Board Chairman of Seminary Forced To Resign. - The board chairman of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary was forced to resign because of sexual misconduct allegations. Ollin Collins, 47, the pastor at Harvest Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, has been accused of having sexual relationships with two women who sought counseling. The church has suspended Collins, pending an investigation. He resigned from his board position Sept. 6. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported the women's allegations and their intent to sue. Southwestern is the world's largest evangelical seminary, with 3,000 students on eight campuses. - ELB (We have long held that the counseling ministry is one of Satan's trap. These counseling sessions often include the discussion of sexual problems. This often opens the door to lust and outright sin. Pastors would be well advised to have their wives present when such counseling takes place. "Abstain from all appearance of evil." (I Thess. 5:22) - ELB

Baptist Church Ordains Women Deacons. - The Baptist Press reported that the First Baptist Church of Cape Girardeau, MO ordained six women as deacons. This caused quite a stir in the Cape Girardeau Baptist Association. At the Baptist Association meeting, the messengers voted 98-41 to remove the First Baptist from the association. As usual, those who opposed the action, cried out for Church autonomy and fairness. - ELB (The Bible clearly does not leave any room for the ordination of women deacons, but it is being done quite frequently among Southern Baptists. - ELB)

The Number of Ordained Women In The U.S. Grows. - Information on this was printed in The Washington Post, 7/25/98. The number of ordained women clergy (preachers) was 16,408 in 1983, but by 1996 there were 43,542. In only 13 years, the number of ordained women ministers increase by 265%. Female clergy make up about 12% of all clergy in the U.S.A. The trend is bound to increase, because that 30% of the students in graduate schools of theology (semanaries, etc.) are women. These are the schools that are producing the clergy for the future. In some of these schools 50% of the students are women. This is taking place, in spite of the fact that the Bible forbids women preachers. "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." (I Tim. 2:11-12) "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife ...." (I Tim. 3:1-2) Unfortunately many American Baptist and Southern Baptist churches ignore what the Bible teaches on this subject. There are over 1,000 ordained women in the SBC. With the continual compromise of some independent/fundamental Baptist churches, we wonder how long it will be until some of them doing the same thing. - ELB

President Disagrees With SBC's Doctrine? - The SBC's 1998 annual convention made this amendment: "A wife is to submit graciously to the servant leadership of her husband, even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ." They also declared that the husband and wife are of equal worth before God. (Federalist Digest, 6/12/98) When President Clinton, who is a member of Immanuel Baptist, Little Rock (SBC) was questioned about this he asked, "What can I do about it?" (FD) VP Gore's spokesman said, "The president obviously doesn't agree with this one." It is obvious now that the President differs with many other Bible doctrines. - W.W. Mosley (Hereafter WWM)

Charleston County Council Abandons 10 Commandment Display - The County Council of Charleston, SC planned placing the Ten Commandments on their council chambers wall. Councilman Tim Scott said it "was needed to remind people of moral absolutes." (LAJ, 9/20/98) The ACLU and Americans United joined to fight this act of the council. Americans United, organized in 1947, like the ACLU are the protectors (?) of people who do not want America to be "one nation under God." Under the guise of protecting religious freedom such organizations seek to hide the truth that America was established on the foundation of Christian principals. Lord, deliver our nation from the predators who plunder and abuse Bible standards for their own profit. Steven Bates, state director of ACLU said, "If the commandments are displayed elsewhere in the public building, we'll address that issue." Hear, ye, Mr. Bates: "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision." (Psa. 2:4) - WWM

ACLU Vs. State Of Ohio - Ohio's state motto: "With God all things are possible." U. S. District Judge James Graham ruled that the state may display its motto on the statehouse grounds, "But may not cite the motto's source: Matt. 19:26." The Judge said without the Biblical reference, "They do not state a principle unique to Christianity [thus favoring one religion over another]. They could be classified as generically theistic." (Federal Digest, 10/2/98) Judge Graham, what religion were the founding fathers referring to when they wrote "One nation under God?" - WWM

The President's Handpicked Spiritual Advisors - The NBC evening news (9/15/98) showed President Clinton with his handpicked spiritual advisors. Among this group are Jesse Jackson, who has never pastored, to my knowledge, liberal Tony Campolo, and Gordon MacDonald of Grace Chapel in Lexington, Mass. MacDonald has suffered the same spiritual setback (adultery) some twelve years before, as has the president. I wonder if Campolo still envisions that God is "tired of the mess human beings created in this world," and would he consider what the president has done as a "mess."(Calvary Contender, 1/1/98) Is there a prophet Nathan in this bunch? "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." (1 Cor. 15:33) See also (1 Cor. 6:9,10; Gal. 6:7) Robert Schuller was passed over for this group. (Today, 9/18/98) - WWM

