Falwell Sends to Las Vegas
for Help with Music at TRBC

By E. L. Bynum

Long ago I decided there would be no end to the Jerry Falwell spiral into compromise. No longer am I shocked by anything he does. He is a graduate of the Baptist Bible College, Springfield, MO. He is now also a member of the Southern Baptist Convention. He has from time to time promoted men of questionable character, such as Bob Harrington, Chaplain of Bourbon Street. Wherever there has been compromise with the methods and often times a watering down of the message, he has been in the forefront.

The following letter to the editor of The News & Advance newspaper of Lynchburg, VA, shows the continuing saga of the ever popular Jerry Falwell.

—From the Opinion page of The News & Advance, July 5, 2004

Comments by ELB

The News & Advance is the local newspaper in Lynchburg, VA which is the hometown of Jerry Falwell. The above letter to the editor was sent to me by Pastor Ray Rodgers, Jr., who is an ordained fundamental Independent Baptist preacher. He also sent me a two page article along with pictures, from the Lifestyle section of the Sunday edition of The News & Advance of Sunday, June 27, 2004. It is shocking to see the pictures and reading the story is astounding.

Do not misunderstand me, I have heard Jerry Falwell on such programs as Larry King Live and others and take a clear-cut stand on some common values that all Bible believers hold. It is good that he has stood up for traditional marriage and against homosexual marriages, and against abortion. All the good that he has done will never atone for his leading of many people down the road of compromise. This has encouraged many churches and pastors to follow the fatal road of compromise and ruin. I will not repeat these many errors at this time, as I have written of these errors a number of times in the past.

The article in The News & Advance of June 27, 2004 was written by Elizabeth Kelly, and is friendly and complementary to Thomas Road Baptist Church, and their music ministry. We do not have the space to reprint the two page article. We are going to give some direct quotes from the paper and then make a few comments. Let us begin with the subhead of the paper.

Billingsley’s Choice of Models for Christian Music

It should be unthinkable that Falwell would approve the worship leader of his church using such models as Wayne Newton, Elton John, and Christina Aguilera. This should be a scandal to the followers of Falwell, but of course it is not. I doubt if you will even hear a whimper from his dutiful followers.

Wayne Newton is a popular musician and entertainer. He appears regularly in concerts all over the country. His main venue seems to be the Wayne Newton Theater at the famous Stardust Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. A place where there is a ready supply of beer and liquor for the patrons who flock in large numbers to hear Newton. The Casino furnishes all the gambling that wicked hearts could desire.

If Billingsley (Falwell’s worship leader), can go there without any problem of tarnishing his, it is logical that the members of Thomas Road Baptist Church can do the same thing without hurting their testimony. And this should encourage all the preachers, churches, and many thousands of followers across the country to do the same. I failed to tell you that Billingsley is an ordained Southern Baptist minister, and that his father is a teacher in Liberty University. Think of the example for the thousands of students in Liberty University, many of whom will be preachers and leaders in churches.

“Billingsley studies the work of Elton John and Christina Aguilera alongside his Bible and it’s what makes it such an important tool for churches that must pursue younger members in order to survive.”

Elton John is a well known practicing homosexual who is a very popular musician. When Elton John performed in Lubbock (2000), we printed the following in the PBC, “14,000 whooping, hollering folks turned out to see and hear Elton John.” ( LAJ, 2/10/00) Some 15,000 people spent $50-plus to see and hear Elton John.

The heading for this in our N. & V. was Homosexual Rock Musician Draws Big Toll. Lubbock is considered to be a conservative city, but even professing Christians go and take their children and pay $50 or more to watch a homosexual musician who surely will never hold up any standard of morality, decency, or righteousness. This tells us a lot about the times we are living in.

He is lined up to put on a large number of performances at one of the Las Vegas hotel theater and casinos. No doubt he will pack the house for each performance. This says a lot about the downward spiral of decency and morality in this country. His CDs sell like hot cakes to the youthful rock lovers in this country. He owns a large estate in England and another one in Italy and who knows where else. He bashes the USA and says that our nation is a bully. I guess he thinks we were bullies when we came to the aid of Europe to save them from the Kaiser in World War I, and again when we shed the blood of thousands of our finest young men to rescue Europe from Hitler. Thank the Lord many of the British have not forgotten, but the rest of Europe has forgotten all about it. (By the way, Elton John has completed a contract with Best Buy stores to have the exclusive distribution right to a collection of 70 songs that he has performed. That doesn’t make me want to rush out and buy merchandise from Best Buy).

It is almost unbelievable that a Baptist worship leader would say the following: “Billingsley studies the work of Elton John and Christina Aguilera alongside his Bible. . . .” What he really needs to study in his bible is how God dealt with the homosexual city of Sodom (Gen. 19). Another good passage to be studied would be what Paul wrote in the book of Romans. “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” (Romans 1:26-27). There are many others, but these will suffice for this time.

Christina Aguilera is another one that Billingsley studies along with the Bible. She is a popular performer in the tradition of Britney Spears. She is a liberal that is very critical of the USA. Like many of the empty-headed people that abound in Hollywood and the rock music world, she talks freely about things she knows nothing about. They are a detriment to our nation, and to the Bible, and to our God. They are the leaven in our society and it is amazing that anyone would listen to them.

