(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.)

TV-Consuming Time/Criminalizing Teens-Statistics reveal by age 18 yrs., a young person has witnessed 200,000 violent acts on TV. 91% of the children polled said they felt upset or scared at the violence. Studies show that violent topics consistently comprise 40 to 50 percent of all news programs. This results in "copy cat" crimes, and the news media gives so much attention to their favorite crime until it motivates others to imitate the same violence. The number of minutes per week that the average American child ages 2-11 watches television is 1,197. That is almost 20 hours weekly! Too much TV for a child results in below average standardized test scores. The above statistical information was gleaned from various sources. Although some statistics vary, the truth of a less than satisfactory result from too much TV is evident. TV is used for everything from baby setting to bashing spirituality. -W. W. Mosley, (hereafter WWM)

Presidential Expenses For Ex-Pres.-Bill Clinton has been out of office only since January, but he has already established himself as being the heaviest burden on U.S. taxpayers of all former presidents. According to Business Week magazine, his annual paycheck is $150,000, as opposed to the paltry $96,000 ex-presidents Bush, Reagan, Carter and Ford take home. (NewsMax, 8/16/01) The "biggest bite is the annual rent for his celebrated Harlem digs - he pays $354,000 for his luxury penthouse offices and another $265,000 in expenses. Jimmy Carter's rent for his Atlanta office is only $102,000 and his expenses are $142,000. George Bush pays $169,000 in rent for his Houston office and spends $135,000 in expenses. Ronald Reagan's Los Angeles office rent is $177,000 and his annual expenses are $99,000." This only deals with the material expenses Bill Clinton has incurred on our nation. The spiritual consequences are a much higher cost. Read again, "When A Nation's Ruler Sins," Plains Baptist Challenger, May 1998. (2 Sam. 11:1-5) -WWM

Jesse's Legacy For Out-Of-Wedlock Child-Jesse Jackson's secret(?) love affair with Karin Stanford resulted in an out-of-wedlock offspring. Again Jesse is faced with more exposure when Stanford agreed to be interviewed by Connie Chung on ABC's "20/20." This announcement moved the "compassionate" heart of Jesse to "increase his out-of-wedlock daughter's support payments in order to assure her `dignity and privacy.'" (NewsMax, 8/17/01) "Dignity" is a commodity that Jesse cannot buy or afford, and "privacy" is no longer possible because the secret is in flesh and blood. Of course "Rev." always precedes Jesse's name, yet there is nothing in his character or calling that deserves this prefix. He is regrettably recognized by the news media as a "Baptist" preacher, yet he is a disgrace to Christianity. Jesse's questionable qualities seem to matter little to his followers or the media. -WWM

NEA & Homosexual Curriculum-The National Education Association is silent about a task force that it formed to determine how to integrate homosexual themes into public school curriculums while working to "reduce and eliminate intolerance and insensitivity toward gays and lesbians in our society." This is according to an Aug. 15 CNSNews.com report. The NEA's "Gay and Lesbian Issues Task Force" was established at the July NEA convention for the purpose of avoiding a drawn-out debate over homosexual issues on the convention floor. (Baptist Press, 8/15/01) The NEA backed-off a pro-homo measure known as the "New B" resolution at its convention. "New B" called for the development of curriculum and institutional materials along with programs designed to meet the needs of homosexual faculty members and students. The great need for such a high profiled group is salvation by grace through faith, in the blood of Jesus Christ. Satan is surely having his way in the area of education. His curriculum remains, "...and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." Satan seems to be using the NEA to define what is "good" and what is "evil." -WWM

Outlawing The Bible-The King James Version, 1611, is under the greatest attack since its inception. The 1881 Greek Text of Westcott & Hort have produced myriads of versions with wide differences even among them. Satan has always despised the pure Word of God. "Hath God said," remains the standard criterion for questioning the reliability of God's Word. We who believe in the KJV only as the preserved Word of God in English, are relegated to cultism in the mind even of other Baptists(?). Questioning the reliability of the KJV stands alone in the area of comparing one against another. You will never hear NIV, ASV, NASV, and scores of other versions "onlyism." The opposition to the KJV is aiding & abetting attacks on the Bible by homosexuals, atheist, God-haters, and the world in general. Popular reasoning would accuse Paul of being a hate-crime supporter. (Rom. 1-3) Homosexuals and their defenders would blatantly accuse God of committing a hate- crime against Sodom & Gomorrah. (Gen. 19:24,25) -WWM

