Tag: Christianity

Test All Things Pt. 5 – Cult Leaders & their Followers

cultleaders

The minds of most people have not been trained to think critically about the groups that they follow, so that they are able to discern whether their group is grounded in truth, or is ruled over by error. Also most people will not think to examine the legitimacy of their group. Instead, people are prone to blindly following what seems right, and what appeals to their senses. However, mankind has been sinners since the fall of Adam, and therefore their senses are corrupt. That is why Scripture says that “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked”, and “the carnal mind is enmityihop against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be”(Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 8:7). Therefore, what appeals to the senses of sinful man, and what seems right to them, cannot be trusted. Instead, whatever messenger, or message, that claims to be “the truth” must be tested by the word of God, so that people can know if what they are hearing, and learning, is true or error & deception.

Scripture is the only measuring rod for discerning truth from error. That is why Jesus, who is the Word of God, and “the Word made flesh”, said “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life”, and “I am the way, the truth, and the life”, and “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth”(John 8:12, John 14:6, John 17:17). The Apostle John also spoke of God, and the word, in this way: “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1John 1:5). The word of God also says “The words of the LORD are pure words, Like silver tried in a furnace of earth, Purified seven times”, and “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.” (Psalm 12:6, Proverbs 30:5-6). Therefore, Scripture affirms itself as true, without errors, and it is not open to additions, but it exposes those who add to the word of God as liars.

2Timothy 3

13    But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14    But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15    and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for holy-biblesalvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16    All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17    that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

People who follow cults, and cult leaders, are not following the true God, but a counterfeit God. The cult leaders may claim to be Christians, and the cults may claim to be Christ’ church, but they deviate from the gospel of Jesus Christ, and require their followers to trust their interpretation of the gospel.

Some cults are more deceptive then others. Some are so extremely heretical that they are easy to fall away from. Nevertheless, people’s departure from particular cults is just the beginning of breaking away from error, because there are many cults that claim to be Christian churches. So people must be willing to examine the doctrine of every church that they attend. It is not sufficient to merely identify the heresies within other churches. Any hypocrite can do that Bill-Johnson-200x200(Matthew 7:3-5). Jesus revealed the importance of abstaining from error when he said “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Therefore, leaving a cult, and deciding to attend a church that seems better simply isn’t good enough. Those “who names the name of Christ must depart from iniquity”, because there are many false teachers, who are teaching people to follow heresies that contradicts the gospel, which is a work of the flesh, which will prevent many from inheriting the kingdom of God (2Timothy 2:19, Galatians 5:19-21). That is why Jesus said “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). In order to escape the trap of damnable heresies, believers must test their own church to make sure that it is a church that teaches, and obeys, the true gospel. There is no perfect church, but a true church teaches the true gospel, and obeys it (Matthew 5:13-16, John 8:12, Ephesians 4:1-16, Galatians 1:6-8, Galatians 5:4-9).

Whenever believers join churches that teaches the true gospel, and obeys it, the believes must also test themselves to make sure that they are following Christ, and not merely his people, nor pastors, nor their favorite teachers, because Jesus commanded every believer to follow him. He also gave this warning: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:1-2). He also said “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:5-6). This means that those who are claiming to be believers, yet are not following Christ’s teachings, will be taken out of the congregation of the righteous, and burned by the wrath of God (Psalm 1:-6, Psalm 119:1-11, Hebrews 6:1-8).

Hebrews 6

1    Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
2    of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3    And this we will do if God permits.
4    For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5    and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6    if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
7    For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;
8    but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

This is the reason why many Christians will not inherit the kingdom of God. They do not endure to the end. They may be in the congregation of the righteous, and mimic the behavior of believers, and even expose the heresies of false churches, yet they, themselves, are not following Christ. They are merely indoctrinated into church culture. Though it may be a true church, God’s word has not taken root in their own hearts. They are merely following their group, or their pastor, and when their group falls into damnable heresies, they might also follow without protest. These kind of people are members of true Christian churches, yet they follow their church just as any other cult member.

There are also many professing Christians who follow their favorite teachers, whether they be local pastors, or televangelists. These are personality cults. Many of these cults are international. The danger with these type of cults isn’t merely the doctrine. The doctrine could be true, yet the cult aspect will still lead many to Hell, because the people are not following Christ, but a mere human celebrity. This cult is extremely dangerous, because it seems safe to the human senses, but it is idolatry. Idolatry is a work of the flesh, and those who practice it will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:20-21). The way to eternal life is narrow, and difficult. (Matthew 7:14). Therefore, every believer must test themselves to see if they are really in the faith, and not following, and worshiping, idols, because it does not matter if a preacher that they are idolizing is preaching the true gospel. If Christians are following an orthodox preacher, rather than Christ, then that believer will go to Hell for their idolatry.

Believers, therefore, do not need to be pointed to great preachers, but Christ, himself. He is the true God, and abiding in him will lead to eternal life. Preachers do not need to be exalted, but Jesus said “if I am lifted up from the earth, [I] will draw all peoples to Myself” (John 12:32).

1Corinthians 1

10    Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11    For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.
12    Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”
13    Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

1Corinthians 3

5    Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?
6    I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
7    So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
8    Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9    For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

Matthew 23

8    But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.
9    Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.
10    And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.
11    But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Luke 14

26    “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
27    And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

John 15

3    You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
4    Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5    “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6    If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

1John 2

24    Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
25    And this is the promise that He has promised us — eternal life.
26    These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.
27    But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
28    And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
29    If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

2 Timothy 2

19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

1John 5

18    We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
19    We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
20    And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
21    Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Authors of Confusion Pt. 25 – Oprah’s “Life Class”

jakes oprah

Longtime talk show host, actress, and philanthropist, Oprah Winfrey, is partnering with some of the biggest names in Christian media for her “life class“, wherein she teaches people how to live their best lives. Although Oprah has already made it clear that she doesn’t believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God, she is now presenting herself as a Christian, and is partnering with well known pastors, who were never known for preaching the true gospel of salvation, to help her audience believe that living the Christian life is “one and the same” with living one’s best life. This means that sin, God’s righteousness, his judgment on sinners, repentance, and faith in Jesus Christ, is not mentioned in the classes. This deception is perpetrated by using Scripture out of context to affirm their messages of self-affirmation, self-exaltation, and self-reliance. Some of Oprah’s “life class” partners are T. D. Jakes, Rick Warren, and Joel Osteen.