The Blending of Truth and Error

Talking about the mixing of traditional music and contemporary music and worship, Falwell is quoted in the newspaper interview cited above. “Thomas Road pastor Jerry Falwell calls it ‘blending,’ and says that no one does it better than Billingsley.”

There are many examples of blending the true and the false in the O.T. and it always had a disastrous result. God warned Israel against blending of truth with error when he warned them about not adopting the ways of the heathen. They would not listen, but they brought in the altars and false religion that existed in the nations all around them. Solomon the wisest man that ever lived tried it, and he ended up bringing the judgement of God upon them. The end result was that the kingdom was divided into two nations that never were reunited in the O.T.

Other kings followed him in this blending of false religion, and it always led to disaster. The book of II Chronicles tells us clearly what happened when the kingdom of Judah reached the end. “And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.” (2 Chronicles 36:15-17)

Paul Warned Against Blending of the True With the False

He taught that we are to come out rather than try to blend. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16) There are many other Scriptures that fit here, but for brevities sake we will not mention them.

It is compromise of vast proportion when Baptist churches turn to an entertainer who is hand in glove in league with the ungodly in the gambling and drinking industry in Las Vegas. It is deplorable that churches would study the entertainment ability of a known homosexual like Elton John. Where will this insane nonsense stop? What a stench it must be to the thrice holy God that we serve.

We close with this solemn message that Paul gave to the church of the Ephesians. “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting , which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them . For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.” (Ephesians 5:3-12)

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“Good as New” — Old as Time

By Bill Mosley

Just as surely as time continues there will be other attacks on the Word of God. The devil has been in the business of putting questions in minds of what God has really said since he started with Eve. Hardly does one abuse of the Bible become acceptable to the gullible, when another rolls from the presses. All with the dubious distinction of being of better quality than the last, or nearer to the ‘original autographs,’ which no one today has seen. Or making the Bible more readable or easier to understand. Or in a vernacular which a certain segment of the people talk. One more manuscript has hit the book stores that may be the most obscene on the scene. It is called the “Good as New” Bible.

The new “Good as New” Bible is neither ‘good’ or ‘new.’ Yet this blatant blasphemous pretense of a spiritual product is called a ‘Bible.’ But it misses the mark of what is commonly known as the Bible by an eternity of miles. It is not even worthy of being called a ‘translation.’ A translation is usually thought of as being translated from a different language. This production uses the vernacular of the modern sin cursed world. It cheapens the Word of God to sound like garbage from Hollywood. “Yea, hath God said,” (Gen. 3:1) in deceiving Adam and Eve is the same question Satan continues to use. He is becoming more subtle as the coming of the Lord nears. It is obvious that he has numerous attendants broadcasting the same deceptions. Casting doubt on what God has really said is rapidly gaining in popularity.

“Good as New” is blazoned as the work of a former Baptist minister. Thankfully he is referred to as ‘former,’ but it is a misnomer to even imply he was once a Baptist. This work of translator(?) John Henson is not a translation but a mutilation of not only the original language but of acceptable words in English.

‘Good as New’ Supporters

Observing those who support any publication generally indicates the product’s reliability. However, a simple sample of the changed wording will more than alarm a serious Christian Bible student. Britain’s archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, speaks highly of the new Bible. The One organization of the UK produced the new translation. Ekklesia, identifies itself on its own web site as ‘a new way of thinking’ organization, and supports this translation. This organization announces itself as “a not-for-profit think-tank which works to promote theological ideas in the public square.” This “theological idea” falls woefully short of the study of the nature of God and biblical truth.

WorldNetDaily reports Williams as saying “he hopes it will spread ‘in epidemic profusion through religious and irreligious alike.’” He is known as the spiritual voice of the Church of England. He can be sure it will spread in ‘epidemic profusion’ among religious liberals. Ekklesia publishes on their website their idea concerning equality. National borders need to be opened and wealth needs to be equalized. Sounds decidedly akin to communism. They unabashedly publish the idea “of a fair distribution of wealth,” and feel the need of “addressing overwork and unemployment.” We will forbear saying more about this at this time. However, it would be interesting to know how the “Good as New” translates(?) Paul’s command to the Thessalonians in 2 Thess. 3:10: “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

A true believer of the pure Word of God, by this time, has concluded that the above publication is far less than trustworthy. Simply by considering the source above, the Bible believing follower of the God of heaven sees danger notices all over the place.

Scripture Comparisons

Disregarding the Lord Jesus’ blessing upon Simon Barjona, the “Good as New” book refers to Peter as ‘Rocky.’ Jesus said to Simon, “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18) This is a demonstration of how the architects of this volume have violated the meaning of the Greek and Hebrew inspired names. Jesus gave Simon Barjona the name of ‘Peter’ for a very specific reason. Peter was not the “solid Rock” but only a small portion. He was not the “rock” of the above verse, which means a massive rock. The “rock” here, upon which Jesus built His church, was the same Rock that follow Israel as they wondered in the wilderness. It was also the same rock they drank of to quench their thirst. “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” (1 Cor. 10:4) To refer to Peter as ‘Rocky’ is as asinine as calling him ‘Pete.’ It is also a shameless insult to the Rock, Jesus Christ, on which Jesus has built His true church. But then who would expect the harlot church, or its leader, to know about the True Foundation?

