This Blog Has Moved!!!

Well I have done it too! I have officially moved this blog over to WordPress. I will leave this blog up for search engines that have crawled the site, but I have turned off future comment ability. All blog entries have been exported to my new WordPress site, and you may comment on all these posts, as well as new posts, over there. My new blog entries will be posted on my WordPress site from now on. If you have any links to my blog, please update them to: http://galatiansc4v16.wordpress.com/ Thanks, Tony Rose

Together for the Gospel Audio Now Available

More than 2,800 pastors gathered in Louisville, Kentucky April 26–28 for the Together for the Gospel conference, hosted by Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, C.J. Mahaney, and Albert Mohler. Along with special guests John MacArthur, John Piper, and R.C. Sproul, these men spent three days studying and celebrating the glorious gospel and its centrality to the task of faithful, biblical pastoring. If you couldn't be at the conference, you can still listen to the excellent teaching presented there. All seven main-session messages are available as MP3 downloads, an MP3 CD, or a set of seven audio CDs. All five panel discussions are available as MP3 downloads or MP3 CDs. You can find all available audio products at Sovereign Grace Ministry's online store.

DOES GOD KNOW ALL THINGS? - equip.org

Does God know everything? It’s not too surprising to hear non-Christians and even cultists deny that God is omniscient. But what is surprising is that a growing number of theologians today who profess to be evangelicals also deny it. Of course the real question is: What does the Bible say? The Bible repeatedly tells us that God knows everything. His knowledge, in fact, is “perfect [Job 37:16] and is “beyond measure” [Psa. 147:5]. He sees every move we make, He knows the innermost thoughts of our hearts and He even knows what we are going to say before we say it [1 Sam. 16:7; 1 Chron. 28:9; Psa. 139:1-6; Jer. 17:10; Heb. 4:12-13]. Unlike the false gods of our time, the Lord knows everything: Even what’s going to happen in the future [Isa. 41:21-24; 42:9; 44:7]. Jesus, interestingly enough, also tells us that our heavenly Father numbers the very hairs on our head. By the way, it’s interesting to note that God actually revealed to Isaiah the name of Cyrus even before he was actually born — in fact, one century before he was born. Cyrus, of course, was the king who returned the Jews to their homeland after the Babylonian exile [Isa. 44:28-45:1]. You know as Matthew 11 points out, God even knows what people would have done if their circumstances had been different [Matt. 11:21]. Well despite the evidence, some people today still deny that the Bible teaches that God is omniscient or all-knowing. As evidence they point out silly little things like in Genesis where God had to look for Adam in the Garden of Eden, or later on in the book of Genesis [Gen. 3:9-13] they point out that God had to go down to Sodom and Gomorrah to find out how bad their sin actually was [Gen. 18:20-21]. Well, it should go without saying that these passages don’t indicate, by any stretch of the imagination, that God doesn’t know everything. In fact, they’re not even very difficult to understand. You see, as a parent I often ask my kids where they are or what they’ve done, even when I already know, because I want them to face up to what they did wrong. God does the very same thing with us. Since God knows everything, we can have confidence in Him and in His promises — not only for peace in this life, but an eternity of joy in the life to come. And aren’t you glad that he knows you, that He knit you together in your mother’s womb, that he fashioned you and knows exactly what you are designed to do — that all the days ordained for you are written in his book even before one of them came to be? Yes my friend, God does know all things.

Prayer changes things...

When you pray, do you ask for blessings for yourself and change for others; or do you ask for blessings for others and change for yourself?

What is 9 Marks?

Have you ever considered what it means for a church to be healthy? Have you ever thought about how that health is nurtured and sustained? If so, have you reflected on why you answer those questions the way you do? These are the questions that have captured us at 9Marks. Perhaps you've been mulling over these same questions in the context of your own church for a while now; or maybe this is the first time you’ve ever encountered them. Either way, we'd like to personally invite you to think with us about the health of the local church and the methods God has designed to promote it. Contrary to much popular wisdom, we think that God has spoken clearly in the Bible regarding the purpose, leadership, organization, and methods of the local church. So we want to challenge you to join us in reconsidering the clarity of God's Word when it comes to the healthy growth of local congregations. We believe God designed the church to be fundamentally a display of His own glory and wisdom (Eph 3:10). And we think He has deliberately structured that display in the shape of a loving community that illustrates for a watching world the close fellowship of the Trinity and the redemption that He has accomplished for us in Christ Jesus (John 13:34-35). Our goal is not simply to point out all the problems with the church; nor do we intend to suggest a fresh approach to "doing church". In fact, there is nothing really new or innovative here at all. Rather, our goal is to point the way back to healthy church life by calling attention to the timeless Biblical priorities, principles, and methods that God has ordained for the maturity of the local church - God’s work, God’s way. Whether you read as a concerned member or as a vocational pastor, we hope that what you discover here is not just a plug-and-play method, but a God-centered mindset. We're glad you're here. Welcome to the website of 9Marks – the Word building the church. Your brother in the Lord, Mark E. Dever

Bob Glenn, Solid Food Media, Way of the Master Radio, & Together For The Gospel

An email to my men's group which met this morning: Guys, Today I gave out two CDs, which was Bob Glenn sitting in for Todd Friel on The Way Of The Master Radio program. Bob Glenn went to the Together For The Gospel Conference and in these two hours he discusses the Together For The Gospel Statement I showed you a few weeks ago. Bob Glenn has a great website called Solid Food Media and there are lots of good audio messages with printouts to look at while you listen. Check it out! -Tony Rose <))><

"Charles Spurgeon" by: Warren Myers

I am so blessed to have Christians in my department at work. The fellowship of Christian brothers that continues throughout the work day is something that I am so thankful for. Both of my student workers ironically are Christians. Warren Myers is an excellent writer. He recently sent me his research paper he did for a religion class, on Charles Spurgeon, the prince of preachers. I was deeply moved by reading this well written article, and I wanted to share it with all of you. Please take the time to read all of it. It is a little longer than a normal devotion, but not much longer. I am sure you will be blessed as well. tr Here is the link: http://warrenmyers.com/permlink.php?entry=20060512113435

What do you love?

"He who begins by loving Christianity better than Truth will proceed by loving his own sect or church better than Christianity, and end in loving himself better than all."Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Emergents consistent?

I wonder when the emergent church has a convention, if they all show up at the same hotel, in the same city, at the same time? If so, isn't that borrowing from the "absolute modern" philosophy when and only when it is convenient to do so?

