Coming to a church near you: coffee bars, video sermons

FOR YEARS, places of worship were easy to identify. Steeples, jewel toned stained glass and prominent religious symbols defined a community’s religious landscape.

Recognizing today’s churches is tougher. More have enlisted a new strategy to bring people in: Think coffee bars, skate parks, surround sound audio systems and movie theaters that cater to a generation fascinated by high-tech gadgetry.

The new megachurches, many of which are non-denominational, are the ultimate “destination building,” says architect Duncan Stroik, a professor at the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture and editor of Sacred Architecture Journal.

Some examples: Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, changed its name from Las Colinas Baptist Church to draw a larger crowd; it throws Saturday socials for singles.

California is a leader in megachurches, such as the 120-acre campus of Saddleback Church in Orange County.

Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., with room for more than 7,000, has a food court.

In Atlanta, Buckhead Church is a former Harris Teeter grocery store converted into a 48,250-square-foot complex with a movie theater and a teen center; worshipers watch video sermons on giant screens. Since the church opened in 2003, Sunday attendance has increased sixfold.

— Vyvyan Lynn

USA WEEKEND — April 8-10, 2005

The preceding article was taken from USA WEEKEND, April 8-10, 2005. This slick magazine is inserted in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and in a lot of other Sunday newspapers across the nation.

This change in churches is what I have been warning Christians and churches across America for many years. Each year this departure from the truth becomes evident in many churches today. Thank God there are many church leaders waking up, but many more are being deceived. The landslide of compromise is increasing, and only Bible believers who are willing go without the camp, will be able to survive. “Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.” (Hebrews 13:13) The rest of the religious world will be among the compromisers.

New Houses of God?

Let us consider some of these “new houses of God” that are featured in the article from USA WEEKEND. “Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, changed its name from Las Colinas Baptist Church to draw a larger crowd; it throws Saturday socials for singles.” The pastor is Ed Young. A quick look at their web page did not reveal to me whether they are still members of the Southern Baptist Convention or not. Churches like this should drop the name Baptist since they are ashamed of the name and no doubt have departed from Baptist doctrine.

Rick Warren & the Purpose Driven Life

We continue with a quote from the above magazine. “California is a leader in megachurches, such as the 120-acre campus of Saddleback Church in Orange County.” The pastor of this organization is Rick Warren, author of the popular Purpose Driven Life book. They still maintain their connection to the SBC. He speaks frequently in their conferences and has also been featured by Jerry Falwell in his Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA. Falwell is a member of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International and the SBC. The new Independent Baptist Network is made up of the BBFI, World Baptist Fellowship and the Southwide Baptist Fellowship, and they are now headed up by a prominent Souther Baptist preacher. What a strange pot of poison soup this will be when it is complete. There must be a formal wedding in the works, but not yet announced.

It reminds me of an event recorded in the O.T. “And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not. So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.” (2 Kings 4:39-40) It appears that none of these leaders have enough discernment to recognize a poison mixture.

Rick Warren in his Purpose Driven Life book quoted from more than 20 different versions of the Bible approvingly. You don’t have to believe in an infallible Bible to run with this crowd. Their goal is success at any cost, and success means large numbers of people.

Rick Warren’s books and materials are used in the United Methodist Church, Southern Baptist churches, Church of Christ, charismatic churches, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and the list goes on. If you can get all of this crowd to join in the same program, you can be sure there is nothing in there that would offend any of their false teaching and doctrines.

Bill Hybels & Willow Creek Community Church

Another ministry promoted by USA WEEKEND is the “Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., with room for more than 7,000, has a food court.” Bill Hybels is the pastor of this organization. He is a buddy of Robert Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral of California. They speak for each other and Schuller was instrumental in helping Hybels get his ministry going. If numbers means success, then Willow Creek is very successful.

Hybels has been a leader in the numbers game. I have a book written by a teaching pastor with Hybels, in which he recommends that churches drop any denominational name from their church. He specifically mentioned the name Baptist. His teaching has been promoted among some Independent Baptist groups. This is a sad commentary upon the times in which we live. Truly the great falling away is here and many do not recognize it. The most critical mail that I ever receive is after I have written something about Bill Hybels. Some of his followers can be quite vicious with words.

No doubt it would be an advance of the truth if the majority of Baptist churches would drop the name Baptist, since they are only Baptist in name today.

I have here on my desk a colorful invitation sent to me by Hybels. We are invited to send people to be trained in “the Willow Arts Conference, June 14-17, 2005.” A part of the training is called, “Specialized Training in Four Areas, Creative Arts Leadership, Technical Arts, Music and Worship, Drama and Dance.” Can you imagine Jesus, Peter, Paul or Barnabas promoting “drama and dance?” No wonder they never gathered and kept large numbers. Hybels and his kind were born more than 1900 years too late to get the New Testament going like it should have gone. How blessed we are to have the Bible and not all of the religious baloney that is being peddled today.

Are We Too Harsh and Judgmental?

This USA WEEKEND article reveals new evangelicalism in its worst form. It also reveals the Super-Church crowd in all their duplicity. Church growth at any price always leads to compromise and departure from the truth. It is the very thing that Bible warns us will exist in the last days before the coming of the Lord. “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Timothy 4:2-4)

The teachers having itching ears (for compliments and success) are surely turning their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. They are fully described as being, “Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Timothy 3:4-5). This passage tells believers that from such turn away. Why do not Bible believers obey the Scriptures and turn away from such people? Many Christians including pastor are not informed enough as to what the Scriptures teach. Others do not want to make enemies and lack the courage to take a stand. Many bury their heads in the sand and do not want to be informed.

