Clark Pinnock On Hell & Salvation - Clark Pinnock, professor of theology at Canadian Baptist McMaster Divinity School in Ontario, is preparing young men for the pastorate. The product of his teaching and others of like sort are more than dangerous. They are making their students "twofold more the child of hell than (themselves)," Matt. 23:15. Pinnock thinks "that hell as an endless torment is an outrageous doctrine." (Calvary Contender, 12/1/99) He also calls for "more understanding" for those who teach "the salvation of many who never come to faith in Christ." See and read Jude 6,7; Acts 20:21. - WWM

Mercer University Pres. Denies Jesus Is God - Kirby Godsey, president of Mercer University, in his book, "When We Talk About God...Let's Be Honest," argues that "Jesus is not God; Jesus did not have to die." In 1997 the Georgia Baptist Convention (SBC) approved a proposal to maintain but modify the GBC's relationship with Mercer University. Godsey also rejects repentance and accepting Jesus as "the bases for salvation." (Baptist Press, 11/18/99) Seems it would be better to lock the fox out of the henhouse than to modify his range. (Matt. 7:15) "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." - WWM

NCC Plagued By Financial Woes - The National Council of Churches boasting a membership of 35 denominations with 50 million members has fallen on hard times. (LAJ, 11/7/99) All sorts of reasons are given for the decline in membership. The Methodist church (the biggest council member) has been suspending their contributions. Other mainline members: Presbyterian, Episcopal, United Church of Christ, and Disciple of Christ. Their going out of business would help the cause of Christ.-WWM

President's Brother Also An Actor - President Bill Clinton's brother, Roger Clinton, is a rock entertainer and bandleader. He it joining South Korea's teen-age pop stars in a concert in Pyongyang on Dec. 5. (LAJ, 11/27/99) Maybe the Clinton brothers could share the same plane in their globe trotting and save some money. South Korea may need more help to get loose from this group than getting loose from the North Koreans.-WWM

`Seeker Services' Vs. Traditional Services - Second Baptist Church, Lubbock, TX, had `Rev.' Tony Cupit, director of evangelism and education for Baptist World Alliance, as speaker. (LAJ, 11/17/99.) The BWA's General Sec'y Denton Lotz urged Baptists to change their attitudes about the Charismatic Movement. (Calvary Contender, 10/15/99) Second Baptist and their pastor are not noted for their conservative Baptist views. In order to meet today's cultural need Cupit encourages Baptist today to follow the example of a Virginia church that "has three seeker services and two traditional services." Isn't the purpose of every true Baptist preaching service aimed at encouraging sinners to seek salvation through repentance and faith in Christ? (Acts 20:21)-WWM

Churches Removed For Gay Leaders, Wedding - Georgia's Southern Baptist voted to expel two churches that let homosexuals serve as leaders and allowed a gay wedding. (LAJ, 11/17/99) This was the first time in the 177 year history of the Georgia Bapt. Convention that this was done. The Methodist are allowing this with little opposition. Will the Baptist follow their pattern when they see their convention funds drop? Wouldn't it be better just to be local church oriented?-WWM

Lesbian Wins Visitation Rights - Massachusetts' highest court ruled a lesbian had visitation rights of her partner's child. The Supreme Court let the ruling stand. (LAJ, 11/16/99) No one seems interested in who the biological father is. One thing for sure, the lesbian who won these rights cannot claim to be the father. The article reported that the nation's highest court "rarely choose to speak out on gay rights." The High Court in heaven doesn't shy away from its ruling. (Rom. 1-3)-WWM

Homosexuality Not Issue In Mayoral Race - San Francisco mayoral race smacks of one from Sodom and Gomorrah. Incumbent Willie Brown is unabashed about extramarital affairs and is braggadocios about dating younger women. His challenger, homosexual Tom Ammiano, was a write in winner and forced a run-off of the two. (LAJ, 12/4/99) Brown is a supporter of gay/lesbian rights. Gay/lesbians make up 20% of the voters in SF. This makes this a "gay free" campaign for the candidates. The deciding vote on this subject is already set. God in heaven will one day shake the entire world that will make the San Andreas fault look like a dry weather soil crack. (Hag. 2:6,7) - WWM

NM Governor Wants Legalization Of Drugs - New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson is a supporter of all drug legalization. He says this should start with marijuana. (LAJ, 10/6/99) If a precedence is set here it will only be a short time until other states follow suit. The argument for such a move is based upon tax revenues. This argument has a value equal to that of voting in the failed lottery gambling. Sin tax will never pave the way to success but scatters casualties on the back road to hell.- WWM

