Rick Warren and Chrislam

Rick Warren's soldiers are circling the wagons for PR support against another false teacher, Jack Van Impe, according to The "Christian" Post.

Warren's response? "The stupid Chrislam lie wont die. Here are 2 true articles quoting me." And....????

First he's using his own employees to sustantiate his claim; well they have a bias and vested interest in circling the wagons b/c Warren's their boss. Considering the attempt at a slick response he repeatedly gave to Piper, and based on the plethora of evidence from Warren's own quotes over the years, quoting his own soldiers is hardly convincing. Now, I don't know if he has supported the Christlam religion. It doesn't matter. He's said enough against the Truth as well as by omission that its clear he's a liar AND a deceiver. Case in point, in his own protest to this Chrislam claim, he says:
"As an evangelist, I spend much of my time speaking to non-Christian groups. You cannot win your enemies to Christ; only your friends, so we must build bridges of friendship and love to those who believe differently so Jesus can walk across that bridge into their hearts. "

There are several problems with this:

1) According to the quran Muslims cannot take Christians or Jews as friends; they are to slaughter them.

2) Everyone outside of Christ is your enemy if you are in Christ. They hate Christ Jesus, they will hate you.

3)Friendships don't win anyone to Christ; this would be persuasion by man with a vested interest, not on the truth of Christ Jesus Himself and Scripture by the work of the Holy Spirit. Friendship is not a biblical method of evangelism. What we do see is just proclaimation of Christ. We can of course do that with friends, however that is never taught in Scripture as a method. Acts is a great example of evangelistic preaching in the public square, to anybody and everybody.

4) Telling your enemies their spiritual state and calling them to repent IS love. Loving them to Hell is NOT love. Its hating their soul. Acts 2 is a glaring contrast to what Warren calls in "building bridges". Peter goes straight to the heart of the issue by declaring Jesus Christ is the Messiah and only Savior and that his audience is to blame for His crucifixion. This is opposed to Warren's fake bridge building.

5) Jesus does not walk across any bridge that man builds; simply because there is no bridge. 2Cor. 6 states there IS no common bridge.

2Co 6:15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols?

See how far away the Pharisees were from Christ ---an eternity apart:

Joh 8:39 They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus *said to them, "If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham.

Joh 8:40 "But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do.

Joh 8:41 "You are doing the deeds of your father." They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God."

Joh 8:42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.

Joh 8:43 "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word.

Joh 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Joh 8:45 "But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.

Joh 8:46 "Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?

Joh 8:47 "He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God."

6) Jesus doesn't enter our hearts; the Holy Spirit does: Gal 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit is sent into our hearts, not Jesus:
Additionally, Warren prayed in the name of Islam prophet Isa as well as repeatedly being silent over the REAL Gospel. That's hardly proclaiming Jesus Christ!

Also, Rick signed the unity letter to the Muslims, declaring that Christians and Muslims worship the true God. We know that is not true because Islam denies Jesus Christ who is God and they deny the Trinity.

The Idol of Evolution

Evolution is an idol for which many "Christians" will divide from the Truth. This IS what heresy is by its nature is. Their loyalty is to doctrine of demons while giving mere lip service to the Lord they claim they follow. Their mutiny bears out their true condition, which is not of Christ.

As long as a "Christian" refuses to submit to the God of Genesis 1-3 and believe what HE stated and HOW He stated it (biblical doctrine), one cannot claim to be His. The King of kings will not have treachery in HIS kingdom, He will NOT have division in His churches over something so FOUNDATIONAL to the once-for-all-delivered Faith.

Tit 3:9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

Tit 3:10 Reject a factious man after a first and second warning,

Tit 3:11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

Heb. 11:1-3 and Col. 1 and Heb. 1 are very clear.

2Jn 1:9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.

2Jn 1:10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting;

2Jn 1:11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

Once shown the error of evolution, the Christian should repent of that sin and rejoice in the Truth that is clearly proclaimed in Scripture about the six literal days of Creation by God's word. To reject that and then inject fables and speculations is what the Gentiles do in their darkened understanding which is NOT how we learn Christ nor walk in HIM as Eph. 4 states. Such treachery is prohibited by God.

A "young earth view" (versus the Evolution's old earth view--so really we're talking about the doctrine that leads to the age of the earth, not the age itself) is the ONLY VIEW given by God. Its the only one Christians have proclaimed since God revealed how He created, the order in which He created, and how fast He created, to Man. Any other notions are to be utterly destroyed and rejected.

2Co 10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

Hank Hanegraaff Seduced By New Age Evolutionist William Dembski

Gen 1:27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them....31 God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Gen 2:7 Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. 8 The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.