I am sure that some of our readers will think that what I am writing is too harsh and unloving. They would probably think that Paul was too harsh when he wrote the following warning. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” (1 Timothy 4:1-2) I firmly believe that these people are departing from the faith and are actually being giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. Their conscience has been seared and they are unable to see the truth.

Was the Apostle Peter too Harsh?

Peter certainly does not hesitate to call such people false prophets, false teachers and their damnable heresies. He warns us that many shall follow their pernicious ways and they will deceive many. Don’t take my word for it, but read it for yourself in the following verses. “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” (2 Peter 2:1-3)

Was Jesus too harsh and unloving?

We hear a lot today about the sweet, gentle and loving Saviour. He is all of that and more, but we must realize that He is much more than that. He proclaimed faithfully the holiness, justice and judgment of God. He does forgive the sin of the repentant believer, but the only way that God can forgive sin is through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus was never in the business of glossing over, or ignoring the sin of the unrepentant. This is the side of Jesus Christ that is almost ignored by popular religion today. Consider what our Lord really said. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep"s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” (Matthew 7:15-16) “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:20)

Our Lord Jesus warned of the consequences of a false profession. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

We are not saying that men like Hybels and Warren are going to hell, because we are not the judge of any man’s salvation. We are saying that they are making religion popular with the world, and many are being led into a false profession of faith in Christ. Attracted by worldly music, videos, dance teams and drama they are deceived as to what it means to be saved. Many will be in that group saying “Lord, Lord,” and will hear “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

After 44 years the Tabernacle Baptist Church has a new pastor. The Lord lead in the calling of Bro. Bob Jackson, and he will be on the field in a few weeks.

For the past 12 years Brother Jackson has been pastor of the Bible Baptist Church, Duncan, OK. He is most certainly doctrinally sound in the faith. We have every confidence that he will keep the Church on the same doctrinal path that it has been on for the last 72-years.

He is an experienced pastor and has also been a successful missionary in Papua New Guinea. The Lord has been good to Tabernacle Baptist Church in sending Bro. Jackson to be its pastor.

Plains Baptist Challenger Will Continue

The new pastor has announced his intention of continuing the PBC and the printing ministry going on for the Glory of God.

He has asked me to continue to write for the PBC and the printing ministry. I will definitely be relinquishing all pastor duties and responsibilities. Most of my work will be done from my office at home. Look for more information in the next issue.

A few short years back the charismatics started using the words celebrate and celebration to describe their worldly rock ‘n roll jam sessions for the young people out in the youth building. (They used to be known as holy rollers). I’ve sometimes paused briefly to view some of these “celebrations” on their religious TV extravaganzas. They look, dress, dance, clap and sway just like the secular rock gangs.

I well remember when the new evangelicals and Southern Baptists began to shy away from the revival and consecration emphases of independent Baptists. Separation was soon overlooked, soul winning was soft-pedaled, and soft-rock contemporary music began creeping in, first in the youth meetings and then gradually into the main auditorium. Baptists and other former evangelicals could no longer warn their people about the tongues and charismatic movements because many of them were falling into the same traps.

When I was young, the spiritual emphasis was on consecration: Christians were to live holy lives and be different from the world. We preachers had our files of sermons on consecration. Now among both SBC and even some independent Baptists, we see in church page ads that “celebration” has replaced “consecration.” The music director has been replaced by a “worship leader.” Songs of devotion are now monotonous “praise choruses.” And the old saints in the church are puzzled how they got onto a different planet without knowing it! — Dr. Hugh Pyle, The Sword of the Lord, 12/17/04

Perverted Bible versions are nothing new. Long before modern revisions, God records for us the Revised Satanic Version of 4014 BC. In Genesis 3:1-5, Satan offered a counterfeit Bible to Eve.

God had told Adam in Genesis 2:16-17, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it.” Satan revised God’s words by questioning, “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”

God’s Word never changes. It will stand forever. Satan changes, clouds, perverts, modifies, and revises God’s Word, so mankind will have trouble discerning the wheat from the chaff.

One word in Genesis 3:1 defines the work of Satan: subtle. The dictionary defines subtle as “Cunningly contrived, ingenious; crafty, artful: insidiously or quietly active.” Satan has been using Bible revision to tempt man to disobedience ever since Adam and Eve. To beguile Eve, he used the truth, twisted.

From the Revised Satanic Version of 4014 BC, Satan developed a perverted theology that tempted mankind to sin. Satan has used the same subtlety down through history.

Satan’s Subtlety in Efforts to Keep God’s Word from Man

Satan worked within the world’s system to restrict access to the Bible. He inspired an imperial ban on the written word by the Roman emperors Diocletian, Galerius, and Maximus from 303-311 AD. The Council of Toulouse forbade laymen to read the Bible in 1229. Europe was engulfed in darkness as a result. The words of Hosea 4:6 echo: “My people are destroyed from a lack of knowledge.”

Satan could not stop God’s word from being translated into the English language, but he tried intimidation and persecution. This is seen during the seven-fold refining of the Scriptures as they were preserved in English.

Tyndale’s 1526 New Testament was the first English Bible translated from Greek. Wycliff’s work predated Tyndale, but he translated from Latin texts. For his efforts, Tyndale was imprisoned, strangled, and burned at the stake in 1536.