Falwell's New Sanctuary - Jerry Falwell and Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA, have recently identified with the SBC. Another new project is the building of "a new 12,000-seat" sanctuary. (Christianity Today, 9/7/98) The largest seating capacity of any church in North America. Falwell's Liberty University's indebtedness was $110 million in 1990. Insurance tycoon A. L. Williams and others reduced the debt to $10 million. (CT, 12/8/97). Thomas Road has 22,000 members on role but only 7,500 "weekly attendees." Since their existing sanctuary has only 3,300 seats, where do the remaining 4,200 sit? "I'd like to get that done and have it paid for before I pass [the ministry] to somebody else," Falwell said. If he can't, maybe A. L. Williams will pick up the tab. Bigger is not always better. (Zech. 4:10) "For who hath despised the day of small things?" - WWM

Wogaman Joins Campolo, Jackson, MacDonald - "Rev." J. Philip Wogaman, pastor of Foundry United Methodist Church where the Clintons attend in Washington, has joined the ranks of the President's spiritual advisors. (NY Times, 9/18/98) Tony Campolo said this is a newly formed "accountability group." The article said the Methodist pastor is also a "Christian ethicist." Either the principle of right conduct or the need to follow moral values were not mentioned in Pastor Wogaman's messages, when the President attended his church, or the President was dozing. Needless to say moral principles and values were either not heralded or not heeded. (James 1:22) "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." - WWM

"Sagging:" Old Fad - New Fine - Several towns in Mississippi have made national news recently because of a crack-down on "sagging." The drooping of pants low enough for undergarments to be revealed if they are worn at all. One twelve year old declared May 2nd as "National Sagging Day" over the World Wide Web. Schools across the nation for several years have included this as a no-no in their dress code. However, some cities in ole Miss have placed a fine and jail time on those who insist on "sagging" in public. To the credit of the officials, decency is their argument. The ever present ACLU has rushed to the rescue of "saggers" pleading their first amendment rights. What a shame that biblical dressing in "modest apparel" has to be enforced by human laws. -WWM

Clinton, Gore Friendly Supporters - Saturday before the release of the Starr report the Pres. and his V.P. "were fanning out . . . to cement ties with two groups of reliable friendly supporters black lawmakers and gay activists." While the President was addressing the "black lawmakers" and members of the "Congressional Black Caucus" the Vice President was speaking at "the Human Rights Campaign's annual dinner of 2,200 gay and lesbian activists." [Washington (AP), LAJ, 9/20/98, p. 15A] Heed this warning: "Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings". (Prov. 31:3) - WWM

Rick Warren Vs. The Apostle Paul - Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Community Church, CA (SBC) in a recent preaching trip to China seems to have made great spiritual exploitations. Not much is said in the report concerning the content of his messages. But he did say, "Fifty years of communist indoctrination cannot press down the fact that everyone has a hunger for God." (Baptist Press, 9/15/98) [Emphasis mine.] The apostle Paul wrote by inspiration of God: "There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." (Rom. 3:11) Has humanity changed or was Paul mistaken? - WWM

SBC President Supports Mohler's Call For Discipline - Paige Patterson, Southern Baptist Convention President supports Southern Baptist Theological Seminar President R. Albert Mohler's call for Pres. Clinton's home church, Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock to "exercise their biblical responsibility to discipline him." (Baptist Press, 9/11/98) However, a report on ABC's "World News Tonight," Sept. 10, Peggy Wehmeyer said "Rex Horne, Immanuel's pastor, had talked to Clinton about his adultery . . . but did not intend to expel him from the church." (Ibid.) I wonder if Pastor Horne took "one or two more" in the church to talk with this "wayward brother?" Or did he consult the church about this matter? (Matt. 18:15-17) Maybe Pastor Horne felt the act was only a "private matter." - WWM

WEF Women Charge Men With Fear, Ignorance - The World Evangelical Fellowship Commission on Women's Concerns believe "it is fear, not theology, that feeds male resistance to women's Christian ministries," according to their 10th General Assembly News Release. The women of the commission agreed "that fear of the unknown, combined with tradition" get in the way. They said, "The Spirit of God is moving all over the world on this issue." The Spirit of God never moves anywhere in the universe in contradiction of His Word. It is not a matter of tradition that a bishop/pastor must to be the husband of one wife (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6). At least two things will never happen concerning anything God has said. First, God cannot deny Himself about this. (2 Tim. 2:13) Second, God cannot lie about this. (Titus 1:2) This has nothing to do with fear, ignorance, tradition, theology, or discomfort of men. Have these girls written their own theology book? - WWM