As reported by Ken Ham of Answers In Genesis, Dr. William Dembski is research professor in philosophy at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Apparently this man hates the Genesis account of God creating everything in six literal days and that God created Man directly, in HIS image. His make-believe notions are so obvious its hard to miss his attack against God. Now he's seduced the "Bible Answer Man", Hank Hanegraaff to follow him.

Quote:

Dr. Dembski has stated in his book The End of Christianity. Here are just a couple of outlandish statements from his book:

For the theodicy I am proposing to be compatible with evolution, God must not merely introduce existing human-like beings from outside the Garden. In addition, when they enter the Garden, God must transform their consciousness so that they become rational moral agents made in God’s image . . . (The End of Christianity, p. 159)

Any evils humans experience outside the Garden before God breathes into them the breath of life would be experienced as natural evils in the same way that other animals experience them. The pain would be real, but it would not be experienced as divine justice in response to willful rebellion. Moreover, once God breathes the breath of life into them, we may assume that the first humans experienced an amnesia of their former animal life: Operating on a higher plane of consciousness once infused with the breath of life, they would transcend the lower plane of animal consciousness on which they had previously operated—though, after the Fall, they might be tempted to resort to that lower consciousness. (The End of Christianity, p. 154–155)

In this book, Dr. Dembski states that Noah’s Flood was a local event, not worldwide. (Now, some people have claimed Dr. Dembski has changed on this point, but I have seen nothing documenting this.)

End quote.

Horrific, right?

He goes on to report:

"Now, radio host Hank Hanegraaff asked Dr. Dembski to be a guest on his Bible Answer Man broadcast every Tuesday for the month of July. He is giving away free copies of Dr. Dembski’s The End of Christianity to anyone who requests it (with a donation of any amount) for the month of July as well. Dr. Dembski’s article “Old Earth Creationism and the Fall” will be featured soon in Hanegraaff’s Christian Research Journal; Hanegraaff is also giving away copies of the article. Hanegraaff endorsed the book when it was published, and he says during the radio show that he “believes in this book.” "

End quote.

I guess I'm not totally surprised---Hanegraaff has been moving away from biblical truth for a while now. What struck me about this article is that Dembski comes off as a New Ager, talking about a higher level of conscienceness.

‎"Hath God said?"

Dembski seems like a New Ager with his use of "higher plane of consciousness" and claim that man somehow has hidden memories of a former life as an animal; this seems akin to reincarnation. How in the world he came up with his nightmare of all of this nonsense is beyond me, but its NOT CHRISTIAN, its not even rational. He's lost his marbles up in that high ivory tower they call "academia". Put another way, the man studied himself away from truth. He needs to just proclaim what he already is: not a Christian.

This war is not new, but it was not considered Christian before. Consider this:

The Down Grade SECOND ARTICLE April 1887 Sword and Trowel by Robert Shindler

Dr. Joseph Priestley, the great champion of Socinianism among NonconformistsHe says:—"In my time the academy was in a state peculiarly favorable to the serious pursuit of truth, as the students were about equally divided upon every question of much importance, such as liberty, necessity, the sleep of the soul, and all the articles of theological orthodoxy and heresy; in consequence of which, all these topics were the subject of continual discussion. Our tutors, also, were of different opinions, Dr. Ashworth taking the orthodox side of every question, and Mr. Clark, the sub-tutor, that of heresy, though always with the greatest modesty. Both of our tutors being young, at least as tutors, and some of the senior students excelling more than they could pretend to do in several branches of study, they indulged us in the greatest freedoms. The general plan of our studies, which may be seen in Dr. Doddridge's published lectures, was exceedingly favorable to free enquiry, as we were referred to authors on both sides of every question. In this situation I saw reason to embrace what is generally called the heterodox side of every question."

But in too many cases sceptical daring seems to have taken the place of evangelical zeal, and the husks of theological speculations are preferred to the wholesome bread of gospel truth. With some the endeavor seems to be not how steadily and faithfully they can walk in the truth, but how far they can get from it. To them divine truth is like a lion or a tiger, and they give it "a wide berth." Our counsel is—Do not go too near the precipice; you may slip or fall over. Keep where the ground is firm; do not venture on the rotten ice.

The first step astray is a want of adequate faith in the divine inspiration of the sacred Scriptures. All the while a man bows to the authority of God's Word, he will not entertain any sentiment contrary to its teaching. "To the law and to the testimony," is his appeal concerning every doctrine. He esteems that holy Book, concerning all things, to be right, and therefore he hates every false way. But let a man question, or entertain low views of the inspiration and authority of the Bible, and he is without chart to guide him, and without anchor to hold him.

