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 Stott
Honorary 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 Keller
Pastor, 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 Mouw
President, 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.
6 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
Post a Comment