IRS Contributes To Global Warming - "Nearly 300,000 trees are felled annually to produce the paper necessary for all those IRS forms." (Federalist Digest, 4/14/98) The IRS sends out 8 billion pages of forms and instructions annually. There are 7 million words today in the U.S. tax code alone. (Ibid) The Holy Bible has only about 773,000 words. It is little wonder our founding fathers depended on the Bible to shape laws by it is much easier to interpret. Global warming is not the greatest thermal problem our globe has. Neglecting the God of the Word and the Word of God carries more serious consequences. - WWM

Who in the World Goes to Church? - "Church attendance figures indicate that religion is declining in importance in the industrialized nations and increasing in importance in the poorer countries. The percentage who attend church in:

Nigeria............................... 89%
Philippines ........................ 68%
Poland................................ 55%
United States ..................... 44%
Canada............................... 38%
England.............................. 27%
Germany............................. 14%
Japan.................................. 4%
Russia................................. 2%"

—(Current Thoughts & Trends, July 1998) CT&U

Aids Continues to Ravage World. - "Every minute, according to the United Nations, five people between the ages of 10 and 24 are infected with the AIDS virus. Eastern Europe will probably become 'one of the next epicenters' of an AIDS outbreak. Because of spiraling rates of drug abuse, infection rates there have increased at least sixfold in the last four years. Globally, at least a third of the 30 million carriers of HIV are 24 years old or younger." (Pulse, June 5, 1998) - CT&U

Update on Christian Persecution. - Prepared by World Evangelical Fellowship Religious Liberty Commission - May 1998 "VIETNAM: The population is about 77 million. Most are ethnic Vietnamese. Although Vietnam is often referred to as Buddhist, most Vietnamese practice some folk religion and ancestor worship. There are eight million Catholics and 600,000 Evangelical Protestants... The situation in Vietnam is comparable to China. There is pressure from the government to register all religious activities and churches. Government forces often harass believers, subjecting them to brutal interrogation, fines, imprisonment or hard labor. Many of the tribal converts are persecuted by Vietnamese government forces and their own people for abandoning spirit worship. The Bureau of Religious Affairs closely monitors and controls the churches. In the 23 years since the war ended, no Protestant group, in spite of many promises, has been given official recognition. The only 'recognized' church is the old, 20-congregation Evangelical Church of Vietnam that existed in the north before the war. There is a strong reciprocal suspicion between the communist government and Protestants. NORTH KOREA: North Korean refugees fleeing the famine are telling Chinese Korean families that Christians are going through a deep spiritual crisis to add to the physical one of food shortages. Hundreds of North Korean refugees daily swim across the Yalu River into China's Jilin province in an attempt to escape the famine. A British Broadcasting Company broadcast on April 15 claimed over 3 million people had died since 1994. RUSSIA: Two Swedish missionaries, Daniel and Pauline Brolin, have been held captive in Dagestan, southern Russia since January 8. The couple, ages 22 and 23, from Vasteras, Sweden, were training to become missionaries in Dagestan, which borders war-torn Chechnya and has seen a number of kidnapings... LAOS: Khamsaweang, a man in his 20s; Duangmanee, a 20-year-old woman; and her brother, Bounlerth, were among 39 Laotians arrested with five expatriate workers Jan. 30 in Phonkheng, Laos. While the expatriates were released a few days later and deported, the Laotian believers were expected to receive sentences ranging from two months to five years for teaching the Bible in an unauthorized meeting in a private home..... INDIA: John Rajiv, 22, was stabbed to death in Muzzafarpur in India's Northern Bihar state, where he was engaged in witnessing efforts. Radical anti-Christian elements are suspected in the March 15 attack. Ask God to touch the hearts of his attackers and turn them to Christ. Grieve before God over the death of this young man. Ask God to bless ministry efforts in Northern Bihar." (Update on Christian Persecution, prepared by World Evangelical Fellowship Religious Liberty Commission, May 1998) - CT&U