Together for the Gospel Affirmations and Denials Statement

The Affirmations and Denials statement we released at the Together for the Gospel conference is now available in a complete on-line version, ready for download. We have greatly appreciated the response to the document, and we pray it will serve the church and the cause of Christ. To download the statement, go here. -Albert Mohler The preamble: We are brothers in Christ united in one great cause – to stand together for the Gospel. We are convinced that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been misrepresented, misunderstood, and marginalized in many churches and among many who claim the name of Christ. Compromise of the Gospel has led to the preaching of false gospels, the seduction of many minds and movements, and the weakening of the church's Gospel witness. As in previous moments of theological and spiritual crisis in the church, we believe that the answer to this confusion and compromise lies in a comprehensive recovery and reaffirmation of the Gospel – and in Christians banding together in Gospel churches that display God's glory in this fallen world. We are also brothers united in deep concern for the church and the Gospel. This concern is specifically addressed to certain trends within the church today. We are concerned about the tendency of so many churches to substitute technique for truth, therapy for theology, and management for ministry. We are also concerned that God's glorious purpose for Christ's church is often eclipsed in concern by so many other issues, programs, technologies, and priorities. Furthermore, confusion over crucial questions concerning the authority of the Bible, the meaning of the Gospel, and the nature of truth itself have gravely weakened the church in terms of its witness, its work, and its identity. We stand together for the Gospel – and for a full and gladdening recovery of the Gospel in the church. We are convinced that such a recovery will be evident in the form of faithful Gospel churches, each bearing faithful witness to the glory of God and the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Read the statement

Together For The Gospel - Louisville, KY

I will be leaving Wednesday morning for the "Together For The Gospel" conference in Louisville, KY. This is: "A Conference and Conversation for Pastors and Preachers hosted by Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, C.J. Mahaney, Albert Mohler with special guests in 2006, John MacArthur, John Piper, and R.C. Sproul" I've been anticipating this conference for along time now, and can't wait to get there. I don't know if I'll have an opportunity to update the blog from there, but if you want an update, Tim Challis will be updating his blog from the conference. You can check it out at: http://www.challies.com/ There is also a meeting prior to the conference for bloggers. If I get registered in time, I'll probably take that one in too.

Pete the Porno Puppet??? What is he teaching children?

I was sent a video copy of "Pete the Porno Puppet" from someone who purchased it from xxxchurch.com. I understand the push to get the gospel out to people involved in the industry, but…Is this really the best way to do it? In this video the puppet says, "...pornography is everywhere, on the internet, and in your parent's secret locked drawer. So tell your mommy and daddy to say "no" to pornography." Is this responsible? If a parent keeps a gun, medicine, or Clorox locked up to protect a child, is it proper to instruct the child to mistrust their parent because pornography might be there? Sure parents should not be involved in pornography, but the avenue to police it is not through the kids. To use tactics that teach kids to mistrust their parents who don’t have pornography, when they are simply protecting the kids from real dangers, is irresponsible.

Al Mohler’s thoughtful review of Brian McLaren’s A Generous Orthodoxy

"A Generous Orthodoxy"--Is It Orthodox?

The book's title looks both promising and inspiring. Brian D. McLaren's new book, A Generous Orthodoxy, is sure to get attention, and its title grabs both heart and mind. Who wouldn't want to embrace an orthodoxy of generosity? On the other hand, the title raises an unavoidable question: Just how "generous" can orthodoxy be?

McLaren is the founding pastor of Cedar Ridge Community Church near Baltimore, and he has become a leading figure--if not the single most influential figure--in what is now known as the "Emergent" church. In A Generous Orthodoxy, he offers what amounts to a manifesto for the Emergent movement, even as he claims to have established a position that combines the strengths of both liberalism and evangelicalism, the charismatic and the contemplative, the mystical and the poetic. McLaren defines orthodoxy as "straight thinking" or "right opinion." He sets the mood of his book right at the start: "The last thing I want is to get into nauseating arguments about why this or that form of theology (dispensational, covenant, charismatic, whatever) or methodology (cell church, megachurch, liturgical church, seeker church, blah, blah, blah) is right (meaning approaching or achieving timeless technical perfection)." Still following? Since he is determined to transcend all those difficult questions of who is right and who is wrong, McLaren wants to qualify his brand of orthodoxy as "generous orthodoxy." He credits the term to Dr. Stanley Grenz, a prominent revisionist evangelical theologian who, in his book Renewing the Center, quotes the late Yale theologian Hans Frei as the inventor of the phrase. McLaren intends to be provocative, explaining that this reflects his "belief that clarity is sometimes overrated, and that shock, obscurity, playfulness, and intrigue (carefully articulated) often stimulate more thought than clarity." McLaren is also honest about the fact that he lacks any formal theological education. As a matter of fact, he seems rather proud of this fact, insinuating that formal theological education is likely to trap persons in a habit of trying to determine right belief. This author's purpose is transparent and consistent. Embracing the worldview of the postmodern age, he embraces relativism at the cost of clarity in matters of truth and intends to redefine Christianity for this new age, largely in terms of an eccentric mixture of elements he would take from virtually every theological position and variant. He claims to uphold "consistently, unequivocally, and unapologetically" the historic creeds of the church, specifically the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds. At the same time, however, he denies that truth should be articulated in propositional form, and thus undercuts his own "unequivocal" affirmation. McLaren doesn't like answering questions, either. Even though he would be more appropriately categorized as a "post-evangelical," McLaren was listed as one of 25 influential evangelicals in the February 7, 2005 edition of TIME magazine. In its profile, TIME referred to a conference last spring at which McLaren was addressed with a question related to gay marriage. "You know what," McLaren responded, "The thing that breaks my heart is that there's no way I can answer it without hurting someone on either side." TIME referred to this as "a kinder and gentler brand of religion." Others would be less charitable, for McLaren's "nonanswer" is itself an answer. This is a man who doesn't want to offend anyone on any side of any argument. That's why it's hard to find the orthodoxy in A Generous Orthodoxy. As McLaren admits, "People who try to label me an exclusivist, inclusivist, or universalist on the issue of hell will find here only more reasons for frustration." In other words, McLaren simply refuses to answer the question as to whether there will be anyone in hell. He refers to these questions--evangelical hang-ups for the doctrinally moribund--as "weapons of mass distraction." McLaren effectively ransacks the Christian tradition, picking and choosing among theological options without any particular concern for consistency. He rejects the traditional understanding of doctrine as statements of biblical truth and instead presents a variant of postmodernism--effectively arguing that doctrines form a language that is meaningful to Christians, even if not objectively true. He claims to be arguing for "a generous third way beyond the conservative and liberal versions of Christianity so dominant in the Western world." Incredibly, McLaren simply asserts that concern for the propositional truthfulness of the text is an artifact of the modern age, "modern-Western-moderately-educated desires." As a postmodernist, he considers himself free from any concern for propositional truthfulness, and simply wants the Christian community to embrace a pluriform understanding of truth as a way out of doctrinal conflict and impasse. What about other belief systems? McLaren suggests that we should embrace the existence of different faiths, "willingly, not begrudgingly." What would this mean? Well, a complete reconsideration of Christian missions, for one thing. McLaren claims to affirm that Christians should give witness to their faith in Jesus Christ. But, before you assume this means an affirmation of Christian missions, consider this statement: "I must add, though, that I don't believe making disciples must equal making adherents to the Christian religion. It may be advisable in many (not all?) circumstances to help people become followers of Jesus and remain within their Buddhist, Hindu, or Jewish contexts. This will be hard, you say, and I agree. But frankly, it's not at all easy to be a follower of Jesus in many 'Christian' religious contexts, either." Citing missiologist David Bosch, McLaren affirms that we have no assurance that salvation is found outside the work of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, he believes that we cannot jump from this to a claim that there is no salvation outside belief in Jesus Christ. The Bible, McLaren argues, is intended to equip God's people for good works. He rejects words such as authority, inerrancy, and infallibility as unnecessary and distracting. In a previous work, McLaren had argued that the Bible is "a unique collection of literary artifacts that together support the telling of an amazing and essential story." His thinking shows the influence of the so-called "Yale School" of theologians who have argued for Scripture as the record and substance of Christianity as a "cultural-linguistic system," to be interpreted as narrative and not as propositional truth. The Emergent movement represents a significant challenge to biblical Christianity. Unwilling to affirm that the Bible contains propositional truths that form the framework for Christian belief, this movement argues that we can have Christian symbolism and substance without those thorny questions of truthfulness that have so vexed the modern mind. The worldview of postmodernism--complete with an epistemology that denies the possibility of or need for propositional truth--affords the movement an opportunity to hop, skip and jump throughout the Bible and the history of Christian thought in order to take whatever pieces they want from one theology and attach them, like doctrinal post-it notes, to whatever picture they would want to draw. When it comes to issues such as the exclusivity of the gospel, the identity of Jesus Christ as both fully human and fully divine, the authoritative character of Scripture as written revelation, and the clear teachings of Scripture concerning issues such as homosexuality, this movement simply refuses to answer the questions. McLaren attributes this to humility. "A generous orthodoxy," he explains, "in contrast to the tense, narrow, controlling, or critical orthodoxies of so much of Christian history, doesn't take itself too seriously. It is humble; it doesn't claim too much; it admits it walks with a limp." In other words, it is so humble that it will not answer some questions that will not rest without an answer. In this case, a nonanswer is an answer. A responsible theological argument must acknowledge that difficult questions demand to be answered. We are not faced with an endless array of doctrinal variants from which we can pick and choose. Homosexuality either will or will not be embraced as normative. The church either will or will not accept a radical revisioning of the missionary task. We will either see those who have not come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as persons to whom we should extend a clear gospel message and a call for decision, or we will simply come alongside them to tell our story as they tell their own. The problem with A Generous Orthodoxy, as the author must surely recognize, is that this orthodoxy bears virtually no resemblance to orthodoxy as it has been known and affirmed by the church throughout the centuries. Honest Christians know that disagreements over issues of biblical truth are inevitable. But we owe each other at least the honesty of taking a position, arguing for that position from Scripture, and facing the consequences of our theological convictions. Orthodoxy must be generous, but it cannot be so generous that it ceases to be orthodox. Inevitably, Christianity asserts truths that, to the postmodern mind, will appear decidedly ungenerous. Nevertheless, this is the truth that leads to everlasting life. The gospel simply is not up for renegotiation in the twenty-first century. A true Christian generosity recognizes the infinitely generous nature of the truth that genuinely saves. Accept no substitutes.

