Mat 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." (1Co 15:33)
One of the international speaking engagements John Piper will be participating in is the Lausanne Congress. The founder was Billy Graham. This is an pragmatic/inter-faith/ecumenical/feminist group. List of speakers in cluding Piper here.
The dangers with the Lausanne Covenant: go here. Is like the World Council of Churches.
Piper is not only a speaker this year, but sits on its US Council:
U.S. Council of Reference
Dr. Billy Graham
Founder, Lausanne Movement
Dr. John StottHonorary Chairman, Lausanne Movement
Dr. Leighton Ford
Honorary Chairman, Lausanne Committee
Dr. Miriam Adeney
Professor, Seattle Pacific Seminary
Dr. Leith Anderson
Senior Pastor, Wooddale ChurchPresident, US National Association of Evangelicals
Dr. Bryan Chappell
President, Covenant Seminary
Dr. Loren Cunningham
Founder, Youth with a Mission (YWAM)
Mr. Jim Daly
President, Focus on the Family
Dr. Steve Douglass
President, Campus Crusade for Christ
Dr. Ken Fong
Pastor, Evergreen Baptist Church
Dr. Timothy George
Dean, Beeson Divinity School
Dr. Os Guinness
Author
Dr. Gary Haugen
President, International Justice Mission
Dr. Dean Hirsch
President, World Vision International
Dr. Tim KellerPastor, Redeemer Presbyterian Church
Dr. Duane Litfin
President, Wheaton College
Mr. Hugh Maclellan
President, The Maclellan Foundation
Dr. Jesse Miranda
Hispanic Evangelical Leadership Alliance
Dr. Richard MouwPresident, Fuller Theological Seminary
Dr. David Neff
Editor, Christianity Today
Mr. Peter Ochs
President, First Fruit Foundation
Mrs. Jane Overstreet
President, Development Associates Int’l
Dr. Luis Palau
President, Luis Palau
Dr. John Perkins
President, John M. Perkins Foundation
Dr. John Piper
Pastor, Bethlehem Baptist Church
Mrs. Becky Pippert
President, Salt Shaker Ministries
Mr. Bill Pollard
Chairman of the Board, BGEA
Dr. Wess Stafford
President, Compassion International
Dr. Tite Tienou
Dean, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Mr. Paul Tokunaga
Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship
Dr. Mike Treneer
President, The Navigators
Dr. Rick Warren
Pastor, Saddleback Church
Dr. George Wood
General Superintendent, Assembly of God
John R. W. Stott, Anglican, Chief architect, The Lausanne Covenant; Honorary Chairman, Lausanne Movement, denies Hell, which also denies the Gospel and God's righteousness, no fear of God (why fear a god who won't cast both body and soul into hell?), as well as rejecting clear Scripture.
Joni Erickson Tada, signer of the Inter-faith Manhattan Document, is the Lausanne Senior Associate for Evangelism Among Disabled People. You can read her endorsement of Lausanne here.
Lausanne Covenant: "We affirm our belief in the one-eternal God, Creator and Lord of the world, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who governs all things according to the purpose of his will. He has been calling out from the world a people for himself, and sending his people back into the world to be his servants and his witnesses, for the extension of his kingdom, the building up of Christ's body, and the glory of his name".
This is a statment Modalists would agree with (Modalism denies the Trinity--says there is one Person, Jesus, in the Godhead who takes on different modes or roles: that of the father, son, and holy spirit--accompanying this heresy is a "salvation" of works). This does not set their view of God apart from the cults; its not Trinitarian.
What Jesus do they proclaim? What gospel? Is the gospel of a Word Of Faith woman "pastor" going to have the same gospel as a Reformer? Who is Jesus? linked from Lusanne site. Its man-centered--felt-needs, find a purpose for your life,God is love and has a wonderful plan for everyone's life stuf . Says that God has a plan for everyone's life, but Man just gets in the way. This is not the Sovereign, Holy God of Scripture (Eh. 1:11). Yet Reformers have embraced this group.
