(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.)
Christianity Fades In The West-In England, the percentage of citizens who are in church on a given Sunday is 27 percent. West Germany has a church going rate of 14 percent. In Denmark and Norway, only 5 percent bother to attend church on Sunday mornings. In Sweden, Iceland, and Finland, only 4 percent go to church. Theological liberalism is at the core of this decline. (Gene Edward Veith, 7/26 World, via Calvary Contender, hereafter CC.)
Hollywood Stars' Way To Slow Divorce-Marriage is the foundation of civil society. When the family falls apart, so does the nation and culture. Many Hollywood stars have slowed their divorce rates by simply living together and having children without getting married. A strong effort is afoot to reinvent marriage, extend it to couples of the same sex, form domestic partnerships, and live together (Veith). -CC
Book Of Mormon A Fraud-Christian News for July 21 says: "The Book of Mormon is not a Christian document. It is founded on fiction and lies concocted by Joseph Smith, a lying adulterer. Mormonism rejects such basic Christian doctrines as the Trinity and justification by faith alone in the merits of Jesus Christ. It is a work righteous cult." Its Book of Mormon is replete with fiction and contradictions. Next to Islam, Mormonism is the fastest growing religion in America. -CC
Catholic Clergy Abuse Suits-The Boston archdiocese offers $55 million to settle over 500 clergy sex abuse lawsuits (8/9 Huntsville Times). A judge in Louisville approved a $25.7 million settlement from the Louisville archdiocese to 243 people sexually abused by its priests and employees (8/2 H. Times). The scandal involved certain bishops not only turning a blind eye to numerous priests accused of molesting young parishioners but reassigned them to other parishes where they continued to do harm. -CC
Bennett: "Gambling's Not A Sin In My Church"-Former secretary of education, drug czar and author of Book of Virtues, Bill Bennett for years has squandered time and millions of dollars in gambling. He now apologizes, says he is done with gambling, but says "Gambling's not a sin in my church." But Catholic Bingo often leads to a sinful gambling habit that equates to addiction. Be warned, be wise, beware! -CC
Gambling Leads To Other Sins-The Internet has hooked millions of teens to easily accessible gambling (e.g., lottery tickets, sports betting). Experts say those who start young are the most likely to develop addiction problems (7/14 Huntsville Times) A study shows that gamblers are more likely to drink, smoke, and do drugs. Over 80 percent of American adults gamble at least occasionally a possible reason for a worrisome tolerance of youth gambling. -CC
People Growing Weary Of Sodomy Media Hype-Americans' acceptance of homosexuality has plummeted one month after the Supreme Court ruling banning state sodomy laws. New polls show that 49 percent do not consider homosexuality an acceptable alternative lifestyle and that 57 percent are opposed to homosexual civil unions. Blamed in part is the ever increasing promotion of sodomy in the media and in education circles (8/7 Ala. Baptist). A senior policy analyst says the poll may indicate that "people are getting sick and tired of the media and Hollywood shoving homosexuality in their faces at every turn." -CC
Women's Support For Abortion Declining-A new study shows that American women's support for abortion rights is declining that 51 percent of women now believe abortion should be legally prohibited in the overwhelming percentage of cases (7/24 Ala. Bapt.). Overall, the survey found 68 percent believe there should be more restrictions on abortion. -CC
First Openly Gay Episcopal Bishop-The 2.3 million member Episcopal Church (ECUSA) is a branch of the 75 million member Anglican Church. The election in August of Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, now threatens a crisis that could lead to a worldwide split. He is a divorced father of two and has been living with his male partner for over 13 years. Some are already breaking relations over the homosexual issue. Leaders say more congregations and clergy would leave the ECUSA if they weren't tied to property (they would lose it if they left) and pension benefits, including medical insurance. (8/16 World) -CC
`Safe Sin'?-Safe sin is a flat contradiction. It would be like talking of a "healthy disease" or "harmless poison" or "clean dirt" or a "lively death." It would be like a mouse talking about a safe mousetrap or a fish speaking of a safe hook or a pig thinking of a safe slaughterhouse. SIN IS NEVER SAFE. It is always dangerous, destructive, damning and always brings with it disastrous consequences. Yet people today say: "It is all right to sin as long as you practice SAFE SIN. Drunkenness is OK as long as someone sober drives you home. Narcotics are OK as long as you use clean needles. Sexual deviation is OK since it exists, and so it should be approved. Promiscuity is OK as long as you take safe precautions. It is all right to sin, but please, play it SAFE!" The Bible gives the true perspective: "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.For the wages of sin is death" (James 1:15; Rom. 6:23). Is there safety for sinners? Indeed! God has good news for those "whosoevers" (John 3:16) that recognize their need for God's righteousness. [An adapted excerpt from a quarter page ad placed in USA TODAY by the Middletown (CT) Bible Church, circulation 3 million]. -CC