Oprah’s “life class” reduces Christian living down to being positive for the sake of being happy, and successful in life.

Nevertheless, Jesus did not come into the world to give people the joys of this world, but to take the penalty of the sins of mankind on himself, which is death, and to rise from the dead, so that everyone who believes in him would be freed from the bondage to sin, from God’s judgment on sinners, to reconcile them to himself, and to give them eternal life. This is the gospel, and Christian living is not attainable to those who do not believe this. Also, salvation will not be found by those who, knowingly, hold back the truth of the gospel for the sake of being popular, and loved by the world (1John 2:15-17, Galatians 1:7-10). Therefore, Oprah, and her partners, are deceiving millions with their man-made, and man-centered, philosophies, and they, themselves, are under God’s eternal punishment.

1John 2

15    Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16    For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world.
17    And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
18    Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
19    They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

1John 4

3 And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
4    You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
5    They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.
6    We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Colossians 2

4    Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.
5    For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6    As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7    rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8    Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
9    For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
10    and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

2Corinthians 10

3    For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
4    For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5    casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

John 5

3    For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
4    For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.
5    Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
6    This is He who came by water and blood — Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7    For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
8    And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.
9    If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.
10    He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
11    And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12    He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13    These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

2Corinthians 5

14    For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
15    and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16    Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
17    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
18    Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
19    that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20    Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
21    For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The Catholic Calvinists Pt. 1 – RC Sproul

rc_sproul_01-08-09_700px

The minds of modern day Protestants are far removed from the concept, and history, of Protestantism, and, therefore, have a poor understanding of the Protestant Reformation. For this reason, many who call themselves Reformed, or Calvinists, are not able to recognized when major offenses against the faith are being made. For example: many are not aware that the Protestant Reformation was rooted in a breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church by many of its clergy, who realized that their religion was not the gospel of Jesus Christ, and could not lead anyone to salvation. These Roman Catholic clergymen’s eyes were also opened to the fact that Rome, and it’s religious system, which, by that time, was drunk with the blood of the saints, by labeling them as heretics for not submitting to the false doctrines of the Catholic Church, and by torturing and killing many hundreds of thousands of Christians, was Mystery Babylon the Great, which was foretold in Revelation 17:1-1-6, and that it’s king (the popes) is the scarlet beast, which she rides.

This lack of knowledge allows many Calvinists teachers, with Roman Catholic leanings, to commit major errors concerning Christian doctrine. One of which is Dr. RC Sproul, because of his high regard for, and public praise of, Thomas Aquinas. Dr. Sproul’s ministry has described Tomas Aquinas in this way:

Ligonier.Org –

The noted theologian Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) is our fourth example of faith from church history.

One of the most important contributions that Aquinas made to the church was his teaching on God’s revelation.

We have Aquinas to thank for reminding us that all truth is God’s truth and is therefore both universal and permanent.

These statements by Ligonier Ministries acknowledges Thomas Aquinas as an “example of faith” to Christ’s followers, and a major contributor of church doctrine, whom the church should be thankful for; thus acknowledging him as a fellow brother in Christ.

But, are these statements true?

Is Thomas Aquinas an example of faith to Christ’s followers?

Is he a fellow believer, whom the church should be thankful for?

This is who Thomas Aquinas is:

Wikipedia.Org –

Thomas of Aquin or Aquino, was an Italian Dominican priest, and an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism, within which he is also known as the “Dumb Ox”, “Angelic Doctor”, “Doctor Communis“, and “Doctor Universalis“.

Thomas is held in the Roman Catholic Church to be the model teacher for those studying for the priesthood, and indeed the highest expression of both natural reason and speculative theology. The study of his works, according to papal and magisterial documents, is a core of the required program of study for those seeking ordination as priests or deacons, as well as for those in religious formation and for other students of the sacred disciplines (Catholic philosophy, theology, history, liturgy, and canon law).

Pope Benedict XV declared: “This (Dominican) Order … acquired new luster when the Church declared the teaching of Thomas to be her own and that Doctor, honored with the special praises of the Pontiffs, the master and patron of Catholic schools.”

Thomas Aquinas was not a follower of Christ. Instead, he was a Roman Catholic, who served as a Dominican priest during the Great Inquisition, which was lead by the Dominican Order during the 13th century in which Aquinas lived.

Wickipedia.Org –

In the 13th century, Pope Gregory IX (reigned 1227–1241) assigned the duty of carrying out inquisitions to the Dominican Order. They used inquisitorial procedures, a legal practice common at that time. They judged heresy alone, using the local authorities to establish a tribunal and to prosecute heretics. After 1200, a Grand Inquisitor headed each Inquisition. Grand Inquisitions persisted until the mid 19th century.

Therefore, Tomas Aquinas was not an example of godliness, nor was he a man of faith. Instead, he was a champion of a false religion that was, during his lifetime, persecuting masses of Christians.

To understand the major heretical views of Tomas Aquinas, one only has to read his contribution to the Roman Catholic Catechism.

Vatican.Va –

460 The Word became flesh to make us “partakers of the divine nature“:78 “For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God.”79 “For the Son of God became man so that we might become God.”80 “The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his divinity, assumed our nature, so that he, made man, might make men gods.”81

Nevertheless, Dr. Sproul has been able to teach on the life, and teachings of, Thomas Aquinas without being rebuked for doing so. Furthermore, he does not hide the fact that Aquinas is a Dominican, when he includes Aquinas in his list of great theologians of the Christian faith. On the contrary, Sproul’s audience knows Aquinas’ membership in the order, because he taught it to them. Dr. Sproul simply doesn’t mention that Aquinas is a heretic, because he taught a different gospel, and served in the very religion that Martin Luther, whom Sproul also knowledges as a great theologian, proclaimed to be Mystery Babylon the Great. Sproul does not mention the fact that Aquinas worked, throughout his life, for the antichrist, who was murdering Christians by the masses.