Piper/Bethlehem Baptist has been involved with Lausanne since 2006 at least:
"World renowned mission agencies have challenged local churches to work with them in Finishing the Task (FTT)....Pastors from US churches like North Point Community Church in Atlanta, Georgia; Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California; Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Belmont Church in Nashville, Tennessee; Real Life Ministries in Post Falls, Idaho; and Northwood Church in Fort Worth, Texas, were part of the gathering." ~ Source
Much of this group is concerned with social justice (aka Roman Catholic liberation theology) which is not part of the Great Commission nor part of the directives of the local church body as its primary function (See Eph. 4, 1Cor. 14, 2Cor. 6;1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Jude). In the Covenant they say under the heading of The Urgency of the Evangelical Task: "All of us are shocked by the poverty of millions and disturbed by the injustices which cause it. Those of us who live in affluent circumstances accept our duty to develop a simple life-style in order to contribute more generously to both relief and evangelism. "
Re-distribution of wealth is Socialism, isn't biblical, and it isn't the answer. But this group seems to think this way.
What poverty has to do with evangelism is beyond me.
Under: Evangelism and Culture:
"The development of strategies for world evangelization calls for imaginative pioneering methods. Under God, the result will be the rise of churches deeply rooted in Christ and closely related to their culture. Culture must always be tested and judged by Scripture."
This isn't part of the Great Commission, nor do we see this in any evangelistic proclamation of the Gospel in Scripture. Even at Mars Hill, Paul did not seek its culture, but showed how ungodly and wrong it was, pointing to Christ Jesus. Paul always taught in simple terms Christ and Him crucified (see 1Cor.1-2). Ralph Winter (one of the earliest participants) didn't bother to test the culture of Islam (so their words are merely lip service)...he just wanted to blend Christianity with Islam, so that a "convert" wouldn't have to stick out like a sore thumb.
All of this is pragmatic, unity-at-any-price ecumenical junk that denies the simple proclamation of the Gospel and its power (Rom. 1:16), and the Person and work of the Holy Spirit.
Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
24 comments:
Augh! Disturbing how many of those people think it's ok to work together as Christians when they supposedly preach such a different message. Where will it end?
I don't know! But you know, this huge piece of information seems to not worry most people....in fact besides you and maybe a couple others, this is treated as nothing. Then again, so was Piper's offering of Douglas Wilson (Federal visionism--sort of like the New Perspective of Paul--anti-Justification by grace alone). But Lausanne fits Warren to a T--totally up his ally. Yet Piper and Joni E. Tada are also on their boards.
The silence is deafening!
Well count me in as one of the few. I found this blog post looking for more info on Lausanne. Just knowing Billy G. set this up sent warning bells off! Just as the elites meet conspiring for world domination so do the false christs conspire to keep the flock of God lost and wondering the desert. It's our job as lame as that may be and how unapologetic it is, we must continue to warn...one day we'll have a break from it, hopefully sooner rather than later. Keep up the good work, I just tweeted this to 900 ppl.
I rejoice such a collection of Godly men are gathering together. I love the vision of groups like the Gospel Coalition and Together 4 the Gospel. Where Christians gather and celebrate the centrality of our faith - namely, Jesus. Major on the majors - minor on the minors. It does not bug me that these 4k+ pastors worldwide are gathering to do that very thing. This event will be known as a significant event in the history of the world. I plead for you to show a little love. We are united in Christ, please show the love that demonstrates it.
Jon,
Men who deny the Gospel, men who deny Hell, men who deny the Lordship of the Lord, men who deny the Genesis account of Creation, are not ones that we can find unity with. Simply put, deny any of these things and one is not a Christian.
John, the problem is that biblical doctrine is not an option. These are not side issues: these are salvific issues. These are what defines someone as a Christian (or not).
Unity can only be based on Truth. To deny such truth is do not have unity.
Billy Graham is on record twice excusing other religions from the Cross of Calvary...as they have their gods. I was shocked when I was first presented with this information. I was able to discuss the position with Franklin Graham who said his father was misinterpreted or falsely led.
George O. Woods, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God also sits on the board. This is further confirmation of my need to leave the AoG. God is calling His Church out of the institutional churches of this world. IMHO, not one is worthy the presence of a True Believer.
One of the early tenants of the Lausanne Covenant was a cessation from proselytizing; hence, an acknowledgment that there are many paths to Jesus that merge into a very wide road.