The Deliberate Church

“There is creating, conforming, life-giving power in God’s Word! The Gospel is God’s way of giving life to dead sinners—and to dead churches (Ezek. 37:1-14). He doesn’t have another way. If we want to work for renewed life and health and holiness in our churches, then we must work for it according to God’s revealed mode of operation. Otherwise we risk running in vain. God’s Word is His supernatural power for accomplishing His supernatural work. That’s why our eloquence, innovations, and programs are so much less important than we think; that’s why we as pastors must give ourselves to preaching, not programs; and that’s why we need to be teaching our congregations to value God’s Word over programs. Preaching the content and intent of God’s Word is what unleashes the power of God on the people of God, because God’s power for building His people is in His Word, particularly as we find it in the Gospel (Rom. 1:16). God’s Word builds His church. So preaching His Gospel is primary” (Mark Dever and Paul Alexander, The Deliberate Church (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2005), p. 35).

Why is Defending Male Headship Important for Church Health?

This is an often hotly debated topic, but I think Bruce Ware does an excellent job explaining why the subject of compromise in this area is serious, but not heresy. From 9Marks.org: Complementarianism is, in one important sense, central and not peripheral, primary and not secondary. Complementarianism is the view that God has created men and women equal in their essential dignity and human personhood but different yet complementary in function, with male headship in the home and believing community being understood as part of God’s created design. By claiming that complementarianism is in some sense central and primary, please consider what I am and am not here claiming. I am not saying that Scripture’s teaching on an all-male eldership in the church, or male headship and wifely submission in the home, is central and primary doctrinally. No, I would reserve doctrinal primacy for such cardinal Christian beliefs as the triune nature of God, the substitutionary atonement, justification by faith alone, the bodily resurrection of Christ, and Christ’s literal and physical return to earth one day yet future—doctrines, that is, that impinge on the very truth of the gospel itself. This is not to say that male/female complementarity does not relate in important ways to these central doctrines. Indeed, the Trinity, for example, models equality of essence with differentiation of roles, which equality and differentiation are mirrored in man as male and female. And the substitutionary atonement was carried out by one who submitted freely to the will of His Father, thus demonstrating the joy and beauty both of authority (the Father who sent) and submission (the Son who obeyed). But, while biblical complementarity is connected to central Christian doctrines, it is not itself central doctrinally. This is why I believe it is wrong to charge evangelical egalitarians qua egalitarian as heretics. While I believe egalitarians err greatly in their rejection of male/female equality of essence and differentiation of roles, so long as they hold central doctrinal beliefs (as those mentioned above), differing here is not in itself a departure from orthodoxy. In what sense then is biblical male/female complementarity central and primary to the Christian faith? I believe this doctrine is central strategically in upholding the Christian faith within a culture all too ready to adopt values and beliefs hostile to orthodox and evangelical conviction. As one examines the pressure points in which our increasingly neo-pagan culture is attempting to overthrow Christianity, it is clear that the battle lines are not, today, primarily doctrinal. Perhaps in the days of liberalism’s ascendancy, this was the case, but it is no longer so. One might even become nostalgic musing on the “glory days” in which arguments were thrown to and fro over such issues as the existence of God, Christ’s virgin birth, the reality of the resurrection, the truthfulness of Scripture, and on and on. Today, instead, the primary areas in which Christianity is pressured to conform are on issues of gender and sexuality. Postmoderns and ethical relativists care little about doctrinal truth claims; these seem to them innocuous, archaic, and irrelevant to life. What they do care about, and care with a vengeance, is whether their feminist agenda and sexual perversions are tolerated, endorsed and expanded in an increasingly neo-pagan landscape. Because this is what they care most about, it is precisely here that Christianity is most vulnerable. To lose the battle here is to subject the Church to increasing layers of departure. And surely, it will not be long until ethical departures (the Church yielding to feminist pressures for women’s ordination, for example) will yield even more central doctrinal departures (questioning whether Scripture’s inherent patriarchy renders it fundamentally untrustworthy, for example). I find it instructive that when Paul warns about departures from the faith in the latter days, he lists first ethical compromises and the searing of the conscience as the prelude to a full-scale doctrinal apostasy (1 Tim 4:1-5). Shall not the complementarian and egalitarian simply agree to disagree, to live and let live, as it were? At one level, of course they should. As indicated earlier, egalitarianism is not, by itself, a heresy. Yet we must not be naïve about the strategic urging of the church by our secular (and neo-pagan) cultural elite to move away from long-held and clear biblical guidelines concerning manhood and womanhood. This is not a matter of indifference. Until and unless the church follows the full cultural agenda in accepting the unqualified and fully equal ministerial practice of women with men, and in endorsing all forms of sexual expression as equally legitimate “preferences,” there will be no rest for conservative, biblical Christians. So, to be at “peace,” the temptation will be to cave. When the name-calling and slanderous accusations mount against conservative Christians, the pressure will be on to give in on these issues of gender and sexuality. After all, we might reason, we haven’t given up anything central to the gospel. But what must be clear is that to the extent that this occurs, the church establishes a pattern of following cultural pressures and urgings against the clear authority of God’s written word. When this happens, even though the compromises take place on matters which are not doctrinally central to the faith, the church becomes desensitized to Scripture’s radical call and forms instead a taste for worldly accolades. As Jesus taught, the one faithful with a little will be faithful with much. But the reverse seems also to hold. To compromise on a little thing will pave the way for compromises on much that matters. Complementarianism, then, is central and not peripheral, primary and not secondary—not doctrinally but strategically. Where the church is called on to withstand cultural pressures and maintain its commitment to counter-cultural revealed truth is, for us today, on issues of gender and sexuality. May God give grace to believe, embrace and practice the clear, wise and good teaching of God’s inspired word. Nothing else will serve the well-being of the church, and anything less will lead, in time, to its demise. Bruce Ware is Senior Associate Dean of the School of Theology, and Professor of Christian Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.