The following link is a lecture by Dr. Sproul, entitled “Lecture 3, Thomas Aquinas (Part 1):” that further reveals his love for Aquinas, the heretic.

Dr. Sproul’s zealous support of Thomas Aquinas has subtly taught Christians to think highly of, and praise, heretics. It has also helped to further weaken all that was gained by the Protestant Reformation, because the acknowledgment of Roman Catholic theologians breaks down the wall of separation between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, which was built up by the Protestant Reformers.

Another offense of Sproul is his endorsement of a Bible translation (ESV; The Reformation Study Bible), which is based on a corrupt text that has various passages of Scripture missing (Codex Sinaiticus), and it is a rejection of the received text (Textus Receptus), which the Protestant Reformers used for the Protestant Reformation. Accepting this corrupt text, which was also endorsed by Rome, and encouraging others to do the same, is a direct attack on the innerancy  of Scripture, and including the ESV translation in the “Reformation Study Bible” is a sad insult to the Reformers, the church,  and Christ himself, who is the word of God (John 1:1). Hopefully, this last offense of Dr. Sproul was committed in ignorance. For more information on this textual controversy, click on the link entitled “War on Consciousness Pt. 25 – The True Bible – Textus Receptus vs Codex Sinaiticus“.

The public praise of Aquinas by Dr. Sproul, which he has done for years, reveals the ignorance of many of his followers, and the lack of concern for the purity of the gospel on the part of those who are aware of Sproul’s offense, yet still insist on promoting Dr. Sproul’s ministry, and on calling themselves Reformed. This ignorance, and apathy reveals the deadness of the Reformation, and its replacement, which is a counterfeit that is more consistent with Rome’s Counter Reformation.

Related articles are listed below:

  1. “The New Christianity Pt. 7 – All Roads Lead to Rome“
  2. “Authors of Confusion Pt. 21 – Beth Moore“

Worldview Weekend’s Commentary on “Passion 2013”

passion2013

Worldview Weekend.Com –

Jesus Culture and Judah Smith to Join Piper, Moore, Chan and Others at Giglio’s Passion 2013

A new year means a fresh batch of conferences. And a fresh batch of conferences means a whole new crop of questionable decisions being made by the leaders and organizers of those gatherings.

To start off the 2013 conference season is Louie Giglio’s Passion 2013. Held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, it will run from 1–4 January. Giglio aims this gathering specifically at young people, and according to the event’s website, last year saw “more than 40,000 students and leaders from around the world” at the US event. Today The Christian Postreports that 60,000 students are scheduled to attend this week’s event.

Source

Passion targets the younger generation with such high-profile names as Beth Moore, John Piper, Francis Chan, rapper Lecrae and this year, pastor Judah Smith of The City Church in Seattle and popular Christian band, Jesus Culture.

Who Is Judah Smith?

Judah Smith has been profiled briefly here before when, in May of this year, Smith invited Word Faith teacher Brian Houston of Hillsong Church (who, incidentally, just preached weekend services at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church) to preach at The City Church. Oddly enough, New Calvinist pastor Mark Driscoll was excited about the invitation, even encouraging his Twitter followers to attend.

Judah Smith co-pastors his church with his wife, Chelsea, making the Reformed Driscoll’s endorsement even more perplexing. The presence of a pastrix at The City Church ought not surprise, though, when it is considered that this church was founded by Judah’s parents, pastor Wendell and pastrix Gini Smith:

Source

The reader will note that, in the screenshot above, it states that Wendell and Gini Smith originally served under Dick Iverson at Bible Temple in Portland. According to C. Peter Wagner’s book Apostles Today: Biblical Government for Biblical Power, Iverson was the “founder of one of America’s foremost apostolic networks, Ministers Fellowship International, out of Portland, Oregon.” So it sounds as though The City Church has some rather colorful roots.

Who Is Jesus Culture?

Speaking of colorful, this leads to the concerning inclusion by Louie Giglio of the “Christian” music group, Jesus Culture. The group’s website tells us that it was spawned out of the youth group at Bill Johnson’s Bethel Church in Redding, California. For those who are unfamiliar with Johnson and Bethel, the following video shares some of the “signs and wonders” shenanigans that take place there, and also demonstrates some classic Bill Johnson Scripture-twisting:

Now, one could camp for quite awhile on some of the statements made by Johnson in that video, but since Johnson is not under discussion here, we’ll move on. The point is, of course, that this is the church that birthed the Jesus Culture phenomenon.

The entirety of Jesus Culture’s “About Us” page warrants a close examination, and will aid in understanding why Christians should be concerned that this band is being mainstreamed by men like Louie Giglio:

Source

The choice of words in the paragraphs above is curiously alarming. The language surrounding a “new breed of revivalists” emerging is of particular interest, as such vocabulary is prominent within the New Apostolic Reformation movement.

Note also that the group claims direct revelation and instruction from the Lord Himself.

The members of Jesus Culture claim that the Lord spoke to them, revealing the characteristics of their movement (which noticeably does not include repentance or sanctification, only love and supernatural experience), commissioning them to “mobilize this new breed,” and in so doing issued a mandate to Jesus Culture that cannot be ignored. Taking this to its logical conclusion, then, to question the actions or words of Jesus Culture and its members is to question God Himself.

Examination of this website further reveals that the goal of this group is to lead people into an experience or an “encounter” with God. It seems that truth may be cast aside in favor of temporary and potentially deceiving experiences.