Miles Coverdale had to three times flee England in fear for his life after publishing the Coverdale 1535 Revision.

The third refinement of Tyndale’s work was Matthew’s Bible of 1537. John Rodgers (alias Thomas Matthew), a co-laborer of Tyndale’s, was burned at the stake at Smithfield in 1555 by Bloody Queen Mary’s bishops as a reward for his labor.

Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, with Miles Coverdale as editor, translated The Great Bible in 1539. Cranmer was burned at the stake at Oxford in 1555.

The Geneva Bible, published in 1560, was the work of William Wittingham, Christopher Goodman, Thomas Cole, and Thomas Sampson. All had important positions, and were dismissed for their efforts.

God’s word was having an impact and persecution was blunted. The papists did not control England in 1568 when the Bishop’s Bible was published. Twelve men were involved in its translation: William Alley, Andrew Pierson, Thomas Becon, Andrew Perne, Robert Horne, Thomas Bentham, Edmund Grindal, John Parkhurst, Richard Cox, and Gabriel Goodman. These men had experienced the persecution of Queen Mary, and some had been in exile.

The seventh, final, and complete refinement, the product of all the previous work, the King James Bible of 1611 was the labor of fifty-four of Christendom’s greatest scholars and spiritual giants. It stands as the cap rock of God’s preserved Word in the English language.

Satan’s Subtlety in Efforts to Discredit the Received Text

Subtlety failing in trying to prevent the English translation of the Bible, Satan sought to discredit the foundation of the Bible, the Received Text (TR).

By subtlety, Satan exalted a home for heresy, the city of Alexandria, in Egypt. This city was the home of the ancient world’s greatest library, universities, and a polyglot of pagan, Greek, and Jewish thought. It was the home of the Arian heresy, which declared Christ to be a created being. This influence can be seen in 1 Timothy 3:16. The King James Bible reads, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh.” All the modern versions read, “He was manifest in the flesh.” This rendition removes a powerful witness for the deity of Christ.

Alexandria was the home of heretics from Clement to Origen. Often called “Church Fathers,” these men were not orthodox in their doctrine, and were apostate. Clement preached against sneezing and had seven plans of salvation. He seems to have a cousin in Florida today. Origen denied the existence of hell. He taught that the Holy Spirit was a created being and believed in purgatory and baptismal regeneration.

In this home Satan fostered cultic copyists producing the Codex Sinaiticus and the Codex Vaticanus. These two Greek texts were not part of the Received Text and were rejected down through the centuries for good reason.

The Sinaiticus was found by the German, Tishendorf, in a trash can in St. Catherine’s monastery. It was being used as kindling. The Vaticanus is shrouded in mystery. It was cataloged in the Vatican library in 1475. Both are defective texts: hopeless messes, full of revisions, errors, and omissions. These texts disagree with each other on 3000 occasions in the Gospels alone.

To this subtlety Satan added two men: Brooke Westcott and Fenton Horte. Both were Romish sympathizers, Mary-worshippers, papists, and sacredotalists. As such, they believed in baptismal regeneration, purgatory, and universal salvation. On the subject of the Bible, they rejected infallibility and inerrancy. In science, they were Darwinists. They attended seances and practiced spiritualism. One spirit in particular had their attention: Satan.

In 1871, Westcott and Horte were sanctioned by the Church of England to revise the King James Bible. However, they set out behind closed doors to revise the Greek text, following the Catholic Alexandrian manuscripts.

Satan’s Subtlety Continues with the Alphabet Soup of Modern Versions

Based on perverted texts, the modern translations have no morality.

Romans 1:29 lists sinful perversions, “Unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness,” etc. All the modern versions leave out “fornication,” while the word is even in the Westcott and Horte Greek text. “Fornication” is the translation of the Greek word “pornaria,” from which we get the English word “pornography.”

In Deuteronomy 23:17; 1 Kings 15:12; 22:46; and 2 Kings 23:7, “Sodomite” in the King James Bible becomes a “shrine prostitute” in the New International Version.

Based on perverted texts, the modern translations have no redeemer.

John 1:29 in the King James Bible reads, “The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” In “The Message” version it becomes, “The passover lamb, the one who forgives sin.” There is a major difference.

Based on perverted texts, the modern translations have no Christ. In literally hundreds of places, “Christ” is simply removed from the text.

Based on perverted texts, the modern translations have no clarity. The King James Bible is evaluated to read at fifth grade level. The New International Version is evaluated at seventh grade level. Purporting to be easier to read, the modern versions fail at that, as well. In Romans 3:23, the King James Bible states clearly, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” The Message version says, “Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious life God wills for us, God did it for us.” What in the world does that mean? The condemnation of homosexuality in Romans 1:25-27 in the King James Bible becomes a lament for people who act in “all lust, no love” in The Message. So, in the modern versions, homosexuality is OK, as long as perverted partners love each other.

As a Result of Satan’s Subtlety, People Don’t Know What God’s Word IS

This is the same effect that Satan’s subtlety had upon Eve. What should we do about it?

Instruct the Bible perverters in the manner of 2 Timothy 2:24-26. “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

Identify the sin of perverting the Bible as defined in Acts 13:10. “O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?”

Fulfill our responsibility to warn people to avoid Bible perversions.

Recently I saw a news conference on C-Span by the Officials of the American Muslims Association. They were complaining that the official reports of the 9-11 Commission didn’t consult them.

