You are currently browsing the category archive for the ‘religion’ category.
After scouring the articles about Christians and Halloween, I decided to post this one from :
FOR THE AUTHOR – Taken from this highly recommended website
http://www.fortheauthor.blogspot.com/
Saturday, November 1, 2008
THE DAY AFTER A PAGAN “HIGH HOLY DAY”
Well, Hallowe’en is over for another year. It is a day, as a Christian, that I typically ignore. My sensible parents never allowed us to participate in the event other than to deposit gospel tracts in the bags of the candy-beggars. (My daddy was a pastor). We always had a great time, though, rounding up various unused items from the household (old belt buckles, other stuff we didn’t want) and added them to their bags of goodies, hooting with glee as we closed the door behind the unsuspecting trick-or-treaters. It continues to be a day that we don’t acknowledge other than as a pagan holiday. It always seemes to weird to me when people greet each other with “Happy Hallowe’en”! Happy? HAPPY!!? Scary, silly, or even devilish would be a more appropriate adjective to describe the event. It troubles me to think of what is going on behind the closed doors of the growing number of Wiccans, earth-worshippers and Satanists on that day. I hear their numbers are growing rapidly as people are turning away from the living God to worship created things. A lot of physical and sexual abuse is taking place behind those closed doors. It was interesting and informative to watch a television show on VisionTV yesterday talking about the true origins of Hallowe’en. They didn’t make any bones about its pagan past and its pagan present, speaking of its growth in popularity throughout North America.
Well, enough rambling. I found a good article about the issue that I thought I would pass on. “What is This? Christians Celebrating Halloween?” written Ray Gano of Prophezine, likens it to the act of adultery, or flirting with an old boyfriend after geting married. If you and your family are still “celebrating” Hallowe’en, you need to reconsider doing that, and ask yourself if it brings honor to Christ.
As you know I have posted many testimonies. This is a very important one.
kim
******************************************************************************************
My name is Donna and I am Bipolar. About 10 years ago my physician had me on 13 pills a day. The more I took the worse I became. I don’t think my third eye opened but I was psychotic and at times felt like I floated out of my body. Looking back I was absolutely tortured by demons.
Once I felt like two people, one being the real me and the other out to kill me. I did not want to die of course. I was on the end of the couch and for some reason I new this “other me” or demon was coming in for the kill. I knew it was about to overtake “me” and kill me. I called my mother and screamed, “please come over now!!!! I am going to die!!!” My entire family came over and I had clumps of hair in my hands and bald spots on my head. My best friend was there and said my face was so twisted and blue it did not even look like me! She was scared to get close to me and stood by the door. I began clawing my face and for whatever reason started screaming for my father to get on his knees and apologize. My father would not. I began clawing harder and blood was streaming down my face, and my mother was screaming at my dad.. “Don’t just do it” Looking back my father looked so humiliated on the floor saying he is sorry. HORRIBLE, I cant believe it. It was like I was possessed and this demon was holding me hostage.
Finally my parents grabbed me, put me in the car, and fought me all the way to the hospital. I hit the doctor, pulled my IV out and finally ended up in four point restraint. Not many months after that, I was walking through the house when everyone was asleep and IT came over me to kill myself, a complete peace came over me I haven’t felt in ages, like an Egyptian, I prepared my body bathing, oils, and perfume, sat down at the kitchen table and began swallowing pills. I was happy! The next morning my husband found me on the floor blue. 3 days in ICU they said I would not make it, and by the grace of God I woke up!
I have been plagued by demons, alcoholic, and show signs of psychic abilities, and out of body experience.
I love the Lord with all my heart and I am off all meds now and I am much better. I still struggle with alcohol, please pray. I know for certain the third eye is a demonic doorway. People that take dmt immediately see geometry, snakes, dragons, and aliens. Aliens are demons posing as if they are from another “universe.”
Alister Crowleys’ “ascended master” was an alien and he drew a picture of it, it is an alien. God said in the end times peoples hearts would fail (heart attack) them when they look in the sky. I believe it will be UFOs covering the sky, their message, “we are your creators, we are back to EVOLVE YOU to the next level.”
The rapture will be explained by saying they cleansed the earth from the backward thinking individuals so the rest can evolve to the next level. On you tube new agers all over the place have said their ascended master (demons) have told them they are from Sirius, Pleiadies, Orion, and they are their creator “creative intelligent creator” and the “Great Awakening has already begun.” I know it sounds crazy but look at the History channel, ALL about UFOs. The Vatican has already put out the anouncement if aliens show up remember they are our BROTHERS! Go ahead goggle it, Vatican Aliens, It was on Fox News, CNN, everywhere this past May. Crazy!
This is the lastest email coming out of Global Harvest Ministries – The names mentioned should be used as a warning list.
*****************************************************************************************************************
A Lakeland Update
From C. Peter Wagner
October 29, 2008
From C. Peter Wagner
October 29, 2008
This is an update on the aftermath of the Lakeland Outpouring.
As most of you know, a day or so after I went to Lakeland and helped align Todd
Bentley with Revival Alliance on June 23, the veil of secrecy over a number of serious,
hidden sins began to come off. God has now shaken what could be shaken in Todd’s
life. On August 12 he announced that he was leaving his wife of nine years, and
it had been revealed that he had been directing his attentions toward another woman.
Bentley with Revival Alliance on June 23, the veil of secrecy over a number of serious,
hidden sins began to come off. God has now shaken what could be shaken in Todd’s
life. On August 12 he announced that he was leaving his wife of nine years, and
it had been revealed that he had been directing his attentions toward another woman.
This is now history, but many have been asking for an update.
I have delayed sending you this email until I had an official statement from Todd’s
apostolic alignment, John Arnott, Ché Ahn, and Bill Johnson of Revival Alliance.
Here is their statement, issued October 23, 2008, four months after the alignment:
apostolic alignment, John Arnott, Ché Ahn, and Bill Johnson of Revival Alliance.
Here is their statement, issued October 23, 2008, four months after the alignment:
PUBLIC STATEMENT ON TODD BENTLEY FROM REVIVAL ALLIANCE
Dear friends, several years ago, six leadership couples came together formed a relationally
based, non-denominational network called Revival Alliance.
based, non-denominational network called Revival Alliance.
When the Lakeland revival broke out Todd Bentley and the revival meetings were coming
under much criticism. At the suggestion of Peter Wagner, three of the members of
the Revival Alliance team went to Lakeland because the Alliance as a whole wanted
to express support for the Lakeland Outpouring and to commission Todd as a revivalistic
evangelist. Having been powerfully touched in the Toronto outpouring, and seeing
the opposition that came from leaders in the church because of that movement, we
wanted to stand with Todd and deflect some of the personal assaults that were coming
against him. Many of the attacks were coming from well-respected Christian leaders,
people that we still hold in high esteem. Yet the mandate from the Lord was clear.
under much criticism. At the suggestion of Peter Wagner, three of the members of
the Revival Alliance team went to Lakeland because the Alliance as a whole wanted
to express support for the Lakeland Outpouring and to commission Todd as a revivalistic
evangelist. Having been powerfully touched in the Toronto outpouring, and seeing
the opposition that came from leaders in the church because of that movement, we
wanted to stand with Todd and deflect some of the personal assaults that were coming
against him. Many of the attacks were coming from well-respected Christian leaders,
people that we still hold in high esteem. Yet the mandate from the Lord was clear.
And we stood with Todd and the Fresh Fire Ministries team to both endorse and support
this move of God.
this move of God.
Rory and Wendy Alec of God TV also took tremendous risk in airing the revival prime
time and broadcasting it to over 200 nations around the world. Their heart is to
capture and release the move of God, no matter where it happens, or who God uses
as His instrument. This unparalleled media attention gave unusual advertisement
for the outpouring. But it also put their whole team in an unusual, high-level position
of receiving both praise and criticism.
time and broadcasting it to over 200 nations around the world. Their heart is to
capture and release the move of God, no matter where it happens, or who God uses
as His instrument. This unparalleled media attention gave unusual advertisement
for the outpouring. But it also put their whole team in an unusual, high-level position
of receiving both praise and criticism.
The impact of the Lakeland Outpouring has been amazing, and it still continues.
The record of conversions and miracles of healing is extraordinarily great in number.
And the spreading of the revival to nation after nation has also been very significant.
The God TV broadcast stirred up the hunger in people from around the world to go
to Lakeland and receive from God, but then bring it home to their local churches.
The record of conversions and miracles of healing is extraordinarily great in number.
And the spreading of the revival to nation after nation has also been very significant.
The God TV broadcast stirred up the hunger in people from around the world to go
to Lakeland and receive from God, but then bring it home to their local churches.
Impartation seems to be one of the unusual markers of a genuine move of God. Revival
fires began to spread around the world as a result of the impartation received at
Lakeland. But as great as the fruit has been, so have the devastation and fallout
from Todd’s personal failure.
fires began to spread around the world as a result of the impartation received at
Lakeland. But as great as the fruit has been, so have the devastation and fallout
from Todd’s personal failure.
While there must be no toleration or whitewashing of sin, there must also be no
allowances for ungodly judgments in the name of Jesus. Hatred often masquerades
as a passion for holiness. And while the church has had its share of tragic failures
of leaders in recent days and equally tragic reactions, we must get this one right.
It is possible to promote holiness and accountability in the spirit of grace.
allowances for ungodly judgments in the name of Jesus. Hatred often masquerades
as a passion for holiness. And while the church has had its share of tragic failures
of leaders in recent days and equally tragic reactions, we must get this one right.
It is possible to promote holiness and accountability in the spirit of grace.
The quickness to condemn and abandon a fallen comrade has caused us as much concernas has the actual sin of our friend. Some want to humiliate and expose Todd beforethe world. And then there are others who want to point to the obvious anointing
on Todd’s life as the sign of God’s approval of Todd’s behavior. Neither is acceptable
to us. There must be deep repentance and thorough restoration.
on Todd’s life as the sign of God’s approval of Todd’s behavior. Neither is acceptable
to us. There must be deep repentance and thorough restoration.
The restoration process must be firm but loving, while holding to the Kingdom standards
of both holiness and grace. The initial goal is not to get Todd preaching again.
It is to get him healed from the issues of the heart that have brought devastation
to his family, and such shame and failure to him. His gift will always function
when given an opportunity. We just want it to come from a place of personal victory
and triumph this next time.
of both holiness and grace. The initial goal is not to get Todd preaching again.
It is to get him healed from the issues of the heart that have brought devastation
to his family, and such shame and failure to him. His gift will always function
when given an opportunity. We just want it to come from a place of personal victory
and triumph this next time.