Evangelicals Join Forces - The Southern Baptists' new prayer book aimed at evangelizing Jews also targets non-Christians. This has raised resentment of many including some so-called Christian groups. (LAJ, 10/3/99) Naturally the first team must take the field again to lead in the battle. Some who signed agreement with the SBC is Jerry Falwell, D. James Kennedy, Pat Robertson, Charles Stanley, prison evangelist Charles Colson, and Campus Crusade for Christ's Bill Bright. I thought the old agreement between Christ and His church was still valid. (Matt. 28:18-20) And it doesn't include modern charismatics and fence straddlers. - WWM

Federal Judge Defends Dung Covered Portrait - Mayor Rudolph Giuliani is accused of violating First Amendment rights by refusing funding for the Brooklyn Museum unless they removed a "dung-encrusted portrait of the Virgin Mary." (LAJ, 11/2/99) U.S. District Judge Nina Gershon said, "There can be no greater showing of a First Amendment violation." What would her attitude be if someone decorated her authoritative robe with the same ingredients? It would be interesting to know who appointed her. (Psa. 12:8) "The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted." This would apply to women as well. -WWM

Christian(?) Rock 'n' Roll "Third Day" Winning Southern Converts - William Kerns, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal entertainment editor, interviewed "Third Day" Christian(?) rock and roll band. (LAJ, 10/24/99) Bass player, Tai Anderson said, "I think our CDs can stand up against those by any other rock band." There is no doubt about who this upheavaled hair, sloppy clothed, chin-whiskered foursome are imitating. So-called CCM and Christian Rock groups are topping the list of the devils tactics upon the youth of churches. Sadly many adults are helping to open the door for their entrance. - WWM

First Baptist Dallas Fountainhead Of Conservative Theology? - Under the leadership of Pastor Mac Brunson and Pastor Emeritus W. A. Criswell, First Baptist Dallas has withdrawn membership in the Baptist General Convention of Texas. (Baptist Press, 11/18/99) The reason: the BGCT are "moving away from its historic relationship, commitment, and cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention." First Dallas counts Billy Graham among its members. Why have they not withdrawn fellowship from him? Graham hobnobs with such likes as Robert Schuller and says many may be saved who have never heard of Christ and agrees with Catholic doctrine. (Plains Baptist Challenger,9/99) - WWM

North Carolina Baptist Severing Ties With Wake Forest U. - WFU came under fire during the 1998 NC convention for "selling alcohol at a deli on campus." Yet did not prohibit Wake Forest Baptist Church from holding "a marriage-like same-sex union in Wait Chapel" on the university's campus. (Baptist Press, 11/7/99) Mac Brunson, First Baptist, Dallas, is a former president of WFU. - WWM

Suppressing Nudity Unconstitutional? - The Erie, PA city council adopted a public indecency ordinance banning nudity. The U.S. Supreme Court was called in to settle a dispute raised by those who use "First Amendment" arguments to free them for debauchery. A nude-dancing club owner first raised objection to the ordinance. (Baptist Press, 11/16/99) Among those who came to the aid of the club owner was the ACLU, Feminists for Free Expression, and the First Amendment Lawyers Assoc. Those arguing against the ordinance said it was "an unconstitutional suppression of a form of expression protected by the First Amendment." The mouth of fools still feed on foolishness. (Prov. 15:14) How disturbing that the Word of God was not consulted. (1 Tim. 2:9) This law cannot be amended. - WWM

Mao The Worst Mass Murderer Ever -The greatest massacre in human history, per the Guinness Book of World Records (20 years ago), is that of 26,300,000 Chinese during the regime of Mao Tse-tung between 1949 and May 1965. The 1971 Walker Report (by U.S. Senate), more in line with other more scholarly studies, placed the death toll at between 32.25 and 61.7 million. Yet an AP reporter describes Mao as a positive force for change and a "great" man (11/8 New Amer.) Red China receives/steals our technology but prohibits Christians from meeting in homes. It allows them to only meet in designated places, prohibits evangelism in public, and demands its government be recognized as head of the church (11/1 Chr. News). For the officially recognized TSPM "church," the government is the final authority, and this "church" must agree to uphold/promote the teachings of Marxism.-(Calvary Contender hear aftger CC

Pope Kissed Koran - Pope John Paul II over and over has said Muslims, Jews and other non-Christians worship the true God and can get to heaven without saving faith in the merits of Jesus Christ. According to the Pope, the god of Islam's Koran is the same true and living God whom Christians worship. Last May during his audience with three Muslims at the Vatican, Pope John Paul II bowed to the Koran and kissed it (10/18 CN).-CC

Jim Bakker's Prodigal Son - Jay now runs a hip "ministry" in Atlanta, the Revolution Church. He began drinking at 13, the night after his dad was sentenced for defrauding PTL investors of $158 million (11/8 Relig. Today). He later began taking LSD, smoking marijuana, and hanging out with punk rockers. The first time he spent the day alone with his father was when he was incarcerated.-CC