They had favorable comments about their religion. They wanted to emphasize the favorable aspects about the Muslim religion. There were four officials and all spoke of favorable aspects of their religion.

The purpose of my article is to tell you something you probably don’t know about the Muslim religion.

Need to Know

Americans, it is safe to say, want no part of replacing Christianity with Islam — But the Muslims do. Their doctrine says so, and that is a central purpose of their presence in America. There are two kinds of Muslims: the violent and the non-violent. Both quote the Koran. Both worship Allah and the Prophet Mohammed and both are out to “Conquer America.” They are cunning.

The Prophet Mohammed

It is time to look at the founder of Islam, the Prophet Mohammed (A.D. 570-632), called “The praised One,” who converted many through wars and other violence.

Indeed, history shows he set the example for both violent and non-violent Muslims, all the while preaching love and bread for the poor — a paradoxical concept, if not hypocritical.

Mohammed was looking for the perfect religion and began his “reformation of the world” at forty with revelations of Allah (Islam’s supreme god) through the angel Gabriel. These revelations were promulgated in the Koran.

First Mecca Then Medina

Mohammed is reported to have suffered epileptic fits and at times had periods of depression and ecstasy. His goal was to reform the world with the perfect religion. He founded Islam, first in Mecca, and then developed it in Medina. Mohammed craved power; he wrote in the Koran:

Gurah 2, verse 193 — Allah tells Mohammed to kill whoever rejects Islam: “Kill them until there is no persecution and the religion is Allah.” But in verse 256, Allah tells Mohammed not to impose Islam by force, saying, “There is no compulsion in religion.”

Islam spread through the Middle East through Mohammed’s successes in preaching, warfare and conquest. He was described as deceitful and cunning, superstitious and cowardly; but as a political leader and reformer, he ranks with the greatest. His religion survived thirteen centuries and converts are hundreds of millions.

Muslim Strategy

Is it wrong to teach that Muslims love America just as we do? They want America to be an Islamic state and, at this time, are softening up Islamic critics at the quest. Now, they claim to believe in Moses and Jesus and no longer call us “Infidels” in their’ literature.

They say, “God bless America” and display the flag, the same flag that they burn in daily rituals in Islam, while calling us “The Great Satan.” They use Christian terms like “Love” and “Salvation” and change the Koran’s translations from Arabic to hide Islam’s hate for all non-believers. They are hypocritical.

Muslims want to be accepted in religious, social and political activities so they can gain power and gradually change things to Islamic beliefs. They are sly.

Trust but Verify*

Meanwhile, as for the Muslims in America — the good ones and the militants — it is nice to be cordial and Christian; but the wisdom of Ronald Reagan in dealing with Mikhail Gorbachev and other communists, fits so well in dealing with the “Ambassadors of Islam” — “Trust but verify”!

While all this Muslim ambition may seem unreal, these people are, in many cases, dedicated fanatics, ready to die for Allah in fighting the “Infidels.” Violence is part of their plan. That’s why we need to watch out for the Muslims in America. They can be very dangerous in their cunning and disarming ways.

Daniel Pipes of the Jerusalem Post warns that many Muslims in America share with the suicide hijackers in hatred of this country and desire to transform it into an Islamic state — designs that warrant urgent and serious attention.

America needs to monitor Muslim organizations, give them no special privileges and to reform immigration to exclude applicants with the Islamic ideology. Wherever Muslims have gained a beachhead, they have brought havoc, sometimes utter ruin, warns Mr. Pipes, adding, “The preservation of our existing order cannot be taken for granted; it must be fought for.”

“Let us jealously guard our right to proclaim Christianity from coast to coast. Christians unite or our chances of keeping this a Christian nation could be in jeopardy,” says Violet Tomm — McDonald, PA.

*Ronald Reagan

Those who defend Contemporary Christian Music often claim that hymn writers Martin Luther and John and Charles Wesley used barroom tunes; therefore, it is legitimate, allegedly, to use rock music today. In fact, neither Luther nor the Wesleys used bar room tunes. Note the following quotes from authorities in this field: “Luther steered clear of rollicking drinking songs. He never considered music a mere tool that could be employed regardless of its original association but was careful to match text and tune, so that each text would have its own proper tune and so that both would complement each other” (Ulrich Leupold, “Learning from Luther?” Journal of Church Music, July-August, 1996, p. 5). “The Wesleys did not use tavern or drinking songs to carry their texts. Their theology as well as their sense of aesthetics would have made such an occurrence unthinkable. There are no such examples in their collections. There are no suggestions or recommendations that others do so in any of their writings” (Dean McIntyre, director of worship resources at the United Methodist Board of Discipleship, United Methodist News Service, September 30, 2002). — Christian News, 12/6/04

Witchcraft Activity In School — An eighth-grade member of the newspaper staff at Central Middle School in Midland (Mich.) has written an article stating that she has decided to experiment with the religion known as Wicca and thinks other students would enjoy Wiccan activities such as casting spells and making potions . . . . Wicca is described as a polytheistic, neopagan nature religion inspired by certain pre-Christian western European beliefs . . . . Many Wiccans worship a mother goddess as their central deity and commonly dabble in the use of so-called herbal magic and supposedly benign witchcraft. (AgapePress, 3/17/05) If you feel witchcraft is too harmless for concern remember God’s view on the matter. It is much more serious. (Exo. 22:18) “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” (W. W. Mosley, hereafter WWM)