Pro-Homosexual Church Pulls Out Of CBF-Southern Baptist groups have dealt with University Baptist, Austin, for welcoming gay and lesbian congregation members, stated The American- Statesman. Now UBC has notified the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship that it is pulling out of the national group because of its policy against homosexuals. (Baptist Press, 8/17/01) The article reiterated the policy of CBF which prohibits the hiring of non-celibate gays and lesbians, and bars them from missionary work and does not allow the organization to give money to homosexual groups or causes. UBC's Rev. Larry Bethune refers to the gay and lesbian group they minister to as "gay and lesbian Baptist Christians." Gay and lesbians can be saved from their sinful state and forsake their sinful activities and become Christians and baptized into a Baptist church. But it is a misnomer to link "gay and lesbian" with "Baptist Christians." -WWM

Southfork Ranch Christian Rock Concert-Another misnomer, "Christian Rock," is decorating the airways. KLTY-FM Radio, a Dallas/Fort Worth Christian(?) radio station has sponsored its 11th annual Celebrate Freedom concert. It boasts being one of the largest single-day "Christian music" events in the country. Some 200,000 head bobbing, hand-raising people are generally expected to attend these events. With tents pitched in the mud created by recent rain, thousands came to hear some of the country's top CCM performers. (Lubbock A-J, 7/1/01) This would be amusing if it were not so sad. Listen to the remarks of those attending and you be the judge whether they are worshiping the true God. 45 yr. old Pam Eller said while standing in the mud, bobbing and weaving, "I just came to praise the Lord . . . ain't nothing going to stop a Christian." Johnny Harris, 39: "I love it, all different people of different color and backgrounds are here for one purpose to life up the name of Jesus." Inventions of the flesh are created to stir up the flesh. The only spirit involved is humanism. Such folks have created their own worship and are worshiping a false image, not the living Saviour. (Psa. 106:39) "Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions." -WWM

Do 33% Of Christian Marriages End In Divorce?-According to Barna Research Group they do. "Born-again Christians are as likely as nonbelievers to get divorced, according to a report by the BRG. . . about 33% of born-again Christians have ended their marriages, compared to 34% for those who have not embraced Jesus, said the researchers." (LAJ, 8/18/01) I believe this is way off among saved, sanctified, and serving believers. This was the result of a telephone survey of 7,034 adults. The guidelines for the respondents, they "were considered born-again if they stated a personal commitment to Christ and believed they would go to heaven when they die because they confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their savior." Note that repentance was not required, nor were they asked if their commitment to Christ resulted in faithfulness to their local church. Many consider themselves Christians who never attend church, use Sundays for outings and entertainment, and consider it the only day they have for themselves. You will need to look somewhere other than the BRC to know if a person is really born-again & committed to Christ. -WWM

Muslims Complain Of Intolerance In U.S.-U.S. Muslims registered 366 public complaints of religious intolerance during 2000, a 15 percent increase from the previous year, according to an annual survey. Half the complaints dealt with workplace problems, with the largest number from women reporting discrimination for wearing hijab, attire with a head covering. Public schools were the second-ranking venue for problems. (LAJ, 8/25/01) Many Christians in Muslim-controlled countries suffer more than intolerance of their attire. Being a Christian there has cost many their lives. That is intolerance. Some in past generations were discriminated against for wearing patched overalls to school. Being freckled or red-headed caused finger pointing and laughter. But no one was killed because of such infractions. Christianity is hated by the Muslims both in the U.S. and in countries predominately Muslim. Beware.-WWM

WCLS Viewed At SBC Church-Pleasant Valley Bapt. Church, Liberty, MO, was the site where the 2001 Willow Creek Leadership Summit was broadcast Aug. 11 via satellite. Chuck Colson of Prison Fellowship & Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek Community Church were featured speakers. PVBC "was one of 18 locations across the country where more than 10,000 people are expected to gather for the event. It is designed to help pastors, volunteer leaders, church staff, board members and emerging leaders in business and the church to develop their leadership gifts, skills and responsibilities." (Kansas City Star,8/3/01) It seems the Holy Spirit is no longer the only means whereby a church is directed to serve and send missions. Or is the Holy Spirit heeded at all? Churches refusing to be led by nothing less than the Word of God and the Holy Spirit are becoming fewer by the day. Many Baptist(?) Churches have fallen into the web of deceit promoted by such as the WCLS. -WWM

