Do Infants Go To Heaven? The death of babies and what Scripture states

 Did King David create a new doctrine of infant salvation when he said:

2Sa 12:23  But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” 

No. He was talking about one day he'll join his son in the grave--a reversal of the normal course of life--father dies then son. Verses that show this was a common way of speaking but was in no way making a salvific declaration of the deceased loved one:

Gen 15:15  As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. 

Deu 31:16  And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers. Then this people will rise and whore after the foreign gods among them in the land that they are entering, and they will forsake me and break my covenant that I have made with them. 

2Sa 7:12  When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 

There's only one way to go to Heaven: by grace through faith in Christ Jesus who regenerates the heart. If God wants to save a person, He will make sure they hear, believe, and obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ, just like anyone else: if God wants a person in the deep Amazon forest to get saved, He will make sure He sends a Christian there to evangelize him. I see absolutely no difference. 

Rom 10:14  How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15  And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 

The logical conclusion of the salvation of all babies is that, besides denying the only way of salvation, denying Total Depravity, denying Limited Atonement, etc, is that the killing of babies would ENSURE their salvation, thus making even the demonic heinous act of abortion as a GOOD thing. And surely no one in their right mind would agree. Therefore, ultimately most don't believe that if they are unwilling to be consistent in their application of their doctrine. Or perhaps, like  "pro-lifers" do with abortion being acceptable in "certain circumstances" like rape and incest, they WOULD be ok with it (thus belying their view of all life is precious and thus all abortion regardless of circumstance is murder and is a serious sin. Today, most "pro-lifers" are NOT pro-life but pro-Circumstantial Abortion. 

Scripture doesn't say what happens to infants when they die and therefore we cannot either and leave that with God. Giving comfort to grieving believing parents is important and must be centered on their faith in God and HIS comfort (2 Cor 1), not their situation. For the unbelieving parents, it's a time to share the Gospel and call them to be at peace with God and that that is the only way to have true peace and true comfort. 

John MacArthur: I'm a secret Christian hedonist--I just came out of the closet"

 2022 Puritan Conference 

John MacArthur stated:

4:15

look I am a um secret Christian

4:21

hedonist I just came out of the closet

Piper Now Appeals to Hedone's Father, Eros, As Spiritual Worship

Jas 4:1  What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2  You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3  You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4  You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 

"Pleasure"= in the Greek is "hedone" = sensual delight

Hedone was the Greek goddess of pleasure, desire, lust. Hedone is where we get "hedonism" which even to this day has the connotation of absolute, physical pleasure (there is even a couples' resort in Jamaica (clothing optional) called Hedonism II). 

Hedone was the daughter of Eros and Psyche. She was most often associated specifically with sensual pleasure. That is in line with Eros which is where we get the term "erotic" (sexual love).

John Piper at the Shepherds Conference 2024 said our love for God is "erotic to the core" and that eros leads leads to obedience.  

Also, it just came to my attention by a brother that in the Q&A of ShepCon 2024, Piper said (time mark 11:17):"You know um CS Lewis made the distinctions about the four kinds of loves and uh eros love lovers are are looking at each other in the face and they're telling each other how delicious they are."

Considering that CS Lewis was a heretic, it's no surprise that Piper used Lewis instead of Scripture and the actual definition of the words to use the proper terms for love.

Piper originally married Christ Jesus to hedonism in his "Desiring God" book on "Christian hedonism". That was horrific, blasphemous, and anti-Christ demonic talk. But in March 2024 at ShepCon, he went FURTHUR DEEP into the dunghill of the paganism of Greek mythology and pulled out Hedone's father Eros and applied that tooo loving God. 

Isa 6:3  And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; 

1Pe 1:15  but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16  since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 

In all uses of "hedone" in the NT (twice in James 4), the word is of sinful fleshly behavior Christians are meant to war against:

Luke 8:14  And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 

Tit 3:3  For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 

2Pe 2:13  suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. 14  They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! 

Isa 5:20  Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 

Piper might as well have said that temple prostitution is our spiritual act of worship. It is that insidious. It is worldly philosophy, it is of the Epicureans of Paul's day (Acts 17) that God righteously condemns.  So to use the world's ways and means:

Rom 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

Eph 4:17  Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 

Eph 4:18  They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 

Eph 4:19  They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 

Eph 4:20  But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 

Eph 4:21  assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 

Eph 4:22  to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 

Eph 4:23  and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 

Eph 4:24  and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 

Interestingly in Titus 1:14 God condemns being devoted to Jewish myths. How much more Greek mythology?