Ned Graham Loses Wife & Board Members - Within the last year, East Gates Ministries saw a string of board members and staff leave. This began soon after the wife of East Gates President Ned Graham, son of Billy and Ruth Graham, sued her husband for divorce a year ago. Early 1999, East Gates quietly resigned from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (11/6 World). East Gates works in cooperation with Red China's official China Christian Council and Amity Printing Co. Ned Graham is said to have built good relations with these Communist Party religion-control officials. Carol Graham accuses her husband of infidelity, domestic violence, and drug and alcohol abuse. His church stopped supporting East Gates and revoked his ministerial license. We derive no joy in reporting such a tragic situation.-CC

Harry Potter Books - These are at the peak of popularity in schools today, but the Biblical God doesn't fit into Harry's world of wizards, witches, and other gods (10/18 CN). World had reviewed and recommended the books as wholesome, good-versus-evil fantasy as with Tolkien or C.S. Lewis, but it now (11/6) warns: "The fact that the books are not Christ-centered and further evidence that they are not written from a perspective compatible with Christianity have led us to retract [them]."- CC

Colson Says Bradley Is Apostate - A 1960s American Tract Society's pamphlet, I've Made My Choice was by NY Knicks star Bill Bradley. He wrote of giving his life to Christ and was active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He now disavows his Christian beliefs and is running for president. He still considers himself a Presbyterian, but has a more liberal creed (10/30 World). Per Investor's Business Daily, he says he "now embraces all religions" from Buddhism to Islam, if they seek "inner peace." Chuck Colson says he "has either renounced his faith entirely, or he has decided for political reasons to renounce it publicly." [10/5 Breakpoint Comm. # 91005]-CC

Abortion Harvest - Congress and the Clinton administration's lifting of the fetal-tissue research ban has turned human-remains into a big business (10/23 World). Abortion labs cut up and part out dead children.-CC

NCC: New Leaders, New Woes - The National Council of Churches' largest member, the liberal United Methodist Church, has suspended financial support of the ecumenical agency because of concern over the NCC's debt and fiscal practices (10/25 C. News). The NCC is in a state of financial and administrative chaos (11/10 Relig. Today). Andrew Young (see 1/15-99 CC) was installed Nov. 11 in the Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Cleveland as the NCC's new president, succeeding Robert Edgar, who succeeds retiring Joan Brown Campbell as Gen. Secretary (12/31). Desmond Tutu was a keynote speaker. The new staff includes a Roman Catholic as interim general manager. Interest in the NCC has waned somewhat, in part due to its support of radical causes. The 11/15 USN&WR said: "It's not just that people are losing interest in the ecumenical movement. They're losing interest in their own [liberal] denominations."-CC

BBFI Split? - According to various reports [in Plains Baptist Challenger, Sword of the Lord, etc.) some states are voting out, or being voted out, of the Baptist Bible Fellowship, Int'l. A Washington state BBF resolution said the BBFI has eroded its stand on ecclesiastical separation "as evidenced by the receiving of Jerry Falwell in the fellowship with open arms" [see 3/15 CC], and the "increasing involvement with Promise Keepers and other charismatic and ecumenical activities within [BBFI]." It cited a departure from the King James Bible by the BBC and among BBFI churches. With these stated concerns, Washington state BBF rescinded its affiliation with BBFI and changed its name to Northwest Baptist Fellowship.-CC

Lutheran-Catholic Accord - Representatives of the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic Church met in Augsburg, Germany and signed a Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, Oct. 31. Over 240 Protestant theologians in Germany signed a petition criticizing the agreement. Dr. A. L. Barry, President, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, called it "an ambiguous statement whose careful wording makes it possible for the Pope's representatives to sign without changing, retracting or correcting anything that has been taught by the RCC since the 16th century Council of Trent." The Catholic "clarification" says "eternal life is, at one and the same time, grace and the reward given by God for good works and merit." This contradicts Eph. 2:8-9, etc. [Christian News, & HT] The accord brings Catholics and Lutherans a step closer to reunion. Rome today seduces evangelicals (especially charismatics) by saying they proclaim the same gospel and the same Jesus.-CC

Council Of Trent Cursed Justification By Faith Alone - Rome still rejects justification by faith alone. Liberal Lutherans, in their zeal for unity, yielded to deceptive wording and betrayed the Gospel in signing the ambiguous accord with Catholics Oct. 31. The Council of Trent, meeting in three periods under three different popes 1545-1563, codified and reaffirmed the Catholic doctrine that anyone saying he is justified by faith alone was to be anathema. Canons IX, XII, and XIV said faith alone in what God has done for us in Jesus Christ is not sufficient to justify a sinner (10/25 Chr. News). Something more (good works) is needed. Rome has not budged from this and it is the liberal Lutherans who have compromised.-CC