Pearson: `Satan Himself May Go To Heaven'?-At its annual meeting in May, the International Communion of Charismatic Churches "affirmed and confirmed" that Bishop Carlton Pearson of Tulsa, is a member in good standing. He recently caused a firestorm for preaching universal reconciliation, which says no confession in Jesus as Savior is needed to go to heaven. The statement said "We recognize him [Pearson] as a valuable leader in the body of Christ." Universal reconciliation was not discussed at the meeting, but a signatory said the statement is an endorsement of Pearson and not his doctrine. Pearson recently said he believes Satan himself may go to heaven. -CC
CBF Joins BWA, SBC Cuts BWA Funds-The Southern Baptist Convention voted at its June meeting in Louisville to reduce its support of the Baptist World Alliance by 30 per cent ($125,000), and the BWA at its meeting in Brazil accepted the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship into full BWA membership. The CBF, a rather liberal breakaway group of SBC dissidents, was opposed to SBC's "conservative" leadership, and the SBC was opposed to the CBF, which often criticized the SBC. The SBC remains the apostate BWA's biggest giver (8/2 World). -CC
SBF Again To Feature So. Bapt. Speakers-The list of speakers for the Oct. 6 8 Southwide Baptist Fellowship again includes Southern Baptists (Junior Hill and Johnny Hunt, e.g.). This conference, at Tennessee Temple University, is promoted in a half page ad in Jerry Falwell's 8/3 Nat'l Liberty Journal, and also features Gary Coleman, Dino Pedrone, David Bouler, etc. Conservative So. Baptists are our brethren in the Lord and are to be loved on a personal level, but we cannot minister with them ecclesiastically without compromising and confusing our testimony. Spurgeon preached separation from error and compromise. He said: "That I might not stultify [`to make seem foolish'] my testimony I have cut myself clear of those who err from the faith, and even from those who associate with them." We do great harm to the cause of Christ by appearing to condone the disobedience of those unequally yoked with unbelievers. -CC
Kendal Headed Down Charismatic Path-Dr. R.T. Kendall has a new book describing his 25 years at Westminster Chapel (London), the G.Campbell Morgan and Martyn Lloyd Jones church. The book confirms that Kendall indeed continues to forge ahead on the "Toronto Blessing," charismatic highway (10/15/01 CC). He comes across as very sincere, but drifting year by year into extreme charismatism (5 6/ Reform. Today). The services today are completely charismatic in format. An interesting but sad book! -CC
Charismatic Healer Can't Heal Daughter- "Laughing Evangelist" Rodney Howard Browne has dubbed himself a "Holy Ghost bartender" serving up the "new wine" of Pentecostal fervor. He said (2/1/99 CC): "One night I was preaching on hell, and [laughter] just hit the whole place. The more I told people what hell was like, the more they laughed." He should know that hell is not a joke nor a laughing matter. Howard Browne, who teaches that God promises physical healing, does not intend to change his doctrine after his 16 year old daughter, who had cystic fibrosis died last Christmas. He believed to the end that she would be healed (July Bapt. Bulletin). He said "The more she suffered, the more we attacked the enemy." He said her dying was the worst career move the devil could have made. -CC
McIntire Gets Belated Apology From Prominent New Evangelical-Dr. Carl McIntire was a tireless enemy of communism and religious liberalism. He was often castigated by liberals, and by many new evangelicals, but Fuller Seminary Pres. Richard Mouw after McIntire's death (March 2002) candidly cast McIntire in a more favorable light. He said of McIntire (5/21/02 Chr. Today): "[His] insistence that ecumenical leaders...in both the National and World Council of Churches...were giving aid and comfort to the enemy when they warmly embraced visitors from the Soviet Bloc's Orthodox churches. `These are agents of the Communist government, folks!' he would insist. Like the ecumenical leaders, I dismissed his accusations as fanatical rantings.[But] we know now that many of those Russian Orthodox leaders were indeed conscious leaders of their Marxist government.To my knowledge, no one in the world of ecumenical Protestantism ever apologized for the cavalier manner in which they dismissed his charges. I, for one, believed we owed him an apology.You were right, Dr. McIntire!" -CC (Some churches in the SBC, including Criswell, had these same people preach for them. It is too late for Criswell to apologize, but some of the living should do so. ELB)
Fundamentalist, Wake Up!-"It is not enough to be orthodox: we must awaken to action. We have more apologists than apostles. Too many fundamentalists are sound, sound asleep! Our theology needs to go up into doxology. We have the facts but not the fire. We have talked much farther along than we have walked. We defend the truth, but we do not demonstrate the truth. We ponder it instead of proving it." (Vance Havner, 6/03 Faith & Freedom) -CC