"Eros" is self-centered, self-satisfying love, which is wholly contrary to "agape" which is selfless, self-sacrificing love. Words are precise in Scripture.

Piper doubled down DEEPER into paganism through Greek mythology which has absolutely nothing to do with biblical Christianity in any way, married it to Christ and the Christian as if sexual love and hedonism is holy, spiritual, and pleasing to God. This is a demonic attack on God and His Word. 

Steve Lawson: he'll be back

 Given Steve Lawson's whole sinful saga of having an adulterous relationship with a young woman for five years (Phil Johnson gave info on this in September), and how Lawson hasn't yet repented visibly and publicly as his sin and his position would require him to do (1Ti 5:20 "As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear"); and given that he's got a sea of men (all with vested interests in his name and ministry) being his PR team, given that his One Passion ministries today is still taking donations while hiding in  Nashville with his brother, I believe (and have done for months now), that Steve Lawson is making a plan to return. Like those before him (Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, Matt Chandler), he'll make a comeback because these men are self idolators who live the premium seats, the praise of men, the titles, the position, the money offered to them in Modern Evangelicalism. 

He'll likely write a book about his "trial" and "sin" (which he lied about to the woman's father, TBC's elders, the public about it merely being "inappropriate" but "not sexual in nature") and now, four months late, those around him are admitting it was indeed sexual (Clint Archer at "Cripplegate" claims now that it was only at the end of the relationship that it was sexual); he'll likely tell us about how he's been "humbled" and will teach us to be like him, bla bla bla. I figure it will come out in next year I suspect, and then he'll go on speaking engagements to promote the book (publishers demand that), and then of course star in conferences for men about purity and humility. The fact that Lawson is speaking through his minions seems to indicate he's testing the waters to see if enough people have "compassion" on him to get out of his hidey-hole all the way. It's a PR stunt with a plan.

True repentances is visible with works that prove repentance:

Mat 3:8  Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

Act 19:18  Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 

Act 19:19  And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 

Act 19:20  So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. 

Because Lawson has been a high profile public speaker and a board member on various organizations, his repentance should've also been just as public. It should've been immediate IF the Holy Spirit was indwelling him. But even John MacArthur admitted to Lawson's heart being calloused (time mark 4:43).

Contrary to those around him saying so, repentance is by evolution--a gradual change. Repentance, like faith, is a gift from God granted by Him & has immediate fruit that lasts. Both are visible. A seared conscience is proof of NOT being regenerated. To deny immediate visible fruit of repentance for the sake of keeping your fallen and apostate "brother" propped up because you've got a vested interest in his successful comeback (TBC's elder Stainback (in-law to MacArthur) is on the One Passion board. True repentance rather, would be a very open and public confession (agreeing with God's judgement upon his sins which include adultery, lies, hypocrisy, selfish ambition, and partiality), to the same extent he was publicly teaching and on all those platforms and organizations. Then he would never teach again nor write any books, but quietly live a life that actually shows fruit in keeping with repentance (and really, salvation at this point). Visible, consistent, and growing good fruit that is in keeping with a profession of faith and repentance is biblically require and therefore measurable.

Steve Lawson Has Been Removed From Ministry Due to Sexual Immorality

Today TBC announced that Steve Lawson is removed from all ministries at Trinity Bible Church in Dallas:

ANNOUNCEMENT

The elders at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas regretfully announce that effective immediately, Steven J. Lawson has been removed indefinitely from all ministry activities at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas.  Several days ago, the elders at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas were informed by Steve Lawson of an inappropriate relationship that he has had with a woman. The elders have met with Steve and will continue to come alongside him and pray for him with the ultimate goal of his personal repentance. Steve will no longer be compensated by Trinity Bible Church of Dallas.

In light of this, may we be reminded that we are ALL sinners, and Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners - and Christ remains Head of His Church, which is bigger than any fallen man.  In fact, Jesus Christ will continue to lead His Church, including Trinity Bible Church here in Dallas, just like He has from the start of this work on January 5, 2018.  Since that time, the elders have focused on the primacy of biblical exposition knit together by various men filling the pulpit each week.  The Lord was building Trinity Bible Church of Dallas well before Steve became our Lead Preacher, and He will continue to build this church long after Steve Lawson, or any other man for that matter.  We would ask for your prayers for the elders, for our Body, and for Steve and his family.  Let us always be mindful of the words of 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall."

