The War Drums Beating

Hizballah, Iran becoming entrenched in Venezuela

In a serious threat to Israeli interests abroad and the United States home front, Israeli defense experts say Iran and its Lebanese proxy Hizballah are setting up camp in Venezuela with the full blessing of President Hugo Chavez.

Russia to up naval presence in Syria

Russia plans to increase its military presence in the Mediterranean by using Syrian ports more frequently, Reuters quoted a Russian diplomat as saying on Wednesday.

See related article Israeli Perspective: Russia Poised To Strike , Georgia, Russia and Ezekiel 38

Israel: The Burden for America

From November 27, 2007 by John McTernan

These conferences and agreements are directly contrary to the Word of God. America is interfering with the holy God of Israel's prophetic plan for His people and the ultimate redemption of mankind through the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. The land of Israel was given by God to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants by an everlasting covenant...

...The full power of the United States is behind dividing the land of Israel; therefore, the LORD God of Israel is now directly against America. For God's prophetic plan to go forward, the United States must be stopped. This means He must break the power of the United States.

Joel 3:2
I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land.

See related articles: Season of Signs: Passover Through Pentecost 2008 , The Humiliation of the Daughter of Babylon , Rise of Persia-Iran is Judgment to Babylon-USA ,

Condi Pulls a Solomon: Split Jerusalem in 2

JERUSALEM – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, completing a visit to the region today, has been pressing Israel to sign a document by the end of the year that would divide Jerusalem by offering the Palestinians a state in Israel’s capital city as well as in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to top diplomatic sources involved in the talks.

The Israeli team, led by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, has been negotiating the division of Jerusalem – despite claims to the contrary – but would rather conclude an agreement on paper by the end of the year that would give the Palestinians a state in the West Bank, Gaza and some Israeli territory, leaving conclusions on Jerusalem for a later date, the informed diplomatic sources told WND.

HT: In The Days

Purpose Driven Stone Throwing

PURPOSE DRIVEN OR SCRIPTURE DRIVEN?

Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service announces the publication of a new book entitled PURPOSE DRIVEN OR SCRIPTURE DRIVEN: A WARNING ABOUT RICK WARREN AND THE PURPOSE DRIVEN PHILOSOPHY.

This book looks at the influential “seeker sensitive” church growth philosophy that is promoted by Rick Warren of Saddleback Church. It contains a review of Warren’s books The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church and a firsthand report of a visit to Saddleback Church. It documents Warren’s weak gospel, his social gospel emphasis, his judge not philosophy, his amazing anti-fundamentalist tirades, and Saddleback’s rock music culture. It also documents Warren’s radical ecumenical relationships, including his positive association with the Roman Catholic Church.

Iron Sharpens Iron with Ken Silva on Mysticism

Chris Arnzen of New York's Iron Sharpens Iron radio program speaks with Pastor Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries. The topic is the influx Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism into the evangelical camp under the guise of Spiritual Formation through the growing influence of The Cult of Guru Richard Foster who is not an evangelical but a Quaker mystic.

You can listen to and download the program here.

Israeli Perspective: Russia Poised To Strike

From The Golden Report:

We see Russia showing its claws and teeth, Putin much like Hitler has world dominance in mind. There has never been a time since the Second World War that the world has been so positioned for global war than today. Today Russia is openly threatening the US if they put the missile defense in Poland. Russia is now promising Syria more military aid and Assad is on his way to Moscow to buy those weapons with only one thought in mind, to destroy Israel. With the new openness even King of Jordan is making a trip to Russia in hopes of arms deals. Russia not only builds nuclear reactors in Iran but supplies the fuel for them.

Iran with Russia’s blessings has brought Hezbollah in Lebanon to a military level that is a threat to all of Israel. Hamas has now rearmed with high tech weapons including longer range missiles and anti-aircraft rockets.

The Islamic terrorist threat as serious as it is, is more of a smoke screen for Russia’s plans than anything else. It looks bad and it promises to get much worse in the near future. In fact, if we are not in war by the end of this summer I will be very surprised.

The Ecumenical Church of Deceit (ECoD)

The sad reality for us today would be that it’s really hard to imagine living in a more ridiculous time in the long and often seedy history of the Christian Church than we do right now. There are so many in the evangelical community who are burying their heads in whatever offshoot—rooted in the semi-pelagian Church Growth Movement—which highjacked their particular brand of Christian sandbox.