Since the announcement of Todd’s leaving his wife, Revival Alliance has been working
to help restore our fallen brother. Sin is disastrous on any level, but it is well
known that “to whom much is given, much is required.” Gross sin from someone on
Todd’s level of influence is devastating. Even so, God is ready to heal and restore.
Todd recently spent three days in Redding, California, with Bill Johnson dealing
with the issues of his personal life. Following that, he went to Morningstar Ministries
in Charlotte, North Carolina, to be with Rick Joyner for the same reason. Rick,
along with the Morningstar leadership team, has offered to help in his restoration.
With great confidence, Revival Alliance recommends this as the appropriate process
for Todd’s healing and restoration. Todd will be moving to Morningstar Ministries
to live for a season. Rick Joyner’s wisdom, along with the strength of the Morningstar
community of believers, will be a great support to Todd as he deals with the heart
issues that brought about his failures. A council of three has also been formed
to give oversight to the restoration process. Rick Joyner, Jack Deere, and Bill
Johnson will give oversight as needed.
to help restore our fallen brother. Sin is disastrous on any level, but it is well
known that “to whom much is given, much is required.” Gross sin from someone on
Todd’s level of influence is devastating. Even so, God is ready to heal and restore.
Todd recently spent three days in Redding, California, with Bill Johnson dealing
with the issues of his personal life. Following that, he went to Morningstar Ministries
in Charlotte, North Carolina, to be with Rick Joyner for the same reason. Rick,
along with the Morningstar leadership team, has offered to help in his restoration.
With great confidence, Revival Alliance recommends this as the appropriate process
for Todd’s healing and restoration. Todd will be moving to Morningstar Ministries
to live for a season. Rick Joyner’s wisdom, along with the strength of the Morningstar
community of believers, will be a great support to Todd as he deals with the heart
issues that brought about his failures. A council of three has also been formed
to give oversight to the restoration process. Rick Joyner, Jack Deere, and Bill
Johnson will give oversight as needed.
We appreciate the prayers and support of countless numbers of believers who have
continued to support Fresh Fire Ministries. We also appreciate the prayer support
of so many for the Revival Alliance. We are also very thankful for Rick Joyner and
his whole team that will be working to bring about a complete healing to our friend,
Todd Bentley.
continued to support Fresh Fire Ministries. We also appreciate the prayer support
of so many for the Revival Alliance. We are also very thankful for Rick Joyner and
his whole team that will be working to bring about a complete healing to our friend,
Todd Bentley.
It should also be noted that effort is being made to ensure that Shonnah (Todd’s
wife) and children are also cared for and given opportunity to receive ministry
and help. As you may imagine, they have suffered great hurt from this failure.
There are many in Fresh Fire Ministries who also need help. Efforts are being made
to serve them as best as possible. John Arnott recently invited the Fresh Fire Ministries
associates to Toronto for their Signs and Wonders Conference to receive personal
ministry and encouragement. These kinds of efforts will continue.
wife) and children are also cared for and given opportunity to receive ministry
and help. As you may imagine, they have suffered great hurt from this failure.
There are many in Fresh Fire Ministries who also need help. Efforts are being made
to serve them as best as possible. John Arnott recently invited the Fresh Fire Ministries
associates to Toronto for their Signs and Wonders Conference to receive personal
ministry and encouragement. These kinds of efforts will continue.
Bill Johnson, John Arnott, and Rick Joyner have each spent time with the Fresh Fire
Ministries board, and will continue to assist them as needed through this tragic
season.
Ministries board, and will continue to assist them as needed through this tragic
season.
Fresh Fire Ministries will continue their crusades and conference schedule around
the world. They are a group of ministers with much integrity and a great heart for
the lost. Pray for them as they maneuver through the challenging season ahead, while
serving the church at large.
the world. They are a group of ministers with much integrity and a great heart for
the lost. Pray for them as they maneuver through the challenging season ahead, while
serving the church at large.
We are thankful for the honor of being involved in this crisis.
On behalf of Revival Alliance: John Arnott, Ché Ahn, and Bill Johnson
Thursday, October 23, 2008
On behalf of Revival Alliance: John Arnott, Ché Ahn, and Bill Johnson
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Apostolic Protocol
The Todd Bentley situation affords us a good contemporary case study in the proper
application of agreed-upon apostolic protocol. Before an international TV audience,
Todd affirmed that he desired to be apostolically aligned with Revival Alliance,
and then received their apostolic commissioning as a revivalistic evangelist.
application of agreed-upon apostolic protocol. Before an international TV audience,
Todd affirmed that he desired to be apostolically aligned with Revival Alliance,
and then received their apostolic commissioning as a revivalistic evangelist.
Almost immediately, the shifting that this alignment produced in the invisible world
caused Todd’s hidden personal life to begin to unravel until he left the Lakeland
Outpouring in early August. Host apostle, Stephen Strader, continued services in
Ignited Church until he finally closed it in October.
The Revival Alliance took the first steps toward dealing with Todd’s discipline
and possible restoration. However, Rick Joyner of Morningstar Ministries in Ft.
Mill, South Carolina, a friend of Todd’s, offered his services to help in the process.
Revival Alliance, then, decided to outsource the long-term hands-on restoration
to Rick. Rick brought his friend, Jack Deere onto his team, and Bill Johnson was
added to maintain a link with Revival Alliance.
and possible restoration. However, Rick Joyner of Morningstar Ministries in Ft.
Mill, South Carolina, a friend of Todd’s, offered his services to help in the process.
Revival Alliance, then, decided to outsource the long-term hands-on restoration
to Rick. Rick brought his friend, Jack Deere onto his team, and Bill Johnson was
added to maintain a link with Revival Alliance.
After reading the Revival Alliance statement above, some have asked not only who
is now in charge of the restoration (Rick Joyner authorized by Revival Alliance),
but also who would make the official announcement to the body of Christ if and when
the restoration is complete and give Todd clearance to resume public ministry?
The answer to this question revolves around responsible apostolic protocol, and
the proper answer is that only Revival Alliance would be authorized to make such
an announcement.
is now in charge of the restoration (Rick Joyner authorized by Revival Alliance),
but also who would make the official announcement to the body of Christ if and when
the restoration is complete and give Todd clearance to resume public ministry?
The answer to this question revolves around responsible apostolic protocol, and
the proper answer is that only Revival Alliance would be authorized to make such
an announcement.
How would I reach that conclusion? Later on, I will explain the Lakeland Outpouring
Apostolic Team, but first let me introduce an official statement on apostolic protocol
dealing with situations such as Todd Bentley’s issued by the group in October:
Apostolic Team, but first let me introduce an official statement on apostolic protocol
dealing with situations such as Todd Bentley’s issued by the group in October:
Statement from the Lakeland Outpouring Apostolic Team
Current issue: Paul Cain and his appearance on the platform of the Lakeland Outpouring
I.
The background. At one point rather early in Lakeland Outpouring I, prophet Paul
Cain was invited to appear on the platform. A few months before the Outpouring
began he had prophesied publicly that such an outpouring would break out in Lakeland,
and Todd Bentley felt it would be appropriate to recognize Cain on the platform
and let the audience know about his accurate prophecy. While Cain was there, he
took the opportunity to announce, among other things, that he had been living a
chaste life and that rumors about him were not true.
I.
The background. At one point rather early in Lakeland Outpouring I, prophet Paul
Cain was invited to appear on the platform. A few months before the Outpouring
began he had prophesied publicly that such an outpouring would break out in Lakeland,
and Todd Bentley felt it would be appropriate to recognize Cain on the platform
and let the audience know about his accurate prophecy. While Cain was there, he
took the opportunity to announce, among other things, that he had been living a
chaste life and that rumors about him were not true.
This event drew criticism from many observers who knew something of Paul Cain’s
recent experiences. It turned out that he had been living a secret life which involved
problems with drunkenness and homosexuality. Three Christian leaders who had been
long-time friends and colleagues of Cain, namely Rick Joyner, Mike Bickle, and Jack
Deere, attempted to bring correction and restoration privately, but to little avail.
recent experiences. It turned out that he had been living a secret life which involved
problems with drunkenness and homosexuality. Three Christian leaders who had been
long-time friends and colleagues of Cain, namely Rick Joyner, Mike Bickle, and Jack
Deere, attempted to bring correction and restoration privately, but to little avail.
Consequently, they decided that, following the precepts of Matthew 18, they had
come to the place where they needed to announce Cain’s moral turpitude to the church
at large with the hope that this public reprimand would speed the process of his
restoration. Cain’s response was to place himself under the accountability of
other, self-chosen, Christian leaders who after a period of time announced that
his restoration had been completed and that he was free to return to public ministry.
come to the place where they needed to announce Cain’s moral turpitude to the church
at large with the hope that this public reprimand would speed the process of his
restoration. Cain’s response was to place himself under the accountability of
other, self-chosen, Christian leaders who after a period of time announced that
his restoration had been completed and that he was free to return to public ministry.
This was an obvious violation of apostolic protocol. The correct apostolic protocol
would have been for the three who first blew the whistle publicly to have been involved
directly in any announcement to the body of Christ that Cain’s restoration had been
complete. Not only were the three not involved, but they felt that the timing for
such an announcement had been premature.
would have been for the three who first blew the whistle publicly to have been involved
directly in any announcement to the body of Christ that Cain’s restoration had been
complete. Not only were the three not involved, but they felt that the timing for
such an announcement had been premature.
Bentley knew something of this situation because he reportedly later commented that
he had thought (wrongly!) that he had first cleared his intentions of inviting Cain
to the platform with Rick Joyner. The problem had become more complicated with
Cain’s public confession of having lived a chaste life, apparently denying that
he ever had been involved in homosexuality. His later explanation that he really
meant that he had been chaste only since his “restoration” was not sufficient to
change the impression left with the huge international television audience who
heard his first words. Our conclusion is that inviting Cain on the platform and
allowing him to have the microphone was an unfortunate mistake on the part of Bentley
since it was an intended or unintended violation of apostolic protocol.
he had thought (wrongly!) that he had first cleared his intentions of inviting Cain
to the platform with Rick Joyner. The problem had become more complicated with
Cain’s public confession of having lived a chaste life, apparently denying that
he ever had been involved in homosexuality. His later explanation that he really
meant that he had been chaste only since his “restoration” was not sufficient to
change the impression left with the huge international television audience who
heard his first words. Our conclusion is that inviting Cain on the platform and
allowing him to have the microphone was an unfortunate mistake on the part of Bentley
since it was an intended or unintended violation of apostolic protocol.