~ TBC announcement, bold, original 

He preached last Sunday and then the week prior, at Bible study. He taught on "Defining True Greatness" (Luke 7:24-30) on Sept. 15,2024 and the Thursday prior, Sept. 12, 2024 he taught "Being Truthtellers" at the men's Bible Study. Photo is here (having technical issues getting photos to upload on this blog).

I will have to now go back and remove all posts that promote him in a good way. The one that I will keep up is where he lauded false teacher Billy Graham.

Christian Don't Compromise Your Biblical Convictions For Temporal Gain

Dear Christian, do not fear what you see around you and toss aside your biblical convictions for a temporary win. Stay faithful to Christ and His Word. He is sovereignly in control of everything that happens in this world

I saw a huge tirade by a conservative on X today, cussing & angry at conservatives who won't compromise their values by voting for Trump. The man was BIG MAD and condemned such people.

God knows that NOT voting for a moderate literally means NOT VOTING FOR A MODERATE. This angering fearful pragmatism does not influence me; Scripture & trusting a Sovereign God, does. My freedom in Christ keeps me from being enslaved to other's pragmatic consciences.

Remember, running to Egypt didn't help nor bless Israel in the least. God caused Egypt to be Israel's shame. Their hope for a temporal gain didn't happen. Don't do the same. Don't give up what you know is biblical for the same of a temporary fix.

How much more blessed to stand true to biblical principles and values with a clear conscience before God and see Him protect and bless you for being loyal to Him and His Word. It's trusting Him by faith, not by sight.

God will raise up and bring down our leaders; He raised up Pharaoh, and He’ll raise up the Lawless One, for HIS righteous purposes.  Pragmatism isn't of faith--it's of fear in this case. Do the right thing and trust the outcome to the God Who Sees, like Daniel who kept faithful to the Lord in everything despite the persecution.

Prov. 16, Dan. 2:20-22; 4:35, Is 40:23; John 14:27.

Heb 11:1  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 

Heb 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 

Heb 11:14  For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 

Heb 11:15  If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 

Heb 11:16  But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. 

Joni Eareckson Tada And Rome

 

Joni Eareckson Tada and Rome

'Oh No!  Please don't say this! It can't be! You're just mean and judgmental!' 

August 2, 2024

denise m. gumprecht

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." 2 Timothy 4: 3-4

2 Corinthians 11:3  “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4  For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.” 

September 20-22, 2012 were the dates for Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth’s  ‘ Revive Our Hearts’, ‘True Woman ’12’ Conference, held in Indianapolis with speakers: Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth, Joni Eareckson Tada, Joy McClain, Janet Parshall, Mary Kassian, & Priscilla Shirer.  

Upon viewing a few episodes from this conference (True Woman '12: Forgiving Like You've Been Forgiven — Joni Eareckson Tada ); one notices a peculiar, large, Circle drawn on the platform floor which surrounded the podium where the women would speak. 

True Woman '12: Forgiving Like You've Been Forgiven — Joni Eareckson Tada

For these women; this was their ‘prayer circle’; an extra-Biblical TOOL, which caused those praying within it, protection, power, and concentration. This is a pagan practice with it’s roots in mysticism and witchcraft. ALL these women involved were practicing paganism. Not long ago Mark Batterson (lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C) published a book called, “The Circle Maker”. (https://www.challies.com/book-reviews/the-circle-maker/) He pointed to Jewish mystic; Honi ( an Israelite from the extra-biblical ‘Book of Legends’ from the Talmud; who wanted it to rain, drew a circle around himself, and stayed there demanding God answer his prayer ) , and also British evangelist Gipsy Smith; who used chalk circles as a false prayer tool to cause God to hear & respond.                                              

How does this connect with Joni Eareckson Tada?  Joni was one of the speakers at this conference. She spoke from the center of this mystic ‘prayer circle’.