The Music of Jesus Culture

It behooves us, then, to see just how it is that the music of Jesus Culture may lull the professing Christian teenager into a so-called “encounter” with God. Below you will witness the group leading the crowd in a repetitive mantra, followed by some singing and what appears to be tongues-speaking. The clip will close with band member Kim Walker-Smith breaking into spontaneous prayer and declaration.

The repetition of the mantra “Jesus” at the beginning of the clip, while appearing to be spiritual, actually potentially could lead a person into an altered state of consciousness. Contemplative prayer, which is little more than a “Christianized” version of Eastern meditation, often encourages such a practice, as one seeks to journey inward to discover the “divine spark” within oneself. Yet, Scripture nowhere teaches this type of praise or prayer, but rather condemns the practices of pagan religions.

Also of note in the clip above is the apparent spontaneous breakout into tongues at approximately 2:30, following the singing of the line, “Heaven beckons to me.” The fact that these were nothing more than gibberish and were not a known language, as per the biblical definition of ‘tongues,’ ought to cause concern as well.

In watching and listening to Jesus Culture, it does not take long to realize that the focus of their music and teaching is all about an experience of “God’s love.” Yet, without acknowledging the righteous wrath of God, His love can never fully be understood or appreciated. Unfortunately, a warm-fuzzy feeling up and down one’s spine does not a true Christian make.

The “Teaching” of Jesus Culture

Jesus Culture does more than simply play music, however. It seems that, at times, various members of the group also may preach or teach. Below is Jesus Culture member Kim Walker-Smith preaching to a large crowd at the Awakening 2011 event, and offering a rather detailed account of her own personal encounter with “Jesus.” This video is a bit lengthy, but the reader is urged to watch it in its entirety.

Kim Walker-Smith claims that she spoke with Jesus, that He cuddled her, and that she saw God the Father. And while she acknowledges that such visions are not regular occurrences, she nevertheless indicates that she’s had multiple encounters with Him. One wonders how many people sitting amongst that large crowd left disappointed that night that they had not “encountered” Jesus as Kim Walker-Smith claimed that she had. Walker-Smith’s recollection of the vision is natural, and seems to presume that everyone should experience such a thing. Yet, when face to face with God Almighty, how did Isaiah react?

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:1–5)

And Ezekiel?

And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face…(Ezekiel 1:26–28)Moses, who we are told spoke to the Lord as a man speaks to a friend (Exodus 33:11), was not even allowed to see Him in all of His glory!

Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” And the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.” (Exodus 33:18–23)Not one of these men, after a brief moment of awestruck fear, “fell into Jesus’ arms” as Walker-Smith claims that she did. Not one describes God the Father running around deliriously and laughing while Isaiah or Ezekiel danced around in a music box. So to Kim Walker-Smith’s claims above that she has spoken personally with Jesus Christ and God the Father, I would like to offer this challenge: Prove it. And while you’re at it, disprove this: God just spoke to me and told me that you are lying, Kim Walker-Smith. Don’t believe me? Well, who is to say that your experience was real and mine was not?

Christian, herein lies the grave danger of such claims of personal revelation and visitations from God. They cannot be proven and they are not Scriptural. If they are to be found in Scripture, they appear to be more indicative of the deceptive angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14–15) than anything else.

Parents, if your teenager is attending Passion 2013 this week, this is the type of so-called Christian leaders to whom they are being exposed. This is the type of music that will bombard their eardrums during these four days. If your impressionable teen is wandering in the crowd of Passion 2013, it is my prayer that you will pray mightily for his or her protection.

What Happened at Passion 2012?

As a reminder, last year’s Passion Conference saw the featured speakers lead the humongous crowd in a troubling display of “Lectio Divina-lite.” In the post, “Biblical Silence vs. Mystical Silence and What Really Went On at Passion 2012?” the topics of contemplative prayer and lectio divina were discussed more thoroughly. The following videos of Session 5 of the Passion 2012 conference also were shared in that article.

Here is popular New Calvinist preacher John Piper:

Here we see the SBC’s favorite female Bible teacher, Beth Moore:

And here is Passion founder Louie Giglio closing this session:

Of special note are the words spoken by Giglio at the close of this exercise:

How many of you heard the voice of God speak specifically, clearly, directly, and personally, to you? Can you just put a hand up? I’d like you to share it. Can you put a hand up for a minute?

Just want you to look around; that’s people saying, “God Almighty (pause) the Maker of heaven (pause) the one Who’s sitting on the only throne (pause) that’s not under threat (long pause, audience cheers)—He spoke to me. He spoke to me.”

“God spoke to me.” (long pause) Don’t let the voice of the darkness, tell you that you are not (pause) worth (pause) that God would not speak to you. (pause) Don’t let him tell you, you don’t matter. (pause) God spoke to you.

As was asked in last year’s reporting of this event: When did Protestant leaders begin to teach that we need the Bible “plus” anything? God has spoken. He has graciously, clearly, and perfectly spoken in His Word. We have no need to be still and wait for His audible voice outside of Scripture. He has not stuttered. He has not stammered. He has not whispered. If you want to hear from God Almighty, open your Bible and read.

Until Passion 2013 commences, there is no way to know if a similar exercise will be practiced again. A live stream of the event will be provided, and those who are concerned may want to take the time to watch some of the sessions.

Conclusion

It is important to note that this article is not attempting to throw anyone under the guilt-by-association bus. No one is saying that, because one of these individuals will be sharing the stage with another that they necessarily endorse that other person’s ministry. Of course, that does not speak to the wisdom of certain speakers choosing to participate in this event. What must be acknowledged, however, is that simply by extending an invitation to these individuals, Passion founder Louie Giglio is issuing an apparent endorsement of each one’s ministry. For those who maintain that Giglio is a conservative and trusted teacher, this poses a rather complicated problem.