The principle. What can we learn from this? The principle is that the prescribed
restoration of a fallen leader should be undertaken only by or under the direct
supervision of the apostle or apostolic group (whether or not the term “apostle”
is used) with which the fallen leader has previously aligned. The practice of the
leader, himself or herself, slipping out from under a recognized accountability
structure in order to select what would inevitably be a more lenient person or group
of persons should be regarded by the body of Christ as unacceptable behavior. The
proper apostolic protocol should be for those involved in the initial apostolic
alignment, and those people only, to make any public announcement on the progress
of the restoration or that the restoration has been completed and that the restored
leader be allowed once again to resume public ministry.
restoration of a fallen leader should be undertaken only by or under the direct
supervision of the apostle or apostolic group (whether or not the term “apostle”
is used) with which the fallen leader has previously aligned. The practice of the
leader, himself or herself, slipping out from under a recognized accountability
structure in order to select what would inevitably be a more lenient person or group
of persons should be regarded by the body of Christ as unacceptable behavior. The
proper apostolic protocol should be for those involved in the initial apostolic
alignment, and those people only, to make any public announcement on the progress
of the restoration or that the restoration has been completed and that the restored
leader be allowed once again to resume public ministry.
As a footnote, it should be recorded that in recent years Paul Cain has not been
the only high-profile leader to attempt this evasion of accountability. Others
have taken similar erroneous pathways, and our opinion is that there should be
a general consensus in the church that such behavior will not be repeated or tolerated
in the future.
the only high-profile leader to attempt this evasion of accountability. Others
have taken similar erroneous pathways, and our opinion is that there should be
a general consensus in the church that such behavior will not be repeated or tolerated
in the future.
Lakeland Outpouring Apostolic Team
October 10, 2008
In light of the above statement it seems clear that public reports of the progress
or successful termination of Todd Bentley’s restoration be made only with the explicit
approval of Revival Alliance. Any attempt to circumvent this apostolic protocol
(as was done in the case of Paul Cain) should not be regarded as acceptable to
the body of Christ. Especially those of us in the charismatically-inclined evangelical
stream feel deep embarrassment over a number of recent cases that have taken this
deviant route.
or successful termination of Todd Bentley’s restoration be made only with the explicit
approval of Revival Alliance. Any attempt to circumvent this apostolic protocol
(as was done in the case of Paul Cain) should not be regarded as acceptable to
the body of Christ. Especially those of us in the charismatically-inclined evangelical
stream feel deep embarrassment over a number of recent cases that have taken this
deviant route.
The Lakeland Outpouring Apostolic Team
As I have told you in other emails, after I moderated the meeting at which Todd
Bentley was aligned and commissioned, I received over three thousand emails. Many
of them expressed dismay and concern over issues that had surfaced during the Outpouring
itself and during the commissioning. I carefully cataloged these and simultaneously
pulled together a group of apostles which I called the Lakeland Outpouring Apostolic
Team. The team included Stephen Strader, Steve Strang, David Cannistraci, Ché Ahn,
Lee Grady, Joe Askins, Jeff Beacham, Chuck Pierce, and John Arnott besides myself.
One of the first things we did was to analyze the issues raised and end up with
a list of 24 important concerns, each of which we would discuss and attempt to
issue a public statement to the body of Christ.
Bentley was aligned and commissioned, I received over three thousand emails. Many
of them expressed dismay and concern over issues that had surfaced during the Outpouring
itself and during the commissioning. I carefully cataloged these and simultaneously
pulled together a group of apostles which I called the Lakeland Outpouring Apostolic
Team. The team included Stephen Strader, Steve Strang, David Cannistraci, Ché Ahn,
Lee Grady, Joe Askins, Jeff Beacham, Chuck Pierce, and John Arnott besides myself.
One of the first things we did was to analyze the issues raised and end up with
a list of 24 important concerns, each of which we would discuss and attempt to
issue a public statement to the body of Christ.
We began our work and issued the statement above on apostolic protocol for the Paul
Cain case, reducing the list to 23.
Cain case, reducing the list to 23.
Meanwhile, God began speaking to Dutch Sheets, whom many of you know is my pastor
at Freedom Church here in Colorado Springs, and who has been recognized as an apostle
to our nation. Dutch felt that God was giving him an assignment to deal with many
of the issues that I had on my list, and others as well, from a proactive, rather
than a reactive posture as I had been doing.
at Freedom Church here in Colorado Springs, and who has been recognized as an apostle
to our nation. Dutch felt that God was giving him an assignment to deal with many
of the issues that I had on my list, and others as well, from a proactive, rather
than a reactive posture as I had been doing.
After consulting with John Kilpatrick, Dutch approached me with the possibility
of making some changes. I gladly received his suggestions and, frankly, I was greatly
relieved. While I chaired Todd’s alignment ceremony in obedience to a direct word
from God, I did not have the same clear assignment from God to deal with the issues.
I had organized the Lakeland Outpouring Apostolic Team only because I felt it was
my duty. Dutch now has a passion for the task, while I only had a sense of responsibility.
The upshot is that I have now disbanded the Lakeland Outpouring Apostolic Team
and passed the torch to Dutch Sheets, who will form a similar group. One condition
for Dutch’s action was that I would agree to be a member of the new group, which
I did. I also think that a proactive stance will be much more profitable for the
body of Christ long term than my reactive approach, dealing specifically with problems
arising from the Lakeland Outpouring which no longer exists.
of making some changes. I gladly received his suggestions and, frankly, I was greatly
relieved. While I chaired Todd’s alignment ceremony in obedience to a direct word
from God, I did not have the same clear assignment from God to deal with the issues.
I had organized the Lakeland Outpouring Apostolic Team only because I felt it was
my duty. Dutch now has a passion for the task, while I only had a sense of responsibility.
The upshot is that I have now disbanded the Lakeland Outpouring Apostolic Team
and passed the torch to Dutch Sheets, who will form a similar group. One condition
for Dutch’s action was that I would agree to be a member of the new group, which
I did. I also think that a proactive stance will be much more profitable for the
body of Christ long term than my reactive approach, dealing specifically with problems
arising from the Lakeland Outpouring which no longer exists.
Conclusion
That is my update for now, and probably the last one I will issue on the subject
of Lakeland. Criticisms of what I have done have been severe, but affirmations
have outnumbered them maybe one hundred to one. Only a few have been so upset that
they have severed relations with me, and I deeply regret this. But I have no regrets
over what I have done in the last four months, although there are undoubtedly a
few things that I could have done better.
of Lakeland. Criticisms of what I have done have been severe, but affirmations
have outnumbered them maybe one hundred to one. Only a few have been so upset that
they have severed relations with me, and I deeply regret this. But I have no regrets
over what I have done in the last four months, although there are undoubtedly a
few things that I could have done better.
Let’s move on to new horizons for the kingdom of God!
Blessings,
Peter
Blessings,
Peter
Dear friends,
by Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
www.christianresearchservice.com
October 24, 2008
____________________________________________________________________
And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with
the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not
strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.
And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called
the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to
the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him (Revelation 12:7-9).
____________________________________________________________________
In the opening stages of his 2003 article, “Angelic Hosts Part 1,” Todd Bentley focuses the reader’s attention on “teaching on the angelic realm and how you can release angels to fulfill God’s word”
( http://www.etpv.org/2003/angho.html ).
Next, Bentley reveals that he had “several daily visitations of angels which lasted for weeks,” and that,
Since the beginning of this year I’ve also sensed an increase in the presence of angels in our meetings. Many others have reported to me of increase of spiritual activity in their lives too.
Towards the end of his article, Bentley claimed that one of the angels he encountered was a female named “Emma”:
Now let me talk about an angelic experience with Emma. Twice Bob Jones asked me about this angel that was in Kansas City in 1980: “Todd, have you ever seen the angel by the name of Emma?” He asked me as if he expected that this angel was appearing to me. Surprised, I said, “Bob, who is Emma?” He told me that Emma was the angel that helped birth and start the whole prophetic movement in Kansas City in the 1980s. She was a mothering-type angel that helped nurture the prophetic as it broke out. Within a few weeks of Bob asking me about Emma, I was in a service in Beulah, North Dakota. In the middle of the service I was in conversation with Ivan and another person when in walks Emma. As I stared at the angel with open eyes, the Lord said, “Here’s Emma.” I’m not kidding. She floated a couple of inches off the floor. It was almost like Kathryn Khulman in those old videos when she wore a white dress and looked like she was gliding across the platform. Emma appeared beautiful and young-about 22 years old-but she was old at the same time. She seemed to carry the wisdom, virtue and grace of Proverbs 31 on her life.
She glided into the room, emitting brilliant light and colors. Emma carried these bags and began pulling gold out of them. Then, as she walked up and down the aisles of the church, she began putting gold dust on people. “God, what is happening?” I asked. The Lord answered: “She is releasing the gold, which is both the revelation and the financial breakthrough that I am bringing into this church. I want you to prophecy that Emma showed up in this service-the same angel that appeared in Kansas city-as a sign that I am endorsing and releasing a prophetic spirit in the church.” See, when angels come, they always come for a reason; we need to actually ask God what the purpose is. Within three weeks of that visitation, the church had given me the biggest offering I had ever received to that point in my ministry. Thousands of dollars! Thousands! Even though the entire community consisted of only three thousand people, weeks after I left the church the pastor testified that the church offerings had either doubled or tripled.
But “Emma” isn’t the only female angel that Todd Bentley has endorsed. There is another, and her name is “Mary.”
Mary, Mary, quite contrary…
In his June 1, 2008 book, The Reality of the Supernatural World, Todd Bentley included a chapter titled, “SUPERNATURAL ENCOUNTERS.” In it, Bentley introduces the reader to “some inspiring testimonies of ordinary people who have experienced powerful spiritual encounters” (p. 339).
On page 340, Todd Bentley gives his stamp of approval to the inspiring testimonies, stating that,
I’m so thankful for those who have shared their stories here, and I rejoice for what God has done in their lives and through our ministry. We thank them for “saying so,” for declaring His works, and making known to our readers that the Kingdom of Heaven is now.
One of the stories Todd Bentley is so thankful for is the testimony of a 15 year old girl named “Alyssa” and her “Supernatural Encounter With Angels” (dated April 5, 2007). Here is an excerpt from page 344:
Then, I went to sleep and I saw in a dream our whole house being taken over by angels, and even the Lord came into our house, walked around our beds, and blessed us and secured the whole place. Then the next night, a whole room full of angels came in and spoke with me and said, “We are so happy to have you back, ALYSSA!” Then a beautiful angel, named Mary, came and said, “We are here to believe in you.”