Do You Know.... - "1. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, and it is becoming a second religion in the United States. 2. There are 8 million Arab Muslims in the United States. There are 1500 mosques, and 800 mosques have been built in the last 10 years. 3. Saudi Arabia gives 50 million dollars every year to promote Islam in the United States, and Libya gives a salary to each American family that accepts Islam. 4. The United States Army has agreed to have a Muslim chaplain. Also, Islam is growing in American prisons. 5. Many Islamic media indicate that the goal of the Islam religion is to convert all America to Islam by the year 2000. Islam wants to control this country. 6. It is impossible to send missionaries to Middle Eastern countries. Muslims have no freedom in their own lands to make a decision to follow Christ, but God brought Muslims here to be reached. We need to use this opportunity to proclaim the Gospel to Muslims in the United States so that Muslims can make a decision without facing persecution. 7. The workers among the Muslims in the United States are very few. The New Testament churches need to have a vision and burden to reach the Muslims, and this needs to come through education of the Christian about Islam." (Light of Life Ministry) - CT&U

Death to Infants & Elderly - Australian ethicist Peter Singer says the disabled and the unwanted should be killed. Not just passive euthanasia, but active, eugenic euthanasia for infants, the sick, and the elderly - everyone whose "life is not worth living" (8/8 World). In the U.S., Singer is joining the faculty of Princeton University that once included Jonathan Edwards and J.Gresham Machen! - Calvary Contender, 1800 Sparkman Ave., Huntsville, AL 35816 (Hereafter CC)

Euthanasia, Humanism Confusion - Radical Catholic theologian Rosemary Radford Ruether says: "We need to seek the most compassionate way of weeding out people. Our current pro-life movement is really killing people through disease and poverty" (8/15 World). She blames Christianity for environmental and social woes. Humanism has failed. It used to deify Man, calling him the measure of all things. But now Man is dismissed as sexist and morally inferior to animals and worth nothing. Just try to find "compassionate" ways to weed out the weak! - CC

Mary Primary to Some Catholics - The quotes below are from the Summer '98 Fatima Crusader (published by Catholics): "The Immaculate Conception is the first step in our salvation" "...God has decreed that souls are to be saved by devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Obviously those souls must first believe in the Immaculate Heart of Mary as an object of faith..." "Mary is the surest and easiest means for uniting all persons with Christ..." The 8/98 Charisma lists four official dogmas Catholics adhere to about Mary: 1) Mary is the "mother of God" 2) Mary remained a virgin all her life 3) Mary was born without sin 4) Mary didn't die but was assumed into heaven. The Bible does not teach Mariolatry. It presents her as blessed, but a sinner who needed a Savior (Lk. 1:47). - CC

More Women Preachers - The Aug. 10 USN & WR says "Women are admitted to the ministry in about 80 Christian denominations and to the rabbinate in Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist Judaism. They account for a third of all students in seminary programs" Leadership by women is becoming more and more prevalent, even in Southern Baptist churches. The largest church in the world is in Korea, pastored by David Yonggi Cho, a charismatic, and women make up two-thirds of the 700 pastors who help guide this megachurch (10/94 Charisma). What the Bible says seems to no longer matter. - CC

Why Kids Kill - The introduction of television in the 1950s resulted in a doubling of the homicide rate. After the Jonesboro shootings, high school students reacted with laughter when told of the shootings at the middle school. A similar reaction happens all the time in movie theaters when there is bloody violence (8/10 C. Today). Young people laugh and cheer and keep right on eating popcorn and drinking pop. We have raised a generation of barbarians who have learned to associate violence with pleasure, as the Romans did when Christians were butchered in the Colosseum. Gory media violence presented as entertainment (TV, video games, etc.) destroys the violence immune system and conditions kids to derive pleasure from violence. - CC

Islam Is Growing Fast in U.S. - Five to 6 million strong, Muslims in America outnumber Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Mormons, and are more numerous than Quakers, Unitarians, Seventh-day Adventists, Mennonites, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Christian Scientists, combined (7/20 USN & WR). Over half the respondents in a recent Roper poll described Islam as inherently anti-American, anti-Western, or supportive of terrorism. Some Muslims deceptively say their Allah is the same as the Christian's God. But this has been shown to be untrue (see 5/1/92 CC). - CC

Mormonism's Celestial Lottery - Mormonism founder Joseph Smith's claim that the LDS Church is the only true church (and that all others were an abomination) rests solely upon his credibility as a prophet and upon his integrity as a man. Today over 10 million Mormon faithful are playing celestial lottery with their very souls (Sum.'98 Inner Circle). Either Smith was, indeed, a prophet and the Mormon Church is the only true church, or he was a deceiver of millions and his church is as false as he is. - CC