More On Wicca — A federal appeals court has ruled against a Wiccan priestess who wanted to give the opening prayer at a county board meeting in Virginia. Cynthia Simpson sued Chesterfield County after she was excluded from a list of religious leaders allowed to pray at board of supervisors meetings. In a letter to Simpson, the county explained that the invocations are “made to a divinity that is consistent with the Judeo-Christian tradition.” Wiccans consider themselves witches or pagans whose religion is based on nature. A three-judge appeals court panel reversed a lower-court ruling that the county’s policy unconstitutionally favors a particular set of religious beliefs. (AP, 4/15/05)

More Attacks On Schools — “ . . . more than 60,000 public elementary schools have received a copy of the “We Are Family” music video and an accompanying teacher’s guide. The American Family Association and other conservative groups have warned that the tolerance video, which features popular children’s characters such as Barney, Clifford, and SpongeBob Squarepants, is an attempt by homosexual activists to indoctrinate young kids into acceptance of their destructive lifestyle.” (AP, 3/16/05) This is the work of pro-homosexuals who disregard the welfare of our youth. God’s view on this is also obvious as found in the first chapter of Romans. — WWM

Baptist Churches In WCA Summit Conferences — At least eight Baptist churches are listed as host for the Willow Creek Assoc. summit conferences 2005. Bill Hybels is pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in Ill. and with growing popularity in the “church growth camp at any cost,” has lassoed some in all denominations to follow his methods. Doctrine is out the window and religious popularity has walked in the front door. Southern Baptist Rick Warren has joined Hybels with his books of Purpose Driven notoriety promoting man made philosophies that are replacing Holy Spirit leadership and Christ honoring sermons. It is little wonder many are dropping Baptist from their church signs for fear of being offensive. The precious blood of Christ is becoming a rock of offence to those who stumble at the true Word of God. Let true believers never be confounded by those who tone down repentance and faith. (1 Pet. 2) — WWM

Vance Havner Quote Fits Here — “If God ever visits us again in real revival, there will be many red faces as churchmen and religious leaders blush and hang their heads in shame for the silly and stupid ways in which we have tried to promote the work of God in the energy of the flesh by the help of the world. Drama will be unnecessary. We may not even need great preachers! Gospel jazz will slink away, and we shall be chagrined that we ever sank so low as to tolerate it. All this will vanish in the blinding light of the holiness of God, and no flesh will glory in His presence . . .” (AIB Newsletter, Apr.-May)

State’s Marriage Amendments — “All total, 18 states now have adopted marriage amendments, and others are almost certain to join that list in the next two years. Incredibly, the 18 amendments have passed with an average of 70.3 percent of the vote. Only two of them — Michigan (59) and Oregon (57) — received less than 60 percent support. A marriage amendment has never failed at the ballot.” (Baptist Press, 4/6/05) Kansas has recently passed such an amendment by the margin of 70-30. The gay crowd argues such a move is against their civil rights. Nothing about homosexuality is either civil or right. — WWM

Online Gambling — In much the same way the Internet vastly expanded access to pornography, the World Wide Web has introduced an array of gambling methods that never require a person to set foot in a casino. As a result, online gambling has become a $10-billion-a-year industry . . . . More than $200 million is bet on online poker each day, up from $16 million two years ago . . . . (BP, 4/6/05) Far too many so-called believers equate casino gambling with farming or any other legitimate individual investment in self employment. The great biblical difference is we are commanded to earn the right to eat bread. (Gen.3:19; 2 Thes. 3:10,11) The something for nothing syndrome is contagious. Beware! — WWM

Christianity Before Islamic Court — Iranian Christian Hamid Pourmand must appear before the Islamic (sharia) court of Iran within nine days. An exact court date has not been released. Arrested last September when security police raided a church conference he was attending, the Assemblies of God lay pastor will be brought up before the Islamic court between April 11 and 14 to face charges of apostasy from Islam and proselytizing Muslims to the Christian belief. Both “crimes” are punishable by death. (Christian News, 4/7/05) Our Lord faced a corresponding situation when He sought to turn sinners to the true God of Heaven. False religionist crucified Jesus. True believers who carry out the Lord’s commission place themselves in harms way. (1 John 3:13) “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” — WWM

Saints of God — “Sainthood immediately” chants were reported as Pope John Paul II lay in state in Rome a few day after his death. Many of high standing in the Catholic church are proclaimed to be saints after their death. Some of these have to wait years to receive sainthood from the Catholic church. Any person that is not a saint before they die will never become one later. Paul wrote to the beloved in Rome who were called to be saints. (Rom. 1:7) Those who were sanctified in Jesus Christ were also living saints in 1 Cor. 1:2. The recipients of the 2nd Corinthian letter included all the saints which were in Achaia. The same is true of Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossee. Living saints are referred to throughout the Bible. They are the ones who will be attending the Lord’s return. (Jude 14) These are those who have been born again, “not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1 Pet. 1:23) Believers are born again into sainthood immediately upon repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. No church, or group within a church, has the power to pronounce anyone to be a saint. (Psa. 116:15) — WWM