Alyssa concluded her testimony on page 344, stating that, “This has changed my whole life!” She hoped to attend the Supernatural Training Centre, sponsored by Fresh Fire Ministries ( http://www.freshfire.ca/index.php?Id=4 ).
In his article, “Confronting the Superstitious Church of the 21st Century,” Richard Fisher reminds Christians that their focus is to be on Jesus Christ, not angels:
The pursuit of angels should be off-limits for a Bible-believing Christian for a number of reasons. Paramount is a warning in Colossians 2:18 regarding intruding into the unseen realm of angels. The pursuit of angelic beings is a subtle diversion from the only Mediator who is superior by comparison and from the study of Scripture. [Personal Freedom Outreach, http://www.pfo.org/confront.htm ]
But the pursuit of angels is precisely what Todd Bentley, Alyssa, and many of his followers have done. And while Alyssa’s testimony will sound credible to the innocent, unwary, and those whose minds are blinded to the truth of God’s written word, it wasn’t heavenly angels and the Jesus of the Bible that appeared to her in her dream. What Alyssa encountered were counterfeit angels the Apostle Paul warned about in his letters to the churches of Galatia and Corinth.
In his letters, Paul warned about the false “Jesus” and demonic angels roaming the spiritual landscape. Galatians 1:6-9 and 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 serve as a chilling reminder that there are real counterfeit angels–all of whom make it their business to confuse, oppress, deceive, and lead the believer away from the real Jesus Christ and the real gospel and the real Holy Spirit.
And marching in-step with the counterfeit angels and “Jesus” are men and women who claim to be servants of Jesus Christ, but are, in reality, those who are well-trained in the dark art of deception and manipulation:
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
Remember this: Where there be false apostles and deceitful workers, there be doctrines of demons and interactive fellowship with demonic angels.
Again, from Todd Bentley’s article, “ANGELIC HOSTS Part 1,” here is a chilling reminder of what happens when the counterfeits’ show up:
During this visitation the pastor’s wife (it was an AOG church) got totally whacked by the Holy Ghost–she began running around barking like a dog or squawking like a chicken as a powerful prophetic spirit came on her. [ http://tinyurl.com/BarkingClucking ]
For decades, the Charismatic movement has spawned and spewed a multitude of false prophets, false teachers, and false healers; all of whom have mocked, plundered, and twisted God’s written word; all of whom have taken advantage of the weak and conditioned the innocent; all of whom have caused tremendous damage to the cause of Christ worldwide.
While deception is seeker-friendly to both adults and children, Alyssa’s testimony demonstrates just how easy it is for a young teenager to be influenced and manipulated by the false teachers of our day.
After all, is there a better way to ensure the future of demonically-inspired teachings than to condition and deceive impressionable children, and lead them down the path to unrighteousness?
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren
who are in the world (1 Peter 5:8-9).
Recommended reading:
Bob Jones: A Tail of a Prophet
Does the Bible teach that angels visit us?
For the average person, every day it is the same thing. We wake up, go to work, go home, eat dinner have a bit of leisure time and go to bed. This is not bad in itself because we are to work for a living and not be a burden to society. So this is part of life that we must accept and be glad of it. We are to work with our hands, mind our own business, and be a blessing to others.
So what has happened?
I was looking at a photograph of our living room when I was a young girl. The room simply consisted of a sofa, coffee and end tables, Hi-Fi (a speaker cabinet with a record player and radio), TV and one of those pole lamps. That was it. Maybe a picture on the wall. We were not poor, this was just average. How different is the home of today.
I have to wonder why it has become so important to have the best framed piece of art in the neighborhood. The most expensive car. The house with the most columns or turrets. Not only do we have to have the best “things” on the market, we NEED the lastest technology. Actually we are controlled by the constant advancements of new products on the horizon because the older stuff becomes obsolete and unusable. What a ploy and effective technique this is to get our dollars.
I guess it pretty much goes without too much ado that money is what rules our lives. Money and what it acquires has become our God. But “I need these things” you say…..true there are things we do need, and God says that He will provide for His children. He says not to worry about food, shelter, and clothing. You might notice He does not say anything about retirement funds, the lastest cell phone, or a Mercedes Benz.
If we begin to worship things instead of God, we will be dealt with as individuals and as a nation. When money becomes a God to us, we will see judgment from God by the way He destroys our false gods. This is done in order to turn us away from our false gods and to turn us back to the true and living God, Jesus Christ.
In the study of Moses and the plagues that befell Pharaoh and the Egyptians, there is some very interesting information. The plagues happened to discredit the gods that the Egyptians worshiped. Pharaoh himself was associated with the sun god Ra.
The Egyptians worshiped many gods but mainly they represented three areas of their lives, the Nile river, the land and the sky. So lets looks at the judgments and what they represented to the people of Egypt.
1. The Nile turns to blood. – The people worshiped the Nile river as it’s waters provided drinking water, they bathed in it and it watered their livestock and crops. God turned the water to blood and all the fish died and it stank.
2. Frogs covered the Land – The people worshiped the frogs especially the frog god Heket, and they could not kill them. The frogs died and lay in rotting heaps.
3. The dust of the land became lice or gnats. – There was a god of the soil named Geb. But the dust became lice and they plagued the people.
4. Flies broke out and ruined the land. – Many insects were identified with the gods and were worshiped but these flies harmed the land. The flies only afflicted the Egyptians.
5. Their livestock died. – Bulls and cows were woshiped. There was a bull god Apis and Hathor, a cow of fertility. Also there is the Ram god Amun. God destroyed these gods of the people.
AMUN
6. The plague of the boils – The Egyptians were themselves inflicted this time.
7. The hailstorm. – Now the next three judgments are against the gods of the sky. The hailstorm ruined crops and those who feared the Lord took their animals to shelter.
8. The plague of the Locusts. – The locusts came from the sky and ate whatever the hailstorm did not destroy.
9. The darkness. – The god of the sun RA could not overcome this plague and God shows how He is the true God.
God judged and plagued all who would not acknowledge Him.
Who or what comes first in your life? Are you putting your money, investments, retirement funds before the Lord? If you are… you will surely feel the sting and pain of the days to come.
The fiasco we are seeing today in the financial sectors are orchestrated to bring about loss of freedom to the American people. We gladly will give up our freedoms and let the government intervene if only our monies are secure. Our sovereignty is at stake here but the money is more important. Safety of one’s 401 retirement fund is a driving force of what the public will endure. And these stocks are not even real. They are only perceived values which can change at any given moment. Just like the value of your home, the market value fluctuates with the times. This is what people have placed their hope and trust in.
It is easy to see what drives the American people and it is not the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ and walking in faith that He will provide. We can see that God will show us how impotent the false gods of our lives truly are by the judgments and plagues against Pharaoh and his officials. This is what we are seeing right now. Your money could be gone in an instant. Then what will you do? Is God right now showing you where your heart truly lies and what it is that you treasure most? Are you experiencing panic or the extraordinary peace that comes only from God?
Please use this market slowdown as a marker for your life. How are you going to react to not having access to your money or losing it all? Who are you going to turn to? As the governments of the world unite to give us a temporary false sense of security, are you beginning to see the picture of our current and future oppression?
Are you asking yourself about your relationship with Jesus Christ? You should be. This is the time to be right with the Lord. We were not put on earth to own a Blackberry, we were put here to worship and serve Jesus Christ. So, is God exposing your fears because of what you may lose in earthly possessions? Is He sending a hailstorm to demolish your surroundings? Are you in darkness right now and Jesus is showing you that faith in Him is the only light?
If you are putting other gods before Jesus, like money, wealth, possessions, etc., then you are in rebellion and disobedient. Please read Exodus 7:14 – 10:20 to see how rebellion was dealt with in the past. Then go to Revelation and read about the trumpet and bowl judgments to see how current rebellion against God will be dealt with. God never changes, He is the same God we see in Exodus, and He will judge those who worship the false gods of today and tomorrow.
Imagine all your possessions gone and see what you have left. If you are walking with the Lord, He is all you will need.
I will share a quick story. My business began to decline rapidly about 18 months ago. I began to have trouble sleeping at night. A weight was felt in my soul. I wanted to sleep alot. But instead of allowing myself to fall into self-pity, I pressed on at work, read my Bible, studied to teach Bible classes, and prayed like never before. I prayed for others who may be going through similar circumstances.
A corner was turned. I began to understand that the Lord was testing me and wanting me to completely surrender my situation and lay it at His feet. Driving home last night from BSF the Lord revealed to me that I had grown immensely in faith while under the stressful circumstances He has allowed in my life. Tears welled in my eyes when I realized how much the Lord loves me enough to train me and use me for His glory.
Is God testing you right now? Is He exposing the false gods in your life to see your reaction? If so are you turning away from them? Is He asking you to turn to only Him in times of trouble? Are you praising and giving thanks to our Lord even though there is a mountain of trouble at your feet that looks impossible? God is the only one who truly has the answers. Will you seek Him today?
*****
Our dollar bill has the eye of Horus as the capstone of the pyramid. When the capstone lands and the pyramid is complete, we should see the completion of the New World Order.
Annuit Coeptis – Announcing the birth of (1776 A.D.)
Novus Ordo Seclorem – New World Order
So our dollar bill announced the birth of the New World Order in the United States in 1776.
The seal is also full of masonic symbols and it says on either side of the eagles head,
E Pluribus Unum – One out of many
Times are getting tougher. The economy is in terrible shape and things may only get worse. These are most certainly unsure times.
So, I have to ask, how strong is your faith right now?
How many novels have you read the last twelve months? Newspapers? On-line articles? Instructions on assembling an exercise bike? How many recipes have you looked at and considered? What about decorating magazines? Sports Illustrated? Fishing and Hunting News?
How much time have you spent watching TV? Listening to music? Playing cards? Going to restaurants and dining out? Visiting with your neighbors? E-mailing friends and family? Shopping on-line?
We can spend a lot of leisure time for many enjoyable activities. So…how much time do you spend each day reading your Bible and praying?
Again I have to ask, how strong is your faith right now? I can say that your faith is probably proportionate to the amount of time you spend in God’s word and praying. I am not talking about church going, although this is a positive. I am referring to the time you spend alone with God. Spending time alone with God and His Word is how your learn about Him and how you apply the truths to your life.
If you are not reading your Bible how can you know what God’s promises are? How can God speak to you through the Reader’s Digest?
Here are some of God’s Promises
Here is a promise to Moses when he worried about going to Pharaoh on behalf of the Israelites.