In this piece from Apprising Ministries we’ll catch a glimpse that while apostasy sweeps through the landscape in The Falling Away Of The Evangelical Church they remain content to think everything is wonderfully progressing toward some utopian unity as they each follow their own personal Pied Pipers. And that whether they be in the Purpose Driven Church ala Rick Warren, the Emerging Church ala Rob Bell or the Word Faith ala Joel Osteen.

HT: Christian Research Network

Christians: Fear the Lord, Not Rick Warren!

From Donald Hank at Renew America

…A new leader emerged among the false prophets, who quickly became famous because he flattered the evil doers and said nothing about their sins. Not only that, he punished those who spoke out against the evil. He was well liked among the licentious and godless because he provided cover for them by silencing dissenters, called them “uncivil” if they criticized same-sex marriage and abortion.

Meanwhile he devised a scheme known as the “Growth Covenant,” and urged churches to sign this, promising them growth and wealth if they did. Many foolishly believed that they would become prosperous even without God’s blessings. Yet some, the wiser and older believers who knew the Bible, resisted. Rick told the pastors to simply kick out these older people, whom he derisively called fundamentalists (a name that had been shrewdly used by non-believers to denote Islamic radicals, making it seem as if all traditionalist Christians were every bit as bad as terrorists). Through this sleight of hand, he was able to discredit sincere Christians.

Do you see what had happened? The nation that had taken in the downtrodden was now persecuting them. And Rick Warren was the new Martin Luther, ruling with an iron fist — and a smile.

Read the rest here at Renew America

Pulpits, Prostitutes and Politics

Presidential politics and megachurch pastors make more than strange bedfellows...just as Biblical history and prophecy reveals.

Pastor Jamey Day of Grace Fellowship unfolds the Marks of The Apostate Church as illustrated as the woman who rides the beast in Revelation 17.

Watch this short video clip and visit Grace Fellowship for the complete message.




See related articles: The Humiliation of the Daughter of Babylon , PEACE Coalition: Harlotry Rising , Singing Out of The Global Hymnal , Warren Solos Out of The Global Hymnal , Spreading The Global Religion , Worldview Matters with Brannon Howse: Warren & One World Religion
A Woman Rides The Beast

More Purpose Driven Stone Throwing at Christians

Lighthouse Trails shares their experience at the edge of the sharp tongue of Rick Warren, the new sheriff of civility, in light of the recent ABC interview...

Tapper recognized that criticism does bother Rick Warren, as Warren has proven time and again with Lighthouse Trails, such as when he called Lighthouse Trails "evil" and "liars" and when Saddleback said that federal agents were investigating Lighthouse Trails because Saddleback suggested we had broken into their server (something that was never true)

At the recent Presidential Forum at Saddleback, Warren ended the evening with the following words: "We've got to learn to disagree without demonizing each other and we need to restore civility. We need to restore civility in our civil discourse." He has made this same statement before with regard to his critics. The insinuation in this statement is that those who criticize Rick Warren should not be doing so. But he is giving a false impression - many of his critics have given accurate and straightforward information about the teachings and beliefs of Rick Warren.

As for Lighthouse Trails, we have avoided calling him names, saying whether or not he is a Christian (leaving that up to God), have never threatened him or accused him of breaking into our server, and never said he was of the devil. And yet, Rick Warren's chief apologist recently wrote an article calling Warren's critics cult-like delusional people who behave like David Koresh (Waco), who are heresy-hunters, paranoid, and extremists.

See related articles: See related articles Rick Warren, Facism & The Family , Growing Hostility Toward Biblical Christianity...from Evangelicals , Throwing Cyber-Sand In The Face of A Purpose-Driven Resister , Web Hosting Service Caves To Purpose Driven Pressure, Saddleback & SoulForce: Rick Warren's Half Lie? , Rick Warren Washes His Hands of SoulForce But Saddleback Sets The Table , Saddleback Set To Entertain Gay Activists , Rick Warren: Playing Both Sides of the Gay Agenda , Christian Leader Pays For Speaking Out Against Rick Warren , Purpose Driven Persecution , “BIBLE SCHOLAR” RICK WARREN REVERSING THE REFORMATION , Warren: Blogosphere Uncivilized, Faith is Simply a Worldview , Casting Stones In The Name Of Unity , National Pro-Life Youth Organizations Send Open Letter to Pastor Rick Warren , UK to U.S. Red Letter Christians: Admit You Are Marxists! , Rick Warren's PEACE Plan Invokes Hitler

See a small sample of the growing number of incidents of stone throwing at Bible believing Christians.

Pastor Warren: Stop Politicizing Religion

By Star Parker of World Net Daily
Now we’re seeing a world in which clarity between good and evil, right and wrong, knowledge and ignorance, men and women is disappearing into a borderless and indistinguishable gray.