Bigger Is Not Always Better — “ . . .the largest single denomination in the country remains the Roman Catholic Church, with 67.26 million members and a reported growth of 1.28 per cent . . . three of the largest 25 churches in the United States are now Pentecostal, while six are churches with predominantly African American members. (Ecumenical News, 4/5/05) As reported by the NCC. The report said that “mainline” Protestant churches are dwindling in numbers while the rolls of “Pentecostal churches . . . and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) are growing.” The Lord’s true Church wasn’t popular in it’s beginning and there is no promise that it will ever be in this world. Jesus’ statement in Luke 6:26 should be an encouragement to those who earnestly contend for the faith. “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Standing for truth and against error places the true believer in a small camp. — WWM

ACLU vs. Christianity — A Pennsylvania prison outreach is the target of a lawsuit that claims government endorsement and funding of its programs is a violation of the separation of church and state. . . the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Americans United for Separation of Church and State jointly filed suit in a U.S. District Court against Firm Foundation . . . and various Pennsylvania government offices. (AP, 4/7/05) Firm Foundation is a publisher of conservative Bible material. One thing the ACLU and AUSCS are concerned about is that Firm Foundation “discriminates in its hiring.” They require their employees to be Christian. Something to do with violating the Establishment Clause. Does the ACLU require their partners to be lawyers? Or can anyone apply for a job? Here’s another question: why would anyone want to work for the ACLU? — WWM

Abstinence Would Help — [The] latest statistics available show that in [Mississippi] 75 percent of African-Americans are born into a single-parent family. The number is 24 percent for Caucasians and, incredibly, 47 percent overall. Since 1960, the rise nationally in the out-of-wedlock birthrate has been stunning. About a third of American babies are born into a mother-only constellation; in the four decades after 1960, that figure grew well over 500 percent . . . We want to talk about more money for education, not the familial element that contributes to falling scores. We want to talk about crime, not what most of the criminals have in common. We want to talk about child abuse, not the underlying reason for the harm done. (AP, 4/7/05)

Gay/Lesbian Ad — “EVENT: The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Leadership Awards honors Howard Dean for lifetime achievement and commitment to progressive values. WHO: Honoree: Howard Dean, Democratic National Committee Chairman and former Governor of Vermont.” This was for immediate release for this event to take place 4/7/05. The reason for the ‘prestigious’ award? “Throughout his career, Dr. Howard Dean has been an advocate for and leader in implementing progressive values.” Among which, according the NGLTF, is “equality for all people, including the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.” The Bible promotes equality for all people when it says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” and, “ . . . whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” It would be better to give Mr. Howard a Bible. Does this task force have a Bible? — WWM

Forced Abortion Services — In 2002, New York City required OB/GYN residents in the city’s 11 public hospitals to be trained to perform abortions. That same year, California enacted a state law that required abortion training at the state’s six public medical schools . . . . If a woman has a right to an abortion, then the government can require a medical student be trained to do abortions. It can even force doctors to perform abortions. (BP, 4/8/05) In 1973 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a woman had the right to abort her unwanted child. Millions have exercised that right(?) since that time and continue to do so. Now insult to Christian physicians is added to injury to the unborn when future medical attendants are required to enroll in abortion training. (Exo. 21:22) — WWM

A Former President’s Prophecy — “The Constitution . . . is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary which they may twist and shape into any form they please. It has long been my opinion, and I have never shrunk from its expression. . .that the germ of dissolution of our federal government is in the constitution of the federal Judiciary; working like gravity by night and by day, gaining a little today and a little tomorrow, and advancing its noiseless step like a thief, over the field of jurisdiction, until all shall be usurped.” — Thomas Jefferson (Action Newsletter, 4/05)

A Present Fulfillment — [A] decision handed down on March 14, 2005. Judge Richard Kramer of the San Francisco Superior Court summarily struck down California’s law prohibiting same-sex marriage. The measure was deemed to be unconstitutional, he said, because “It appears that no rational purpose exists for limiting marriage in this state to opposite sex partners.” (AN, 4/05) This judge obviously does not know the Judge of all the earth. God created opposite sex partners for procreation. Judge Kramer would be non-existent without the purpose of God being performed. — WWM

More Intelligent Than Who? — Scottish hospitals are admitting to committing abortions up to as late as 34 weeks only 6 weeks from the child’s due date a Scotland on Sunday investigation found. (LifeSiteNews, 4/11/05) At what point will an abortionist be charged with murder of a human? Many babies survive that are born far earlier than the weeks indicated above. Some weighing 2 pounds and less have grown into mature adults and thrived well with proper care. Be sure if this procedure was performed on an animal of any species, heads would roll with the charge of animal cruelty. Darwinism teaches humans are only a more intelligent species of the ape. Obviously some humans are not as concerned about their young as apes that will fight for their little ones. — WWM

Legalized Euthanasia — Belgian doctors are directly responsible for nearly half of the 253 deaths of newborn babies during a year long period, a new study reports. The controversial report, published in The Lancet, covers a period from August 1999 to July 2000 and shows that pediatricians who responded to the survey admitted they had taken “end of life” decisions in more than half the cases. According to the report, infant euthanasia has become commonplace in the most liberal regions of northern Europe. In 2002, Belgium legalized euthanasia for adults who are suffering ‘constant and unbearable physical or psychological pain’, and who are sufficiently conscious to make the request to die. Holland passed a similar law in 1995. In neither country is it legal to put infants to death. (LSN, 4/11/05) The Atlantic Ocean can be crossed in only a few hours by plane. Ideas and practices may take a little longer . . . but how much longer? — WWM