True Christian publications are respectable enough to abstain from using the same vocabulary as those who have no scruples. Therefore the actual wording of some of the verses in the ‘Good as New’ Bible must be blanked out for decency. When the damsel approached Peter at the mock trial of the Savior, she said, “Thou wast also with Jesus of Galilee.” (Matt. 26:69) To which Peter answered in denial in the next verse, “I know not what thou sayest.” This obviously would not be made clear enough according to the wants of the ‘One organization.’ The ‘Good as New’ informs us that “Rocky shook his head and said: ‘I don’t know what the ____ you’re talking about.’” Scandalous is too mild a term to use in describing this trash, and trash is also much too modest a reference.

Paul’s salutation to Andronicus in Romans 16:7 is shortened to, “Salute Andy.” Andronicus, the man of victory, obviously meant more to this old apostle than to the publishers of ‘Good as New.’ Mary Magdalene becomes ‘Maggie,’ and Barnabas is flattered with the name ‘Barry.’ Parables are called ‘riddles,’ and salvation becomes ‘healing,’ according to the WorldNetDaily report concerning this publication.

The blasphemy worsens when the “Good as New” refers to the voice from heaven at the baptism of Jesus. (Mark 1:10,11) John the Baptist becomes the ‘dipper,’ and Jesus is referred to by the ‘voice overhead’ as: “That’s my boy! You’re doing fine!” The Spirit of God is revealed as being a pigeon flying down and perching on Jesus as He “climbed up the bank again” after His baptism or ‘dipping.’ WorldNetDaily also reports the top Anglican archbishop as saying: “Instead of being taken into a specialized religious frame of reference - as happens even with the most conscientious of formal modern translations - and being given a gospel addressed to specialized concerns . . . we have here a vehicle for thinking and worshipping that is fully earthed, recognizably about our humanity.” Surely the reader is sickened by this time by the suggestions and sayings of the “Good as New,” and those who support it. We have given here only a small portion of similar the quotations.

Analyzing Williams’ Remarks

The Church of England’s Archbishop Williams is no doubt well educated. Many of his books, writings, and sermons are published on the internet. By reading portions of his published sermons, it would be difficult to understand why such a one would endorse this perverted version. However, the deceitfulness of sin has the ability to darken spiritual thoughts (Heb. 3:13; Phil. 4:8). “Instead of being taken into a specialized religious frame of reference . . .,” this book is loaded with deception. He warns humanity about adapting to a godly design of that which is recommended. The reference or recommendation referred to is, no doubt, previous versions of translations. It is obvious he would be opposed to England’s former King James and the work he commanded to be done. He very likely is applying this to the KJV, etc., when he continues, “ . . . as happens even with the most conscientious of formal modern translations.” The translators of the KJV were indeed honest in their careful, painstaking duty to translate from the best manuscripts, both of the Hebrew and Greek. Those texts were called the “Majority Text” for a reason. These were the majority of the text that agreed in content and wording. It will be interesting to see if the archbishop uses texts from this “Good as New” Bible in his sermons and writings. The One organization adds that “the new Bible translation is dedicated to “establishing peace, justice, dignity and rights for all.” The wording of the “Good as New” will indeed bring peace in sin if it is believed. There is no dignity in vulgar words or the maligning God’s inspired Word. And there are no rights for anyone before God apart from Jesus Christ. (John 14:6) “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Another of Williams’ quotes brings something else to mind when he says. “. . . and being given a gospel addressed to specialized concerns.” If the content of the KJV is not specialized in addressing the great problems lost humanity faces, someone must not be reading its contents. The problem so obviously revealed in the KJV Bible is that men are lost sinners and Christ is the answer. Our Lord Jesus does indeed specialize in saving the lost. What could be more specialized in meeting the sin problem than Paul’s inspired recommendation. (Acts 20:21) “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is not simply “a gospel” but the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is always another gospel made available to those who have not been taught and are easily exploited. Again Paul gives good advice about this. (Gal. 1:8) “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” I am unaware of how the ‘former Baptist minister’ translated this verse. If he or the archbishop have read this verse, how could their very being ignore its message?

Williams further advanced his approval by saying “. . .we have here a vehicle for thinking and worshipping that is fully earthed, recognizably about our humanity.” Consider some things said here. It is for sure expressing in nature, and it has achieved transmitting a message. Also it represents worshipping . . . but not the true God of heaven. It is “fully earthed,” if that means covered with dirt, and it also reveals a recognizable trait of the deceitfulness of the heart of man. (Jer. 17:9) “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Keep in mind that as a man thinks in his heart, that is the way he is (Prov. 23:7). A preacher of the past was right when he said, “What ever is down in the well will come up in the bucket.”