RadRevD
Dear Denise. In one of your posts you said "The Silence is deafening"... I couldn't agree more. I've been thinking the very same thing for some time now. I am astonished that so few are showing the courage so typified by the men "we" in the Evangelical camp often quote. We best honour the memory of Luther, Calvin, the Non-conformists, Bunyan, Whitefield, and Spurgeon by imitating their courage to stand up for truth! At this present time I "feel" I'm alone in this outcry against the ideologies of Lausanne 1,2 and 3. Seeing your blog confirms it's not so. I am a 40 year old man who has served Churches in the UK but providentially finds himself in northern Italy (Milan) right now. The views we share mean we are walking a lonely path. Nevertheless "one with God is a majority". May our concern for biblically approved worship of the LORD be our drive and comfort in these "cold days."
Thank you MD. May the Lord open the ears and eyes of professing Christians and cause them to be loyal to Him alone. I often feel like Isaiah who felt like everyone abandoned the Lord. Yet He has His remnant, to His glory.
Thank you for your encouragement!
For the record Denise, my name is Mark. (MD seemed a bit formal!)
I'm an avid student of Church history and have been pondering "New Evangelicalism" for over 20 years now. A simple cursory glance of the past 200 years shows how a rejection of the sufficiency of the bible has led to all sorts of weird initiatives. From the “new measures” of Revivalism (see Revival & Revivalism, The Making and Marring of American Evangelicalism, 1750-1858 by Iain Murray), to Charles Spurgeon’s warnings on “new” theology (the Down-grade controversy 1887), and then to Martyn Lloyd-Jones’s 30 plus year analysis of the World Council of churches’ ecumenicity, which peaked in October 1966 the common thread is visible… The Church had lost its confidence in the Word of God, meaning the Church had lost its confidence in God Himself! How subtle! Under the guise of wanting to reach the lost for Christ we, (mere men) have invented “new” ways. It’s my conclusion that much of the confusion we see today, defined by Billy Graham & the Lausanne Movement come from a marred view of the Doctrine of God. As I examine New Evangelicalism, the Emergent Church and the Lausanne movement it has struck me how complicated the whole scene appears!! How unlike Christ’s Church! Like Christ, a local church should be simple & direct.
Its desire is to give the LORD what belongs to Him! Worship. But not any old invented worship (cf. Nabad & Abihu Levitcus 10:1-3) but biblically defined worship. That group will seek to impact the surrounding area, by being salt & light announcing the Good News of what God has done through Christ. In that process of seeking the lost they will encounter the sick, poor & needy and like the Good Samaritan should meet their physical needs. Be kind and hospitable.
Imagine what would happen to Satan’s kingdom if every small, local church did that in any given nation! Why this obsession with taking on the world’s injustices, of which I grant there are so many! New Evangelicalism is using worldly tools. I equate it to what Peter did to Malchus. His sword was a worldly tool, and his reaction was carnal but the fight isn’t against flesh or blood, is it?
Let’s continue to pray God’s mercy on His Church and deliverance from the power of the Evil one.
I just read The Lausanne Covenant for the first time. I found it to be biblically sound and convicting to my heart. Not sure what the rest of you are so upset and worried about (not including Jon Winslow whose comment I wholeheartedly agree with). So far none of you have listed a single sentence that in any way contradicts scripture. Maybe you should all go back and read it again.
Perry, I find your view disturbing. LC is very eccumenical and frankly, inter-faith, so they aren't precise really--not enough to cause those in serious doctrinal error to turn away. Their statement, as I pointed out, is so vague that even a Modalist could easily agree with it. They indeed are so lukewarm, that annhilationists, Emergents, Pagan-friendlies, and just flat out liberals who deny important doctrines can all agree. Rally around social justice and some form of "evangelism" which is empty of the Law and Gospel, and you've got worldlings that are happy to come around the ecumenical campfire and sing Kum By Yah. I found one link was no longer working and fixed that, but here it is so you can read it:
https://web.archive.org/web/20130310091021/http://www.cephasministry.com/church_and_state_lausanne.html
But I thought I was clear with the verses and the questions regarding their covenant...
This is a statment Modalists would agree with (Modalism denies the Trinity--says there is one Person, Jesus, in the Godhead who takes on different modes or roles: that of the father, son, and holy spirit--accompanying this heresy is a "salvation" of works). This does not set their view of God apart from the cults; its not Trinitarian.
What Jesus do they proclaim? What gospel? Is the gospel of a Word Of Faith woman "pastor" going to have the same gospel as a Reformer? Who is Jesus? linked from Lusanne site. Its man-centered--felt-needs, find a purpose for your life,God is love and has a wonderful plan for everyone's life stuf . Says that God has a plan for everyone's life, but Man just gets in the way. This is not the Sovereign, Holy God of Scripture (Eh. 1:11). Yet Reformers have embraced this group.