For whatever good intentions Pastor Warren may have, by posturing as a neutral broker between different points of view, many of which have profound moral and religious implications, he contributes to the moral ambiguity we’d expect a pastor to be combating.

We have institutions for civic and political forums. The press, universities, town halls, etc. If they’re not delivering well, let the marketplace work to improve what we’re getting. But this is not the job of pastors or churches. If it is, where do we go to learn about good and evil?

What exactly is going on in America when our obsession is to cleanse every inch of public space from religion, yet somehow we think it is appropriate to bring a presidential political forum into church?

See the rest of Star Parker’s astute observations at World Net Daily.

Editor’s note: Star Parker hits the nail on the head. Doesn’t the Purpose Driven church growth franchise model also “posture” the role of a pastor “as a neutral broker between different points of view ( the “unchurched” and the “churched” ), many of which have profound moral and religious implications, he contributes to the moral ambiguity we’d expect a pastor to be combating?”

Purpose Driven Persecution

From Laigle's Forum.com:

In point of fact, just after my article exposing the attack on Ken Silva ran at Laigle’s Forum, Rick’s team put up a press release at Christian Newswire showing the cover of Time Magazine featuring a photo of Rick and calling him the most powerful religious leader of our time.

Why the emphasis on power? I don’t mean by Time but rather by Rick’s PR team. Why at that time, just after the Silva scandal broke, when you’d expect Rick to be laying low, would he suddenly focus on how powerful he is? Part of the alleged abuse was abuse of …what?… power! So the PR team decides to highlight it? The old-fashioned evangelists and pastors I remember from my youth focused on the power of God, not their own power. Had they done so, they would have immediately gone into that great dustbin in the sky. But the “revolutionary inversion” (=post-modernism) as defined by Olavo de Carvalho, is upon us.

Of course, perhaps this attack on Brother Sundquist cannot be laid directly at the feet of Rick Warren. However, Warren acolytes have already forced one godly blogger (Brother Silva, see above) off the internet and, according to Sundquist, threatened others. And I received a similar attack from the exact same source, so someone has begun to see themselves as defenders not of the faith but of Rick the person. That smacks of cult behavior, and if Risk is smart, he will distance himself from these zealots before a major scandal breaks. In fact, it is probably only by the grace of Big Media that it hasn’t already happened.

Georgia, Russia and Ezekiel 38

CBN News.com by Chris Mitchell CBN News Middle East Bureau Chief

For five days, the world watched as Russia crushed its southern neighbor, Georgia. Political pundits wrote some sobering analyses of what this means for the world. Following are excerpts from several of them.

Victor Davis Hanson in "Moscow's Sinister Brilliance:"
"...Putin and Medvedev have called the West's bluff. We are sort of stuck in a time-warp of the 1990s, seemingly eons ago in which a once-earnest weak post-Soviet Russia sought Western economic help and political mentoring. But those days are long gone, and diplomacy hasn't caught up with the new realities.

Joel Rosenberg in his blog, "Flash Traffic:"
"Observers of Biblical prophecies such as Ezekiel 38 and 39 will note that directly or effectively controlling Georgia would be key when Moscow one day begins moving Russian military forces through Turkey and into Lebanon, Syria and eventually against Israel."

Chuck Pierce, president of "Harvest Watchman" and author of "God's Unfolding Battle Plan:"
"This is what I wrote in God's Unfolding Battle Plan: One such nation that will align with others to come against Israel is Russia. She and her children, Gog and Magog, will arise with new strength in days ahead and attempt to rule.

Ezekiel 38:3-6 says: 'Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops-many people are with you.'

Turkey's Gul Anticipates 'New World Order'

From EU Business.com

(LONDON) - Turkish President Abdullah Gul predicted "a new world order" of joint international action, in an interview published in Britain on Saturday.

He added that the conflict in Georgia shows the United States can no longer shape global politics on its own, and that it should start sharing power with other nations.

"I don't think you can control all the world from one centre," Gul told the Guardian newspaper in an interview.

"There are big nations. There are huge populations. There is unbelievable economic development in some parts of the world."

"So what we have to do is, instead of unilateral actions, act all together, make common decisions and have consultations with the world. A new world order, if I can say it, should emerge."

“BIBLE SCHOLAR” RICK WARREN REVERSING THE REFORMATION

For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:7-8, ESV)

Believing Protestant Reformation Doctrine And That The Church Of Rome Is Christian?