"Out of the mouth; from the heart/mind"

While listening to my Podcast of John MacArthur’s message on purity of mind, I was reminded of James 1:14-15 which says, “but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” MacArthur put it eloquently when he said, “Sow a thought, reap and act. Sow an act, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. And sow a character, reap a destiny.”

Five Resolves For Personal Revival

When I visited Mark Dever's church a few weeks ago I picked up a little piece of paper on their tract rack. I recently read it and used it for a devotion in a small men's group. The contents of the flyer are small in quantity but large in quality. I found it online in a PDF format, and thought I'd share it with others to use as a personal or group devotional. To all my pastor friends, this would make a great bulletin insert! Five Resolves For Personal Revival

John MacArthur versus The Emerging Church (audio)

John Armstrong says "Certitude is often idolatrous. I have been forced to give up certainty" and "If there is a foundation in Christian theology it is not be found in Scripture. Theology must be a humble attempt to hear God never about rational approaches to text." Brian Mclaren states that "Sometimes clarity is overrated and that shock, obscurity, playfulness, and intrigue often stimulate more thought than clarity." In this 6 minute audio clip from the opening session of the 2006 Shepherd's Conference, John MacArthur examines those statements, and others.

HT: Slice

Reinventing Calvinism - The Gospel According to Brian McLaren

by Steve Camp I've entitled this article: “Reinventing Calvinism - The Gospel According to Brian McLaren." Mr. McLaren tries to attempt to redefine the meaning behind Calvinism's theological acrostic T.U.L.I.P., known as the "Doctrines of Grace," through the onion skin of his postmodern blended-faith. Though an effort in futility, an appropriate subtitle could have been (please sing alone) “he don’t bring me tulips anymore.” If Brian McLaren's name is new to you, he is the latest guru of evangelicalism's "search for significance movement" which he and others have coined as “The Emerging Church.” This is the new "flavor of the month" in Christian circles. He is featured currently in the cover article of CT (Christianity Today) on the theme of "The Emergent Mystique." More about Mr. McLaren and what I personally like to call, “The Submerging Church” later ("submerging" for what he represents is not a vintage biblical church model, but more appropriately - a movement). Here are some interesting quotes from the article: "Acts 17 is usually quoted heartedly by those seeking to address evangelism in postmodern culture. But what is usually overlooked, is that Paul spent very little time in relating to the Stoic philosophers; and spent the majority of his time telling them about the person and character of the one true God and then immediately calling them to repentance. That is the missing element in emergent church thinking. Salvation, for them, is by relational osmosis than by gospel proclamation. " "Brian was created in the image of God; and now he has returned the favor by recreating God, the faith and the church in his own image. In other words, he is a “postmodern babe” in sheep’s clothing. " Read the rest of Reinventing Calvinism.

