(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.)
WCA Membership 20% Baptist - A recent brochure from Bill Hybels' Willow Creek Association reveals the membership in WCA is 20% Baptist. That means of the 3,600 member churches from 90 denominations 720 are Baptist churches. The only other larger group according to their pie-chart is Non-denominational - 29%. One of WCA's cries is: "Come climb the mountain with us." Better be careful what mountain and with whom you climb. - W.W. Mosley (hereafter WWM)
FBC Dallas Member Of WCA - The Willow Creek Association web-site lists First Baptist, Dallas as a member. Surely the largest Baptist Church in Texas doesn't need to seek advice from the likes of Bill Hybels to enhance attendance. Or is it just another evidence of the great falling away? This just makes it easier for the pastor of First Baptist, Lubbock, TX, and others to sign a covenant of unity with the Catholics, Methodist, Lutheran, etc. - WWM
CCM Performers Still Tied To Their Roots - Contemporary Christian Music has made an apparently unstoppable encroachment on many churches today, including liberal Baptist(?) Churches. The obvious reason is because their style appeals to the flesh only. Setting biblical terms to a rock and rumble sound does not change the environment. Panhandle-South Plains Fair promoters are enlisting "the nation's hottest Tejano and contemporary Christian acts" for the Sept./Oct. fair. (LAJ, 7/11/99). Rock group, La Mafia, is known to travel with Bill Gaither's homecoming ensembles. Many Christians(?) will gladly pay the required $12 for a seat who wouldn't give the time of day to a missionary on deputation. - WWM
Jars Of Clay or Jugs Of Corruption? - The Lubbock, TX fair this fall is depending on the "contemporary Christian pop group" Jars of Clay to draw a crowd. This "come as you are group" helped Billy Graham to draw over 74,000 in his Tampa, FL crusade. It likely did not matter to the numbers who attended the crusade whether they listened to the JOC's there or at other worldly places of entertainment. It was the beat and not the blessing they were after. - WWM
Malaysian Movie Censors Stricter Than USA - The predominantly Muslim country of Malaysia would not let Austin Powers' "The Spy Who Shagged Me" show in their country. The USA censors obviously see no harm in this sex perverted movie. And we are a Christian nation under God? What a shame when people who worship a false god with no power have higher standards than "one nation under God." Lost treasures are hardly ever regained. - WWM
President Clinton And "Hate Crimes" - The President and others are leveling their sights on a stronger "hate crime" bill. The Vice-President is also on this band-wagon. This is little more that pandering to the homosexual vote. No one with a heart will deny that even murdering lost sinners is unacceptable with God. However, there are seven particular things which God hates in Proverbs 6:16-19. Among them: "A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies..." Mr. President, how about this law against these hate crimes? - WWM
Marriage Is A Serious Step - The first human institution established by God was the family. Adam needed a wife and God made him ONE woman. With 50% of marriages ending in divorce there must be little thought given to God's primary institution. Baptist Press, 6/28/99 says that "daily some 3,000 children see their parents' marriage end in divorce and that 40% of the children will go to bed in a home without a father." The Lord said: "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." (Matt. 19:6) - WWM
10 Commandments Defense Act - Petty human thinking that an act by the US House of Representatives will change the route of sin America has taken. I am for placing Exodus chapter 20 on every governmental building and school in America. Until Deut. 6:4-9 are put in force in the home and family, elected officials will say with Pilate: "What is truth?" The commandments of God do not need paltry man but sinful man does need the Ten Commandments. - WWM
New Bible By Southern Baptist - "Broadman & Holman Publishers, a division of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, is producing a new Bible translation, named the Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)." (Baptist Press, 6/24/99) The target date for the completed CSB is 2004. Accuracy, reliability, and readability "in communicating the original text" is their main goal, they say. Original means first...do they have the first copy of every inspired writing since Moses? They may not need them since the translation team consists of "20 denominations" including "Southern Baptists, Plymouth Brethren, Presbyterians (PCA), Congregationalists, Church of England, Church of God, Evangelical Free Church, Methodists, Evangelical Mennonites and Episcopalians." The CSB already smells like a RAT: Revisionist Attacking Truth! - WWM
Averting Armageddon? - England is taking the possibility of earth/asteroid collision seriously. (Drudge Report, 7/8/99) The government's science minister, Lord Sainsbury, is considering creating a "Near Earth Object task force" to come up with a "strategy to avert Armageddon." This task force will be required to "discover and track all Earth-threatening objects in the next 10 years to enable action to be taken to avert global catastrophe." That should make the God-haters feel secure. However, it will take the governments of the world seven years to find out things are out of their hands! (Rev. 6:15-17 - WWM
"My Genes Made Me Do It" - With all the hype about homosexual tendencies being normal, now there are others than sound Christianity speaking out. Researchers on the subject, Dr. Neil Whitehead and his wife, Briar, authors of "My Genes Made Me Do It: A Scientific Look At Sexual Orientation," will be speaking this weekend at Salt Lake City to a group of LDS therapist. (Deseret News, 7/10/99) "There is plenty of scientific data that backs up the fact that you can change sexual orientation," Whitehead said. There is also what the Word of God says in Lev. 20:13 and the ironclad result in Romans 1:24-27 if this sin is not repented of. - WWM
VA. Baptists Fund Pro-gay School - The U. of Richmond, an SBC school established by the Baptist Gen. Assoc. 169 years ago, has added to its non-discrimination policy an amendment that will drop the school's ban on homosexual students (3/31 Baptist Standard). They will now be actively recruited by the University's recruiting staff .-Calvary Contender