In an August 15, 2008 interview by Jake Tapper of ABC News postevangelicalism’s Purpose Driven Pope Rick Warren was asked “about the criticism that he offers a sort of glib, new age Christianity.” The context for this question by Tapper concerned:

Rev. Bob DeWaay, author of a book criticizing Warren’s approach, [who] says “the Bible’s theme is about redemption and atonement, not finding meaning and solving problems.” How does [Rick Warren] respond to the charge that he offers a shallow
40-day approach to Christianity?

“I flatly deny it,” Warren says. “The average message I teach on a weekend contains fourteen passages of scripture. I am a multi-generation pastor which many of these critics don’t [sic]. I am a Bible scholar. I’ve had six years of Greek and Hebrew. They don’t know what they’re talking about… (Online source)

I will now counter that instead it’s actually Warren, the self-proclaimed “Bible scholar,” who doesn’t know what he’s talking about even with his “years of Greek and Hebrew.” And it would also seem that Warren has found time in his busy schedule of solving world problems to get in some additional schooling since his 2005 Pew Forum appearance where he says, “Now, I’ve got three advanced degrees. I’ve had four years in Greek and Hebrew and I’ve got doctorates.” (Online source)

See the rest here at the restored website of Apprising Ministries.

Warren: Blogosphere Uncivilized, Faith is Simply a Worldview

The Atlantic.com magazine features this interview of Southern Baptist pastor Rick Warren by Jeffrey Goldberg on the upcoming presidential forum at Saddleback. (Goldberg notes the design consulting that Warren has done for Goldberg's "megagogue," which is an enormous synagogue, that includes a bowling alley.)

A few embedded statements of the interview include:

1. The title, The Rick Warren Interview: No Compromise With Evil. The topic of evil is not directly addressed during the interview, but the title functions as the backdrop of the subject, the presidential forum at Saddleback.

The article's title is ironic given that Rick Warren is co-hosting this event with a pro-homosexual activist group. Is that a compromise of Warren's Southern Baptist roots? Is that a compromise of Biblical doctrine? Apparently that depends on your definition of "compromise or evil ".

2. Goldberg opens the interview asking Warren what is the objective of the forum. Warren comments: "The idea is really around civility".

Goldberg takes a quantum detour off the subject and asks a seemingly off-topic question: "So you're against blogging?"

Warren responds, "Right now civility is a losing battle. It's easy to demonize from a distance. When people sit behind a screen they lose all civility...One of my three life goals is to help restore civility to civilization."

Warren instantly sets up the blogosphere as the litmus test for global civility. Warren implies that the blogosphere is uncivilized and his goal apparently is to "restore civility" not just to the entire world, but cyberspace as well.

Is there any relationship to Warren's implied intention to civilize the blogosphere and the recent shutting down of a Christian ministry website that is critical of Rick Warren's theology?

3. Goldberg brings up the topic of genocide. Warren says,"if you have the power to do something good, then you have to do it." Will Warren , who has the power at the presidential forum, bring up the topic of abortion?

4. Warren make this closing comment: "Faith is simply a worldview. A person who says he puts his faith on the shelf when he's making decisions is either an idiot or a liar. It's entirely appropriate for me to ask what is their frame of reference."

Is that a pastor or politician speaking?

Compare that statement with another Warrenism, " I don't care why you do go, so long as you do good. "

It becomes apparent that Rick Warren might say the same of faith, "I don't care what your faith is , as long as you have faith." Warren has not been quoted to this effect, however his actions do the talking.

If Southern Baptist Rick Warren is America's Pastor, then the American church needs to open the Bible, repent, and find a new pastor.

See related articles Growing Hostility Toward Biblical Christianity...from Evangelicals , Throwing Cyber-Sand In The Face of A Purpose-Driven Resister , Web Hosting Service Caves To Purpose Driven Pressure, Saddleback & SoulForce: Rick Warren's Half Lie? , Rick Warren Washes His Hands of SoulForce But Saddleback Sets The Table , Saddleback Set To Entertain Gay Activists , Rick Warren: Playing Both Sides of the Gay Agenda , Christian Leader Pays For Speaking Out Against Rick Warren

Warren Sells Out to the Pro-Abortion & Anti-Israel Crowd This Weekend

From Red State: Don't expect serious questions

...So don't really expect serious questions related to faith and Christianity. These people are more interested in gay rights and abortion rights than evangelism.

Shame on Rick Warren for allowing them to participate and discredit what could have been a noteworthy event about faith in this race.

By the way, real social justice can only happen with the saving grace of Jesus Christ. But I suspect that won't be the message coming out of this event.