Exodus 3:12a “And God said, “I will be with you..”
When I was afraid to speak on a radio program the Lord showed me this verse.
Jeremiah 1:7 “But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.
Matthew records Jesus as saying much that directly relates to worry.
Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear….”
Matthew 6 :26 “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them…”
Matthew 6:27 “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
Matthew 6:30 “If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
Matthew 6:31 “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?'”
Matthew 6:32 “For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow…..”
Jesus is telling over and over not to worry because He knows what our needs are. If we talk to God in prayer He hears us, so we are to trust Him to provide. Worrying about our basic needs is a lack of faith in God. So this is sin. But indeed we must first seek the kingdom of God and the righteousness of Christ. Worry is not righteousness but unbelief.
Paul is pretty clear in Philippians 4:6-7 about worry and freedom from anxiety.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present you requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
One of the most amazing woman I have ever met is Jean who was formerly a leader in our Bible study. She told our group this story.
“As our house was burning to the ground I was filled with this incredible sense of peace. There we were standing outside helplessly watching the flames take everything we owned. But the Lord was with me. Later friends and family came to us supplying us with every little need. I remember looking for a kitchen utensil and someone came to my door with the very thing was I needing. The Lord supplied all that had been lost. But I knew this would be so ..that very day that all was consumed by the fire.”
As she told the story you could see the peace and tranquility on her face and I could imagine that is what she looked like on the very day her house burned to the ground.
What is your attitude? Are you anxious? Knowing God’s character helps calm our fears and knowing His ways give us confidence for the future. Are you trusting the Lord with your future? Are you trusting God to provide for you? How can you change your thinking so that He comes first? Put Him first and then trust for His provision.
What is God trying to burn away in your life right now? What gives Him glory in your life? Our greatest purpose in life is to give God glory. How can you do this if you don’t know Him? That is why a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ is our greatest strength.
We must have faith to please God. So how strong is your faith this very moment? Are you rejoicing in your suffering as Paul did? Are you opening your Bible and leaning on the Lord and His Word? If not….will you?
CHRISTIAN RESEARCH SERVICE
As a service to the body of Christ, Christian Research Service
provides information, documentation and referral on a wide
variety of issues to individuals, companies, pastors, outreach
ministries and the Christian news media. Never be afraid to
ask questions. Truth will stand up to investigation. Trust in
the Lord Jesus Christ. He will never forsake you. May the
Lord bless you in your search for truth.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
Excuses: Compromise in Disguise
There is nothing humorous about playing nicer than God
by Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
August 16, 2007
A Christian walked into a crowded Christian bookstore. As he browsed the many shelves of books and materials, to his amazement he noticed a copy of The Book of Mormon resting on a shelf at the very back of the bookstore.
The Christian brought the Mormon publication to the attention of the bookstore manager and kindly asked, Why is this book in your Christian bookstore? Are you aware that Mormonism is a cult?
Having dealt with similar questions many times in the past, the manager whispered, Yes, I know Mormonism is a cult and I disagree with it totally, but I carry reading materials that appeal to the interests of a wide variety of customers. It pays the bills.
The Christian said, If you know Mormonism is a cult and you totally disagree with it, why are you advertising and promoting Mormonism in your Christian bookstore?
Agitated by the Christian’s persistence, the manager raised his voice and exclaimed, Look! I totally disagree with Mormonism! I am not advertising and promoting Mormonism! I am just making Mormon reading materials available to my customers!
In a calm voice the Christian replied, The Book of Mormon is a lie, and it leads people to a false Jesus, gospel, and spirit. Let’s see what God has to say. Are you familiar with Galatians 1:6-9 and 2 Corinthians 11:3-4?
The bookstore manager walked away and turned his attention to another customer.
With the manager’s words ringing in his ears, the Christian walked out of the bookstore scratching his head in disbelief, and vowed never to return.
To recap, The Book of Mormon was publicly displayed in the Christian bookstore not by accident, but purposely, for customers to see, read, and purchase. Yet the manager maintained he was not advertising and promoting Mormonism.
Instead of humbling himself, repenting, thanking the Christian, and removing the Book of Mormon immediately and forever, the manager used excuses, became defensive, and chose to compromise the faith and endanger the spiritual welfare of his customers.
In the above encounter, take note of how the manager used carefully chosen words to artfully dodge his way around the issue of advertising and promoting:
“I am not advertising and promoting Mormonism! I am just making Mormon reading materials available to my customers!”
The manager believed it and wanted the Christian to believe it. As far as the manager was concerned, he was justified, despite what God’s word says:
Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians 6:14-15)
When caught red-handed, bank robbers try to artfully dodge their way around the main issue too, saying, I didn’t rob the bank! I just asked for some money!
Artful dodging doesn’t work on police detectives, and it shouldn’t work on Christians.
Playing nicer than God
Speaking of excuses, along with the influx of non-Christian authors and books, there are a wide variety of excuses that some (but not all) online and walk-in bookstore employees have used to justify the advertisement, promotion, and sale of known non-Christian books and materials:
· You can’t please everybody. If I remove all the books everybody complained about we would have to shut down.
· Our customers have different tastes and preferences, and we try to appeal to what they want. Besides, every author isn’t right on everything.
· Our bookstores are autonomous and independent. They decide what they want to carry on their shelves.
· I don’t agree with this author, but her books help keep our doors open.
· I know there’s a lot of garbage out there, but I can’t control what comes in to my bookstore.
· I have bills to pay. Contact our main office and complain to them.
· I tell customers the author of this book is a false teacher. But if I don’t carry the book in my store they will just go somewhere else to buy it.
· I know this author has some false teachings, but he does so much good and is leading a lot of people to the Lord.
· I took this book off the shelf and complained to my manager, but he put it back on the shelf the next day. What else am I supposed to do?
· We don’t display this author’s books in our bookstore. We keep them underneath the sales counter. If anyone asks for it we sell it to them quietly.
· I know I should warn my customers about this author, but I don’t want to offend them and lose a sale.
· You’ve made a really big mistake! We don’t carry X-rated stuff in our online bookstore! If we did I would know about it!
· If I refuse to sell this book my manager will fire me.
· We’ve tried to block this author and book from our online database, but it keeps showing up in a search.
· We deal with thousands of books. We can’t catch everything.
· I have talked to the manager at our local Christian bookstore and given her a lot of information about this author, but she refuses to listen.
· If I don’t stock this book in my store my customers will go buy it at the secular bookstore in the mall! I can’t afford to lose a sale!!
· I have never heard this author teach anything false. I watch him on TV all the time. Everybody makes mistakes. You should be ashamed of yourself. You need to stop attacking anointed men of God!
· This author is in our database from our main headquarters. We only carry Christian authors, so he must be a Christian.
· We don’t carry this author in our bookstore because he’s too controversial, but we can order his books online.
While the above excuses are paraphrases of past conversations Christian Research Service has had with online and walk-in Christian bookstore employees, and while the excuses may seem comical to some, there is nothing humorous about compromising the faith, playing nicer than God, and toying around with a believer’s spiritual welfare. This is serious business, and the lives of those whom Jesus Christ died for hang in the balance.
It has been said many times and bears repeating: non-Christian authors will not only shipwreck the faith of a believer, they will drive the unsaved deeper and deeper into sin and further away from God. Where a person will spend eternity is primary.
No Christian in their right mind would knowingly give an unsaved person The Book of Mormon or a Jehovah’s Witness New World Translation to read and study, then tell them to “pick-out the good stuff and reject the bad” at the same time.
Knowingly causing Christians to stumble, and knowingly driving the unsaved deeper into sin would be a terrible legacy to live with.
Misplaced priorities
In Mark 12:28-30, a scribe asked Jesus, What commandment is the foremost of all? Jesus answered the scribe and said, The foremost is HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH (NASB).
From the very words of the Master, Christians are to love the Lord with every aspect of their being, and give Him top priority in their lives. This is not a simple request but a command from God Himself in human form.
But when Christians fail to give Jesus Christ top priority in their lives, sin enters in which, in turn, opens the door to compromise, deception, dishonesty, and hypocrisy.
Compromise, deception, dishonesty, and hypocrisy are at an all-time high. And because Christians aren’t immune to sin, it is imperative that they test and examine themselves daily to see if they are in the faith, and to see where their priorities are. If their first priority isn’t Jesus Christ, then their priorities are misplaced, and repentance is in order.
God says what He means and means what He says. Playing nicer than God is compromise in disguise.
Find additional articles and news releases on the Christian bookstore industry at
http://www.christianresearchservice.com/category/book-reviews/
Bud Press is the Director of Christian Research Service and a Christian Investigative Researcher. Christian Research Service is a discernment ministry that provides information, documentation and referral on a wide variety of issues to the body of Christ and the Christian news media worldwide.
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you–unless indeed you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5; NASB)
Volume 19 Number 5 September/October 2008
The Kingdom. The last 20 years has witnessed the teaching on building a Kingdom here on the earth rising to fever-pitch proportions. The Apostles and Prophets have been making kingdom decrees as they are doing far more than just “aligning” Todd Bentley. They are aligning heaven and earth, angels, governments and powers. At the beginning of 2008, Dutch Sheets held a conference entitled “Starting the Year off Right”. Exact quotes from Dutch Sheets: “So when we begin to emphasize the king and the Kingdom rule of the Lord -guess what happens? The church goes to a whole new level of Kingdom authority and that is what is about to happen. If your emphasis is a local church emphasis first it can be selfish- it can be mine- I can build walls. I can emphasize what is best or what is going to benefit me at the expense even of others but if I am emphasizing a Kingdom- you can’t build walls because you can’t build walls around the kingdom- it’s too big. SO God is going to have to shift our emphasis.”
Then he said some amazing things in regard to the Gospel: “EVEN OUR GOSPEL HAS BEEN DEFICIENT. We are always told in scripture to preach the gospel of the what? Do you know we are not told to preach the Gospel of the cross? The word Gospel means what? Good News- s The Gospel of the Kingdom- oh we are told to preach the good news of something. When we preach the Good News of the cross and leave it there- and that’s important- we have to preach the cross but the Good News goes beyond the cross. The cross is the entry point into the Kingdom. He didn’t say preach the Good News just of salvation but preach the Good News that I have come and reestablished the dominion of God in the earth and restored to you the dominion that you lost in Genesis. My Kingdom is now functioning in earth in a people. The cross is the entrance – The Kingdom is the realm. The cross gives us life- The Kingdom gives us something to live for. The cross is about redemption- the Kingdom is about restoration. I want you to think about that- we are not just to emphasize redemption- that gets us in but He’s about restoring everything that has been lost.