Catholic Archbishop Married Under Moon-Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo is under fire from Pope John Paul II for participating in a mass wedding by Sun Myung Moon. The bishop had an audience with the pope at the latter's summer retreat. The Vatican has threatened to kick Bishop Milingo out of the church if he doesn't leave his wife by Aug. 20, and sever ties with Mr. Moon and remain celibate. (Dallas Morn. News, 8/8/01) Nothing is said about how long the bishop has been married, but I dare say the caption, "remain celibate," would not go well under his photo. The bishop says he plans to start a family. He must choose between total abstinence or a family . . it is impossible to do both. What utter foolishness! -WWM

Holocaust Victims & Pius XII-The Vatican is somewhat miffed at some Jewish historians, saying their views of the Holocaust-era pope Pius XII was a "slanderous campaign" mounted against the Roman Catholic Church, calling it "clearly incorrect behavior." The investigative work has been halted because the Vatican has not released all its archives from the WWII years. (DMN, 8/8/01) Wonder why? The mother of harlots has more than the Holocaust victims to answer for. Centuries of killing Ana-Baptists in an equally or more cruel manner cannot be denied by the RCC. To call Catholics Christians is a slap in the face of every martyred victim of the Catholic Church who would not deny his faith in the risen Christ. (Rev. 17:6, "And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.") -WWM

America's Mixed Multitude-Baptist pastors are few who refuse to marry the young people of his church to members of other denominations. Performing such marriages causes confusion for them and their offspring. Children are generally pulled in two directions and usually both parents and children drop out of church entirely. However, it seems non-Christian religions are having better success in incorporating their religion with Christianity than so-called Christian religions within themselves. The Dallas Morning News, 8/8/01 reports the success of Buddhism's meditation within the Christian(?) religion. Children ages 9 thru 13 are enrolled in an "Introduction to Buddhism and Meditation for Children" class at the Vajradakini Buddhist Center, Irving, TX. This mostly Asian religion has found a home in America and is having an impact on youth in many areas. A Catholic mother of two children feels this is good meditation for her children. A Christian(?) father and Buddhist mother sent their daughter to this class. The result is seen in the child's statement: "My dad is Christian, and my mom is Buddhist. And I am both." If Dad is really a Christian, what happened to 2 Cor. 6:14-16 & Eph. 6:4? Or has he ever read it? -WWM

Identifying The Demise Of A Nation-"European democracy was originally imbued with a sense of Christian responsibility and self-discipline, but these spiritual principles have been gradually losing their force. Spiritual independence is being pressured on all sides by the dictatorship of self- satisfied vulgarity, of the latest fads, and of group interests." Alexander Solzhenitsyn (Federalist,8/27/01) Mr. Solzhenitsyn, a Russian author, spent years in a Russian prison because of his convictions. America was once also "imbued with a sense of Christian responsibility and self- discipline" and has traveled the same path downward. Self indulgence, vulgarity, fashions, fads, and special interest groups have replaced Christianity in America. She has largely forgotten that "the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy..." (Psa. 33:18) -WWM

Sad Commentary On Christian Commitment-The Arizona Southern Baptist Convention established the "Baptist Foundation of Arizona" in 1948 for the purpose of raising and managing endowment funds to further Southern Baptist causes. Yet it did not help the causes of those who supported it. Court documents alleged that the Foundation, an independent agency with trustees elected by the state convention, grew rapidly in the 1980's by offering individual investors a high rate of return and promising that part of the earnings would be used for church work. The Foundation invested heavily in real estate, including some outside the U.S. When property values declined, officers allegedly set up a web of about 140 subsidiaries to hide losses through paper transactions that artificially inflated the value of its holdings. (Baptist Press, 8/23/01) SBC pastors and former pastors were used as sales representatives to rob some 13,000, mostly elderly Christians, by promising high returns, the security of church backing, and the chance to help Baptist charities. It surfaced as a fraud when the foundation sought other investors to pay off the older investors. (Rom. 12:17) "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men." -WWM