But when, on the other hand, reason has been exalted above revelation, and made the exponent of revelation, all kinds of errors and mischiefs have been the result.....Human reason is exalted to a higher office, and what is not comprehensible by its grasp, is not readily received. The mind of the Socinian feels still less veneration for the Word of God; for, according to his sentiments, some parts of it are not inspired; mistakes occur in the reasoning of the apostles; not a few passages are unauthentic, and what remains is interpreted with a latitude as to the expressions and language of Scripture, which would not be tolerated in expounding the sense of any other writer." ("History of Dissenters," by Bogue and Bennet.)

They run in 'the course of this world,' follow every fashionable folly, and family and personal godliness seems in general to be lost among them. There is scarcely any appearance of life and zeal in the cause of religion, which demands and deserves the greatest.

End quote.

Tim Keller and Prayer

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Tim Keller sure is proud of himself.

Quote:

I like to use Luther's contemplative method that he outlines in his famous letter on prayer that he wrote to his barber....There are two kinds of Bible reading that I try to do. I read the psalms through every month using the Book of Common Prayer's daily office. I also read through the Bible using Robert Murray M'Cheyne's reading calendar.

Besides morning prayer (M'Cheyne, Psalms, meditation, and petition) and evening prayer (Psalms and repentance) I try as often as possible to take five minutes in the middle of the day to take a spiritual inventory, either by remembering the more spiritually radioactive ideas from my morning devotion, or by a quick look at my most besetting sins and idols. I do that to see whether so far that day I've given in to bad attitudes such as pride, coldness and hardness of heart, anxiety, and unkindness. If I see myself going wrong, the mid-day prayer can catch it. The problem with mid-day prayer is finding a time for it, since every day is different. All I need is to get alone for a few minutes, but that is often impossible, or more often than not I just forget. However, I carry a little guide to mid-day prayer in my wallet which I can take out and use.

End quote. Source.

Problems:

Luther taught a false gospel of justification and salvation by water sprinkling and the eucharist. Gal. 1:8-9 says such a man is accursed. He was blind to the Truth and promoted Romanism despite his tiff with his Mother Roman church. Between his Larger Catechism and 95 Theses, this is very clear. Therefore, use of this man is the broad road that leads to Rome.

The Book of Common Prayer is from Rome’s daughter the Anglican church. Why use what an illegitimate and dead church uses….unless you actually have common ground with them. In that case, then, one is lost. There is no life in the flesh.

I’ve noticed he’s gotten on the Piper-loves-M’Cheyen wagon. Seems that’s the latest trend. I find this troublesome.

There’s a lot of of pride and arrogance dripping from Keller as he props himself up as an example of Contemplative praying. First and foremost, Keller denies the Creation account as Genesis has dictated; he is very Emergent and worldly, and has promoted Eastern Mysticism at his church, in addition to his feminism in allowing women to teach men at church. Here’s a list of why he’s dangerous is here.

So he can pat himself on the back about how he’s found the secret to praying that is somehow on another spiritual plain (Gnostic); the fact of the matter is, the man doesn’t even hold Scripture very high, nor does he believe what it says. Scripture alone tells us to meditate on Scripture and on Christ---we don’t need all these programs and dead lost men who can’t lead us to Christ anyway, to bring us into a higher level of spirituality. That, however, is exactly what Keller seeks (his church taught “The Way Of the Monk” and Lectio Divina prayers). He is the blind leading the blind.

What Scripture says:

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. 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. 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!-- 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Mat 6:6 "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Mat 6:7 "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.

Mat 6:8 "So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Mat 6:9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

Mat 6:10 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

Mat 6:11 'Give us this day our daily bread.

Mat 6:12 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Mat 6:13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]'

CJ Maney Steps Down From SGM...for now

As reported by The "Christian" Post:

"Mahaney has chosen to step back from his leadership position at Sovereign Grace Ministries after facing charges not of immorality or financial impropriety, but of certain character flaws such as "pride, unentreatability, deceit, sinful judgment, and hypocrisy."

"These charges (from former pastors and leaders in Sovereign Grace) are serious and they have been very grieving to read," Mahaney said in his announcement last week."

For the issues from the other side: http://sgmrefuge.com/ and also: http://www.sgmsurvivors.com/

From what I can gather, the problem with SGM is their "shepherding". I've personally experienced some similar issues with the church our family used to be members of for sixteen years. Too high of a view of the pastor/elder will lead to abuse of the role. Consider this "vicar" view from SGM. I suspect its partially from the Charismatic view of the OT prophets/roles placed into today's churches (SGM is Charismatic/Pentecostal and has historically embraced Third Wave Pentecostals into their membership), as well as the Calvinist acceptance of the validity of the RCC on some level. Its just my view, but I think that might be some of the basis for the problems, along with lack of teachability among the leadership (Reformers are notorious for thinking their leadership would never be deceived nor deceive them--ex: Piper and Warren). Also the gnostic "only certain elightened people" can really know the truth or really have wisdom, that is, only leadership can, and therefore they reject the Holy Spirit's gifting of people among them and the accountability they have to the people.