We are going to move from a mindset of saving souls and growing churches to producing disciples of the Kingdom. Kingdom disciples have eternity in their hearts and weapons in their hands. They are Kingdom thinkers- difference makers- culture shapers.”
The “Kingdom” teaching has a long history and bodes for a fearsome future. It is this teaching that has undermined the Gospel of Jesus Christ for this generation. The upcoming conference will deal with the roots of the Kingdom teaching and its influences. We are privileged to have special guests at this conference.
Featured Speakers
Dr. Martin Erdmann is one of the foremost experts in the world on the doctrine and practice of “building the kingdom of God on earth.” This phrase sums up what we commonly refer to as “Dominionism.”
Dominionism is a pervasive heresy with many manifestations. In a nutshell, it teaches that what Christ did at the Cross was insufficient; that man must somehow finish and complete the work of Christ. It arises from a false view of man’s Fall in the Garden of Eden as a “mistake,” something which needs to be worked out in the unfolding of history, and that God’s redemptive plan for humanity involves progressively new stages of revelation until man finally “gets it right.” It teaches that man must DO something to defeat Satan –spiritually, politically, socially, etc. In the end, it corrupts eschatology by focusing on man’s efforts here on earth, teaching that we can bring heaven to earth and restore paradise, become gods, or bring Jesus back.
Dr. Erdmann is an expert on this doctrine historically as well as theologically. He has spent the past several years researching the archives of European church history to uncover the roots of this heresy. He is also an expert on how the medical scientific community and occultists are working to create a “New Breed” genetically. Several years ago Dr. Erdmann wrote a book about the early history of this doctrine’s rise to prominence in the liberal Protestant denominations the first half of the last century. We reviewed his book, Building the Kingdom of God on Earth: The Churches’ Contribution to Marshal public Support for World Order and Peace, 1919-1945 (Wipf & Stock, 2005) for Herescope on April 17-18, 2006. Below we have reproduced those two columns. You will note the many parallels to today’s efforts by New Apostolic Reformation leaders and Rick Warren to accomplish this same agenda.
The New Order of the Kingdom
“We believe that we see the goal and we believe that men can get hold of that power to move on to that goal. That goal is the Kingdom of God on earth. The Kingdom of God is a new order standing at the door of the lower order. The higher order, founded on love, justice, goodwill, brotherhood and redemption, stands confronting this lower order founded on selfishness, exploitation, unbrotherliness, with its resultant clash and conclusions. . . it [the higher order] will finally replace this lower order, for it is God’s order. We shall present Christ as the open door to that era. We shall unfold the possibilities of that era both within the individual and the collective will
.(E. Stanley Jones, Federal Council of Churches, Federal Council Bulletin 19, no. 8 (Oct. 1936), New York 5)
There truly is “no new thing under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9). The quotation above is from the year 1936. It is cited in Dr. Martin Erdmann’s groundbreaking book, Building the Kingdom of God on Earth: The Churches’ Contribution to Marshal Public Support for World Order and Peace, 1919-1945.
The history behind this quotation is a fascinating look into the rise of liberal denominations 50-100 years ago. They embraced a dominionist doctrine of building the kingdom of God on earth long before it became a New Apostolic Reformation or Reconstructionist “mandate.”
The thesis of Dr. Erdmann’s book is that the rising popularity of this doctrine was substantially influenced and perpetuated by the same academic, political and religious intelligentsia who were busily forming the beginnings of a New World Order on earth. These elites seized upon certain doctrines of the Gospel as a mechanism to forge an international consensus on “moral” ideology.
Dr. Erdmann writes that in 1934 the Federal Council of Churches began a grassroots public relations campaign to further its social gospel. The end goal was to create enough groundswell that another international organization could be formed to replace the faulty League of Nations. Erdmann explained:
“A new commitment to the concept of the kingdom of God on earth needed to be generated among the people at large and from the constituencies of the member churches, a commitment that had been notably absent for some time. Unless the Council succeeded in mobilizing a grassroots movement of socially conscious Christians it would never realize the goals set out in the Social Creed. Thus the new emphasis on propagating the principles of the Social Creed was again designed to attain the kingdom of God on earth rather than to reach lost souls with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (p. 154)
The modus operendi to accomplish such a mass motivation is strikingly similar to the methods utilized with today’s evangelicals:
“Without adhering to basic Scriptural concepts. . . the Council’s social appeals were couched in biblical terminology. Although mentioning the sin problem frequently, it was usually in the context of sins against society rather than sin against God. Regeneration was masterfully redefined as a new social awareness. The substitutionary atonement of Christ upon the cross was deemed insignificant and was rarely if ever mentioned. The Reformation dictum, that humankind can find peace with God only by being justified by faith, was simply ignored as without relevance. The residue of evangelical concepts which could be found in their gospel messages were mostly based on Arminian theology. . . .” (p. 155)
In order to achieve this organic unity, the reformers of that era proposed that a “sense of urgency” or “crisis” be created. E. Stanley Jones, who is quoted at the top of this post, proposed in 1935 that the various branches of Protestantism “come together on the simple doctrinal basis found in Matthew 16:16-19. He defended his proposal on the grounds of the urgent necessity to unite, in view of the task confronting the church.” (p. 147)
Dr. Erdmann notes that “Jones was less than candid in his statements.” It was not unlike the call for a Second Reformation that we see today:
“The whole plan rested upon an indifference to the development of Christian theology from the Council of Nicea onwards, and it actually called upon the creedal churches, the Presbyterian and the Lutheran, for example, to surrender the heritage of the Reformation.” P.148
http://herescope.blogspot.com/2006/04/new-order-of-kingdom.html
The “New Deal” Kingdom“ Upon the men of this time is breaking the light of a new social order. The outstanding fact of today is the rediscovery of the kingdom of God. To the world this comes almost as a new revelation from heaven. For eighteen hundred years men have believed in this kingdom and have prayed for its coming; but now at last conception of its meaning becomes larger and more true. We are coming to see that the kingdom of God in Christ’s conception never means anything less than a righteous human society on earth. Christ has come, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. He has come to reveal a kingdom in heaven and to realize a kingdom on earth. He has come not alone to save people out of the world and fill them for a far-away heaven; but to make a heaven here. He has come not to patch up human society and make the world a little less intolerable for men; but to make all things new and to create a new social order.”
(Samuel Z. Batten, The New World Order, 1919, p. 4-5) [emphasis added]
This quotation above is cited on page 151 in Dr. Martin Erdmann’s excellent book, Building the Kingdom of God on Earth, which Herescope began to review in yesterday’s post. Dr. Erdmann explains how, in 1932, the Federal Council of Churches began to revise its outdated Social Creed. This revision bears striking resemblance to current “marketplace transformation” efforts, described last week and in previous Herescope posts:
“Toyohiko Kagawa, a Japanese churchman, asserted in the January issue [of the Federal Council Bulletin] that the propagation of the Christian gospel must include a total reconstruction of society. The Church should aspire to nothing less than the constitution of Christian collectivism. It is evident,’ he wrote, ‘that we must Christianise industry and get rid of the acquisitive motive in economic life. It seems to me that we cannot solve our problems on the basis of individualism.’ His idea was to replace the supposedly defunct capitalist system with a number of Christian co-operatives modeled after the pattern of the medieval guild system. The FCC was enthused about Kagawa’s proposal and incorporated it (in a modified form) in its revised version of the Social Creed.” (p. 151-2) [emphasis added]
This resultant Social Creed adopted by the FCC in 1932 was part and parcel of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. So much so that eventually the FCC was able to move on to other projects. Many of the tenets of this Social Creed called for a radical restructuring of economic, social, cultural, family, and political order.
This “new social order” was being implemented in a supposed “new age of faith”:
“The Commission on the Church and Social Service spearheaded the campaign for a Christian collectivism among the American public by preparing a message which was delivered on Labour Day 1932. This message directly advocated a redistribution of wealth in the United States and also among the nations of the world. It asserted that only by the intelligent regulation and management of finance, credit, and industry could the kingdom of God be advanced for the common good. It pleaded for the extension of minimum-wage laws, and the payment of the highest wages possible in order to achieve the redistribution of wealth and to realize the kingdom of God.
“It became clear that the thinking of a large segment of the leadership of the Council was dominated by political and economic idealism.” (p. 153)
By 1933 the “FCC initiated an amalgamation process which in time blurred the distinction between its new social order and the New Deal.” (p. 159)
The Truth: Some of the rhetoric has changed. Some of the doctrinal focus has shifted so that it now incorporates the “Great Commission” and Stewardship of the Earth “mandates.” Some of the political lessons learned over the past 75 years have changed the initial game plan, the dynamics, and even some of the implementation. And the methods have been updated to use state-of-the-art psycho-social techniques. But the basic “plan” to institute a global “kingdom” in the name of Christ is still the same.75 years ago this plan was a fraud and a sham. It had nothing to do with true Christianity. Today, this same plan — slightly revised and updated — is still a fraud and a sham. It is an antichrist kingdom which is being built upon Earth.
http://herescope.blogspot.com/2006/04/new-deal-kingdom.html
Read entire newsletter here:
http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NLSeptOct_2008.htm
Their next conference is
Discernment Ministries
Cordially invites you to attend
the
TRANSFORMATION of THE CHURCH
CONFERENCE
October 10 & 11, 2008
The conference is being held at:
The Michiana Christian Embassy
1922 E. Main Street
Niles, MI 49120
269-683-3518
There is no registration fee for the conference. Free-will offerings will be taken.
Inquiries: 765-583-4799/ 765-583-4177
Who’s Laughing Now?
by Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
www.christianresearchservice.com
September 9, 2008
But they mingled with the nations and learned their practices, and
served their idols, which became a snare to them (Psalm 106:35-36).
Years ago, many parents laughed when their children were introduced to Yoga, Transcendental Meditation, relaxation, and visualization techniques in the secular schools and YMCA. Many school teachers and principles shrugged their shoulders and thought the techniques would help develop calmer, better behaved students.
On the job-site, professing Christians participated in company-sponsored “Stress Reduction” seminars. They laughed under their breath and refused to speak out against it–for fear of losing their jobs. Now, many companies across the nation offer Yoga, Tai Chi, Reiki, and other New Age practices as regular motivational courses for employees.
Despite the complaints and concerns, many bookstore managers and officials within the “Christian bookstore” industry laughed and continued to advertise and promote books written by New Age authors. The “bottom line” (money) was more important than the spiritual welfare of the innocent and unwary.