The Beneficiaries

Who is the crowd who will benefit the most by this perversion? There is no real benefit to anyone by this off-color version. Yet those who believe that the Bible is too morally strict will most appreciate its directives. Those who want approval of their lurid life styles. This version gives freedom to the fornicators to fulfill their lusts simply because those lusts exist. The treatment of 1 Cor. 7:9 is so obscene as to handle the relationship of husband and wife scandalously. Marriage is referred to as having a partner in this relationship, which is identified as fornication in the Bible. This version denies the very message of God for holiness and godly living. It is from a deceitful heart that does not warn against sin, to a deceived reader who does not want conviction of sin, but a freedom to continue in their lustful life and conversation. It is a ‘good old boy’ book that diminishes a Holy God to the ‘man upstairs.’

It is difficult to believe there are Christian bookstores who will sell this book. There is little doubt that myriads of souls will crowd to these bookstores to get a copy. Whatever is on the cover of this book at the first printing, be sure it will probably one day have ‘Holy Bible’ printed there, if God permits it to survive. Yet it is very likely that many will be as deceived that this is as acceptable as when Kenneth Taylor forged his Living Bible in 1971. It was first called a paraphrased wording of the Bible and later was referred to as ‘the Bible’ as all other version have on their cover. The Catholic church has their own version of the so called living Bible. It was manufactured by Our Sunday Visitor and released in August 1988. It is basically a repackaged version of various Tyndale House Living Bible publications from the 1970s. It is known as a “thought-for-thought” Bible for Catholics. It is more than likely, if there is a wide acceptance of the ‘Good as New’ Bible, that an extension of it will also one day be released. The mystery in all this is why does mortal man think his thoughts are better understood than the immortal God’s thoughts? God has never thought of anything, because He has always known everything. Consequently, God’s thoughts are not as man’s thoughts. (Isa. 55:8) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” Mortal man’s thoughts are continually changing and generally for the worse.

I am seriously aware of how some may oppose and denounce these comments. If these warnings are not made, and I do not expose this slanderous movement against the inspired Word of God, I will one day stand before our Lord Jesus Christ and give account of my silence. It is not an easy matter to put thoughts on paper and be correctly understood. But it is much better to try than to let slanderous attacks against God and His divine Word go unaddressed. Be sure of this, the writer of the “Good as New” Bible, and the writer of this article, will both give account before God. (Rom. 14:12) “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” I had much rather be in my position than his.

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Sunday Sickness

By Norman H. Wells

Chapter 23, from the book “The Religion Racket.” It is embarrassing that the promises and precepts of today’s religion are failing, and they never seem to become a reality in the life of the adherent. This situation makes it necessary for religion always to be explaining why it is failing. There are several standard excuses and explanations that are used a great deal.

One of the methods that is widely used is to add so many conditions and qualifications to the promises and precepts of religion that they become unattainable. The fact that no one can meet these conditions provides a fine explanation as to why the promises and precepts are not a reality.

For instance, religion is supposed to exercise a great deal of influence in the home, and much religious instruction is given for parents and children. Religion holds out the promise of solution for the many problems that plague the home today. The continual rise of the number of broken homes, juvenile delinquency, divorce, etc. all witness to the fact that these promises are failing. Rather than look for the source of the failure, religion will simply keep adding conditions that give an excuse.

Religion joins with psychology and gives impossible conditions for the parent. The conditions that have to be met before the promises become a reality are almost impossible.

Don’t dominate the child! Don’t hold the child in check. Let the child have free expression. Don’t insist upon obedience because it may cause frustrations and antagonisms against the parents.

Exercise firm discipline! The parent must teach the child a respect for authority. Don’t insist upon obedience but teach the child a respect for authority! The parent could certainly walk a fine line trying to maintain this balance.

Over protection! The parent must never overprotect the child. This stifles the child’s realization of inner security and sometimes makes it impossible to break the ties that bind him to the parent. Belonging! The child must feel he belongs. He must be protected, sheltered and made to feel secure. The child must be protected but not over protected. He must feel he belongs to the family yet be independent. He must feel secure but not bound to the family. The parent is held responsible for maintaining this kind of balance!

Excessive manifestations of love! This is a horrible thing. Untold evil comes from this. The child will fret, cry, and be unhappy. In all his life he will never be satisfied and will only demand more and more. Lack of demonstration of love! This, too, is a horrible thing as the child must feel he is wanted. He needs and must have love. The parent is faced with the bewildering choice. Should I express my love or should I avoid such expression? How much love is excessive? When does a demonstration of love become excessive?

Rejection! This gets a lot of attention today. Every kind of wrong imaginable is blamed upon the fact the child felt rejected. The parent should never leave the child with a feeling that he is unwanted. Over indulgence. Don’t reject the child but don’t give him too much material expression of love. Again the parent is in a quandary trying to find the middle ground.

Excessive condemnation! Wrong should be censored but not excessively. Again...where is the line? Parents are told never to be shocked by anything that the child does. This takes some real doing!

The child’s feelings are to be respected. Fear and punishment are to be avoided. Parents should be consistent. Parents should never make the child feel inferior. Parents should never force the child beyond his capacity. Parents should answer the questions of the child but never beyond the child’s understanding. Parents should show interest in the child’s activities. Parents should never expect perfection. Parents are not to be antagonistic, dominating, or over identify themselves with the child. And on and on it goes!