Adults Considering Heaven & Hell-I wonder if polls are as accountable as they are appealing. Columnist Humphrey Taylor considers this Harris Poll of 8/12/98. " Most Americans are optimistic about their long-term future...they think they will go to heaven. Fully 84% of all adults say they believe in the survival of the soul after death and, of these, 76% expect to go to heaven. Of those interviewed, many Christians and Non-Christians believe in Astrology, ghosts and reincarnation." (Harris Poll, #41) Only 2% of those who believe in life after death expect to go to hell. And 4% think they will go to purgatory. Since there is no such place as purgatory , and hell has enlarged itself at least once (Isa. 5:14), and the New Jerusalem has established dimensions (Rev. 20:16), this poll definitely needs revising. Jesus said "broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:" and "strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matt. 7:13,14) This repeals the Harris Poll of 76% going to heaven and only 2% going to hell. Better be sure! Jesus is the saviour and there is still "none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) -WWM

Gay Adoption Ban Upheld-A federal judge this last Thursday upheld a 1977 state ban on adoptions by homosexuals, citing the stability of heterosexual families. (NewsMax.com, 8/31/01) The article also said Florida's Gov. Bush joined the Florida Department of Children and Families by expressing their approval of the ruling. God has already ruled on this matter of homosexuality. It is fallen humanity in its most putrid sin. Lot identified it as a wicked sin, even surpassing that of adultery and rape. (Gen. 19:7,8) The ACLU said it would continue to fight what it termed legalized discrimination against homosexuals. This ungodly union of God haters will disband when they stand alone before the White Throne of God at the last judgment for lost sinners. -WWM

America's Academic Mind-Education of our youth seems to be top priority in political circles. I say, it seems to be. The NEA is contending that integrating homosexual themes into the education system is a must for a balanced culture. Almost no one is worthy of attention in this field unless he has a "PhD" attached to his name. Professors of science, philosophy, or religion are not the criteria whereby education should be guided. All three areas of "higher learning" ignore the existence of God. God's people were destroyed for "lack of knowledge." They had forgotten "the law of God." The result being, God also forgot their children. (Hosea 4:6) America's children, or adults, will never be educated properly, or have lasting peace until they recognize the source of true knowledge. (2 Pet 1:2,3) "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:..." -WWM

Fallen Leaders-It is not only sad but a national catastrophe when governmental leaders fall into moral decay. Biblical record reveals the fatal outcome of families and empires who have fallen and often perished because of sinful lifestyles. David, Solomon, and Samson are representative examples of national leaders having given way to lustful desires. America must follow scriptural guidelines in choosing their leaders if this nation hopes to endure. God will bless a nation that follows His spiritual guidance. (Exo. 18:21) "Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:..." On the other hand God will severely judge any nation that forsakes or denies Him as the true God of heaven. -WWM

Potter Popularity Soars-The marketing of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter will be seen this fall in books, a feature film, toys, and perhaps in schools. SBC's Light, in a two-page article, quotes an occult expert who says: "Whether Rowling realizes it or not, she is promoting witchcraft/occultism/Wicca in the form of ethical and moral subjectivism." A big problem is that Potter, the hero, is a morally inconsistent character and the story's "ethics are muddled." He adds: "In short, Rowling's moral universe is a topsy-turvy world with no firm rules of right and wrong. The Harry Potter books unquestionably present and glamorize real world occult practices and techniques." The books glorify behavior that is inconsistent with biblical morality and ethics, and contain child inappropriate humor, gratuitous violence and a few harmful stereotypes." Rowling is said to present a few good messages, but presents others like lying, disobeying, revenge, casting spells and using astrology and numerology. -(Calvary Contender, hereafter CC)

ABC To Do Puff Series On Homosexuals?-Disney-owned ABC will run a full week of Nightline programs this fall focusing on homosexuals. USA Today reports Ted Koppel will start the series with a profile of the nation's only homosexual retirement community in Fla. The series will apparently try to portray homosexuals as living normal lives, attending church, bowling, and facing stress at work (WITW). This is part of the ongoing effort to cast sinful homosexuality in a favorable light. -CC

Dialogue Forges An Unbiblical Unity-Today we witness an unprecedented capitulation to Romanism by new evangelicals on a deceptive slippery slope fraught with danger. The May-June Foundation warned: "While both Roman Catholics and those with whom they dialogue tend to twist terms and definitions and play semantic word games in an attempt to forge unbiblical unity, faithful believers must refuse to dialogue or unite with those who preach a false gospel. All who embrace false doctrine possess the spirit of antichrist, and this spirit of ecumenicity is prevalent in the world today. God's Word clearly commands us to `have no fellowship,' `avoid' and `withdraw' from those who teach false doctrine (Rom. 16-17, Eph. 5:11) and from those brethren who disobediently unite with such false teachers (2Thes. 3:6, 14-15). Dialogue, consensus or conciliatory diversity is not an option!" The false premise in dialogue is that we can scripturally work together in unity if we can overcome doctrinal differences. -CC