With the husband off to work, a professing Christian woman turned to a video tape and spent and hour-per-day practicing Yoga. She laughed when her three year old child watched and imitated her moves.
Across the nation, and in many parts of the world, certified Yoga instructors cashed in on the booming Christian exercise craze and introduced churches and denominations to “Christian Yoga.” The postures were the same as Yoga, they said, but it had nothing to do with Hinduism. They laughed all the way to the bank.
During a church-sponsored “Christian Yoga” class, an instructor began bowing to the “god” within her students, and offered the Hindu Sanskrit salutation, Namaste. The students laughed, rolled their eyes, and bowed to the instructor.
Along with Hatha Yoga, a church offered a Labyrinth walk, a Buddhist Teachings and Meditation group, and Yoga for children. During the children’s Yoga class, the adults smiled and laughed when their toddlers tried to perform the Yoga postures.
Average church members laughed when New Age techniques and practices were introduced during church-sponsored retreats, outings, and seminars. They sang the praises of books written by New Age authors, and passed the books around like tea and crumpets at a social event. Those who refused to laugh were encouraged to leave and find another church.
Christian colleges and universities weren’t immune to the New Age Movement. Many presidents and faculty members openly welcomed Kundalini Yoga and other New Age practices as an on-and-off campus course. Students laughed as they performed the Cobra pose, the Scorpion pose, and the Corpse pose in their classes, gyms and dorms.
Many pastors across the land laughed, compromised, and turned a deaf-ear to the “Stress Management” and “Christian Yoga” courses being taught in their own churches. It is just a harmless form of exercise, they said. However, some pastors stopped laughing when they noticed a change-for-the-worse in the attitude and spirituality of some of their members.
In his spare time, one pastor practiced Yoga. Along with regular Yoga classes, the pastor’s church offered a gentle form of Tai Chi. The pastor’s congregation expressed an ever-present joy over his open-mindedness.
Across the world, professing Christians laughed when they were warned about the spiritual, mental, and physical dangers of practicing Yoga and its demon inspired postures. In their stubborn pride they continued to purchase New Age materials and promote New Age practices to untold numbers of men, women, and children.
Years ago, many laughed and brushed-off the New Age Movement as a mere fad that would eventually fade away. But behind the scenes, it slithered into every strata of our society–homes, elementary and high schools, bookstores, jobs, colleges, universities, churches, and pulpits.
But 2,000 years ago, the Apostle Paul refused to laugh when confronted with the New Age Movement of his day. Under divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul provided the following remedy:
Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing
(Acts 19:18-20).
God expressly forbids the practice of New Age techniques and the promotion of New Age materials.
Who’s laughing now?
Related reading:
—This article first appeared as a post on the DiscernIt blog, and has been revised.
Discovering the New Age Movement / New World Order, Part Three
Submitted by Craig “Lee” Dorsheimer
This is the third installment of this introductory series. My intention is to provide a brief overview, not an all encompassing article. The NAM/NWO is too large to contain in one article. You may view the first part here and the second part here if you’ve not read them previously.
False Ecumenism / Religious Plurality
In its best usage, ‘ecumenism’ is a movement of unity among Biblical Christian denominations.[1] I would call this true ecumenism. However, a push to unite all churches who call themselves ‘Christian’ including the overtly new age Unity Church[2] among others, I would call false ecumenism. Further, the attempt to unite Biblical Christianity to any other non-Christian faith I would term false ecumenism. Unfortunately, the practice of much of the attempted unity today is a false kind and the term ‘ecumenism’ is used for this movement.
The term ‘pluralism’ according to dictionary.com is, “a social organization in which diversity of racial or religious or ethnic or cultural groups is tolerated.”[3] So, here I deal strictly with the religious aspect of pluralism in religious pluralism. While it is certainly alright to tolerate other religious views, (although evangelism is our goal) we are not to attempt to unify at the expense of the purity of Biblical Christianity.
Recall that one of the goals of the New Age movement is a syncretism of all religions. Since Biblical Christianity is problematic to New Agers with its insistence on one way to salvation – through Jesus Christ – the only way to merge with this movement is to modify the message. In the Alice A. Bailey esoteric/occultic book From Bethlehem to Calvary she – actually Tibetan Master DK (Djwhal Khul) who channeled through her[4] – states:
Christianity will not be superseded. It will be transcended, its work of preparation being triumphantly accomplished, and Christ will again give us the next revelation of divinity.
…Can there not be revelations of God utterly unprecedented, and for which we have no words or adequate means of expression? The ancient mysteries, so shortly to be restored, must be re-interpreted in the light of Christianity, and readapted to meet modern need…[5] [Emphasis Mine]
Compare this to some statements by Mike Bickle[6] [currently of the International House of Prayer[7] (IHOP)] formerly of Kansas City Fellowship[6, 8] (KCF); Bob Jones, formerly one of the “Kansas City Prophets”[6] of KCF; and, Rick Joyner of MorningStar Ministries[9]:
“The Lord said simply, ‘I will change the understanding and expression of Christianity in the earth in one generation.’” [10] (Mike Bickle; Growing in the Prophetic) [Emphasis mine]
“They themselves will be that generation that’s raised up to death itself underneath their feet…a Church that has reached the full maturity of the god-man!…This generation of young people that are coming are going to see the beginning of the worldwide new order…It is going to change the expression of Christianity in a generation.”[11, 12, 13] (Bob Jones; Kansas City Fellowship Interview tape with Mike Bickle, 1988 as quoted by Jewel van der Merwe {Grewe}) [Emphasis mine]
“What is about to come upon the earth is not just a revival or another awakening; it is a veritable revolution. This vision was given in order to begin awakening those who are destined to radically change the course and even the very definition of Christianity.”[14] (Rick Joyner The Harvest) [Emphasis mine]
And, during Todd Bentley’s “commissioning” service on June 23, 2008, Bill Johnson[15] said:
…We shape the course of history by partnering with you giving honor where it’s due. You welcome the glory as well as anybody I’ve ever seen in my life – I long to learn from you in that and I bless you. And, I pray with the rest of these that the measure of glory would increase, that Moses would no longer be the high water mark with the glory shown from his face but instead the revelation of the goodness of God would change the face of the church. And that he would use your voice, he would use your grace, your anointing, to alter the face of the Church before the world…[16] [Emphasis mine]
Has ‘the expression of Christianity’ and ‘the face of the church’ changed? Will it in the future?
8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. [Hebrews 13:8 NIV]
27But you remain the same and your years will never end [Psalms 102:27 NIV]
19God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should change his mind [Numbers 23:19 NIV]
“On October 13, 2007, …138 Muslim scholars and clerics sent an open letter ‘to leaders of Christian churches, everywhere.’”[17] So began Loving God and Neighbor Together: A Christian Response to A Common Word Between Us and You – a document signed by ‘Christian leaders’ in answer to this open letter.[18] On the home page of A Common Word, “…Thus despite their differences, Islam and Christianity not only share the same Divine Origin and same Abrahamic heritage, but the same two greatest commandments.”[19]
In an apparent effort not to offend, the ‘Christian leaders’ brought reproach upon Jehovah God. This response sent back to Muslim scholars and clerics references “the Prophet Muhammad” [yes that’s a capital ‘P’ Prophet] and refers to God as “the All-Merciful One.” I don’t recall this as one of the names listed for Jehovah God in my Bible. In addition, Jesus Christ, while mentioned a few times, is never referred to as the Son of God or Savior – again in an effort not to offend.
32Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. [Matthew 10:32-33 NIV]
13…Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips. [Exodus 23:13 NIV]
Here is a quote from “A Christian Response:”
When Freedom to worship God according to one’s conscience is curtailed, God is dishonored, the neighbor is oppressed, and neither God nor neighbor is loved [17] [Emphasis mine]
While Jehovah God – the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – gives us all free will to choose to love Him or not, He IS dishonored when we choose not to love Him. And, to truly love our neighbor is to evangelize in hopes of their salvation.
4For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. [Deuteronomy 4:23 NIV]
One more quote from the “Christian Response:”
Abandoning all “hatred and strife,” we must engage in interfaith dialogue as those who seek each other’s good, for the one God unceasingly seeks our good. Indeed, together with you we believe that we need to move beyond “a polite ecumenical dialogue between selected religious leaders” and work diligently together to reshape relations between our communities and our nations so that they genuinely reflect our common love for God and for one another. [17] [Emphasis mine]
Following is a partial list of signatories beginning with the two individuals who were formerly speaking out against the New Age Movement referenced at the close of part two of this series: Rich Nathan, Senior Pastor, Vineyard Church of Columbus; Richard Mouw, President, Fuller Theological Seminary; Rick Warren, Founder and Senior Pastor, Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, CA; Bill Hybels, Founder and Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church; Lynn Green, International Chairman, YWAM; David Yonggi Cho, Founder and Senior Pastor, Yoido Full Gospel Church, Seoul, Korea; Brian McLaren, [Emerging Church movement] Author, Speaker, Activist; Berten A. Waggoner, National Director, Association of Vineyard Churches; Robert Schuller, Founder, Crystal Cathedral and Hour of Power; Kim B. Gustafson, President, Common Ground; Steve Moore, President and CEO, The Mission Exchange (formerly EFMA); John M. Buchanan, Editor/Publisher, The Christian Century; Leith Anderson; President, National Association of Evangelicals; James A. Kowalski, Dean, Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, NY; David Neff, Editor in Chief and Vice President, Christianity Today Media Group.[17] There are about 250 in total.
Here’s more on Fuller Theological Seminary in which they would unabashedly promote religious pluralism as well as New Age ideals and terminology. From a newsletter from 2003 of an event co-sponsored by Calvin College and Fuller Theological Seminary:
Drawing on the resources of scholars from various parts of the world who represent diverse historical and religious experiences of religio-cultural plurality, the consultation will reflect together on its meaning for faithful Christian witness.[17] [Emphasis mine]
In the events schedule of this weekend-long conference lasting Friday through Sunday were topics on Hinduism, Islam, “Primal/traditional religions,” and others.[20] In the newsletter’s ‘Statement of Purpose:’
Since 1945 the forces of globalization have accelerated with the result that people everywhere have become conscious of the ‘world as a whole’ being bound more tightly together. At the same time they experience the “local” more intensely. This global-local dialectic is a key characteristic of globalization.