Liberty University, The First 32 Years-Dr. Jerry Falwell founded Lynchburg Baptist College (later became Liberty U.) in 1971 as a "fundamentalist" school, but in the intervening years it has taken the new-evangelical stance of its founder. Both founder and school are now solidly Southern Baptist and New Evangelical. Dr. Adrian Rogers recently brought the commencement address. The statistics are impressive from a worldly view. In its 32-year history, it has been provided with $3 billion, enabling the purchase of a 4,421-acre campus. Dr. Jerry Prevo is its new chairman of the Board; Dr. Bailey Smith is the new Executive Committee chairman. Due to space limitations, Liberty can only accept 3,200 freshmen this fall (from an applicant total of 11,177). Falwell's goal is 25,000 resident students and 25,000 external students for a world-class university of 50,000. Dr. Rick Warren will utilize Liberty's 2003 Super Conference to kick off (Oct. 11) his "40 Days of Purpose" national campaign. -CC
New Evangelicalism Is Not New-Dr. Layton Talbert writes in the Mar-Apr Frontline: "New Evangelicalism is not new. Its mindset, its most distinctive traits and guiding philosophies, can be traced back to examples in both the New and Old Testaments. Jehoshaphat was the `New Evangelical' of his day. His defining flaw was his habitual alliances with the enemies of God's Word, alliances that he forged and defended in the interest of unity (2 Chron. 18:3; 2 Kings 3:7). But they were alliances that had a devastating impact." -CC
Lotz Faints While Preaching-Evangelist Anne Graham Lotz says nothing like it has ever happened to her before. The 54-year-old daughter of Billy Graham fainted recently while preaching to over 6,000 people in Lexington, Ky. It is unclear what caused the collapse. But when she regained consciousness, Lotz told aides surrounding her, "It's the devil." After sitting on the platform steps for about five minutes, Lotz retook the stage and gave the rest of her sermon seated in a chair. Lotz told the audience that she had felt fine before the episode and apologized for scaring them. But she said it is a reminder that death or the second coming of Jesus could be a heartbeat away. Unlike her father, who preaches one sermon per day, Lotz typically preaches three sermons and leads a Bible study at her seminars. [Agape Press, 4/28] -CC
SBC News-Southern Baptist Convention membership has reached an all-time high of 16.2 million. *** When SBC Int'l Mission Board last year mandated that its missionaries affirm the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message doctrinal statement a large majority complied automatically. But 13 who refused to sign were fired. *** A No. Carolina church accused of baptizing two unrepentant homosexuals was removed from the Cabarrus Baptist Association April 28 by a vote of 250-11. *** SBC president Jack Graham says Christians need to quit arguing over styles of music in the church. -CC
Pope Contemplates Judgment-A top Vatican official for the first time publicly acknowledged Pope John II suffers from Parkinson's disease. He "puts himself in the hands of God and feels God and the Madonna (Virgin Mary) by his side in the path of life." (5/18 H.Times) Bob L. Ross comments: "How would you like to face what the Pope is going to face when he goes out to meet God? A life spent in claiming to be God's `voice' to mankind, while concealing the Gospel of Christ from millions in the world, and magnifying Marianism instead of exalting the Mediatorship of the Lord Jesus Christ...what a great judgment faces the Pope!" -CC
California's Pro-Homosexual Bill-A bill passed the California Assembly April 21 that would mandate fines upwards of $150,000 against business owners who refuse to hire cross-dressing or transsexual job applicants (5/8 Ala. Bapt). If passed into law, this bill would apply to Bible book-stores and nonprofit organizations such as local Boy Scouts. -CC
U.M.C. Top Leaders Demand Bush "Repent"-Top officials of the United Methodist Church, President Bush's denomination, are demanding that he "repent from domestic and foreign policies" they claim are not in line with the teaching of Jesus. UMC bishops and the head of the UMC's Board of Church and Society recently signed a full-page ad in Christian Century magazine accusing President Bush of contributing to "spiritual forces of wickedness." Mark Tooley (Institute on Religion and Democracy) says to the "religious left," the fact that the president believes Jesus is his Lord and Savior is not nearly as important [to you] as the fact that he took the nation to war against Iraq or is not an enthusiast for the welfare state. Describing the officials' comments as "pretty outrageous," Tooley says they confirm his group's basic critique of the religious left, that is, "they measure Christian orthodoxy not by what one may believe about Jesus Christ and God, but by what one's politics are." Tooley says once again this is an example of church leaders who are wedded to the political fads of the 1960s and who never really progressed beyond that. (4/22 Agape Press) -CC