Public Error Must Be Corrected Publicly-Dave Hunt answers a reader's question thusly (8/01 The Berean Call): "It is not a matter of pointing out `faults,' but of correcting unbiblical doctrine and behavior. Publicly taught doctrinal error must be corrected publicly for the benefit of those who have been misled thereby. In fact, correction should be a major goal of any teaching from God's Word. Paul tells Timothy that the purpose of Scripture is `for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness' (2 Tim. 3:16). Indeed, the major part of the 22 epistles involves correction! It is impossible to teach sound doctrine and to instruct in righteousness without warning concerning what is false. Thus Paul declares that to `preach the word' one must `reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine' (2 Tim. 4:2). And reproof and correction are incomplete without specifically identifying the offenders. How many of today's popular Christian leaders are being true to God's Word in this regard? Could that be a major missing element in today's church, explaining at least in part why so many `will not endure sound doctrine'?" -CC

Pain Of Divorce Remains-Families torn apart by divorce are called "broken homes" for good reason. Nearly everything breaks...emotions, relationships, security, and possibly even a child's potential (Family Voice). Divorce has life-long repercussions for children. About half of all those born in the U.S. this year will see their parents divorce before they reach 18. Divorce, once a last resort, by the late 1900s became viewed as a liberating, even creative experience, a means of "finding oneself." Women's standard of living after divorce drops 27 percent. Men's increases. Years ago it was exaggerated as 42 percent but a more realistic figure is 10 percent. Divorced men are three times more likely to commit suicide than married men. Divorce predisposes teens to earlier sexual activity and out-of-wedlock pregnancies. -CC

Could The Bible Be Hate Literature?-This question is asked by Pastor Perry Rockwood in a protest message against the recent ruling of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, regarding an advertisement quoting four Bible passages on what the Bible teaches about homosexuality. The ruling states: "These verses can objectively be seen as exposing homosexuals to hatred or ridicule." Question: If Lev. 20:13 and Rom. 1:26-28 are hate literature, how much of the Bible, if any, remains legal to print? In a June ruling, the commission ordered both the newspaper and the Christian who had the ad to pay $1,500 to three homosexual activists for publishing an advertisement with the references to the four biblical verses condemning homosexuality (7/23 Christian News).-CC

von Braun: Creationist, or Evolutionist?-Dr. Wernher von Braun, director of the Marshall Space Flight Center (Huntsville, Ala.) during the 1960s Apollo "man to the moon" program, is referred to as the father of the U.S. rocket and space program. He attended a local Lutheran church, and often affirmed his belief in God as the Creator. He said: "The Old Testament grippingly documents how Yahweh, the only and almighty God, was the beginning of everything. He was not only the creator of the world and of man, but also the sole maker of laws from the very beginning." But, he also said: "I believe religion, like science, is evolutionary, growing and changing in the light of further revelations from God." We would conclude from this and other statements that he was a "progressive creationist" or "theistic evolutionist," but if a scientific genius can believe a Creator exists, why can't an atheist? [Note: This editor worked for NASA and under ("way" under!) Dr. von Braun in the 1960s and has a copy of the manuscript of a speech he made at a Governor's Prayer Breakfast in Denver, April 1, 1969, the source of the above quotes.] -CC

France Considers Evangelical Churches Cults-A French law that cracks down on religious groups considered sects or cults could set a dangerous precedent for government-targeted minority religions in other countries (8/2 Ala. Baptist). Any religious education ("mental manipulation") or proselytization can be suspect under the vague crime of "abuse of a person's state of weakness." The law not only can ban religious groups considered cults, but can also stop them from changing their name and reorganizing. French officials are actively promoting their law as a "model" for other countries. A Yugoslav police inspector says: "Baptists, Pentecostals and others are dangerous religious cults who can damage your children (8/6 Chr. Today). The pastor of the largest charismatic church in France could be imprisoned if he loses a trial in French court (8/01 Charisma). -CC