About the time a parent has finished wading through all these conditions of being a success as a parent, he accepts being a failure, spanks the child, and forgets all about it.

Another method used by religion to excuse itself for failure is to blame someone else. Pass the buck! It is very convenient to blame the non-religious for all the failures of the religious. Our morals are at a new low, crime is increasing, juvenile delinquency is out of hand, lust rages, sex is distorted, and drunkenness is a national scandal. All these are evidences of the failure of religion but are accused of being the cause. This is like blaming pain as the cause of the injury.

Of course, each religion can always blame another religion for the failure. This is done a lot. The pastors can always blame the people and, in turn, the people can always blame the pastor.

One of the really surprising things is that weather has so much effect on religion. A lack of attendance at church is always listed as one of the reasons for religious failure. A great percentage of folks will not attend church when it is raining, snowing, when it is hot or cold. In the southwest part of Ohio it is estimated that it will rain about ten Sundays a year, snow on at least three, and it figures to be hot twelve Sundays, cold for at least nine. This makes thirty-four Sundays these folks cannot attend church. They will have company visiting their home on about eight Sundays and will be away visiting for about another eight. This makes fifty Sundays a year these folks cannot attend church. It leaves two Sundays a year they do attend...Easter and Christmas, if it doesn’t rain or snow.

Sunday Sickness is given as another contributing factor to the failure of religion. Many folks are very fortunate, as sickness never seems to come on a week day when it could cost them money by losing work. It never comes at a time when they have planned some pleasurable event. Always on a Sunday! Then they can just lie around in bed and sort of enjoy being sick.

A lack of money is always listed high among the excuses for the failure of religion. No doubt this is a real problem, but one cannot help but wonder how much money it takes to make the love, peace, joy, assurance, etc. of religion a reality in life? How many more expensive church buildings will have to be built before America becomes religious?

Some of the excuses that religion gives are a little contradicting. Some are saying that if we could just get back to the good old days everything would be all right. The “old time religion” is the answer. Others tell us religion is failing because it is dragging behind the times. It needs to be modernized...that is the answer.

Brainwashing is sometimes used to cover up religious failure. Brainwashing is the procedure whereby an individual is convinced that what he has always believed to be the truth is a lie, and what he has always believed to be a lie is the truth. The individual is exposed to a constant repetition of a lie told as the truth and a truth told as a lie until it is accepted as such. Brainwashing has been going on a long time in the name of religion. The general attitude of the public toward religion has been molded by this procedure. Some lies have been repeated long enough and loud enough that just about everyone accepts them as truth. Religion itself has been guilty of propagating some of these lies and some have been imposed upon religion by outsiders. As has been noted, this brainwashing can reverse the meaning of religious words and terms. Right becomes wrong and evil becomes good. In order to cover up its failure, religion simply brainwashes people into thinking failure is success and success is failure.

Many times these lies that are accepted as truth are presented in little standard clichés with which everyone is familiar. To suggest that these much-used expressions are not true is to evoke the wrath of those that are using them as a shield, but it still needs to be done. Most people are familiar with these clichés.

“You do not have to attend church to be religious. You can be just as religious outside of the church as you can in the church.” This has been said often enough and loud enough that most people accept it as the truth without giving it any thought. One little question exposes this lie. If this statement is true, why was the church established? Using this line of reasoning, the church becomes excess baggage and should be discarded and yet people who use this expression would probably be the first to protest if this were proposed. Religious truths have been preserved through the church and yet religious folks can adopt the lie that the church isn’t needed.

“It doesn’t make any difference which church you attend. One religion is as good as another.” This statement is widely accepted. It seems such a good, loving, tolerant attitude to

take. As has been stated, all religions are obligated to accept what they believe and teach to be truth. Too many times the “truth” of one church contradicts the “truth” of another church; in fact, everything that any church believes is denied by another. To look at all these contradicting creeds and say it doesn’t make any difference is to reveal how successful this brainwashing has been. Creeds that contradict cannot all be true. Some have to be in error. To say there is no difference is to eliminate the distinction between truth and error! This is foolishness.

“There are so many different religions it is impossible to know what is right.” This lie is readily accepted as the truth because it seems such a good excuse for rejecting all religion. Are we to assume that the God of religion was not able to preserve the truth and make it available to all? Has God been defeated and His truth hidden? No! The very fact that we have a God assures that we have His truth and the responsibility of recognizing and believing that truth.

“The Bible is so complicated that no one can really understand it.” Too many people have been turned from the Bible because they were brainwashed into accepting this lie as truth. This statement can also be shot down with one question: If the Bible cannot be understood, why was it given? The very fact that we have the Bible establishes that it was to be understood and believed. What purpose would God have in confusing or in keeping us in the dark?

“The Bible doesn’t really mean what it says.” People find a comfort in this lie because they can write off anything in the Bible they do not like. If the Bible doesn’t mean what it says, then why did it say it? Why didn’t it say what it meant?

“It is best to allow a child to pick his own religion without any influence from the parents. It is best not to force the child to go to church and Sunday School.” No one would use this kind of reasoning anywhere else but in religion. Do we allow the child to decide whether he should go to school? To the dentist? To the doctor? Do we allow him to pick his own medicines? If it would be foolish to allow these things, then it would be doubly so to apply the same reasoning to matters of religion.