WARREN'S P.E.A.C.E. PLAN & UN GOALS

By Berit Kjos September 16, 2005 NewsWithViews.com "The first Reformation was about beliefs. This one needs to be about behavior. … We’ve had a Reformation; what we need now is a transformation." [1]Rick Warren "The transition... to a culture of peace is a process of individual, collective and institutional transformation."[2] UNESCO Culture of Peace "Citizenship for the next century is learning to live together. The 21st Century city will be a city of social solidarity.... We have to redefine the words... [and write a new] social contract."[3] Federico Mayor, former head of UNESCO. "A sea change of transitions and transformations is birthing a whole new world," wrote Dr. Leonard Sweet, whose books are often quoted in Rick Warren's Ministry Toolbox. "God is birthing the greatest spiritual awakening in the history of the church.... Are you going to show up."[4] If you love truth, you may want to say no! For in his book "Soul Tsunami," Dr. Sweet, a popular leader of the Emerging Church, tells us to flow with the currents of change and leave God's unchanging gospel behind. "Postmodern culture is a change-or-be changed world," he continues. "Reinvent yourself for the 21st century or die. Some would rather die than change."[4] Would Rick Warren agree? Probably, since he wrote this glowing endorsement for the front cover of Sweet's book: "'Soul Tsunami' shows us why these are the greatest days for evangelism since the first century!" What kind of evangelism does Warren envision? Would it be based on God's Word or on "good" works? Apparently, the latter. In a world that has traded Biblical absolutes for changing values and feel-good experiences, God's "divisive" truths face a rising tide of hostility. But few will argue against helping the poor and sick. Perhaps that's why Pastor Warren keeps repeating this statement: “The first Reformation was about belief; this one’s going to be about behavior.”[5] The new focus is on unity -- a worldwide oneness reflected in the growing union between the East and West. Leonard Sweet's online book, "Quantum Spirituality," sheds some revealing light of the envisioned global "church" for the 21st century. In his view, the offense of the cross has been replaced with a passion for interfaith peace and possibility thinking. To illustrate this point, Dr. Sweet quotes Thomas Merton, the popular Catholic author who popularized mysticism and died in Asia searching the depths of Tibetan Buddhism: "We are already one. But we imagine that we are not. And what we have to recover is our original unity.'"[6] Seeking that illusive solidarity, today's success-driven church leaders are rushing into the postmodern age of flexible "truth" and relational pleasures. Unbounded by any solid anchor in God's unchanging Word, they dash forward -- hand in hand with the world -- toward an imagined future attainable through practices long hidden in secret societies and Eastern religions. These include meditative rituals, dialectical synthesis and systems thinking. Add service learning to the last two and you have the transformational strategies first tested by Communist leaders, then incorporated into the UN - U.S. education system, which intentionally undermined factual learning and established the postmodern ways of thinking.[7] We need to understand this amazing worldwide revolution -- and the subtle compromises caused by today's pragmatic "Christian" alliances. Therefore, the next three articles in this series will look more closely at the social manipulation behind "community service," team building, leadership training, and "lifelong learning" -- four of the countless processes driven by continual assessments and remediation. But first, let's examine Rick Warren's celebrated P.E.A.C.E. Plan and its links to the United Nations. Like most other UN documents, its Millennium Goals sound kind and compassionate. They are designed to appeal to noble instincts and caring hearts -- and they do! That's why nations, corporations, organizations and churches have joined the global campaign. Who would disagree with these eight lofty goals? 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2. Achieve universal primary education 3. Promote gender equality and empower women 4. Reduce child mortality 5. Improve maternal health 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases 7. Ensure environmental sustainability 8. Develop a global partnership for development.[8] Of course, there's more to this list than nice-sounding words. The motivational vision of a worldwide welfare system may have captured hearts around the world, but it actually serves the grandiose aims of socialist change agents who have little concern for human suffering. Just look how government leaders are treating the victims of hurricane Katrina! Yet, no other program has more effectively linked the evangelical church to the UN management system, which, from its birth, declared war on Biblical truth and values.[9] And no other program has more effectively drawn Christians into a process designed to manipulate the masses, undermine traditional values, silence resisters, synthesize beliefs, trade individual thinking for collective thinking, and train global citizens to serve the "greater whole."[10] An interview titled, "Pastor [Warren] lays out a global vision," summarizes parts of that plan: Q: Your book is a mega-seller and there are 82,000 names on Saddleback's church rolls. What's next? Warren: "In the 21st century we are going global and mobilizing the American church to help internationally. ... President Kagame will welcome us to Rwanda for a joint project among the government, business and the church.... Q: How will Saddleback tackle these huge problems? Warren: With our PEACE plan.... P is for plant a church or partner with an existing one in every village. We'll work with everyone who wants to help. I'll work with an atheist who wants to stop AIDS. E - equip local leaders. A - assist the poor. C - care for the sick. And E - educate the next generation. ... Q: What is your greatest hope for all this? Warren: A second Reformation. The first one was about belief. This one will be about deeds."[11] Compare this celebrated P.E.A.C.E. Plan with the United Nation's Millennial Goals. Keep in mind that both purpose-driven churches and their strategic leadership programs require training in mind-changing processes and assessment technologies that support the UN vision for "human resource development" around the world.[12] Rick Warren's P.E.A.C.E. Plan: P. PLANT CHURCHES. (Complements UN goal #8: Develop a global partnership for development. The leadership training for purpose-driven churches parallels the dialectic process, Systems Thinking and team development prescribed by various UN agencies involved in human resource development.) E. EQUIP SERVANT LEADERS. (This, too, matches UN goal #8: Develop a global partnership for development.) A. ASSIST THE POOR. (Matches UN goal #1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.) C. CARE FOR THE SICK. (Matches UN goals #4: Reduce child mortality, #5: Improve maternal health, and #6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.) E. EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION. (Matches UN goal #2: Achieve universal primary education.) The implied aims of UN Millennium Goals #3 and #7 are certain to be included in each of Warren’s five programs – especially in P, E, A and E. Now, let's look more closely at each P.E.A.C.E. Plan objective. 1. PLANT CHURCHES. The first point sounds good. But what will those church plants look like? Will they be clones of Saddleback Church in California -- or of thousands of other churches that follow the purpose-driven model? Not exactly. Today's change agents will carefully adapt their transformational strategies to each new cultural setting. But at the heart of this global revolution we see the same key elements: Total Quality Management, psycho-social leadership training, promotion of a positive (compromised) gospel and a permissive (feel-good, non-judging) "God," continual high-tech assessments and remediation, and the dialectic process operating through facilitated small groups. The mission field is the entire world. As Pastor Warren says, "'Billions of people suffer each day from problems so big no government can solve them.... 'The only thing big enough to solve the problems of spiritual emptiness, selfish leadership, poverty, disease, and ignorance is the network of millions of churches all around the world.... 'The Scripture shows us that Jesus shared the Good News, trained leaders, helped the poor, cared for the sick, and taught the children... 'Our P.E.A.C.E. Plan will just do the five things Jesus did while he was here on earth.'"[13] But Pastor Warren's comparison with Jesus couldn't be more misleading. Jesus never used the psycho-social strategies or manipulative management systems that drive today's social and spiritual transformation! Warren's initial thrust is into Africa, where the P.E.A.C.E. Plan will fit well. It already has a foothold in Rwanda, where President Paul Kagame has welcomed the purpose-driven campaign: "Kagame has committed his government to cooperation in a five-to-seven-year self-sufficiency project staffed by Rwandan volunteers but initiated, advised and at least partly funded by Warren's network of 'purpose-driven churches.' Warren talks of turning Rwanda into 'the first purpose-driven nation.'"[14] Do you wonder why an African president with little fondness for Christianity would enter into such an agreement? Kagame answered that question when he spoke at Saddleback Church in April: "...they also told us about the vision of the PEACE plan.... It is a vision with a big goal, which is to confront the world's major problems; but it is practical and simple in strategy because it is built on using average people rather than just the elite. Rick and I agree that each partner – the church, the government and businesses have a role to play and we are better together and more effective when we cooperate."[15] "More effective" in what? In planting Biblical churches -- or in "Capacity Building" and "developing" people who think collectively and fit the UN vision? Will cooperation with "government and businesses" actually help establish Christ-centered churches with faithful "born again" Christians who -- by God's grace -- love and follow His Word? Or will it spread compromise and deception? Will it please God or man? Will it fulfill what Warren presents as God's five main purposes for the Church? Or might those purposes all be redefined under the banner of church growth, church health, and success-driven service through church/world alliances?[16] Partnerships face problems when one partner controls the money or political power. The controlling member will be in a position to set the rules and define the terms, forcing the other member(s) to submit or leave. Actually, Rick Warren's five purposes have already been compromised. "Warren presents some basic teaching regarding Gods purpose to glorify Himself and what man should do in relation to God," wrote Richard Bennett in an article titled "The Purpose Driven Life: Demeaning the Very Nature of God." "The fact that none of these purposes is presented in a biblically accurate way makes Warren's work all the more dangerous to the true understanding of Who God is and His Gospel in Christ."[17] Consider Warren's five main purposes from a Biblical perspective: Worship: We cannot worship God unless we know and love the God we worship! We cannot know Him, if we don't know the Scriptures that reveals Him to us! Postmodern worship forms are designed to stir happy feelings and human excitement, not worship inspired by the Holy Spirit. They point to a positive and permissive God who -- like our human team members -- will cheer our self-centered nature and excuse our unholy ways. Such celebrations clash with genuine expressions of a Spirit-filled heart that freely praises our wonderful holy God without emotion-raising, man-centered programs. (See Spirit-Led or Purpose-Driven) Fellowship: Purpose-driven "fellowship" tends to follow today's dialectical guidelines. These push group members toward unbiblical tolerance, feeling-based rather than fact-based "sharing," and silence with regard to Biblical absolutes. In contrast, Biblical fellowship happens when we come together with common delight in His Word, His will and His ways -- loving and encouraging each other with His Word and by His Spirit. Discipleship: The new church management systems call for training in submission and loyalty to "the group" and to the new social ethics -- not to God and His Word. It requires participation in collective thinking and "service learning" -- which is not simply serving God by serving His people. It shuns God's narrow ways and divisive truths, and twists God's call for Biblical oneness into an invitation to join the world on its highway to corruption. Ministry: The shape and structure of purpose-driven ministries are increasingly defined by new management gurus, personality assessments, community surveys, and group appeal, not by Biblical teaching nor God's actual purposes. But the Bible shows us that our main focus should be on building up believers by preaching and teaching His Word, and by exhorting and serving one another. We are called to live and work together by His Spirit -- not by group thinking and politically correct tolerance. Evangelism: Today's soft, non-offensive gospel focuses on God's supposed "passionate" love for people who supposedly are naturally lovable, not on His loving mercy for sinners. When "Christian" change agents train the masses to "think outside the box" of God's unchanging Word, they are spreading a false gospel and blinding people to the only truth that can set us free. The pragmatic assumption that "the ends justify the means" has already blinded a critical mass of "Christian" leaders. Many don't realize that the "end" they are promised is merely an illusion. Trained to accept a compromised gospel, they spread it to a world that wants to share in God's blessings without conviction of sin or genuine repentance. Since the postmodern gospel neither demands such responses nor offends unbelievers, it's easy to persuade the masses to join the movement. This radical reformation becomes all the more concerning when church leaders like Rick Warren link hands with Bono, Ellen DeGeneres, and other UN supporters in their evangelistic crusade and war on poverty. Since these noble aims fit right into the United Nations' efforts to "develop" nations, train human resources, build "human capital", and establish its global management system, we cannot ignore its basic philosophy. What's more, today's social "gospel" conforms easily to UNESCO's guidelines for religion in the new world order. Remember Pastor Warren's words, "The first [Reformation] was about belief. This one will be about deeds."[11] It all makes sense. The true gospel offends people. In contrast, humanitarian deeds will win the world's applause. So will a whitewashed gospel, cleansed of offensive truths. This new gospel fits the vision of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as summarized in its Declaration on the Role of Religion in the Promotion of a Culture of Peace. That declaration uses the evils committed by false or "cultural christianity" to justify its criticisms of genuine Christianity and to pressure all religions into accepting its new standards for service as well as spirituality. Whether consciously or simply out of success-oriented pragmatism, the purpose-driven church movement has answered the call. With management guru Peter Drucker as his mentor, Rick Warren's quest for reformation and transformation serves the UN vision very well. In fact, the two seem to march to the same drumbeat. A small group of faithful missionaries, working quietly among the African poor, might by God's grace, be able to share the whole gospel beyond the watchful eyes of our new global managers. But the publicity-hungry PD movement will be carefully scrutinized for compliance with the UN ideals. To succeed within this global framework of control, it must conform, comply and ultimately serve the global agenda. And its fury may well be focused on those uncompromising Christians that would rather suffer persecution at the hands of intolerant "peace-makers" than betray their beloved Lord. Two Scriptures would be worth remembering in the challenging times ahead: "...the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me." John 16:2-3 "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.“ Acts 20:24 Footnotes: 1. Rick Warren: Global Baptists -- "We're all in this together," 2. UNESCO Culture of Peace Programme 3. Federico Mayor, speaking at a conference on "solidarity" during the 1996 UN Conference on Human Settlements in Istanbul, Turkey. Taped and transcribed by Berit Kjos. 4. Leonard Sweet, Soul Tsunami, Page (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1999), pages 17, 34, 75. 5. Ken Camp, "Second Reformation' will unify church, Warren tells Dallas GDOP," Pastors.com, 2005, 6. Leonard Sweet, Quantum Spirituality, entire book available online at Quantum Spirituality: A Postmodern Apologetic 7. See "The International Agenda and Small Groups and the Dialectic Process also see [Read] 8. "Millennium Goal: Conforming the world to Socialist Solidarity" 9. www.crossroad.to\Quotes\globalism\chisholm and "UNESCO: Its purpose and Its Philosophy" 10. "Serving the 'greater whole'" and "Social Change and Communitarian Systems" and "Molding Human Resources for the Global Workforce 11. "Pastor [Warren] lays out a global vision," [registration required]: 12. "Reinventing the World" and Re-Inventing the Church 13. "P.E.A.C.E. Plan: A Worldwide Revolution, Warren Tells Angel Stadium Crowd 14. David Van Biema, "Warren of Rwanda," Time magazine, August 22, 2005 15."Remarks by his Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, at Saddlback Church (17 April, 2005) 16. Topical Index of Scriptures 17. Richard Bennet, "The Purpose Driven Life: Demeaning the Very Nature of God," 18. Declaration on the Role of Religion in the Promotion of a Culture of Peace 19. "Dealing with Resisters" © 2005 Berit Kjos - All Rights Reserved