Evangelicalism appears to be taking broader strides toward the wide road of destruction. Compromise is rampant as numbers take priority over fidelity to Scripture. These are not small issues, dear Christian. What we are witnessing is the mainstreaming of movements that once existed only on the fringe of the “Christian” community, such as Word Faith and dangerous, deceptive “charismatic chaos.” In the face of the visible church’s compromise, the true Christian must stand on God’s Word alone. To ground oneself upon anything else is to guarantee a certain, perhaps eternal, collapse.

Related articles are listed below:

  1. “Of Chaos and Confusion: The Modern Church ~ By Megiddo Films“
  2. “The New Christianity Pt. 10 – Setting the Stage for ‘The False Prophet’“
  3. “The New Christianity Pt. 6 – The ‘New Age’ Experience-Based Religion“

The New Christianity Pt. 11 – Commentary by Ken Silva on the Modern Church

elephant-room-panel

SAIDRadio.Net –

Today we were blessed to interview Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries and Pastor of Conneticut River Baptist Church Claremont, New Hampshire. Today Ken will give us some background on how Apprising Ministries got started, comment on modern day christian worship, the emergent church’s impact on today’s church, the connection b/w the word faith / seeker driven movement among many other topics. We hope you are blessed, let’s listen in.
Click here to listen or right click to save an mp3 of our interview:

http://ccodtruth.org/InterviewSAIDRadioKenSilva.mp3

Ken’s Website:
www.apprising.org

Related links are listed below:

  1. “Church of Tares: Purpose Driven, Seeker Sensitive, Church Growth, and New World Order“
  2. “Religious Trojan Horse ~ By Brannon Howse“
  3. “The New Christianity Pt. 6 – The “New Age” Experience-Based Religion“

Test All Things Pt. 4 – Being “Missional”

incarnational

Is the Jesus of incarnational ministry the same as the Jesus that is presented in Scripture?

This question must be asked in light of the new movement in evangelicalism, known as being “missional” and “incarnational”. Many Reformed Theology adherents are following this movement with zeal, and are even learning about it in seminaries, such as Westminster Theological Seminary. Incarnational ministry is built upon the, Pelagian, “substitutionary theory” of Christ’s Atonement, which claims that Christ came into the world to give mankind a moral example of how to live. Although this is being taught in Reformed Seminaries, it is not being taught to the exclusion of the, Reformed, “vicarious substitutionary” view of the Atonement, which rightly claims that Christ came into the world to pay the penalty for the sins of mankind (Romans 3:21-26, Romans 5:18-19) . Therefore, two doctrines are being merged as one within the minds of many new Calvinists.

This merging of the two views of Christ’s Atonement is the basis for incarnational ministry, which is an attempt to follow Christ’s example of being a humanitarian, for the purpose of evangelism, and, for some, bringing about the kingdom of God on earth, as though the church age is the thousand year reign of Christ on earth. This movement holds a promise of a better world, which will be brought about through the good works of one’s own hands, for many who follow it. This better world is to be realized by taking on the social problems of the world as though the church has been empowered by Christ to put an end to the affects of sin, such as poverty, war, and tyranny (Revelation 6:1-6). This is why many new Calvinists claim to be on a mission of reclaiming the culture, and even creation itself. Many have even taken the focus off of evangelism, and have, instead, began teaching the Jesus came to reconcile all creation to himself, and therefore, he has reconciled his church to creation. They are also teaching that God made mankind to be creators, just as God is a creator. This belief that the church will bring about the redemption of all things is consistent with the 1679 “Prophecy of the Coming Kingdom“ by the Christian mystic, Jane Lead, minus the conversion of the world through signs, and wonders, but it is inconsistent with the teachings of Scripture.

In order to believe that the church is able to bring about a better world, certain Biblical truths must be ignored, misinterpreted, and even completely thrust aside.  One of those truths is Revelation 12, which teaches that Satan has been cast down to the earth, and is full of wrath, because he knows that he only has a short time to persecute Christians. Also, 2Corinthians 4:4 teaches that Satan is the ruler of this world. Daniel 12, Revelation 13, 19 and 20, shows that Christians will endure persecution, and murder, until Christ returns, and destroys this present world’s system, and sets up his own kingdom, which is the kingdom of Heaven come down to earth. These passages, and many others, prove that Christ did not send his church to reclaim, or to transformed, the culture, because it is Satan’s territory. Jesus’ return to earth,  and nothing else, will transform this world.

Christ’s incarnation was not centered on humanitarianism, but saving lost souls from eternal punishment, and reconciling them to God. Jesus clearly affirms this when he said “…the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost”, and “…as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (Luke 19:10, John 3:14-17). Also, Christ’s ministry of preaching the gospel for the saving of the lost was the same ministry that he gave to his Apostles. That is why Jesus said “Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high”, “…and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Luke 24:46-49, Acts 1:8). That is why Paul said, “all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2Corinthians 5:18-21).

Therefore, the Jesus of incarnational ministry, who came into the world to empower his church to teach the world how incarnational ministryto be good people, is not the Jesus of the Bible. The real Jesus is the Savior of the world, and not a humanitarian. To merge two different teachings of who Jesus is, by teaching both the Pelagian and the vicarious substitutionary view of the Atonement, is to create a different god – a false God. According to the Apostle John, those who try to change the teachings of who Christ is, is an antichrist (1John 4:1-3).

The proof that the missional movement is not from Christ can also be found in the actions of the movement. For example: the movement is not centered on evangelism, and discipleship, but embracing the non-believing communities of the world as though it were the church; thus blurring the lines between those who are the family of God, and those who are not. This is also reinforced by applying certain passages of Scripture that only apply to the church to everyone in the community in which a local church is planted in, such as the following passage:

Matthew 25

31    When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32    And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33    And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34    Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35    For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36    Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37    Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38    When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39    Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40    And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41    Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42    For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43    I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44    Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45    Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46    And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

This passage is used to support the social efforts of the missional movement, when it is really addressing Christ command to his church to love one another, by saying “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me”, and “Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me” (Matthew 25:40 & 45). The world is not Christ’s brethren, but the church is. Incarnational ministry ignores that important detail.