“Too much religion can drive you crazy.” “Too much religion” would be a condition so rare in America as to be almost non-existent. Trying to maintain the pretense we disguise as religion can endanger our sanity.

“You can’t be religious and happy at the same time.” The caricature of the church-goer as a miserable, straight-laced sourpuss has been well established. People have been brainwashed into thinking that being religious and being unhappy are synonymous.

What is really needed is a willingness to turn from our excuses and find the source of the failure of religion.

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News & Views

Edited by E. L. Bynum

(Editor’s Note: In our News & 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.)

“Good as New” New Bible? — This is the blasphemous work of John Henson, a former Baptist minister, for the “One” organization. According to a WorldNetDaily, 6/24/04 report, Britain’s archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, their senior Christian voice and leader of the Church of England, describes the book as one of “extraordinary power.” The London Times says, “The new version, which Dr. Williams says he hopes will spread ‘in epidemic profusion through religious and irreligious alike’, turns St. Paul’s stricture against fornication on their head.” This is no translation of any Hebrew and Greek text but blatant obtrusion of vulgarity for the spiritually gullible segment of humanity. It is not only indecent but a flagrant attempt to degrade holiness and edify ungodliness. One of the great perils of this is that some pastors are too busy entertaining their flock to enlighten them of such dangers. (Jer. 23:1) “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.” More on this later. —W. W. ‘Bill’ Mosley (hereafter WWM)

Unborn Image Shocks UK Abortionist — A new type of ultrasound scan has produced vivid pictures of a 12 week-old fetus “walking” in the womb. (BBC News, 6/28/04) Simply sharing the soul of the psalmist would astound the abortionist if they would only believe. (Psa. 139:14) “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” The same such images reveal that “unborn babies can stretch, kick and leap around in the womb - well before the mother can feel the movement.” When this little unborn person reaches the age of 26 weeks, “they appear to exhibit a whole range of typical baby behavior and moods, including scratching, smiling, crying, hiccuping, and sucking.” Yet federal Judge Phyllis Hamilton ruled that a woman’s right to have an abortion (murder their baby) is paramount, and that it’s “irrelevant” whether the unborn child suffers pain in the process. One who rules in this manner is an conspirator to the murder of a “smiling, crying” little baby for the whims of a person who does not deserve the right to be referred to as ‘Mother.’ —WWM

Scripture vs. Science — A former cabinet member of the U.S. makes this prophecy. “The true battle will be between modern civilization and anti-modernists; between those who believe in the primacy of the individual and those who believe that human beings owe their allegiance and identity to a higher authority; between those who give priority to life in this world and those who believe that human life is mere preparation for an existence beyond life; between those who believe in science, reason, and logic and those who believe that truth is revealed through Scripture and religious dogma. Terrorism will disrupt and destroy lives. But terrorism itself is not the greatest danger we face.” (Christianity Today, 7/4/04) Sounds like Herod the Great is once again seeing a danger facing his throne. Christianity has never preached rule, but repent. It does not promote guns as a cure but the Gospel for the culture. Believers have indeed faced battles for believing in the true God and His Son, Jesus Christ. There is nothing amiss in believing “truth is revealed through Scripture. (John 17:17) “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” —WWM

The Battle Is Already Raging — And it seems those who give priority to this life only is winning. “A school district in Connecticut has caved in to the demands of the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union, which recently threatened the district with an injunction if its officials allowed local clergy to give a biblical presentation on homosexuality at a local high school.” (Agape News, 7/1/04) But the war isn’t over yet. When the Captain of our salvation enters this world system riding on His white horse, the victory will shift rapidly to the right. (Rev. 19:11) “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.” All power in heaven and earth is given to Him by His Father. (Matt. 28:18) The distinctive attribute of those who do not believe this can easily be identified. (Psa. 14:1) —WWM

None Too Soon — “ The president of the American Decency Association says pastors around the U.S. have been voicing their concerns about the immodest dress they are seeing in their churches . . . numbers of people are expressing ‘great concern’ that individuals both young and old -- are not giving much thought to how they come before a holy God and worship Him. Distractions caused by immodest dress can detract from a person’s worship experience.” (Agape News, 7/1/04) From the days of the mini-skirt to large hole sleeveless dresses split half way to the thigh, many pastors have not only been concerned but preached modesty from Bible text. Today women’s attire is not the only concern. Tank tops and shorts on the male body do nothing but reveal unsightly hair and show disrespect for God and their godly counterparts. Pray for pastors who unashamedly preach the entire message from God’s completely inspired Book. —WWM

Equal Rights, Make Way For Transvestism — “A conservative group is criticizing the push for ‘gender-neutral’ housing on college and university campuses. The trend is a sign of growing activism in support of trans-gender students on campuses across the U.S.” (Agape News, 7/6/04) Acting or sounding like the opposite gender was once unintentional. In fact, it was usually thought of, in the case of the boy, as being sissy. All male or all female colleges have all but been eliminated on the ground of unconstitutionality and discrimination. The all male dorms and the all female dorms are on the way out. Now comes the argument for transvestism having their own housing on campus. Jeremiah accurately sums up such a condition in these words. (Jer. 3:25) “We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, . . .” Israel leaving God out inspired Daniel to write, (9:8) “O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.” Paul said it right in 1 Cor. 15:34. —WWM