Saudis Crackdown On Religious Freedom-Two Christians were recently arrested for reasons related to their faith, in Islamic Saudi Arabia, America's strong Gulf War ally (8/6 Religion Today). Only Muslims are allowed to practice their faith. One-third of the population of Saudi Arabia is foreign workers, many of whom are Christians from the Philippines, India, North Korea, etc. They are not allowed to display any Christian symbols or Bibles, nor are they allowed to meet together publicly to worship or pray. There are no churches in Saudi Arabia. -CC

Graham's Rock Music Friends Say `Thanks'-Pat Boone came up with the idea to honor Evangelist Billy Graham with a song, and co-wrote the song Thank You Billy Graham (8/4 Huntsville Times). A Web site tribute has been set up featuring secular and religious rock groups (e.g., Bono, dc Talk, Reba McEntire, and Take 6) some of which have performed at Graham crusades. -CC

Maxwell Speaks Anywhere, It Seems-John Maxwell, founder of Injoy and currently living in Atlanta, conducts leadership conferences across America. In his book Developing the Leaders Around You, he frequently refers to management/advertising/marketing experts, but never mentions the Lord Jesus Christ nor quotes the Word of God. Only Moses and Jethro are referred to for their leadership influence (BDM Letter). He never alludes to the plan of salvation yet claims to have "the priority of personal commitment to evangelism," and pops up as a speaker on all sorts of ecumenical/evangelical platforms (e.g., Promise Keepers, Billy Graham Training Center, and SBC, to name a few). He is listed to speak at the ecumenical "Beyond All Limits" pastor's conference in Jan. along with Bill Bright, Jerry Falwell, Jack Hayford, Joe Stowell, etc. (See 7/15 CC). And he is pictured as a speaker for Jubilation 2001 along with charismatics John Hagee, and John Kilpatrick, pastor of the Brownsville Assembly of God of "Pensacola Revival" notoriety. -CC

Catholic Church & The Death Penalty-The Catholic Church, as a matter of official policy, has advocated and carried out the death penalty over the centuries against persons whose only crime ["heretics"] was not to be a Roman Catholic (7/01 Ill./Ind. Missionary Baptist). But the new position on the death penalty issue of "The Church That Never Changes" is one of "compassion" for the convicted murderers. The earlier victims of the death penalty were not mass murderers like Timothy McVeigh but were guilty only of holding to non-Catholic religious beliefs. Neither was theirs a painless death like McVeigh's but they were burned at the stake, often savagely tortured prior to execution. -CC

Mormon Choir Tours South-The 330-voice Mormon Tabernacle Choir and accompanists tour major cities in the South this summer "to establish in the minds of people that Jesus Christ is central to our faith." The 6/1 Watchman Fellowship Update states: "To make Christians believe the Mormon Church is Christian has long been the goal of modern Mormonism as to do so is to break down barriers that hinder their recruiting. However, the Jesus that is central to the Mormon faith is not the Jesus of the Bible that is central to the faith of Southern Christians. The Jesus of the Mormon Church is the brother of Lucifer, a worshiper of a god that was once a man on another planet, and the product of a union between god and one of his goddess wives in the pre-existence and between god and Mary on earth. Theirs is a Jesus that won redemption, not by shedding his blood on the cross for whosoever shall come to him, but while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane for everyone, whether they believe in him or not." -CC

The Power Of Music-The following is taken from a 7/16 Christian News review: Music can have a profound impact on one's belief system. Modern record producers and artists who, on the one hand, say their music cannot in anyway be responsible for someone's behavior, on the other contradict themselves by stating that their music can change the world. If music is used outside of God's intent, i.e., to promote sex, violence and the occult, it can tear down the very fabric of a society. Many of today's popular rock groups embrace/promote rebellion, nihilism, death and an occult world view by their lyrics and lifestyles. -CC

Sudan Death Toll-The militant Islamic regime in northern Sudan has waged a genocidal `holy war" against the mainly black Christians and animists of southern Sudan. Brutal terror tactics include slavery, rape, forced conversion to Islam, bombing, starvation and famine (7/16 New Amer.). Over 2 million are estimated to have died due to war and repression. Sudan's death toll is larger than the combined fatalities suffered in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Somalia, and Algeria. Twice as many have perished in the past 18 years than all the war-related deaths suffered by Americans in the past 200 years. -CC

Believers In Laos Must Recant Or Face Jail-In communist Laos, Christians in droves are forced to sign such a declaration as, "I unequivocally resign from this foreign religion [Christianity]," officially renouncing their faith (7/18 Relig. Today). The Bible League says those refusing to sign the document face indeterminate prison sentences under hard conditions. There are 30 to 60 known Christian prisoners in Laos now. Communist officials have declared Christianity the "No. 1 enemy of the state." -CC