Some have also used the Apostles’ charge to Paul to remember the poor, which Paul was also eager to do (Galatians 2:10). But Paul’s ministry to the poor did not reflect the missional movement, because the book of Acts, as well as, Paul’s epistles, did not mention Paul caring for the poor people of the unbelieving world. Instead, what is mentioned in 2Corinthians 8 is Paul’s collection of the gifts of the Gentile churches for the relief of the poor believers in Jerusalem, which began in Acts 11:19-20, because of a great famine that impoverished Judea. No where in Scripture has Paul reflected the work of the missional movement.

Is it wrong to meet the needs of the poor?

It is wrong to call humanitarian work “the work of God”, because believing in Jesus is the work of God in the world (John 6:26-29). To call something else that Scripture does not acknowledge as “the work of God” for the church, is to take the Lord’s name in vain, and God will not hold such a person, or movement, guiltless who does this, because it is contrary to the will of Christ (Exodus 20:7, Luke 12:47-48).

Nevertheless, it is not wrong to meet the needs of the poor “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Galatians 5:14). Therefore, it is not wrong to meet the needs of poor unbelievers, but it is wrong to call this act the work of Christ’s church, or incarnational minsitry, or being missional.

It is by the church’s love for one another that the world will know that they belong to God, because they love one another just as Christ loved them (John 13:34-35). This is one of the ways that the church allows their light to shine, so that men will see their good deeds, and glorify their Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:14-16). This love for other believers is the light of the church that has been recorded in Scripture in passages such as Acts 2:42-47, Acts 4:32-37, and Acts 6:1-6). Furthermore, this kind of love was also taught by the Apostles in passages such as Romans 12:4-16, Romans 15:1-7, 1Corinthians 13, Philippians 2:1-8, James 2:14-16, 1John 3:16-19.

Therefore, the missional movement would do well to redirect its focus from the world, and onto loving the church just as Christ loved his church. A movement such as that could indeed be supported by Scripture, but the social efforts of incarnational ministry, which is nothing more than the social gospel, is the work of a different religion. This work will only serve to cause people to hope in an earth-based/works-based salvation. Such a movement is not the work of God, but it is more consistent with the ministry of white-wash, which the false prophets of Israel were well adapt in (Ezekiel 13:4-14).

In conclusion, incarnational ministry is not the work of the gospel, but it is the work of the social gospel that is deceiving Christians into putting their efforts towards helping the world to work for, and hope in, an earth-based/works-based salvation. It is causing people to be under the same condemnation that the rich man of Luke 12:16-21, who was not condemned for being greedy, but for not preparing for the more weightier matter of being justified before God. The missional movement does this by taking the focus off of evangelism, and instead, putting the focus on earthly cares, and heart-felt needs, as though that is what matters to God the most. But Scripture makes it clear, that believers must love their neighbor as themselves, and they must love the church, just as Christ loved the church, by giving his life for them. Therefore, loving the church is the orthodox focus for Christ’s church, and not incarnational ministry. The missional movement is more consistent with Rick Warren’s world wide “Purpose Driven Emerging Church movement” than the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ezekiel 13

3    Thus says the Lord GOD: “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!
4    O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts.
5    You have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the LORD.
6    They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD!’ But the LORD has not sent them; yet they hope that the word may be confirmed.
7    Have you not seen a futile vision, and have you not spoken false divination? You say, ‘The LORD says,’ but I have not spoken.”
8    Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you,” says the Lord GOD.
9    “My hand will be against the prophets who envision futility and who divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
10    “Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace — and one builds a wall, and they plaster it with untempered mortar —
11    say to those who plaster it with untempered mortar, that it will fall. There will be flooding rain, and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall tear it down.
12    Surely, when the wall has fallen, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the mortar with which you plastered it?’ ”
13    Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “I will cause a stormy wind to break forth in My fury; and there shall be a flooding rain in My anger, and great hailstones in fury to consume it.
14    So I will break down the wall you have plastered with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered; it will fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst of it. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.

Luke 12

16    And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17    And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18    And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19    And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20    But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21    So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Matthew 7

21    Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22    Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23    And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24    Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25    And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26    And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27    And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Luke 12

42    And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
43    Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44    Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45    But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46    The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
47    And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48    But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

1Corinthians 3

9    For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
10    According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11    For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12    Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13    Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
14    If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15    If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
16    Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17    If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
18    Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19    For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20    And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

War on Consciousness Pt. 26 – The Collective Salvation of the Superior Group

Wittenberg, NationalsynodeWorldview Weekend Radio –

On today’s program Brannon discusses the dangers of collective salvation, group consensus, existentialism and how the false church in Nazi Germany embraced these ideas and how they are being embraced again by a rising, global, false church. Martin Heidegger was the First Nazi Rector of a German University. Martin Heidegger was influenced by Søren Kierkegaard and Kierkegaard also influenced the false church with his belief in subjective truth. Heidegger promoted deconstructionism in Germany and when he joined the Nazi party he aided the Nazi party in teaching the idea of community and collective salvation to the false church in Germany. Heidegger helped to indoctrinate the church in both existentialism and the idea of collectivism, group consensus, and denial of the value and worth of the individual. These philosophies helped to lay the foundation for the Nazi holocaust. How have postmodernism, existentialism, and collective salvation come into the modern church today? What serious consequences could result in today’s world from these dangerous philosophies? How do the New Religious Right and Religious Left embrace group consensus and collective salvation albeit in different forms?

To listen to the program, click on the link entitled “The Collective Salvation of the Superior Group“.

Another influence from the grave is the writings of Jane Lead. Particularly her 1679 prophecy of the “Philadelphian Church“, which has been adopted, in part, by the New Apostolic Reformation, the Latter Rain Movement, the Vineyard Movement, and IHOP. The key character traits of these two movements is the emphasis on the importance of collectivism through, around-the-clock, group prayer meetings for the purpose of coming under the control of the Holy Spirit, whom, they claim, desires to use them to perform signs and wonders on a scale so great that it would convert the world to Jesus Christ, and also cause Christ to return to the earth through their elite church, which would also become gods, and would be so powerful that the earth would be restored by the power of this elite church.