Wavering On The Brink Disaster — Any nation that adopts or tolerates dishonoring life is tottering on the edge of rejection by God. Abortion is an act that far too many feel is a right, but it is an abomination before God. Fathers and mothers in many cases are no longer respected by their offspring as the authority in the home. Planned Parenthood has largely been responsible for deprecating the value of family life. It is little wonder that monuments displaying the Ten Commandments is under such severe attack. The Word of God demands honoring father and mother. His words condemn coveting another man’s wife. Condemning murder is a burr under the saddle of abortionist. It is not men such as Alabama’s Judge Moore the liberal are mad at. It is God!! —WWM

Rendering Unto Caesar — “July 7th, 2004 marks Cost of Government Day (COGD), the date in the calendar year when Americans have paid off their share of federal, state and local government spending and regulations. As COGD falls on July 7th, Americans now work more than half of the year 189 days to pay their share of the cost of government.” (ATR, 7/9/04) That is, those who turn in all their income. Some are without doubt paying for others who do not pay. Sounds much like the operation of the local church. There are those who tithe plus offerings, and those who do not. In either situation those who follow our Lord’s directives will always come out ahead in eternity. (Mark 12:17) “And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.” —WWM

Mega-church to Become More Mega — A Houston congregation that started in an abandoned feed store in the 1950s didn’t become the biggest megachurch in the nation overnight. Pastored by Joel Osteen, Lakewood Church has grown from 8,000 to 30,000 since 1999 and it is poised to become even bigger. “I believe one day we’re going to have 100,000 a weekend,” he said. The way things have been going, there’s every reason to think that will happen. In December, the Texas church moved into the Compaq Center, a 16,000-seat arena and the former home of the Houston Rockets. Despite having an 8,000-seat sanctuary, Lakewood Church - named last year by “Forbes” magazine as the nation’s largest megachurch - couldn’t accommodate the estimated 25,000 to 30,000 people who were coming through its doors weekly. Before Joel was born, his dad, the late John Osteen, was a Southern Baptist pastor. But he left the denomination in 1959 to start a nondenominational, charismatic church. (Crosswalk, 7/8/04) John Osteen along with the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International and its founder, Demas Shakarian, were charismatic leaders in the 50s & 60s. They urged a departure from any religious denominational name. Many Baptist(?) left their churches and followed these men and others into the charismatic movement. Today non-denominationalism is almost traditional. —WWM

Vulgarity vs. Ten Commandments — “In 1997, four new high schools were built in the Adams County/Ohio Valley school district. Each school received a monument of the Ten Commandments as a gift from the Adams County Ministerial Association. But a year later, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a case on behalf of local resident Berry Baker challenging the location of the Ten Commandments monuments and seeking to undermine their influence.” (Crosswalk, 7/14/04) The article reports Baker has no children in the school district. In his undermining effort, Baker wanted officials to place a vulgar display of a man’s anatomy near the Ten Commandments with the inscription, “Love one another.” This is nothing short of the devil’s influence on the life of a soul sunken into the fathomless depth of sin and debauchery. Enoch’s prophesy is surely not too far from being fulfilled. Jesus is coming soon, “To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Jude 15) If Mr. Baker doesn’t repent, he faces the danger of eternal hell fire. —WWM

Depending On God Is Best — An experiment at the All-India Institute of Mental Health in Bangalore found that Western-trained psychiatrists and native healers had a comparable recovery rate. The most notable difference was that the so-called “witch doctors” released their patients sooner. (Berean Call, 7/15/04) Trusting in the true God would put both out of business because he has a 100% recovery rate. (2 Tim 1:7) “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” —WWM

Brief Current History Of Islam — At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, several athletes were massacred. In 1979, the U.S. embassy in Tehran was taken over and 52 hostages held for more than a year. In 1983, U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut were blown up, killing 241 U.S. soldiers. In 1988, Pan Am flight 103 was bombed, killing 270 people. In 1993, there was the first bombing of the World Trade Center, and in 2001, it was reduced to rubble, killing more than 3,000 Americans. In 1998, U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed, resulting in more than 200 dead and 4,000 injured. Who are the people responsible for these and other wanton murders of innocents, including the recent barbaric beheading of two innocent men? They were all Muslims. (Berean Call, 7/12/04) This is only a recent history of the Islam religion. There is no change in this recent record than Islam’s ancient history. Nor do we have reason to believe that it will change in the future. How can any intelligent person claim that this is a peaceful religion? As surely as Goliath came forward to defy Israel’s God, this is the ultimate aim of Islam to defy the same God of Christianity. Pray for their salvation! —WWM