 (note: other circles had been placed on the floor of this conference room for conference participants to enter, pray, & cry ).  During closing prayer, Joni; along with other women speakers, wheeled herself into the center of the circle praying in agreement that this powerful hedge of a circle would cause God to respond better, make their prayers more powerful, heard by God, and grant their prayer requests.  And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.Matthew 6:7  There is no authority in any circle. Our authority is in Christ alone. “ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. “ Matthew 28:18

Sadly, there is nothing in Scripture to affirm this bizarre practice. There is nothing in Scripture that states man/women can cause God to act or act better in response to prayer. There is NO power inside a circle. This is false teaching and pagan ritualism. What is very shocking and very grieving is that Joni has set up a mystic, “Virtual Prayer Circle” on her own website for all to use: 

https://joniandfriends.org/series/virtual-prayer-circle/ 

This somehow seemed too similar to false teacher; Pete Greig, and his creation of specious and misleading 24/7 prayer with it’s dark rooms: “Boiler Rooms”. Completely demonic & evil.  https://www.24-7prayer.com/?s=Boiler+room  ( This is an interdenominational movement of prayer, that has people praying night-and-day and has gone on for more than 20 years reaching all nations. It is connected to modern monasticism ). Also noted is that Greig uses these false prayer circle practices also. ( https://downloads.24-7prayer.com/prayer_course/2019/resources/pdfs/14%20A%20Circle%20Prayer.pdf) Again, man can not cause God to act. Isaiah 46:10-12

We are always aghast when we; as those in Christ, view one who was trusted as a testimony to Christ turns to false teachings. This is where there is another very grieving issue regarding Joni. Joni has become enthralled with Catholic contemplative, Carmelite monk- mystic; “Brother” Lawrence. (author of The Practice of the Presence of God). She is fully impressed with him. “Brother” Lawrence encourages readers to listen to “the voice of God”, chant mantras, empty your mind in order to be filled, and thus “experience God”. Joni has been impressed with  “Brother” Lawrence’s suffering in life and how he viewed this as a way to be closer to God. It became a method. ”practicing the presence of God”.

“Brother” Lawrence felt he found a secret to a higher spiritual life with focus on practices rather than solely God’s Word. He used repetitious prayers and mindfulness meditation. Matthew 6:7

He was devoted to focus on God’s presence in all you do. ‘a mystical higher power unrelated to anything Biblical; similar to Zen.

“God”: The Holy Spirit in us; it is not a mystical/contemplative personal experience outside God’s Word. The Holy Spirit is the agent of salvation for the redeemed, He dwells in us as helper, seals us, convicts us of sin, regenerates us, gives power to the gospel and illuminates scripture to us. 1 Corinthians 2:13  Philippians 2:12-13.

Our call is to present the gospel in full with absolutely no mystical experience creating unBiblical superstitions, feelings, mantras, and visions. Brother Lawrence’s gospel is not the one found in God’s Word. His is a false gospel of sacraments and works. Sadly, we view Joni giving us an example of a lacking, skewed ‘no gospel at all’. “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another:

only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed. ” Galatians 1:6-8

A recent example of this false teaching:  Joni Eareckson equated and told a male nurse that he reminded her so much of Jesus since he was serving her. ”You are just like Jesus”. She  personally justified this  as “practicing the presence” &and planting  ‘gospel seeds or tidbits’. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnB3LWopIaY   point: 16:24). There was NO presentation of the gospel. 

 

”He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.  “….“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”Mark 1:15  The gospel is the  message of the cross, the “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16  God’s Word is a “sword” “piercing the soul asunder”. (Hebrews 4:12). These “gospel seeds” are without God’s clear message on salvation bring false thinking and teaching. 

Previously Joni stated, (point 13:15 continuing:   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnB3LWopIaY ) Joni; “If we want to get to know this man of sorrows, acquainted with our grief, this Jesus; ripped to shreds and hung up to dry as a bloody piece of meat on a hook— if we want to get to know Him and His sweetness and His nearness, we’ll have to suffer in some measure- not the [same] amount, but we have to taste deeply of afflictions, God- God wants us to FEEL our afflictions deeply -we want to escape them - we want to run away from our weakness, God wants us to feel them deeply so that we might also feel our need for Him … they can know the path to know Jesus better. (sufferings) ‘ the road rocky, but when we come to the cross- wow, there’s life.”  

Another Roman Catholic with false thinking/teaching as this was Mother Theresa. She stated this to a dying patient, “ "You are suffering like Christ on the cross. So Jesus must be kissing you." (Christoper Hitchens - The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice, p. 41). 

Feelings?  Faith comes through hearing through the Word of Christ, as Romans 10:17 states. How do we come to know Jesus, as our Lord and Savior? Again; 2 Corinthians 5:21, Mark 1:15 It is by being regenerated by the Holy Spirit and being given the gift of repentance and faith “even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”  Ephesians 2:5  We preach the whole counsel of God for our sanctification; not ‘tidbits’.  “Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.” Acts 20:26-27. Planting ‘seeds’ includes the gospel in full, not conjured up, picturesque ideas, nor visions or parts of the Gospel, which is really no gospel at all. Scripture tells us to grow in Him through the reading of His Word and prayer. 2 Timothy 2:15 and 1 Peter 2:2-3. As those in Christ, we are commanded to come boldly to the throne of grace in repentance and faith in times of weaknesses and testing. “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

This ‘suffering’ comes after redemption as often one will suffer/trials for His name’s sake. James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 Peter 4:12-14.