We need to be careful to test everything and all people, especially teachers/leaders against Scripture and stay loyal to Christ alone at all costs. May God grant us the grace and power to do so.

Anxiety vs. Faith

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.

~George Mueller

The Language of Evolution by John D. Morris, Ph.D.

"In case you haven’t noticed, evolution has its own special language. Science properly uses specific words, often from Latin, to clarify information to those who know the “language,” but evolution’s words often confuse, clouding the true meaning. One such term is “natural selection.” Let’s break this down, carefully examining each word, and maybe we can then discern if it clearly portrays truth.

The word “selection” is an action word, implying that someone or something is selecting from available options. These variants from which it chooses are thought to be provided by random mutations, genetic recombinations, or even non-random mutations. In evolutionary thinking, there is no overriding mind or thoughtful selector, and there certainly is no designer who can make intelligent choices. So, the selection must be made in a mindless, thoughtless fashion, with no end goal in sight. True natural selection can be only unthinking, unable to plan for the future or produce specific choices on purpose. It is impotent to influence the raw material and facilitate its (non-existent) choices."

~ Source: Morris, J. 2011. The Language of Evolution. Acts & Facts. 40 (7): 16.

All Truth Begins With Genesis

"Indeed, all truth, in every area of life, finds its beginning in the Genesis record of creation and the other events of primeval history. That is why God placed it first in the Bible. One vital goal here at ICR has always been to urge Christians—and then others—to get back to Genesis as the foundation of foundations, to be inaugurated, as God proposed, in every realm of our lives." - Acts & Facts, ICR

Evangelism and Godly Living Can't Be By the World's Ways

Lately people claim doctrine isn’t important, church isn’t important , how we evangelize isn’t important, and how we live isn’t important. Rubbish. Reading over Eph. 4 (especially focusing on 11-23) after hitting some key passages in church yesterday I made some observations.

First, Eph. 4 starts off with how we ARE TO WALK “in a manner worthy of the calling by which we’ve been called.” To “walk” indicates a consistant practice, consistant way of living; simply it means to “practice”. The way we learn to walk in a manner worthy of our calling by Christ, is to be in a local church.

Elsewhere we see Paul telling us how God has instructed us on the structure of the local church (Eph. 4:10): Titus 1, 1Tim. 3, 1Cor. 14, Matt. 18 are examples. Act 2:42 “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” By this, we are attain unity of the faith, grow up in Christ, and are no longer to be children (command) carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, craftiness in deceiftful scheming. The accountability and stability of being in a local church helps us obey this Scripture.

We are then told how NOT TO WALK. We are not to practice nor live by the ways of the world, that is, by the futility of the fruitless thinking of the Gentiles (unbelievers). As Christians, we are commanded to NOT use the ways of the world, but rather reject it, for it has nothing beneficial for us as Christians in life and in godliness. Moreover, its deadly.

The unbeliever's walk is described as anything but good: futile, darkened, excluded from the life of God, ignorant, hardened in heart, callous, senuality, greedy for every kind of impurity. As the way in which unbeliever’s think, understand, and live, God says: there is nothing here that we are to borrow from at all. Nor is this the way in which we are to evangelize.

Someone once said in regard to evangelism and preaching, “do not appeal to that which is fallen” and this is true. This is exactly what Eph. 4 is talking about. The spiritually dead have no understanding and their thinking is utterly futile. How we learned of Christ was NOT in this way. Think about it: how did Peter learn Christ Jesus is the Son of the living God? By flesh and blood (that is, by man, by rationality, by logic, by the fallen mind, by the teachers of the day?) It was revealed to Peter by God the Father, Jesus said. And so it is when we evangelize.

To use worldly means to win souls is nothing more than to further win souls to HELL yet telling them they're on their way to Heaven. The thinking, the worldview, the practice of the world leads to Hell. So why, WHY would a Christian use the things of the world to appeal to that which is DEAD and condemned by God, to try to lead one to Christ? It is not only anti-biblical, it is utterly insane to even consider doing so! Logic, rationality, entertainment (music, dance, concert-like atmosphere)—that is, appealing to the senses, is diametrically opposed to the way in which we are to proclaim and learn of the Gospel of Christ!

Joh 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

Rom 1:16 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.

By the way, Eph. 4:20-21 talks about learing Christ, hearing Christ, and being taught IN Christ. This necessitates verbal communication of the Gospel, not some silent witness as so many claim. And we HEAR CHRIST when we hear the Gospel. I think that’s VERY interesting. We don’t hear man, we hear the HOLY HOLY HOLY God when HIS gospel is proclaimed.