Church Size is Irrelevant to God

Size is not a factor to consider in judging the success of any church. Some churches blessed of God are very small, while some that are very large have little to no spiritual fruit. A church's spiritual life can't be measured by its numbers because it's easy to attract people. It's far more difficult to make disciples. Yet it appears as though churches across America are in a contest to build the biggest churches. In fact, conferences are held across our country to teach people how to do that. I've never gone to one, and I don't intend to. Size is irrelevant to God. --John MacArthur, Marks of a Healthy Church

Not Corrupting the Word

Doug VanderMeulen found the following on a Phil Johnson's blog. It is taken from a sermon by J.C. Ryle was was reproduced 100 years later in Banner of Truth's magazine. Thanks for the tip Doug! Not Corrupting the Word "For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ" (2 Corinthians 2:17). When can it be said of us, that we corrupt the Word of God in the present day? What are the rocks and shoals which we ought to shun, if we would not be of the "many" who deal deceitfully with God?s truth? A few suggestions on this head may not be without use. We corrupt the word of God most dangerously when we throw any doubt on the plenary inspiration of any part of the holy Scripture. This is not merely a corrupting the cup, but the whole fountain. This is not merely corrupting the bucket of living water, which we profess to present to our people, but poisoning the whole well. Once wrong on this point, the whole substance of our religion is in danger. It is a flaw in the foundation. It is a worm at the root of our theology. Once allow the worm to gnaw the root, and we must not be surprised if the branches, the leaves, and the fruit, little by little decay. Secondly, we corrupt the Word of God when we make defective statements of doctrine. We do so when we add to the Bible the opinions of the Church, or of the Fathers, as if they were of equal authority. We do so when we take away from the Bible, for the sake of pleasing men; or, from a feeling of false liberty, keep back any statement which seems narrow and harsh or hard. We do so when we try to soften down anything that is taught about eternal punishment or the reality of hell. We do so when we bring forward doctrines in their wrong proportions. We do so when we exhibit an excessive anxiety to fence and guard and qualify such doctrines as justification by faith without the deeds of the law, for fear of the charge of antinomianism; or when we flinch from strong statements about holiness, for fear of being thought legal. We do so, not least, when we shrink from the use of Bible language in giving an account of doctrines. We are apt to keep back such expressions as 'born again,' 'election,' 'adoption,' 'conversion,' 'assurance,' and to use roundabout phraseology, as if we were ashamed of plain Bible words." J. C. Ryle