This experienced-based, false church, as seen with IHOP, has no tolerance for sound doctrine, and instead, desires to know God through the senses, apart from Scripture, and seeks after signs and wonders, because the gospel of Christ isn’t enough for them, and adherents to the written word of God are even seen as those who follow dead religion. This perspective automatically causes this elite church to see the true church, that desires to follow the God of the Bible, rather than the strange doctrines, and practices, derived from experiences , as false, dead, and as salt that has lost its savor. Nevertheless, it is the wicked generation that seeks after a sign, and refuses to seek, and obey, the written word of God.

Matthew 16

1    The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
2    He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3    And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
4    A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

Psalm 119

1    Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
2    Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
3    They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

Psalm 1

1    Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2    But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3    And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4    The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5    Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6    For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

What is required of the church during this time of promoting the fallacy of group consensus, and collective salvation, is to abide in Christ, which means we must study God’s word, meditate on it day and night, and most of all, obey it, even in the face of persecution and death (John 15:3-5, Psalm 1:1-3, Psalm 119:1-8). Just as Noah was the only one preaching, and standing up for the truth, in the midst of his wicked generation, before the flood came, and destroyed the old, proud, world, with its great numbers , who were sure of their collective movement of lawlessness, so the church of Jesus Christ must stand in this evil day, against the principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, by standing up for the truth of who God is, and the truth of the gospel (Ephesians 6:10-13). This is done by preaching the gospel to the lost, making disciples of Jesus Christ, teaching them to obey everything that he has commanded those who follow him, and by contending earnestly for the faith, once delivered to the saints, by casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (Matthew 28:19-20, Jude 1:3-4, 2Corinthians 10:4-5). Christ’s command to his church is to put on the whole armor of God, so that they are able to stand for the truth in the midst of this wicked generation (Ephesians 6:10-18, 1Peter 1:8-20).

The church must be willing to stand for the true God, and the gospel, when it is vastly out numbered (Matthew 10:16-40, Matthew 24:9-13). It must be willing to stand up, by the grace of God, under persecution. Christ church must be willing to be rejected by this sinful world, and separated themselves from the false prophets who are promoted by the mainstream Christian media (Luke 6:26, Matthew 5:10-16). It must separate itself from the ecumenical practices of the New Religious Right (2Corinthians 6:14-18, 1John 2:3-6, 1John 5:18-21).

The power of God in the church is its witness of the gospel, through the power of the Holy Spirit, which they have been given in their mortal bodies, to show that it is not by might, nor by power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit that they are able to stand firm until Christ returns (Romans 1:16-17, Ephesians 3:14-21, Corinthians 4:5-7, Zechariah 4:1-6, Hebrews 10:35-38).

The church began its mission of gospel proclamation through signs, and wonders, confirming their witness to be from God (Mark 16:17-20, Hebrews 2:3-4). The church has no more need for signs, and wonders, now that the fullness of their faith has been revealed by the written word of God (1Corinthians 13:8-13, James 1:21-25, 2Timothy 3:14-17). Now they must shine as lights in these last hours by their faith, through preaching the gospel, and through the sign of boldness in martyrdom (Daniel 12:3, Daniel 12:7-10, 2Timothy 4:1-5, Revelation 12:10-12). Signs, and wonders, are no longer needed by the true church to affirm their righteousness to the collective, superior group, because they are the just, who live by faith in God’s written word, which promised them resurrection to eternal life, when Christ returns, and judges this world in righteousness (2Thessalonians 1:3-12, 1Thessalonians 4:13-18, Isaiah chp. 26).

Test All Things Pt. 2 – Homosexuality & Salvation

homosexual-question

The latest interviews by Rick Warren, as shown in this article entitled “Rick Warren Uncertain if Homosexual Behavior is Sinful, Says ‘Gays’ Go to Heaven“, reveals the growing confusion over the issue of homosexuality, sin, and salvation. As stated in the article, Warren isn’t the only one spreading this confusion, but other mainstream Christian media personalities are guilty of promoting this confusion as well. This is because of their statement in the media that can lead many into asking, “Is homosexuality a sin?”, “Can practicing homosexuals inherit eternal life?”, and “Is it a sin to have same sex attractions?” These Christian media personalities, who claim to be ministers of the gospel of salvation, reveal their bad fruit by their poor affirmation of the gospel. Yet, there are others who affirm the truth on this controversial topic, as is also stated in the article.

To set the record straight concerning what the Bible has to say about these questions, the following Scriptures has been stated below.

Is homosexuality a sin?

Scripture describes homosexuality as uncleanness, vile affections, and an error of man’s, lustful, reprobate (immoral), minds, which God has handed mankind over to because of man’s refusal to acknowledge, and worship, the true God, whom they replaced with mere idols. Therefore, homosexuality is one of the judgments of God upon mankind for their sin of idolatry (Exodus 20:3-6). Therefore, if people are born homosexuals, it is only an affirmation of God’s judgment upon mankind, and it could in no way validate homosexual desires, because God is love, and love “does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth” (1John 4:8 & 1Corinthians 13:6). Instead, people are born sinners, because “one man’s [who is Adam] disobedience many were made sinners” (Romans 5:19). Furthermore, love does not tempt others to sin, in the name of love, because the act of true love is to “love God, and keep His commandments.  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.” And Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments”, and Jesus’ command to mankind is to “Repent [turn from sin], and believe in the gospel”.

Romans 1

21    Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22    Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23    And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24    Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25    Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26    For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27    And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28    And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Can practicing homosexuals inherit eternal life?