And lastly, this gospel that is proclaimed, not by appealing to the flesh, the sinful lusts, the darkened understanding of unbelievers, leads to living a life in a manner worthy of God. In this gospel we are told not only of who Christ Jesus is, all the truth that is in HIM, we are told that salvation necessitates a NEW WALK, new patterns, new thinking—not clinging to parts of the old way of life, the old manners, the old culture, the old worldviews, the philophies of man, the deceit and scheming of man.

Doctrine leads to right thinking and to a life worthy of the calling, worthy of God:

Eph 4:23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Truth by necessity means we cannot add the lies of humanism/psychology/self-esteem/culture – that which is impure. We are to utterly reject all of this if we are in Christ.

I’d like to offer a few notes from the MacArthur study Bible since it sums up this distinction of unbelievers from believers:

4:17–19 In these verses, Paul gives 4 characteristics of the ungodly lifestyles which believers are to forsake.

4:17 the futility of their mind. First, unbelievers are intellectually unproductive. As far as spiritual and moral issues are concerned, their rational processes are distorted and inadequate, inevitably failing to produce godly understanding or moral living. Their life is empty, vain, and without meaning (cf. Rom. 1:21–28; 1 Cor. 2:14; Col. 2:18).

4:18 alienated from the life of God. Second, unbelievers are spiritually separated form God, thus ignorant of God’s truth (1 Cor. 2:14), and their willing spiritual darkness and moral blindness is the result (cf. Rom. 1:21–24; 2 Tim. 3:7). They are blind, or “hard” like a rock.

4:19 being past feeling. Third, unbelievers are morally insensitive. As they continue to sin and turn away from God, they become still more apathetic about moral and spiritual things (cf. Rom. 1:32). lewdness … uncleanness. Fourth, unbelievers are behaviorally depraved (cf. Rom. 1:28). As they willingly keep succumbing to sensuality and licentiousness, they increasingly lose moral restraint, especially in the area of sexual sins. Impurity is inseparable from greediness, which is a form of idolatry (5:5; Col. 3:5). That some souls may not reach the extremes of vv. 17–19 is due only to God’s common grace and the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit.

4:20, 21 learned … heard … taught. Three figurative descriptions of salvation, the new birth.

4:21 as the truth is in Jesus. The truth about salvation leads to the fullness of truth about God, man, creation, history, life, purpose, relationships, heaven, hell, judgment, and everything else that is truly important. John summed this up in 1 John 5:20.

For more go here.

Post-Modern Pastors And Scripture

Tit 1:9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

Tit 2:6 Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; 7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. 15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Post-Modern “pastors” and teachers do not fulfill Titus 1-2. Instead, they waver and embrace men of unsound words and doctrine, men of impurity, all the while claiming they are “learning” and “don’t know” themselves. Trying to make fake humility a virtue, when in fact its dishonest and prideful, they reject the exhortation and commands of these passages, therefore disqualifying themselves as elders/teachers of any sort.

Furthermore, to claim imperfection and therefore continue in error IS to reject the commands given above. Perfection is never an issue at any time EXCEPT for Scripture and the God of Scripture. So using words like “flawed” or phrases like “no one’s perfect” is unacceptable when it comes to a pastor teaching the Word and offering other pastors to use their pulpits to teach their sheep.

Elders are to “hold fast” to the Faithful Word. That is, “cling to” to it and not embrace error which “contradicts” sound doctrine, nor the men through which such deceipt and rebellion come through. This requires 1) being saved, 2) knowing Scripture, 3) being mature in the faith, 4) being discerning, 5) confronting, 6) rebuking SEVERELY, and 7) therefore NOT giving platform to such men and justifying them as “imperfect” or “immature” or “learning”. Rather than being given a microphone to teaching, they are to be silenced.

MacArthur's Words Appropriate For John Piper and Rick Warren

Here's what MacArthur says in his book (remember this was before Piper came out defiantly promoting Rick Warren):

"..that liberals arose from within evangelical ranks, used evangelical vocabulary, and gained acceptance through relentless appeals for peace and tolerance. The new modernism is following precisely the same course, and that tactice seems likely to take evangelicals by surprise once again.

Most of the market-driven megachurches insist they would never compromise doctrine. They are attractive to evangelicals precisely became they claim to be as orthodox in their doctrine as they are unorthodox in their methodology. Multitudes are sufficiently reassured by such promises and simply abandon their critical faculties, thus increasing their vulnerability. Unfortunately, real discernment is in short supply among modern evangelicals.

– John MacArthur, Ashamed of the Gospel, p. 200

Reformed Professor Steve Brown: not so Christian

I don't normally post from anyone from Team Pyro, however this is an exception. Dan Phillips gives information on PCA/Reformed Theological Seminary professor/Author/Radio Talk Show Host Steve Brown. Phillips sets up his opening remarks and preface here which is Part 1 and brief. Part 2 is the meat of the matter.