Actions Speak Louder — An assistant professor at the University of Washington says his research shows that toddlers who watch a lot of television are more likely to become bullies in elementary school. Dr. Frederick Zimmerman says a recent study that looked at the amount of television a group of four-year-olds watched and the effects of their viewing revealed some startling facts. For instance, he notes that, according to the study, for every hour of television a child watched per day, the child is nine percent more likely to become a bully. (AP, 4/11/05) Even cartoons and animated entertainment are permeated with violence and foul language. It may seem innocent until the finished effect surfaces with rifle in hand on a slope outside a schoolyard filled with children. Satan’s tools are not limited to immoral saturated adult TV. His primary aim is toward the young. It is sad more young people cannot have this said about them: “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim 3:15) — WWM

ELCA Becoming More Liberal — “New recommendations for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) would allow congregations to bless homosexual unions and to have non-celibate homosexual ministers. Though the January 13 recommendation acknowledged that the official teaching of the ELCA prohibits homosexual ordinations and marriage, the task force said the church may choose to refrain from disciplining members for violating these prohibitions.” This excerpt is from Christianity Today online, 5/05. Many so-called mainline denominations are setting the spiritual trend toward spiritual laxity. Dumbing down doctrinally has become a fad even among once sound churches. Once moral prohibitions, even once unmentionables, are become acceptable by a small portion of society. (However, not close to as many as is claimed by the promoters.) Little foxes are still a threat to small grapes. (SoS 2:15) — WWM

Cheating More Expensive — In an effort to strengthen the institution of marriage, two lawmakers in Tennessee have proposed a bill to allow spouses who have been cheated on, abused or abandoned to receive more than half of the marital assets rather than the typical 50 percent. (BP, 4/13/05) Strict biblical laws on marriage have been in force for centuries. God set forth this standard law of marriage: “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Neither national or state lawmakers can fix a marriage that God has not joined. Only a steady feeding on God’s Word in a local, sound, Bible preaching church will lead young people into a proper marriage. The participants do have to heed the preaching. If lawmakers suggested such a measure the ACLU would raise up it’s ugly head in defiance. — WWM

Unnatural, Unholy Activity — Homosexual Episcopal bishop Vicki Gene Robinson was the keynote speaker at an “interfaith prayer breakfast” on Friday morning sponsored by the nation’s largest abortion provider. The New Hampshire bishop used the opportunity to praise Planned Parenthood for its efforts — and to go on the attack against America. (AP, 4/15/05) You can count on anti-Christian programs and people to join forces in anti-Christian practices. The activity of both PP and ‘Vicky Jean’ are unnatural. Both will also answer to a Holy God for their unholy activity. — WWM

City Of The Living God — Fragments of news are being released concerning homosexual activity being planned for August. Of all places in the city of Jerusalem. This would be a huge boost for the “homosexual pride” group. “Love Without Borders” is the schemed title of this event. Such a title leaves no room for our God. He is angry with the wicked every day. (Psa. 7:11) Even Lot kept some convictions after making the wrong choice of the city in which to raise his family. He could still call homosexuality a wicked act. (Gen. 19:5-7) Our Lord will use more than a “scourge of small cords” to drive wickedness out of the city of David when He returns as King. (John 2:15) “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” (Psa. 122:6) Be sure such sinful activity will never happen in “the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem”. (Rev. 3:12) — WWM

A Moral Driven Resolve — Ariz. Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed a bill Wednesday that would have allowed pharmacists to refuse to provide abortion-related medications if doing so conflicts with their moral or religious beliefs . . . (CT, online 4/11/05) Obviously a majority of other elected officials disagreed with the governor or the bill would not have reached her desk. Why didn’t she simply advise those who wanted to obtain such medication to go to another pharmacist? That is the action some church members follow when they disagree with the pastor’s moral convictions. — WWM

Judge Rules Embryo A Human Being — An Illinois judge recently ruled that an embryo is a human being. His decision, if it survives a challenge, could have far-reaching effects. It would allow a couple whose embryo was mistakenly discarded by a Chicago fertility clinic to be able to seek legal damages as if they were the parents of a child who was killed after birth. He said a pre-embryo is a human being......whether or not it is implanted in its mother’s womb. The human embryo is as fully human and as fully a person as a newborn baby, he said. It is estimated there are about 400,000 embryos stored in fertility clinics in the U.S. [2/10/05 BP]

The Shroud Is A Fake! — New tests show that the so-called “Shroud of Turin” could be somewhere between 1,300 to 3,000 years of age (3/14 Chr. News). Radiocarbon tests of the shroud done in 1988 dated the cloth at A.D. 1260 to 1390—seeming to rule it out as Jesus’ burial cloth and suggesting it is a medieval forgery (HT 3/25/05). We do not need the Shroud or anything else to prove that Jesus died and rose again. Eyewitnesses accounts in the Bible are sufficient. (Calvary Contender, hereafter — CC)

Illegal Aliens Problems Force 84 Calif. Hospitals To Close — An Arizona-based physicians group has published a study showing the effects that illegal aliens are having on hospitals in states that border Mexico. In California alone, 84 hospitals are being forced to close their doors because they have been overwhelmed by illegal aliens who they must pay for without reimbursement (BaptistPress). Many of the patients treated free at hospitals in border states have dangerous communicable diseases were long ago eradicated in the United States. — CC