Bibles Banned In Turkmenistan-Bibles are disappearing from bookstalls in former Soviet republic Turkmenistan after a government letter ordered vendors to remove the books from off shelves. The Koran is still widely available (7/14 World). Turkmenistan restricts all religious activity and allows only two religious groups, Russian Orthodoxy and Islam, to register legally. -CC

Singles by 88% say there are too many divorces, but almost two-thirds endorse cohabitation before marriage as a way to avoid divorce. (July 7/14 World) -CC

Graham Center Hosting Major Missions Meeting-The Billy Graham Center of Wheaton College is hosting a major gathering Sept. 20-23 near Orlando, Fla. "with one purpose in mind: collaborative unity." "Gods mission commUNITY" is the name of the gathering of some 1500 mission leaders from mission networks across North America who will attempt to bring the Great Commission community together. Major new-evangelical mission entities (e.g., EFMA, IFMA, World Vision, World Evangelical Alliance, Willow Creek) will participate. Speakers include: William Taylor, John Orme, Paul Kaughan, Michael Cassidy, Tom Houston, John DeHaan, Lonnie Allison, and Gary Schwammlein. -CC

Resolution On Modern Translations-The New Testament Association of Independent Baptist Churches met June 5-7 at Woodcrest Baptist Church (Minn.), pastored by NTA president Dr. Clarke Poorman. Dr. Richard Paige is NTA's new National Rep, succeeding retiring Dr. Earle Matteson. Next year's NTA meeting is set for June 4-6 at East Park Baptist Church of Decatur, Illinois, Dennis Komis, pastor. One of six resolutions passed at the 2001 NTA meeting pertained to Modern Translations of the Bible: "Whereas, the use of translations is a divisive issue in Bible-believing churches, Be it Resolved, that our Association continue to use only the King James Version as our only translation in all NTAIBC meetings, but not to allow the controversy surrounding Bible translations to divide us as brethren." -CC (WWM-How can a "controversy surrounding Bible translations" keep from dividing? If the KJV is the preserved Word of God in English, and it is, and all other versions are polluted, the pure Word is a Sword which divides. Heb. 4:12; cf Matt. 10:34- 36.)

Women Celebrate `Mother God' At CBF Meeting-At the June 28-30 meeting in Atlanta of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, a CBF auxiliary group (Baptist Women in Ministry) opened its annual meeting "with songs and prayers to Mother God." A litany read by BWIM members expressed their discomfort at calling God "Father," "Lord," and "King." (7/2 Religion Today). Participants chanted in unison that they "can say" the words Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit, "no problem," but "God the Father" is a different story. The BWIM treasurer said she believed more SBC women would be ordained to the pastorate "because I believe God is good, and She knows what She's doing." This 10th anniversary meeting reveals the CBF to be far worse than merely a moderate, disgruntled Southern Baptist group. We have long contended that it should be considered as very liberal. -CC

Don't Evangelize Catholics?-The most grievous aspect of the growing acceptance of Romanism is the effect it has on outreaches to Catholics (6/01 Berean Call). Missionaries returning from largely Catholic countries are sometimes cautioned by their support-church pastor to "go lightly" on negative experiences with the Catholic Church. This would seem to lead to a let-up in warnings against Romanist errors and false gospel. -CC

`Mother God' Worshipped At CBF Meeting-The 10th anniversary General Assembly of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (liberal/moderate split-off of SBC) plunged into a heated debate over homosexuality. With songs and prayers to"Mother God," a Baptist Women in Ministry (auxiliary CBF group) breakfast was rife with stridently feminist God language (see 8/1 CC). The CBF promotes BWIM as a partner in missions and ministry and will give it $30,000 from its 2001-02 budget (8/01 Bapt. Banner). Division and apostasy are rampant in the CBF. -CC

Schuller Cuts Staff-Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral recently cut 6 percent of its staff, citing a drop in contributions. The "megachurch" has eliminated or frozen 37 positions after having a staff as high as 600. His "Hour of Power" television program reaches over one million viewers each week, and between 7,000 and 9,000 attend Sunday services weekly (8/6 Christian News). Schuller says "Sin is any act or thought that robs myself or another human being of his or her self-esteem." -CC