Postmodern inconsistency

I once had a conversation with my former boss, who espoused a postmodern mindset. I challenged him to be consistent with his worldview, and to demonstrate making “his truth” reality, by standing in front of an oncoming train. His response was that he couldn’t do it because he and I both believed that he couldn’t, and therefore “our truth” was equal to “his truth” and thus, he couldn’t. I told him I would believe otherwise with him if he was willing to give the demonstration a try. He declined.

In trying to demonstrate how he didn’t logically live out his worldview, I asked him why he bothers paying his mortgage. If what he believed actually became his reality; couldn’t he just believe he didn’t have a mortgage? He used similar logic as before, stating that because he and his mortgage company mutually agreed in beliefs that his mortgage was due, he was obligated to pay it. As the train approached, I asked him: “Since we can’t produce a single person who would be an exception, and could use the postmodern worldview to stand in front of the train without being hit (by making reality out of belief), wouldn’t it indeed actually be, absolute truth that trains squash people? He refused to acknowledge this fact, which brings us to a number one tenet of postmodernism:

Contradictions are ok; and logic is irrelevant.

Such is the frustration of talking with a postmodern who is absolutely sure that there is no absolute truth. Our conversation ended that day with me rolling down the window of my car to ask him why he bothered waiting on the sidewalk for the light to change. “Be consistent with your worldview and walk on out in the traffic,” I shouted! But he waited anyway, because postmodernist do not live out their worldview.

Like the rest of us, when the cashier says $1.49 for the cup of coffee, they pay $1.49 rather than tossing $.20 on the counter and walking out the door. Oh that they would be consistent!

From Light To Darkness – Supernatural Sunday

The Light: I’m visiting Washington D.C this weekend for a computer related conference. I took the opportunity to visit Capitol Hill Baptist Church and hear Mark Dever (from 9marks.com) preach. Sunday School at Capitol Hill Baptist Church is called “Core Seminars.” I choose to attend the “Christian Growth” track, which was in a segment entitled “Apologetics & Worldviews,” where we learned and discussed modernity, enlightenment, and postmodern worldviews. I was amazed at the spiritual singing of the saints this morning at Capitol Hill Baptist Church. Everyone sang just as John Wesley instructed in his Singing Rules, which ironically was printed in the front of one of their hymn booklets. That pleased me to see a Baptist church acknowledging the genuine Wesleyan musical tradition. Mark Dever preached this morning on 2 Corinthians 8:16-9:5, pertaining to God’s glory being revealed in our: 1. Care [vv. 16-17] 2. Giving [vv. 18-19] 3. Work [vv. 20-22] 4. Cooperation [vv. 23-] I got a bonus by being present at the end of the service where Mr. Dever baptized a couple from the Netherlands. They had great testimonies which were very inspiring to hear! I picked up a copy of Mr. Dever’s books “9 Marks Of A Healthy Church” and “The Deliberate Church,” and headed back towards my hotel. The Transition: On the way back I got off the metro at DuPont Circle and walked over to Foundry United Methodist Church where I met Dean Snyder from untiedmethodist.com. Our blogging debates: here, here, and here, didn’t seem to interfere with our cordial meeting, which wasn’t anything less than I expected. After meeting Mr. Snyder, I walked over and toured the Church of Scientology. Yea! The Darkness: Tonight, back at the hotel, the computer related conference I am attending got underway with a Welcome Reception/Party. As you would expect at such an event, they had heavy hors d'oeuvre, drinks, a loud band, and of course, palm readers, tarot card readers, and crystal ball readers! From the conference itinerary: “Take a journey into a strange and exciting world, as we celebrate a magical night to remember. Be entertained by astonishing mystics and amazing entertainers. Palm readers, tarot card readers, and crystal ball readers will be on hand to uncover your past and reveal your future. Graphologists, magicians, face readers, and mentalists will also shed new light on the unknown, in ways that confound the mind. Although we encourage business colleagues to rely on data rather than supernatural forces, let’s kick back for one evening of enjoyment and celebration.” I have no comment on that really, other than, “Are you kidding me?” I know the organizers of the event meant this to be “entertainment,” but still, Wow! The Devil’s tools are still the Devil’s tools, even when used ignorantly. Trying to get in touch with the supernatural in any way other than through the one true and living God, which is through Jesus Christ, is idolatry at best, and dangerous occultism at worst. Thank’s be to God that “Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Amen! "For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples." Psalm 33:4-10

Drawing Crowds, Not a Church Role

One of the fundamental issues of misunderstanding that leads to corrupt churchmanship in our generation is the failure to distinguish between a crowd and a church. The failure to distinguish between a crowd and a church is . . . to misunderstand everything about preaching, everything about ministry, everything about our task. If we think our business is to build a crowd, frankly any of us can do it. There's a way to bring and draw and attract a crowd. . . . Let us never mistake a crowd for a church [or] think our business is to draw a crowd. --Al Mohler, 2003 Shepherds' Conference (ht: Biblebb.com)

Ask Homeland Security to Help Check HIV Transmission

Bush Administration needs to put public health above political correctness

Imagine my surprise when I learned that the U.S. Government has granted "Designated Event Status" to the 2006 Gay Games to be held in Chicago this July. The "Gay Games" are an event known as much for after-hours sexual activity as for on-field athletic competition. In fact, on the official Chicago Gay Games web site just as much emphasis is put on "entertainment" as on the event itself. This entertainment includes links to bathhouses and clubs where illicit and illegal activity is allowed. Special foreign visitor status comes with privileges for the several thousand who will travel to the U.S. - a federal blanket waiver that permits non-U.S. citizens with HIV/AIDS to enter the United States to participate in or observe the Gay Games. Those travelers are eligible to apply for a single-entry B-2 travel visa that is valid from a week before the quadrennial event until six days after the closing date. The tragedy is that there are Americans who may well be infected with a deadly disease as a direct result of this most unwise decision. Why should this administration feel the need to bow to the politically correct crowd? Please contact the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman within the Department of Homeland Security. Ask the office to revoke this almost unprecedented waiver. Human lives are at stake. Bush Administration needs to put public health above political correctness

Sincerely, Tony Perkins President www.frc.org

Rick Warren's Hypocrisy Reveals His Heart

Paul Proctor again helps us uncover the truth coming from the Purpose-Driven world of Rick Warren. In "Rick Warren - "Fundamentalist or Finagler?" he demonstrates that Pastor Warren is truly tossed to and fro by every whim of pragmatics as he builds his own kingdom rather than God's.