Tim Lee Speaks at SBC, N.E., BBF, & Independent Baptist Churches - The 1997 itinerary of evangelist Tim Lee as listed in his official publication contains a strange admixture of churches with ecclesiastical positions that vary from pro-ecumenical and Charismatic, to New-Evangelical and professing Fundamentalist stances (Jul-Aug Fund. Digest). FD editor Dr. Don Jasmin lists many of these churches by name, some of which we have earlier mentioned also. Lee, a dynamic preacher, is a dangerous "bridge-builder" to some linked to apostasy. - CC

Why Christians Can't Remain Catholics - The July-Aug. Proclaiming the Gospel lists and discusses six good reasons why Christians cannot remain in the Roman Catholic Church. 1) Its worship is idolatrous. 2) Its dogmas condemn Christians. 3) Its rituals are rooted in paganism. 4) Its authority is not divine. 5) Its doctrines are demonic. 6) Its teachings deny Christ. - CC

Ex-Catholics for Christ, Charismatics - A statement from the Association of Fundamentalists Evangelizing Catholics notes: "The Code of Behavior sent from Ex-Catholics for Christ (E.C.F.C.) specifically forbids exclusion of charismatics. They plan to hold their first conference in John MacArthur's church with John MacArthur, Dave Hunt and Joe Jordan as main speakers. Participating speakers include a charismatic ex-priest. Dr. Bill Jackson, President of A.F.E.C., writes: 'We realize the importance of the issue of Pentecostalism in the light of Roman Catholic evangelism. We regard Pentecostalism as a dangerous perversion of the message of the infinite Christ of the Bible. E.C.F.C.'s ignoring this danger causes us to approach them, as brothers in Christ, in the light of Gal. 6:1. We urge them to reconsider their Code of Behavior and exclude Pentecostals from participation. This would help, but other problems [e.g., separation] still exist that would keep us, as fundamentalists, from cooperation with E.C.F.C.'..." A.F.E.C. is a small group of nine missions whose bylaws state clearly they are non-ecumenical and non-charismatic. - CC

Schuller Punished - Televangelist Robert Schuller pleaded innocent to an assault charge of "shoving a male flight attendant" (see 8/15 CC). Prosecutors will drop those charges if he completes six months of federal supervision. He agrees to this and to pay a fine of $1,100 to the FAA. - CC

Denver Seminary, CBA, Cults - Denver Seminary is a member of the Conservative Baptist Association which is a member of the NAE (National Association of Evangelicals). Both Denver and CBA have become increasingly ecumenical, and strongly new-evangelical (e.g., see 9/1/91 CC). But more recently both seem to have a weak stance concerning cults. Denver has promoted books by Quaker "mystic/New Ager" Richard Foster, and its Focal Point (Sum.'97) said of new professor of Old Testament Dr. Richard Hess that he is a member of the Catholic Biblical Association. A book by Conservative Baptist minister Richard Allen Farmer was published by Seventh-day Adventists (9-10/96 Fund. Digest). Farmer is listed as a major participant at a Church Development Conference on "Waging Spiritual Warfare" Nov. 9-10 in Dallas, along with John MacArthur, Tony Evans, and Howard Hendricks (7-8/97 Fund. Digest). These are sad signs of a growing apostasy! - CC

GARBC Report - David Gower replaces Vernon Miller as editor of the Baptist Bulletin. The General Association of Regular Baptist Churches at its recent annual meeting in Grand Rapids reported a loss of 24 churches over the past year with 10 new ones joining - a net loss of 14. Next year's meeting will be at Lancaster, PA. The GARBC-approved schools and agencies are exercising ever greater control over the churches. Cedarville College and Cornerstone/Grand Rapids are very new-evangelical. Some other GARBC entities lag not too far behind. Rick Miesel cites "psychoheresy" inroads at Cedarville, and says "many, many GARBC churches are supporters of Promise Keepers" [notwithstanding, the resolution against PK]. ABWE hardly qualifies as separatist-fundamentalist. Fundamentalist Digest editor Dr. Don Jasmin comments on the GARBC's "Ecumenical Problem" thusly: "Dr. Bill Rudd has served as chairman of the GARBC's Council of 18, probably the most powerful and influential position in the GARBC. Rudd also serves as the chairman of the Cedarville College Board of Trustees. Rudd sent his men to a recent PK conference with his blessing. Rudd also promotes CCM music..." - CC