I bring this up simply because Steve Brown seems to exemplify more and more Reformers these days. In other words, in my view based on the things Phillips reports about which is based on a few messages Brown gave at RTS, Brown is liberal. Reformers are liberal. And I do believe its because they stress a "greasy grace". This is also one reason why I won't use the label "Reformer", with the other reason being I don't adhere to the basics of Reformed theology nor their view of history. I am a Sovereign Grace Baptist.

Of interest I found points 8-12. Specifically:

8.He says some things that are absolutely, barkingly, wildly irresponsible; and if his students take any of them seriously, they will ruin their ministries and other people. For instance:

(A) Brown says that, when one is preparing a sermon, and he thinks of saying something but his conscience or judgment tells him he shouldn't — he should anyway! Because that's probably God talking to him. So, in the Brown universe, verses likeProverbs 10:19; 12:18; 15:28; 17:27; 21:23; and 29:20 are not as important as expressing oneself in a personal pursuit of "grace."

1. (B) Brown also tells Christians they should disagree with their pastor once a month, period, just because it's healthy for their assertiveness.
   (C) Brown speaks of a Christian leader who fell morally, badly, and says in effect that he's glad he did, because it was good for him. Too bad about the guy's family and church, I guess.
   (D) Brown urges all of them to cuss, just to do it. I don't recall an exposition ofEphesians 4:29.
   (E) Brown keeps talking about dialogues he has with God, and quoting (usually without qualification) things God supposedly says to him, Steve Brown, that are not in Scripture. But it's okay, remember, because he says believes in the Reformed position on the inerrancy and sufficiency of the Bible, and he isn't a charismatic, and maybe he's hearing God wrong. (Those are his "covers.")

   9.Brown says weird things about repentance. I listened twice, and still can't quite explain it. He denies the Biblical teaching that it means a change of mind which necessarily issues in adorning fruitful actions... though those elements come back into his teaching at other points. Just another weird aspect of his teaching. [UPDATE: I listened again. Brown says that he used to teach something like that forgiveness was apologizing for spilling the milk, repentance was cleaning it up. He now regards that as a terrible error and false teaching, for which he apologized everywhere he had preached it. Repentance is not change, he insists emphatically. It is understanding who God is and what He did and who I am (?!!). So it's a New Agey realization; it isn't a decisive change of mind that issues in a change of behavior, because we can't change (Matthew 3:8; Acts 26:20; Romans 12:1-2 and etc. to the contrary notwithstanding).]

12. Again and again Brown trots out his creds: I am a Christian, I am orthodox, I am Reformed, I am a five-pointer, I am conservative, I believe in literal 6-day creation, and on and on. But then he says...

(A) that if this unsaved Jewish rabbi he personally likes doesn't go to Heaven, he (Brown) doesn't want to go, either (which means that the rabbi's presence is more important to him than Jesus' presence, though I'm sure Brown doesn't intend that meaning); and...
(B) Brown says that there are no "super-Christians," except maybe (Mary-worshiping proponent of a Gospel-perverting sect) "Mother" Theresa, and (longtime doctrinal compromiser) Billy Graham — so, in other words, these two may well be above every other living Christian, including John Piper, John MacArthur, Al Mohler, and everyone else; and
(C) Brown frequently speaks of how much insight he's gotten from this or thatRoman Catholic or otherwise heretical writer, on various aspects of Christian living; and
(D) Brown enthuses about what a great and real relationship with God unbelieving, apostate Jews have; and
(E) Brown mentions how he wears a New Age bracelet for some physical ailment, quipping that he "tried Jesus" and it didn't work, so he is trying this ("and I thought I heard the angels laugh"); and...
(F) frequently says in passing how well this and that apostate heretic "understands grace." And...
(G) Brown says that (unrepentant antinomian murderess) Annie Lamott is a wonderful Christian person who he thinks is so great and loves to feature on his radio show.
(H) Brown says that Harry Emerson Fosdick was a Christian, and probably would be "on our side" (or some equivalent) if he were alive today

End quote. (bold original, red original, blue is my emphasis)

But this is what is happening in the Reformed circles a la Tim Keller, Mark Driscoll, John Piper. Its also the same with Warren who easily convinced Piper of being sovereign grace. This is such a shame and a sham. Examples of this are elsewhere at RTS as well as the ETS and other places.