Perry, perhaps you are not informed of the people I highlighted that are part of the LC....if you don't know the danger, I suggest going back and reading what I wrote and also looking up their serious error.
How can you say they deny the Trinity? please be less general and more specific in your critique and us some scripture to support your argument
You have been fool my friend !! Poverty has everything to do with Christianity. Not one book of the bible omits the christian duty to help does in need !! in fact, in James 2;14 - 26, if you dont take care of the poor, you have a DEAD FAITH !! This movement has the right words about poverty, yes, but not the acts ?? It is one thing we must do something about the appalling poverty and another to do something about it !! Like every sinister movement, it is covert in sheep's clothing. This is nothing wrong with helping the poor, and I hope they do. But it doesn't mean this is a christian movement. I personally think it's not !!
Joe, you misunderstood what I said. I didn't say they deny the Trinity. What I said was that the Lausanne Covenant is so vague that even a modalist could agree with it. I hope that clears it up.
bob,
The church's primary nature is not a welfare system nor a social justice institution. Helping the poor is talked about in Scripture, but first and primarily for Christians, and secondly those who are in TRUE need--not the American idea which is just about not having goodies and comfort-- but true poverty. Each Christian is already paying to help the poor through our heavy taxes. Consider too, that sometimes poverty is a direct result of rebellion against God and we are not called to soften His judgment upon such. Great discernment and wisdom, not emotions, misplaced compassion, nor works righteousness, is demanded of believers, especially in this nation where multitudes lie and manipulate people and refuse to work. Scripture is anti-socialist.
Denise ; Excuse my English, im French; I notice you did not quote any scripture to justify your position. Understandably because your position is unscriptual !! Jesus, Paul, James, Peter . all of them emphase the importance of giving !! Your welfare system buz word does not apply. we are talking about 25,000 children diing every day of hunger in the world. We are talking about Haiti, with a population of 11 million on your door step with 45 % evangelical christians !! Poverty is not a result of rebelion, it is a test to see how the rich will act in the face of such suffering. As as it stands, America is and all of western nation are failing grosly in this. Jesus said, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” And rightly soo. The rich are the ones owning the richess of the world. And Satan is the ultimate owner. But the new world will be given to the poor. So what you call blessing, is in fact a cure. The love of money is what will codem you in the end. What with is serve a man to own the world if he louses his soul !! You can not serve 2 masters. ether you love one and serve the other . Faith with out works is dead !! Bible Christianity and American Christianity are 2 different religions. Some American will be saved. But the vast majority are unfortunately lost !! The bulk of people that will be saved will come from poor nations, not rich !!
Bob, Americans pay a lot of money to the poor. How much is enough?
2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
1Ti 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Pro 18:9 Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.
Pro 20:4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
There is in fact a high calling for personal responsibility and lack of diligent planning and working. This is the mentality of many poor nations, but it is first and foremost a SPIRITUAL problem. How much money is enough? And when does personal responsibility come into play?
Do you realize the black hole that Haiti is? Billions have been given to that tiny island and thousands are still in rubble. It's not that we don't give enough. It's a sinful nation full of spiritual darkness and corruption. We must be good stewards of the Lord's money He has given us.
So again, Bob, how much giving is enough?
I think you are jumping to huge conclusions, by using some arbitrary standard of money to determine who is a Christian and who is not.
Faith is shown in a myriad of ways. Money is merely one. On the other hand, many unbelievers give money and they have no faith, so it is not a measure of one's faith.
The point of James 2 isn't to promote socialism. It's dealing with the sin of favoritism—the very first verse says this and then goes on to show how they are favoring one group over another. To favor the poor is just as wrong as Leviticus states.
So why do you tell American Christians we're not doing enough? What is your standard of "enough" and why do you measure Christians based on your personal standard of money? We are accountable for not throwing away the Lord's money to people who won't be responsible.
Dear Denise, unfortunately you mix politics, American religion and Christianity and come to a miss inform conclusion.
Also, I dont think you have a proper perspective on Haiti !
Have you been there ??
I have, and its not at all as you were told !!
Haitian people are hard working and christian believers ( in fact 45% are evangelical).