Most Teens, Adults Not Buying Evolution — American public schools may be teaching evolution but a large number of teens aren’t buying it and an overwhelming majority of them believe that God in one way or another was involved in the creation of humanity, per a new Gallup poll (3/31 Ala. Baptist). In a recent poll of adults, 45 percent of them said they believed in creationism while 38 percent believed that God guided the process of evolution. — CC

HIV Among Blacks Doubles In Decade — Nearly a million people in the U.S. have contracted the AIDS virus since the outbreak began in the early 1980s. About 40,000 test positive each year, and more that 18,000 die. The HIV infection rate has doubled among U.S. blacks over a decade while holding steady among whites (2/10 H.Times). Availability of powerful HIV drugs is part of the “blame equation.” — CC

Pantheism In America — To understand our secular society, we need to understand some underlying basics. For example, Pantheism is the belief that god is all and all is god. This viewpoint makes no distinction between the creator God and creation itself. It is expressed in Rom. 1:25 where Paul says man “worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.” This pantheistic view is promoted by environmental animal rights wackos and other New Agers. (W.on the Word). — CC

Scalpers Ask $190 For Joel Osteen Tickets — Concert tickets for popular up and rising TV preacher Joel Osteen are reportedly selling for as much as $190 at popular Internet concert-ticket sites. The normal price for such tickets is $10, but Osteen’s May 5-6 “Worship Tour” (near Chicago) tickets are selling on a scale rivaling that of a rock superstar—almost 20 times their face value. Osteen pastors Lakewood Church (Houston), a charismatic megachurch (30,000?) with a “power of positive believing” Word Faith message. — CC

Open Theism — Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr. wrote in the 4/6/02 World: “In recent years, many teachers in evangelical institutions have promoted what they call ‘open theism,’ claiming that God cannot know the future decisions of human beings because they have not yet been made and thus do not yet exist. According to this limited view of God’s knowledge, God knows only the general direction of the future, and guarantees only His final victory. In the meantime, God is waiting to see how events unfold . . . ” It is blasphemous to so limit God’s foreknowledge, to question His omniscience. — CC

Biblical Counseling — “If churches were functioning biblically, there would be no need for the contemporary biblical counseling movement. Counseling is often a substitute for a church gone wrong. In a church gone right there is no need for biblical counseling as it is commonly practiced and as it poses a threat to the spiritual headship of men . . . .” [2/5 P.A.L.] — CC

NRB Allows Promotion of An Anti-Trinitarian Cult — National Religious Broadcasters president Dr. Frank Wright is being asked by James Kieferdorf and others to remove Armor of God from Christian stations. Kieferdorf writes: “I am very concerned that Mr. David Cerullo (NRB board member) is airing the program, Armor of God, on his television station, the Inspiration Network......” (3/7 Chr. News) Armor of God is produced by the Church of God, Int’l (or “Living Church of God”), founded by Garner Ted Armstrong. CGI denies the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, teaches that a man may become God, denies an eternal conscious hell, teaches annihilationism, etc. These and various other unbiblical teachings abound in Armstrong splinter groups and should not be promoted as Christian. It had a doctrinal shift toward biblical orthodoxy in the mid-90s, and became a member of the NAE in 1997. Some of the splinter groups have made progress in shedding many Armstrong cultist beliefs, but have not accomplished this as yet. One of these churchgoers, last month in a rampage near Milwaukee, opened fire killing 8 people including the pastor. — CC

Biblical Unity — Biblical unity means having one mind, not “unity in diversity.” Compare Romans 15:5-6, 1Cor. 1:10. Biblical unity means total commitment to the one faith. The N.T. faith is not many separate doctrines but one unified body of truth into which all doctrines fit. There are no “secondary” doctrines that we can ignore for the sake of Christian unity. The choice is between a “limited fellowship or a limited message.” If one is faithful to the New Testament faith, it is impossible to have a wide fellowship, and if one is committed to a wide fellowship he must limit his message to something less than the whole counsel of God. — CC

Rawlings (John) Foundation & IBN — The Rawlings (John) Foundation is paying for most if not all of a series of banquets, travel and lodging to give birth to and nurture the International Baptist Network. Leaders of several big Baptist organizations (e.g., colleges, universities, seminaries, and mission boards) are seemingly taking the New-Evangelical “enticement” and yoking up with compromisers on a large scale. We see no evidence that an emphasis will be given that a doctrinal basis or warning against error will be maintained. This should burden the heart of any Fundamentalist who might be contemplating joining the IBN. Is there even an awareness of the danger that New Evangelicalism poses? Have fundamentalist stalwarts had it all wrong for these many years, or is it they (IBN leaders) who have it wrong? “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3. Unity is important but not at the expense of truth (doctrine). “It’s better to be divided by truth than united in error.” — CC

Do Women Choose Abortions? — Abortion continues to take the lives of over 1,000,000 babies every year, leaving mothers with permanent emotional and physical scars. Planned Parenthood, which operates the largest chain of abortion facilities and receives substantial government funds, does not tell women about the real harm and hurt abortion causes. Complications from surgery, increased risk of breast cancer, severe depression, and the ability to have future children are just some of the problems abortion may cause (2/05 Care Net). For 30 years women have been told they should have the right to choose abortion. But the fact is, most women who have abortions do not “choose” them. They are just not aware of alternate options — hundreds of helpful pregnancy centers, adoption, etc. We can mourn the loss of over 200,000 in the Dec. tsunami, and well we should, but let us not forget those who are wantonly aborted each week. —CC