Faith

Faith which depends on signs and sensations isn't faith, it's doubt looking for proof. If faith can't believe without sensation it's not faith at all. Jesus refused the way of sensation, for it was the people's way, it was the wrong way, it was the way to failure. – John MacArthur

JOHN PIPER, RICK WARREN & FOSTER-WILLIARDISM

Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries reports:

Quote:

Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?” (Amos 3:3)

The Lord Will Always See Through Anyone’s Attempt At ”File Cabinet Orthodoxy”

As I said in previous AM posts such as Acts 29 Network And Reformed Counter Reformation Spirituality?and Acts 29 Pastor Matt Chandler On Being A Reformed Charismatic, in my estimation, there’s very good reason for concern as these people are rapidly growing in popularity, and in influence within the younger sector of the Reformed Camp; blessed as they are by Dr. John Piper, who’s seen by some as a “pioneer” of this New Calvinism.[1]

So now you have the backdrop as to why I believe it’s become necessary to begin looking more closely at what appears to be a form of postmodern Calvinism in that camp; one which professes Reformation theology while, at the same time, also embracing corrupt Counter Reformation spirituality. It just so happens that today I was again sent a link to a book review by Dr. Gary Gilley, pastor of Southern View Chapel, where he looks at Dr. Piper’s When I Don’t Desire God.
In his review Dr. Gilley brings out his own concerns with some of the more curious teaching of Dr. John Piper:

Finally, Piper quotes favorably from a very disturbing stable of authors: Dietrich Bonhoeffer (popular liberal theologian, who, by the way, was executed not for his faith in Christ, but for his part in an assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler) (p. 90), Dallas Willard (leader in the unbiblical spiritual formation movement) (p. 119), G.K. Chesterton (Roman Catholic author) (p. 196), and Richard Foster (father and main promoter of the infiltration of Roman Catholic mysticism into evangelical circles) (pp. 192-193). He also speaks twice of the “dark night of the soul” which comes from counter-reformation Catholic mystic St. John of the Cross (pp. 217, 229).

Most disturbing is Foster’s quote calling for “new prophets to arise in our day” to which Piper responds, “And when they arise, one way that we fight for joy in God is to read what they write” (p. 193). After authoring a book which majors on pointing us to the Bible in our fight for joy, it is disconcerting to now read of an encouragement to read the words of modern prophets; and coming from Foster’s perspective and Piper’s theology on prophets, they are both referring to extrabiblical revelation through present-day prophets). (Online source)

Most disturbing is right; you know e.g. from my articles such as Steve Gladen, Saddleback Church Small Groups, And Quaker Mystic Spirituality and Saddleback Church, Rick Warren, And Spiritual Disciplinesthat the Emerging Church would end up being a Trojan Horse; one which squishy evanjellyfish leaders would bring right into their own camp, even though it’s the vehicle from which this spurious CSM—a romanticized version of the Counter Reformation (hello!) spirituality of the apostate Roman Catholic Church—would be unloaded. You should know that the EC has been pawning off this spurious CSM for years as so-called Spiritual Formation.

I’ve also explained to you it happens to be an incontrovertible fact that the main purveyors of CSM would be the Living Spiritual Teacher and Quaker mystic Richard Foster, along with Southern Baptist ministerDallas Willard; whom many people don’t seem to realize is quite literally Foster’s spiritual twin and teaches, and practices, the exact same things. You may recall that I’ve also told you, in no uncertain terms, it’s well past time for evangelical leaders to begin recognizing the inclusive, and increasingly universal, fruit of this disgusting spiritual skubalon of a vertible cult of Foster-Willardism.

Yet as we look in the library of Bethlehem Baptist Church where John Piper is pastor we find Richard Foster, Prayer Finding the Heart’s True Home...

In his The Dangers of Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines, a thorough, and Biblical, dismantling of Willard’s twisting of God’s Word in the book above, Christian apologist Bob DeWaay carefully shows us that on one hand Dallas Willard admits these so-called spiritual disciplines are not taught in the Bible, but then on the other, he does try to teach Foster-Willardism’s quasi-Quaker and Roman Catholic mysticism is actually found in Matthew 11:29-30; where Jesus says to us — “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Obviously, on the face of this text we don’t see any semi-ascetic so-called spiritual disciplines; Willard instead imports them into this passage of the Bible.

End quote.

For the entire article, which includes Bethlehem Baptist Church's webpages which show them offering New Age Contemplative authors, along with more information and footnotes go here.

For information I have written about regarding John Piper, go here.

The Gospel

(James Smith, "Christ Exalted, Saints Comforted, and Sinners Directed" 1855)

"For we know, brethren beloved by God, that He has chosen you--because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction." 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5

The gospel reveals . . .
a Savior, in whom we must trust;
a Sovereign, whom we must obey;
a Priest, on whose atonement we must rest;
a Prophet, from whom we must learn;
a Friend, in whose love we must confide;
a Brother, from whom we may expect;
a Father, whose authority we must revere;
an Apostle, whose mission we must copy; and
an Advocate, to whom we must commit our cause.