"From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain;

prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.

They dress the wound of my people

as though it were not serious.

'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace.

Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct?

No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush.

So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them," says the LORD.

(Jeremiah 6:13-15)

Strains Within the Emergent Church Movement

Parableman does a great job identifying certain segments within the emergent church movement and demonstrating how they are not really "new" and "emerging" ideas. He closes with a warning about how the emergents are really going on the same destructive path the mainline denominations have been on for years. It’s worth a read if you are interested in the emergent church. Read his article here

The Crescent over the Cross

More from frc.org: A two-page color ad in today's Washington Post celebrates the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding," a $20-million "think tank" at Georgetown University in the District of Columbia. The ad shows one of Georgetown's beautiful Gothic buildings, topped by a stone cross. In the night sky, above Georgetown, is a crescent moon and star--the symbols of Islam. How better to show the kind of "understanding" we will have? Christianity is to be subordinated, Islam is raised high--at a Christian university. Harvard also has a $20 million center from the Saudi billionaire prince. What about the compromise of American liberties? There is no reciprocity here. All the talk on this side of the ocean is about "understanding." Where are the study centers at Saudi universities? Does anyone there present courses on James Madison's views of religious liberty? Does anyone there even suggest that feudal monarchies that deny their people fundamental human rights need to reform themselves? Saudi Arabia is one of the worst violators of human rights on earth. No Christian can even carry a Bible on any street in Saudi Arabia. Converts there are beheaded. According to the U.S. State Department's latest report on global human rights, issued just this week, "The [Saudi] government has not provided legal protection for freedom of religion, and such protection did not exist." Ditto for the freedom to establish political parties. Yet, here we have major American universities bending the knee for Saudi petrodollars. There have been persistent reports of Saudi-funded schools (madrassas) and mosques in America that teach hatred toward Christians and Jews. And one more thought: has anyone told campus liberals, some of whom went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in an effort to keep military recruiters off campus because of the military's "Don't Ask - Don't Tell policy, about Saudi Arabia's policy toward gays in the military?

A Woman's Right to Choose?

Interesting bit of legislation hypocrisy sniffed out by the guys at frc.org: Chalk up another victory for "choice." But this ruling, from the European Court of Human Rights meeting in Strasbourg, France, has observers scratching their heads. Natalie Evans of Great Britain appealed to the court for permission to implant one of the six embryos she and Howard Johnston conceived in vitro in 2001. Evans and Johnston have since split up. She wanted to implant an embryo so she could bear a child. But Johnston said no. Johnston was happy when the court ruled in his favor and against Miss Evans: "The key thing for me was just to be able to decide when, and if, I would start a family." Some of us thought he did that when he and his then-mistress brought forth new human lives. So, in this landmark case on human rights, we see the woman has no right to carry the children she conceived, the embryonic children have no right to life, and the father can decide whether or not anyone else in the relationship has any rights at all. Now, what if Miss Evans had won the right to implant but had then decided to have an abortion? Does anyone think the court would have supported Mr. Johnston if he wanted his unborn children to live? Such is the absurdity of the current state of human rights in Europe is employed, all the more reason Americans should be concerned about the U.S. Courts referencing European law.

ARE YOU A CULTURAL CHRISTIAN?

Did you know that not everyone who embraces Christian doctrine, lives by Christian morals, and attends a Christian church, is really a Christian? How in the world can that be?As shocking as it may sound, not everyone who professes to be a Christian is, in fact, a Christian. A lot of people think of themselves as Christians merely because it’s part of their culture. You ask them: Are you a Christian? And they say: I’m an American aren’t I?!People like this are classically known as cultural Christians and, of course, there are cultural Christians in most, if not all, Christian denominations. In fact, many Hispanics, Italians, and Irish are cultural Catholics. There are also, for example, cultural Baptists in the “Bible Belt” of America. So, what are the marks of cultural Christianity — and perhaps more to the point, are you one?Are you intolerant over nonessential matters? For example, do you bad-mouth a Jehovah’s Witness because of his view on saluting the flag or his refusal to celebrate a holiday, and then turn around and overlook the more important issues like his views on the Bible, God, Christ and even salvation by grace alone?Perhaps you exhibit another classic characteristic of cultural Christianity? Do you get angry when a family member converts to orthodox theology — even though you can clearly see that their life is obviously changed for the better? You know, ironically, it’s not even uncommon for cultural Catholics to even disown their children when they become fervent, dedicated believers for the very first time.And interestingly enough, the most common mark of cultural Christianity, is legalism. When Christianity becomes a habit rather than a Spirit filled life, when we emphasize taboos and rigid conformity to the letter of the law, rather than the substance of it, we might well be embracing cultural rather than real Christianity.Well, are you a cultural Christian? Test yourself. Otherwise you might find yourself standing at the very throne of Christ at the very last judgement saying, “Lord, Lord” and hear Him say, “...away from me, I never knew you.” On cultural vs. real Christianity, that’s the CRI Perspective. I’m Hank Hanegraaff. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION or THE WAY OF THE MASTER

Church discipline does still exist

SBTC removes church over homosexuality BAYTOWN, Texas (BP)-—The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s executive board has acted unanimously to disaffiliate a church for violating the convention’s constitutional provision concerning churches that “affirm, approve, or endorse homosexual behavior.” The SBTC credentials committee and two SBTC staff members met Dec. 20 for one hour and 45 minutes with the pastor of Faith Harbour -- previously an SBTC congregation in Baytown -- with a redemptive aim, SBTC minister-church relations director Deron Biles wrote in a summary of the meeting. Biles recounted that the committee hoped to clarify Faith Harbour’s stance toward a church it is helping sponsor and allowing to meet in its facilities, which bills itself on its website as welcoming and affirming of homosexual, bisexual and trangendered people. Additionally, the new church, Eklektos, has a female senior pastor. Biles said the committee and Faith Harbour pastor Randy Haney were unable to resolve their differences over Faith Harbour’s involvement with Eklektos. SBTC board chairman Joe Stewart, pastor of First Baptist Church of Littlefield, said the board followed the biblical guidelines of Matthew 18 in confronting an erring brother with hopes of restoration. CLICK HERE to Read Entire Article www.bpnews.net

Home abortions? Are you kidding me?

Abortions at home are safe - pilot study Women who are less than nine weeks pregnant can safely have medical abortions at home, according to the head of a government-backed pilot project. Abortion services for the 20,000 women who seek a chemically induced abortion every year could be transformed should the Department of Health's official evaluation of the pilot confirm initial findings. But it is also likely to provoke controversy from anti-abortion campaigners who will claim that home abortions would make the procedure easier and therefore lead to more women having terminations. Read the rest if you dare