Moms Without Marriage - "Young men father children whom they have no intention of caring for, by women whose welfare checks support them." But the 10/25 Christianity Today says the real emergency is not the teen pregnancy crisis, but is really about the decline of marriage. Unwed teen moms (under 18) account for only 13 percent of children born out of wedlock. In one recent year there were 376,000 births to single teen mothers (under 20), but 439,000 births to single moms in their early 20s. Our culture stigmatizes early marriage.-CC

Alcohol Use Increasing - Alcohol is the gateway drug to illicit drug use and abusethe great scourge of our culture. In families where parents use alcohol as a beverage, 66 percent of the children experiment with it sometime in life, but only 16 percent from families who abstain try it (8/99 Light). An estimated 13.9 million Americans use illegal drugs at least once a month, and at least 31.9 million could be classified as binge drinkers.-CC

Harvard Apostasy - Harvard University, founded in 1636 as a training school for ministers, has become the icon of American higher education with a $13 billion endowment and an annual income of $1.6 billion. Of 18,000 students attending, undergrads pay a hefty $32,000 a year in tuition, fees, and expenses (10/9 World). Liberal positionspro-abortion, anti-military, racial preferences, radical feminism, and religious relativismare considered gospel on campus. The Harvard Divinity School, headed by a Roman Catholic priest, prides itself on liberalism and open-mindedness, diversity (but there's no diversity in those issues), and political correctness. A prejudice against Christianity is said to pervade Harvard.-CC

`HateCrimes' Legislation - Since Cain murdered Abel, all crimes of violence have been "hate crimes." True Christianity has always been known for its loving kindness never for a hateful spirit.Christians do not believe in approving sinful behavior.Scriptures command those that "love the Lord to hate evil" (Psalm 97:10). The homosexual lobby backs "hate crime" legislation, which goes far beyond dealing with crimes of violence. Their real target isthose who would criticize their ungodly way of life. The White House and various members of Congress have backed this legislation, much of which is aimed at "thought control" rather than crime control.If a serious effort was made to enforce the death penalty much of the violent crime would disappear.This legislation could threaten the church's freedom to proclaim biblical precepts which expose and condemn sin and are contrary to currently acceptable political correctness [Adapted, ACCC resolution] Why should an assault against a homosexual be punished greater than one against a heterosexual? The Constitution provides for equal protection under the law. This is not the time to tone down denunciation of any sin, nor to "dialogue" with sinnersin our churches of all places, as Dr. Jerry Falwell recently did! Until pressure came, he also planned to break bread in his church with the 200 "gays." How can he now effectively fight dangerous hate crime legislation and, at the same time, maintain a "bridge of friendship" with "gay activists" and not provoke them?-CC

Why Do Colson & Evangelicals Think Catholics Are Saved? - Why are over 70 percent of Chuck Colson's Prison Fellowship chaplains Roman Catholic? Why did Colson, a co-developer with Catholic priest Richard John Neuhaus of the "Evangelicals and Catholics Together" accord recently turn over the reins of Prison Fellowship to Michael Timmis, a practicing Roman Catholicand why is Timmis a Promise Keepers board member? Why would Dallas Seminary have William Bennett, a founding director of Catholic Campaign for America, as a keynote speaker last month? (10/99 Berean Call) Graham, Bright, Robertson, Dobson and other new evangelicals consider Catholic leaders as brothers. They [and Falwell and Van Impe] have praised the Pope, and worked alongside RC leaders in evangelism crusades or other endeavors. Pity the poor, deceived RC cultists! How can they be evangelized and freed from false-gospel bondage, when their leaders are deemed as partners in evangelism? Cultists are objects of evangelism and not to be partners with the evangelizers. [Some Catholic laity may be saved, but if so, they will not remain in the RCC.]-CC

MBI's Stowell Speaks On New Evangelical Platforms - Moody Bible Institute President Joseph Stowell's Sept.-Feb. speaking itinerary includes (Moody Alumni magazine): Promise Keepers, Bill Hybel's Willow Creek Community Church, Billy Graham's The Cove, NRB, Dallas Seminary, Word of Life, Cedarville College (GARBC-approved), and Louisiana Baptist Convention. By quiet progression, Stowell erects an ecumenical legacy.-CC

Don't Call Schuller A Christian - Robert Schuller long ago bid good-bye to Paul's teaching on sin and no longer wants to be called a "Christian" because it cuts him off from Hindus and Muslims (6/99 The Discerner). He does not preach that Christ is the only way to heaven and that Christianity is the only saving faith (7/19 C. News). - CC