached the same gospel as evangelicals preach today. Yet they anathematized and burned Protestants and Rome honors them for having done so.If Graham is right that the Roman Catholic Church preaches the true gospel that saves souls, all the Reformers were wrong.Take your pick: either Graham is right or the Reformers were, but not both of them. Furthermore, if Catholicism is the true gospel, then what must be said of the hundreds of millions of Roman Catholics who have been convinced over the last 500 years that Rome's gospel is false, who have believed the true gospel and left the Roman Catholic Church? If Graham is right, they are absolute fools. They should have stayed in the Catholic Church which is exactly where Graham sends all Roman Catholics who come forward at his crusades." -CC

Spurgeon On Separation-Complicity with error will take from the best of men the power to enter any successful protest against it. It is our solemn conviction that where there can be no real spiritual communion there should be no pretense of fellowship. Fellowship with known and vital error is participation in sin. As soon as I saw, or thought I saw, that error had become firmly established, I did not deliberate, but quitted the body at once. Since then my counsel has been "Come out from among them." I have felt that no protest could be equal to that of distinct separation from known evil. That I might not stultify my testimony I have cut myself clear of those who err from the faith, and even from those who associate with them. Cost what it may to separate ourselves from those who separate themselves from the truth of God is not alone our liberty but our duty. -CC

Moon's `Truth' Is False-Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon says America has been in decline since the end of World War II "because they didn't recognize the truth that was brought to them by Rev. Moon." He claims to share "the ultimate truth, directly from God." (3/19 C. News). He calls his 46-state speaking tour his gift to America. He calls himself a third Adam sent to complete the task of restoring God's kingdom on Earth that Jesus failed in due to his crucifixion. -(Calvary Contender, hereafter CC)

Falwell Makes Muslims Mad-A Muslim group is demanding an apology from Jerry Falwell for remarks he made to a religious Web site where he said "the Muslim faith teaches hate" and Muslims should be ineligible to receive government funds for social programs. He said Islam is intolerant of other religions and Muslims "should be out the door before they knock" and ask for federal funds (3/19 Chr. News). He added, "the Islam religion, wherever it has majority control doesn't even allow people of other faiths to express themselves or evangelize or to exist in their presence." That is right, Dr. Falwell. -CC

Homosexual Activist Is Pres. Of Calif. Council Of Churches-Gwynne Guibord, ecumenical officer of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (a homosexual denom), has been elected president of the California Council of Churches. -CC

Rome's New Ecumenical Officer-Pope John Paul II has appointed Cardinal Walter Kasper to head the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, replacing Cardinal Edward Cassidy (Foundation). As a progressive in the Catholic hierarchy, he has served as an assistant to controversial theologian Hans Kung, and later sat on the World Council of Churches' Faith and Order Commission. He is praised by WCC head Konrad Raiser and Lutheran World Federation chief Ishmael Noko. -CC

Sexual Abuse Of Nuns By Priests-The Vatican has confirmed it is acting on allegations that some priests, mainly Africans afraid of contracting AIDS from prostitutes, have regularly forced nuns to have sex with them (3/26 Chr. News). In some instances, priests are said to have impregnated nuns and then forced them to have abortions. A nun charged that when a mother superior complained to the local bishop that 29 of her nuns were pregnant, the bishop replaced her instead of acting on the problem. Rome's unscriptural "forbidding to marry" (see I Tim. 4:3) teaching invites such sexual abuse. -CC

Pope's New Cultural Center-A new $65 million Pope John Paul II Cultural Center opened last month in Washington (3/24 Houston Chron.). The 100,000-sq.-ft. facility has a museum and a Gallery of Mary which unites images of Mary from different cultures. The pope's veneration of the Virgin Mary is echoed throughout the center. -CC

NRB Withdraws From NAE, Accepts Adventists; NAE Accepts Dual Church Ties With Liberal NCC-What goes here? Last year, under its new pro-charismatic president (Kevin Mannoia), the NAE decided to allow NCC denominations to hold dual membership in the NAE. Then the NRB board this year voted to split from the NAE, citing the NAE's new coziness with the NCC. It said the NAE and NRB are headed in different directions. So which is becoming broader, compromising more? NAE, maybe? But wait. In an ironic twist, NRB board member Dave Clark says: "Our membership is becoming broader than the NAE's. We now admit Seventh-day Adventists." (3/10 World) SDA is a cult (see 2/15/98 CC). We defend Dr. Laura against intolerant homosexuals, but she who is a scheduled guest speaker at the 4/15 NRB Media Breakfast converted to Orthodox Judaism. So she does not accept our Lord Jesus Christ as God, and thus cannot honor God the Father (Jn. 5:23). Yet the NRB presented her with its Chairman's Award last year. -CC

Dangers Of Hate-Crime Laws-A hate-crimes bill has been reintroduced in Congress. A big danger for Christians is that this will be used to stifle religious dissent in calling homosexuality a sin or choice (3/01 NLJ). Already, laws prohibiting discrimination against homosexuals have been used to bar religious leaders from quoting scripture as a basis for calling homosexuality a sin. -CC

Sherman Liberalism-The 8/5/83 Christianity Today quoted Dr. Cecil Sherman, then a So. Baptist pastor, later the first national Coordinator of the moderate-liberal Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and currently teaching at the liberal Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Va., said: "A teacher who might also be led by Scripture not to believe in the Virgin Birth should not be fired.It [the Virgin Birth] is in two Gospels, but not in two others.Did Mark and John make a mistake by forgetting to list it? If the Virgin Birth is desperately important, [Mark and John] must have erred." (3/01 Baptist Banner) -CC