So Much For The Gospel According To Mel — Although many fans predicted Mel Gibson’s blockbuster, “The Passion of the Christ,” would have an intense and long-lasting spiritual impact, a Christian researcher’s survey has revealed that the movie-going public has a short memory and an easily re-directed attention span. (Agape Press, 7/14/04) A recent survey reveals that one out of three Americans viewed this film. The movie is filled with erroneous doctrine. This is no surprise since Gibson is a Roman Catholic. All the hoopla over Gibson’s motivation to direct and market this movie obviously has had little true lasting spiritual effect on movie goers. The only lasting effect Hollywood has on our society is ridiculing right and righteousness. It always depicts a preacher as a second rate citizen with the IQ about equal to his body temperature. This is nothing new. The world has and always will hate true believers. (1 John 3:13) “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” Jesus said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18) Much better to be identified with Jesus than Hollywood and its producers and productions. —WWM

No Surprise— A public school committee in one Maryland county doesn’t want students to know about a young man’s decision to leave the homosexual lifestyle. (AP, 7/12/04) This is no real surprise. What would be surprising if this, or any, school system would recognize and announce this young man’s homosexual lifestyle was forsaken because he turned to Jesus in repentance. Be sure if a ‘straight’ student took the crooked path of homosexuality it would not only be acceptable but applauded as bravery. The world’s reasoning is really warped. (1 John 4:5) “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.” —WWM

Not Only In Europe — A conservative activist says Islam has never gotten over being driven out of Europe centuries ago, so it is using massive immigration to infiltrate the continent. The result, he says, could be a Muslim majority in several European countries within the next decade or so.(AP, 7/12/04) The European continent is not the only area where the Muslim majority is desired. Because America had its beginning by Europeans, and most of them seeking freedom of worship and self government, America is on the same chopping block. Those who believe this will have no great impact on our culture are simply ignoring the privilege Muslims have in this country to ring their bell announcing their prayer time throughout the day. Be sure the ACLU will do nothing to curb this act of religious promotion. The reason is that Christ and true Christianity is always under attack by the devil’s crowd. Both the devil with his deception and all those he has deceived face a future torment. (Rev. 20:10) “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” —WWM

The Roaring Lion — Online predators know that more kids are online in the summer than at any other time of year. Research shows that 90% of children between 8-16 have viewed pornography on the internet. Not because they are looking for it but because porn is looking for them. ( Crosswalk, 7/13/04) The devil is still hungry for soul. He continues to roar like a lion seeking to devour humanity. Tender lives are being attacked by every conceivable weapon Satan can fit into his ammunition dump. Every person, especially the youth, need spiritual instruction on the deceitfulness of sin. “. . that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” (2 Tim. 2:26) —WWM

Nudist Camp For Teens? — “A federal judge ruled Thursday a Virginia nudist colony cannot hold its annual summer camp for teenagers without parental supervision.” (Altus Times ,7/16/04) The judge’s reasoning? “Judge Richard L. Williams said parents or guardians wouldn’t interfere with the youngsters’ enjoyment at camp.” Since it is evident by the lack of clothing worn in public places that many parents do not interfere with the amount of skin their children display, the judge’s evaluation is likely correct. The camp owner and the ACLU of Virginia are opposed to the requirement of the parents presence. They also oppose a state law that denies a license to hotels, summer camps or camp grounds that hold nudist camps for children without their parents. This Virginia law went into effect July 1. The article did not say if the attending parents would also be nude. If so, they would be too occupied with their own pleasure to interfere with the “youngsters’ enjoyment.” Supporters of the law said it was in the state’s interest to protect the children who attend from pedophiles and child pornographers. Would not such a camp incite pornography? This is far more shameful than Israel’s action when she made “bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.” (Isa. 47:2,3) Moral evil still knows no shame. (Zeph. 3:5) WWM

Webster’s Woes — Over the years the publisher of the English dictionary has updated definitions. The last few decades the overload of redefining has largely been committed to moral definitions. Gay was once happy or merry, now it is also defined as a homosexual relationship. Pot was once only a vessel for cooking, now more commonly understood as marijuana. There is nothing happy or merry about the most recent definition of gay. Nor is there anything short of death in the later definition of pot. Webster’s II New College Dictionary copy righted 2001 defines marriage as “the union of a man and a woman as husband and wife.” Will the next edition redefine marriage including “or the union of a man and a man as husband and husband,” etc.? The blessing for true believers is that God’s definitions are never change or added to. The man is to cleave to his wife, and there is no shame before God in their union. (Gen. 2:24,25) Homosexuality is “men with men working that which is unseemly,” or a shame before God. (Rom. 1:27) Liberal law makers are tampering with God’s definitions, and this seems the most obscene of all. —WWM

Are You A ‘Watchdog’? — The Bible commands each believer to “watch thou in all things.” This results in discerning the error and compromise that are flooding the world today, and warning unsuspecting believers of the unscriptural doctrines that are flourishing today. “A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw God’s truth attacked, and yet remained silent without giving a sound.” (3/15/93 CC) A watchful, discerning servant of Christ will be one who warns--always! A faithful testimony will be marked by watchfulness and warnings, and will be a ministry that practices Biblical separation from error and from those who embrace it. We must be alert “watchdogs” (not as those blind, sleeping, ignorant, dumb dogs of Isaiah’s day that could not bark). We must expose error and lovingly warn those who are deceived by it. (1/1/01 Calvary Contender)

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