Suffering, or as Paul calls it in 2 Corinthians 4:16-17, “this light momentary affliction” is not always a continual necessary part of the path to Christ, but it can be a frequent result of declaring necessary faith in Christ and living in service to him, for no slave is above his Master.  Romans 8:18 states,  “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” 

Our disposition in suffering; “but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” 1 Peter 3:4

 In Christ, we are humbly blessed to proceed “boldly” to “the Throne of Grace”. Hebrews 4:16  God’s sovereignty gives us satisfaction and peace; complete trust in Him to work according to His sovereign will. 

Too much emphasis on subjective things like experiences/feelings/ or ‘sensing’, often leads one down the road of discouragement and frustration, as opposed to the comfort and resting in Christ with the unchanging reality of confidence in Him regardless of day to day emotions and circumstances.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”  2 Corinthians 1:3-5

 The God of all comfort during our afflictions God works all things for the good of those who love Him and who are called by Him.  

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

Just last year, in October of 2023, Joni published a book with a very similar name as “Brother” Lawrence’s. Her book is called, “The Practice of the Presence of Jesus”. On every other page of Joni’s book, she quotes Roman Catholic Monk “Brother” Lawrence. Why would one supposedly in Christ point to a Catholic false teacher with a false gospel and false prayer?  Jesus taught us His perfect example on how to pray in Luke 11:1-4 Is this not sufficient? 

Feelings, and sensing “God’s pleasure” is man-created emotionalism which is an attempt at ‘experiencing God’. Evidently Joni was impressed and viewed “Brother” Lawrence’s suffering and toil-filled life similar to her own, causing Joni to have high regard  and honor of this man with his false practices. She seems to believe like “Brother” Lawrence that suffering brings you closer to God. This is also similar to how she relates to him. This book; sadly, may cause people to embrace the false gospel of Catholicism and mystic practices. (such as lectio divina which John Piper, Lou Giglio,  Beth Moore, Francis Chan others did at 2012 Passion Conference for youth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvwKl63sGqM ) How deceiving!

As redeemed, one does not turn to Catholicism for spiritual truth. Joni is hearing the voice of a stranger. “When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.  A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” John 10:4-5

In November 2009 the Manhattan Declaration document was created and signed by it’s supporters  It united so- called ‘orthodox’ Evangelicals and Catholics together for the sake of moral issues. The Trinity Foundation - The Roman Catholic Agenda Embedded in the Manhattan Declaration  and 

The Trinity Foundation - The Roman Catholic Agenda Embedded in the Manha... Editor’s note: Richard Bennett is the President and Founder of Berean Beacon Ministries. The Website for Berean ...

https://www.gty.org/library/articles/A390/the-manhattan-declaration 

Sadly, we view Joni Eareckson Tada’s signature in support of this document.

In 2010, Joni became part of a longstanding, annual movement and conference of dubious origin called Lausanne Movement. (founder Billy Graham and chairman John Stott)  It promotes widespread ecumenicism and far excess focus on political and social justice issues/globalism.  https://disntr.com/2023/11/13/how-the-lausanne-movement-is-hijacking-christianity-to-jumpstart-a-global-marxist-revolution-part-i/    Lausanne totally dilutes spreading the unadulterated gospel of repentant faith in Jesus Christ. It is a ‘christian’ (in name alone) deception with no true gospel and promoting friendship with the ‘dark’.  “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? “ 2 Corinthians 6:14   Joni willingly became The Lausanne Senior Associate for Evangelism Among  Disabled People. To date, she is a great advocate for this false movement. 

Joni Eareckson Tada - Why Support the Lausanne Movement?

Joni Eareckson Tada - Why Support the Lausanne Movement?

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7

Prayer is needed  for Joni to turn away from false prayer practices, the teachings of mystic Roman Catholicism, and all things ecumenical. 

“My brother, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.” James 2:1

“So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Ephesians 4:17-23 

“Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude of dependency; dependency upon God . Prayer is a confession of creature weakness, yes, of helplessness. Prayer is the acknowledgment of our need and the spreading of it before God.”- A.W. Pink