The gospel . . .
flows from the free love, rich grace, and abundant mercy of our God;
is founded in the Savior's person, mediation, and death;
becomes effectual through the revelation, operation, and application of the Holy Spirit. By it, He begets faith, imparts love, and excites hope; and when accompanied by His blessing--the gospel is received in demonstration and power.

The gospel . . .
produces penitence--and godly sorrow for sin;
begets hatred to sin--and love to holiness;
weans from the world--and wafts the affections to heaven;
makes us zealous for God--and the good of immortal souls;
delivers us from the power of darkness--and translates us into the kingdom of Jesus;
crucifies the flesh--and liberates the spirit;
unites Christians in love--and raises us above the fear of death;
fortifies us against persecution--and makes us rejoice in suffering for Immanuel's name;
humbles the spirit--and dignifies the man;
destroys covetousness--and makes us benevolent;
roots out pride--and implants meekness;
transforms us from the world--and conforms us to God;
begets hatred to impurity--and makes us chaste;
throws down idolatry--and leads us to worship God;
conquers SELF--and exalts Christ;
softens the hard heart--and produces kindness;
delivers from sin, Satan, and the world--and devotes body, soul, and spirit to the Lord.

Family Radio Employees Stay

As I knew would happen, Harold Camping said May 21 was a "spiritual" and not a physical "rapture". How that's even possible is beyond me. He's sticking with his Oct. 21 date of total destruction ("physical") of the world. Yeah, he's going to say that too, was merely physical, on Oct. 22. Then he'll just have to embrace the heretical Hyper-Preterism and be done with it since his predictions are never real. Scripture says that the REAL Rapture will be physical and the destruction of the heavens and the earth will be physical too.

While this is pretty clear to most, what's an outgrowth of this problem is that "Christians" are not leaving Family Radio (Camping's radio stations), even though many didn't believe his prophecy.

According to one report:

On its website, Redeemer Broadcasting also addressed Family Radio employees, many of whom don't believe in Camping's teachings, and urged them to seek employment elsewhere.

According to Redeemer, over 80-90 percent of staff at Family Radio disagree with Camping.

"We know many of you personally, and empathize with you. You have been forced to produce programming for a man who no longer walks in the precepts of the Historic Christian faith. You are terribly frustrated, your hands are tied, and there is little to do but wait it out. There is a light at the end of the tunnel – please call us, and we can provide some encouragement."

To have refused to leave this abomination for the sake of an income shows that perhaps those 80-90% are not HIS either. They rather have money than be loyal to the Christ they call Lord. These are not ignorant people, helpless victims. Oh no, these people are making money off of a false teacher, false prophet, and false Christian who is taking money from thousands on top of everything else, and leading many astray. Blood money, demonic money. Its utterly shameful. Rather, they should have quite the moment they heard the false teachings of Camping, and trusted the Master for His care for their finances. He blesses those who obey Him and seek to put Him above all else.

What's worse than this date setting by fake prophet Camping, and therefore makes any "Christian" staying at any Family Radio station that much more of a traitor, is his utterly demon teaching against the church. He states that "The Holy Spirit has abandoned the churches." That which Jesus builds, that which He died for, that which He sustains, apparently Camping thinks is gone. So basically he's calling God a liar and a forsaker of His own!

Heb 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,"

Heb 13:6 so that we confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?"

Heb 13:7 Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Heb 13:9 Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

A false teacher cannot have a life worth imitating because his faith is itself an imitation. Camping is a glaring example of this. He's an utter hypocrite in doctrine and practice. Jesus Christ is faithful to those who are truly His, who abide in His Word which shows they belong to Him, feeding off of biblical truth and growing in the grace and knowledge of Him. This protects the soul from strange teachings which do not lead to a godly life, but one of chaos, confusion, and instability in mind and life.

I believe this is the real reason Camping has so many followers: justifying their hatred toward the local church and rebellion against the Lordship of the Lord. Such people are not HIS, but are an enemy of the King of kings. They speak against the King, they spread mutiny against the King and do not belong in His kingdom, but rather that of their own king, Satan's.

Mat 16:18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

Mat 18:15 "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. 17 "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Heb 10:25 Do not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Heb. 13: ^17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Churchless people avoid the blessing and reject the accountability of being under the leadership of godly leaders in a local assembly. They reject church discipline, partaking of the Lord's Table which is a command until He comes to remember His finished work on the cross; they reject baptism of new believers into membership; they reject giving offerings to the church and missions which are to come through local churches; they reject ministry spiritual gifts in the assembly as dictating by the Lord; they don't lead people into rebellion against the commands of qualified men to be leaders to shepherd HIS flock in a local assembly (1Peter 5; Titus 1; 1Tim. 3).

They are attracted to a group that promotes mutiny and treason. That is appealing to the flesh and shows they do not have a new heart that submits to the Lordship of the Lord (see Rom. 10).