…This project focuses on religious plurality as an important element in this larger process of globalization and pluralization…[20] [Emphasis mine]
The term “global-local dialectic” is interchangeable with ‘think globally, act locally’ – very common New Age terms. What were the “forces of globalization” which began in 1945? Most likely this is referencing the birth of the United Nations in 1945 which superseded the League of Nations. The UN is “an international organization formed after World War II in 1945 to promote international peace, security and cooperation under the terms of the Charter of the United Nations.”[21] On a website detailing the “Evolution of The Great Invocation”[22] – a prayer to the Antichrist – is found the following:
The United Nations Conference on International Organization convened on April 25, 1945 in San Francisco, for five days right at the time of the Wesak. (That year the Taurus full moon fell on April 27.)[23] [Emphasis mine]
The Wesak Full Moon Ritual[24] is a celebration of the “Birth and Enlightenment of Buddha.”[25] It’s interesting that this initial meeting of the UN was held right smack in the middle of an important occultic/esoteric holiday.
The Charter of the United Nations was signed on June 26 (exactly one month after the Gemini full moon of 1945, on May 26) and enacted on October 24, 1945, with the 51 signatures representing all sections of the planet.[23] [Emphasis mine]
The Pope’s ties to the United Nations
The papacy has had close ties to the UN since its inception.[26] Pope Benedict XVI “supports robust global governance, in a fashion that has long bewildered neoconservative critics of the United Nations in the United States and elsewhere.”[26] [Emphasis mine] Prior to the Pope’s visit of April 18 of this year, the President of the UN General Assembly, Serjan Kerim anticipated that the visit would be “special” since “more than a billion Catholics in the world share many of the concerns and aspirations of the UN.”[27]
The pope and the UN secretary-general “are two eminent moral authorities in the world,” Archbishop Migliore [Celestino Migliore, the Vatican’s UN nuncio or ‘ambassador’] said noting that the UN secretary-general [currently Ban Ki-moon of South Korea] “is oftentimes referred to as the ‘secular pope.’”
…The Holy See is an international actor of rank and has an important role to play in addressing a number of major international challenges,” he said. One of those challenges, he added, is “religious interfaith dialogue, where the pope has taken important initiatives lately.
…Being at the forefront of the U.N. initiative for an alliance of civilizations,” he said, Spain was “particularly pleased with the pope’s call to interreligious and intercultural dialogue based on the dignity of the human being, which can only be of benefit to the United Nations and international community as a whole.[28] [All emphasis mine]
Is it a coincidence that the Pope’s visit to the US and the UN in New York, which commenced on the 15th of April, ended on the 20th[29] which was a full moon[30] tying into what’s known as “the Festival of the Christ?”[25] [Again, “the Christ” is actually the Antichrist.] There are three important festivals to theosophists/esotericists. The first is the “Festival of the Christ” in April, the second is Wesak in May and the third is the “Festival of Humanity” which is in June.[25] All coincide with the full moon.
The Papacy in the New Age
At the 23rd World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia on July 20, 2008 [the trip was actually 6 days total from July 15th through July 20th – note: there was a full moon on July 18] Pope Benedict XVI suggested New Age unity:[31]
“In today’s Gospel, [cf. Luke 4:21], Jesus proclaims that a new age has begun, in which the Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all humanity.”[31][Emphasis mine]
In context the Luke verse is referring to the fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1-2 – a Messianic prophetic passage. While there is no mention of the Holy Spirit being poured out in either the Luke or Isaiah verses, I concede that the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry would ultimately culminate in his death on the cross and outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Acts 2. However, this quote above sounds suspiciously similar to Latter Rain[32, 33] teaching especially when taken together with the following:
At the Mass, the pope prayed that the World Youth Day experience would be a new Pentecost for all the participants, marking a new outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.[34] [Emphasis mine]
Additionally, Pope Benedict in his push for ecumenism warned we should not let doctrine divide the Church – another aspect of Latter Rain.[35]
“…We must guard against any temptation to view doctrine as divisive and hence an impediment to the seemingly more pressing and immediate task of improving the world in which we live.”[35] [Emphasis mine]
Note that the pope uses the term ‘new age’ three times in the following short passage. Certainly, Pope Benedict must be aware of the negative implications of the term.
“…Empowered by the Spirit, and drawing upon faith’s rich vision, a new generation of Christians is being called to help build a world in which God’s gift of life is welcomed, respected and cherished — not rejected, feared as a threat and destroyed,” the Bishop of Rome affirmed. “A new age in which love is not greedy or self-seeking, but pure, faithful and genuinely free, open to others, respectful of their dignity, seeking their good, radiating joy and beauty. A new age in which hope liberates us from the shallowness, apathy and self-absorption which deaden our souls and poison our relationships.” “Dear young friends,” he urged, “the Lord is asking you to be prophets of this new age, messengers of his love, drawing people to the Father and building a future of hope for all humanity.” The world and the Church need this renewal, Benedict XVI affirmed. “The Church especially needs the gifts of young people, all young people,” he said. “She needs to grow in the power of the Spirit who even now gives joy to your youth and inspires you to serve the Lord with gladness…”[36]
And last, but not least, is the following from an article proposing on a beauty pageant for nuns. The contestants must be between the ages of 18 and 40, “and can be either full members of an order or novices.”[37] Does this mean one is no longer beautiful after age 40? Is this the line of demarcation? At least there will be no swimsuit competition and the nuns would not be wearing anything revealing according to the article. The photos will be placed on a blog and viewers can vote on their favorites.
…Father [Antonio] Rungi said that he expected many who applied to be young, attractive – and non-Italian. He said: “Do you really think nuns are all wizened, funereal old ladies? Today, it’s not like that any more, thanks to an injection of youth and vitality brought to our country by foreign girls.” He said there were nuns from Africa and Latin America who were “really very, very pretty. The Brazilian girls above all.”
…He admitted that not all Catholics were in favor of the idea. “I have had some e-mails from Christians who perhaps have not grasped the evangelizing spirit of the initiative, or the potential of the internet, which is a marvelous tool for spreading the Christian message. Unfortunately, some people still have a closed mentality.”[37][Emphasis mine]
Does this seem like effective evangelism or does this seem wrong to you dear reader? I agree the internet is “a marvelous tool for spreading the Christian message” but not in the way he’s thinking.
[1] “ecumenism.” WordNet© 3.0. Princeton University. 26 Aug. 2008. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ecumenism>
[2] <http://www.unity.org/index.php?submenu=What_we_believe&src=gendocs&ref=WeBelieve&category=About%20Us>
[3] “pluralism.” WordNet© 3.0. Princeton University. 26 Aug. 2008. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pluralism>
[4] <http://www.lucistrust.org/en/publications_store/alice_bailey_books/about_alice_bailey>
[5] Bailey, Alice A. “Introduction to Initiation.” From Bethlehem to Calvary. Lucis Trust; copyright 1937 by Alice A. Bailey, renewed 1957 by Foster Bailey; 4th paperback edition, 1989; Fort Orange Press, Inc., Albany, New York; p 20-21
[6] <http://www.ihop.org/>
[7] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Bickle>
[8] <http://www.pfo.org/growingpains.htm>
[9] <http://www.morningstarministries.org/>
[10] Bickle, Mike. Growing in the Prophetic. Creation House. Lake Mary, FL; 1996 p 30
[11] (van der Merwe) Grewe, Jewel. “False Prophets.” Discernment Newsletter. May 1990 Volume 1, No.1 <http://www.discernment-ministries.org/1990_FirstEdition.pdf page 35 (Kansas City Fellowship Interview Bob Jones with Mike Bickle 1988)
[12] (van der Merwe) Grewe, Jewel. “A New Breed.” Discernment Newsletter. June 1990 <http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NL_June1990.pdf page 45 (Kansas City Fellowship Interview Bob Jones with Mike Bickle 1988)
[13] (van der Merwe) Grewe, Jewel. “The Anointed Seed.” Discernment Newsletter. September 1990 <http://www.discernment-ministries.org/NL_Sept1990.pdf> page 5 (Kansas City Fellowship Interview Bob Jones with Mike Bickle 1988)
[14] Joyner, Rick. The Harvest <http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0883685035/ref=sib_dp_ptu#reader-link> 1993. MorningSter Publications. Charlotte, NC; back cover
[15] <http://www.ibethel.org/>
[16] Johnson, Bill. “Todd Bentley ‘Commissioning’ of June 23, 2008.” <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A05WQYi7aQ> 1:30 – 2:10
[17] <http://www.acommonword.com/index.php?lang=en&page=option1>
[18] <http://www.acommonword.com/lib/downloads/fullpageadbold18..pdf>
[19] <http://www.acommonword.com/>
[20] “Christianity and Religious Plurality in Historical and Global Perspective.” April 25-27, 2003 <http://www.fullerseminary.net/news/html/religiousplurality.asp>
[21] American Society of International Law <http://www.asil.org/resource/un1.htm>
[22] <http://www.lucistrust.org/invocation/>
[23] <http://www.souledout.org/gi/gievolution.html>
[24] <http://www.souledout.org/wesak/wesaklegend2.html>
[25] <http://www.wesak.us/articles.php>
[26] Allen, Jr., John L., “The Vatican’s Relative Truth.” The New York Times. <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/opinion/19allen.html> 12/19/07
[27] “UN gets ready for Pope Benedict’s visit.” <http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/detail/9316.html> 04/11/08
[28] Stagnaro, Angelo. “Diplomats welcome Pope Benedict’s visit to United Nations.” Catholic News Service. <http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0802122.htm> 08/20/08
[29] Wooden, Cindy. “Pope says trip to U.S. was opportunity to give, receive hope, faith.” <http://www.uspapalvisit.org/stories/cns_0802384.htm> 04/30/08
[30] <http://www.farmersalmanac.com/2007-2008-full-moons>
[31] Flynn, Father John, LC. “The New Age of the Holy Spirit.” Zenit. <http://www.zenit.org/article-23347?l=english> 07/27/08
[32] <http://www.theopedia.com/Latter_Rain_Movement>
[33] <http://www.letusreason.org/Latrain7.htm>
[34] Wooden, Cindy. “Pope tells young people power of the Holy Spirit can transform world.” Catholic News Services. <http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0803760.htm> 07/20/08
[35] Wigen, Nancy. “Ecumenism ultimately points toward a common Eucharist, Pope tells Christians.” Catholic News Agency. <http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=13290> 07/18/08
[36] “Pope Prays Closing Mass Will Be New Pentecost..” World Youth Day – Cross Media. <http://wydcrossmedia.org/moduli/popupnews.php?i=602> 07/19/08
[37] Owen, Richard, “Priest Antonio Rungi wants beauty contest – for nuns.” The Times. <http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4600534.ece> 08/25/08
DiscernIt 
Recent Comments