In my mind more than anywhere else in the world !!
In the church where I was there part of the MESBH, a 3000 baptist church organisation.
There are pockets of voodoo but nothing like the Satanism in the US.
No pornagraphie, drug use, alcoolics and so on ... There are no open homosexuality. probably prostitution but I did not see any !!
Children are well behave, clean and orderly.
I felt very safe and never was treated by no one.
This is a people that were persecuted and still are by the french and, yes, the Americains.
Il give you some history; In 1790, Haiti was occupied by the french that had more then 500,000 slaves. Haiti alone represented 25% of france's GDP !!
Gold, cotton, coffee, rum, and slaves ...
There was a revolt and a war that lasted 13 years.
The haitian won and overthrew the french. But it was a costly war.
The Americans and the English ( world top slave owners) and the world were stunned by this victory by a slave nation and decided to cut all commercial ties with Haiti.
Around 1812 the french surrounded the island again and wanted their slaves and land back.
They treated to attack and gave a ultimatum.
The Haitian did not want to go back to war so they negotiated ( were black mail) and had to pay 150 million french francs. It is equivalent to 23 billion dollars.
They gave the last payment in 1945.
That's why their infrastructure school, hospitals are so underfunded All their wealth for 150 years whent to pay the french.
And that's why the American government and other occupier dispise Haiti.
You see the propaganda that you were feed are lies.
The Americans, french, English are the bullies of the world.
They have a so call christian facade but are really Satan's domain.
Matthew 4;8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9“ All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
All the earthly kingdoms belong to Satan, including America.
And all the wealth of the rich nations of the world (G8) have been acquired by invading, occupying and stealing that of smaller nations.
So you ask, how much is annought ??
Well, how about reimbursing Africa for the millions of slaves that were killed and tortured!!
Reimbursing, Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, south America, and the list goes on and on ...
All American wars are based on false pretence.
God bless ...
Rob
Dear Denise,
Matthew 25;34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
God bless ...
Rob
It seems to me that you have bought into the anti-American, anti-West mentality, and have put a vague and arbitrary monetary standard onto Christians. I'm afraid it is you who are mixing politics with religion here.
Your standard of religion is based on false guilt and endless monetary giving which is not biblical. Scripture nowhere states that the church is a welfare organization nor is it guilty of slavery from hundreds of years ago. You rip out parts of verses to suit your socialism and do injustice to the Word. If you want to know the role and function of the local church, then you need to read the Bible's description and commands of the local church.
Mat 25:40 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these MY BROTHERS, you did it to me.' => the brothers of Christ. That is THOSE WHO ARE SAVED. Not everyone is in Christ. That's just what He was teaching about in the previous verses. There is no universal brotherhood of Jesus Christ, Rob:
Joh 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
Joh 1:13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
While Christians (as defined by Scripture, which is not mere outward works as you infer), are to help those in true need as the Lord gives opportunity, it is to first and primarily to the household of faith (as again, defined by Scripture, not a universal humanity). Acts discusses this too, by the way.
Gal 6:10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
This has nothing to do with earning forgiveness, which is what you seem to imply. White man is guilty of slavery, so the White Christian owes him money. Christ never puts the guilt of past sins of past generations on His children today. You are doing that, contrary to Scripture. That's basically Phariseeism. You want today's American (and to a far lesser extent, French) Christian to bear the guilt of all slavery everywhere. That's unjust and violates Scripture. Biblical Christians are to give out of love, grace, and obedience to the biblical Jesus. You want it as a RIGHT to a group you deem deserves it. You are actually burdening Christians with something that is not their burden. They didn’t enslave anyone and for you to say we have is a lie and is abusive, along with false guilt. You might want to deal with the Africans who are enslaving and abusing and starving and killing their own people right now, instead of trying to guilty what you think are rich American Christians.
Rob, you are guilty of the sin of favoritism.
Lev. 19: 15 ”‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
You hate white western Christians, judging them as unspiritual, judging them as not giving enough when you have no standard other than your own personal opinion and without an object standard which is wholly unreasonable and unbiblical, but you apparently seem to have achieve that vague goal. You're acting like a Pharisee.
Denise, thanks for your work here. Before reading your post, I was a little skeptical of this coalition. But seeing that such Godly and respected leaders are involved, I'm pretty comfortable with it now. Keep up the good work!
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