Jesus’ command, to mankind, is to turn from sin, and to believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ, which can save all sinners, who are willing to humble themselves before God, and confess their life-style as sinful, bringing their sinful deeds to the light of God’s truth, and turning away from their sins to believe, and obey, the gospel of Christ; while those who reject Christ remains in the darkness of their sin, which they love more than the truth of Christ’s sacrifice for their forgiveness, and freedom from sin, and God’s judgment (Mark  1:15, John 3:14-21).

1Corinthians 6

9    Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
10    nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
11    And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Hebrews 10

26    For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27    But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28    He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29    Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30    For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31    It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Is it a sin to have same sex attractions?

Jesus reveals that those who look on some one with lustful desires is guilty of the sin of sexual immorality. Furthermore, Scripture teaches that the thoughts of a person reveals their true self, and God will not hear the prayers of one who’s heart is set on evil.

Matthew 5

27    Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28    But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29    And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30    And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Proverbs 23

6    Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
7    For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Psalm 66

18    If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Therefore, the only hope for mankind is the same hope that Jesus described to Nicodemus, saying “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God…Ye must be born again” (John 3:3-7). Also, those who are born of God, by the preaching of the gospel, and by the Holy Spirit, may struggle with sinful thoughts, and desires, but they have God’s grace to free them from the bondage of sin, as they grow in their knowledge of the gospel, and their obedience to it, because the word of God is powerful, and it transforms their minds, and character, into the character, and mind, of Christ(Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 5:16-25).

John 8

12    Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
23    And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
24    I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
31    Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32    And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
34    Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35    And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36    If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

2Corithinians 5

17    Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18    And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19    To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20    Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21    For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Romans 10

8    But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9    That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10    For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11    For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12    For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13    For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

1John 1

6    If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7    But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8    If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9    If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10    If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1John 2

1    My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2    And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3    And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4    He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5    But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6    He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Philippians 3

18    (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19    Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
20    For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21    Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

1John 5

18    We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
19    And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
20    And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
21    Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Brian “The Doulos” Feaster AKA SlaveOfJesusChrist

brian1

Hello, everyone!

I’d like to start off by thanking everyone for following my blogs. Your interest in my blog-site is much appreciated.

My name is Brian Feaster, and my purpose in starting my blog-site is to shed light on historical issues, current events, biblical truths, and to point people to the true Savior of mankind, who is Jesus Christ. What I believe about Christ, and his good news of salvation, can be read by clicking on the link entitled “Statement of Faith“.

I also want to let you know about “THE NEW REAL TALK RADIO SHOW” of which I will be co-hosting with my good

Jim Green
Jim Green

friend, Jim Green, of the “URBAN TRUTH NETWORK“. The purpose of the radio show is to help people to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.

WHAT DO WE STAND FOR?

  1. Exposing false doctrine
  2. Stopping biblical Illiteracy
  3. Defining the biblical gospel
  4. Evangelizing the lost
  5. Pointing the church to Christ
  6. Recognizing the history of the church & its traditions
  7. The teaching of proper bible interpretation
  8. Develop discernment skills in believers
  9. Build a world view rooted in biblical truth
  10. Increase awareness of current affairs & world events

To learn more about the New Real Talk Radio Show, click on the link entitled “The Real Talk Mission“.

The first show has been postponed until January 8, 2013, and will air once a week, every Tuesday at 7:00pm until 9:00pm (Pacific Standard Time). The link to the radio will be posted on the facebook event page below:

“2013: The Year of Unmasking Truth; The New Real Talk Radio Show“

The New Real Talk Radio Show

newrealtalkradio

REAL TALK RADIO BRAND STORY–

One day as I listened to the seemingly endless sea of as they spoke of their faith and quoted scripture, it became painfully clear to me that Christianity is in a deep crisis of identity. There appeared to be three basic reasons for the loss of uniformity within the Christian community. 1) Biblical Illiteracy 2) A theology that limits God to love only 3) Lack of understanding of the gospel. As this became clear to me I was compelled to build. But what would I build? I would build an institute that would seek to regain what Christianity has lost. I would build a forum of which the unasked questions of Christianity could be asked and answered by the one who answers all questions…God! To do this God must be put back into the Christian conversation. His word must rule the life of the Christian.

REAL TALK RADIO MISSION STATEMENT–

It is the mission of real talk radio to lead the way in the restoration of Christianity back to the truth of the word of God and to restore biblical literacy to Gods people.

jimgreen
Jim Green

REAL TALK RADIO PURPOSE STATEMENT– We must understand the one and only true gospel which is able to snatch the lives of the lost from the pit of hell. This is the will of God and the mandate of the church. For this reason a 24 hour information network dedicated to informing people of the truth and exposing falsehood must be formed. this network will be named the “URBAN TRUTH NETWORK” At the center of this network of truth and Godliness will be “THE NEW REAL TALK RADIO SHOW” of which I will host.

WHAT DO WE STAND FOR?

  1. Exposing false doctrine
  2. Stopping biblical Illiteracy
  3. Defining the biblical gospel
  4. Evangelizing the lost
  5. Pointing the church to Christ
  6. Recognizing the history of the church & its traditions
  7. The teaching of proper bible interpretation
  8. Develop discernment skills in believers
  9. Build a world view rooted in biblical truth
  10. Increase awareness of current affairs & world events

Join us as we kick of the new year with a fantastic show! We will recap all of the important events of 2012 from the election to hurricane Sandy along with other events. We will also kick off a three month show in our new “Unmasking” series by taking a look at what makes up a cult and how we should deal with them biblically. We’ll be joined by our very own master blogger Brian “The Doulos” Feaster of the Urban Truth Network blog sharing his insights from the word of God and his unique perspective. As always Double “L” will bring her wit and snappy humor to the table as we discuss the important issues of the day from a biblical perspective. The “LIVE” chat room and phone lines will be open for you to express your views on any topic. Come join us!

The first show has been postponed until January 8, 2013, and will air once a week, every Tuesday at 7:00pm until 9:00pm (Pacific Standard Time). The link to the radio will be posted on the facebook event page below:

“2013: The Year of Unmasking Truth; The New Real Talk Radio Show“