See related articles: Rick Warren Partners With Pro-Homosexual Group For Presidential Forum , National Pro-Life Youth Organizations Send Open Letter to Pastor Rick Warren , ‘Evangelicals’ Ripped for Plugging Dems’ Abortion Platform , Christian Leader Pays For Speaking Out Against Rick Warren

The Demonic Deception of Abortion

Psalm 106

35 but they mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did.

36 They served their idols, which became a snare to them.

37 They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons;

38 they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters,whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,and the land was polluted with blood.

39 Thus they became unclean by their acts, and played the whore in their deeds.

40 Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, and he abhorred his heritage;

41 he gave them into the hand of the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them.

42 Their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their power.

See more Scripture on the fate of the country that sheds the blood of the innocent here.

Will America's Pastor, Rick Warren, ask Bible-driven questions on abortion during the presidential forum?

See related articles: Christian Leader Pays For Speaking Out Against Rick Warren , National Pro-Life Youth Organizations Send Open Letter to Pastor Rick Warren , ‘Evangelicals’ Ripped for Plugging Dems’ Abortion Platform

Casting Stones In The Name Of Unity

One of the most surprising predictions was made several decades ago by J. Vernon McGee. He predicted that true believers - even here in America - will eventually have to go “underground.” But he also added…

The attacks against them will come from the denominational churches

Have you noticed it? Have you noticed how the apostatizing, doctrinally illiterate, unity-at-all-costs professing churches are increasingly focused on reconciliation between the denominations and how eager many within the “leadership” of these ecumenical movements are to part ways with sound doctrine in order to foster a false temporal “peace” among the visible churches?

Don’t you find it interesting, even troubling, that seemingly disparate yet highly influential individuals such as the Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Ken Blanchard, Richard Foster, Tony Jones, Dan Kimball, Doug Pagitt, Erwin McManus, Leonard Sweet, Robert Schuller and Brian McLaren who represent the entire spectrum of seeker sensitive, purpose driven and emergent/emerging churches are basically saying - and teaching - the exact same sorts of things?

Read the rest of this warning at Defending. Contending.com.

See a small sample of the growing number of incidents of stone casting at Bible believing Christians.

Emergent Church Openly Accepts Practicing Homosexual “Christians”

Building on CRN’s post Peggy Campolo: Gay Christians Can’t Wait Any Longer an article over at Apprising Ministries shows that in growing sections of the postliberal cult of the Emerging Church their waiting is already over.

As an example the “god” of Emergent Pastor Jay Bakker told him that the practice of homosexuality is no longer sin:

“The more I follow grace, the more I’m drawn to him [God], the more I’m willing to stand up for people being persecuted,” says Jay today. “This sounds so churchy, but I felt like God spoke to my heart and said ‘[homosexuality] is not a sin.’ ”(Online source)

See also: TONY JONES AND THE EMERGENT CHURCH: “CHRISTIAN” GAY IS A-OK
JAY BAKKER CHALLENGES MEGA-CHURCH PASTORS ON HOMOPHOBIA

HT: Christian Research Network

National Pro-Life Youth Organizations Send Open Letter to Pastor Rick Warren

From Christian Research Network:

LAKE FOREST, Calif., Aug. 14 /Christian Newswire/ — The following open letter was sent to Rick Warren of Saddleback Church regarding the upcoming “civil forum” where Senators Barack Obama and John McCain will appear this Saturday, August 16.

...We ask, on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of youth we lead and represent, that you will not ignore the crucial issue of abortion as you face Senators Obama and McCain. For many Americans, a candidate’s position on abortion will determine their vote. We have a right to know the truth about the candidates’ abortion positions, and you have a responsibility to share that truth.

Read the rest here. See related article below:

‘Evangelicals’ Ripped for Plugging Dems’ Abortion Platform

One News Now brings us this story:
A pro-life activist has some sharp criticism for Catholic and evangelical leaders who are praising the Democratic Party’s platform on abortion.

A group of Catholic and evangelical leaders — men such as Joel Hunter, Jim Wallis, Doug Kmiec, and Tony Campolo – held a teleconference Tuesday to declare that Barack Obama and the Democratic Party have taken a “historic” and “positive step forward…in establishing common ground that will lead to abortion reduction.”

Several pro-life leaders have taken issue with those who held the teleconference to tout the Democrats’ platform…

See related articles: Rick Warren Partners With Pro-Homosexual Group For Presidential Forum Saddleback & SoulForce: Rick Warren's Half Lie? , Rick Warren Washes His Hands of SoulForce But Saddleback Sets The Table , Saddleback Set To Entertain Gay Activists , Rick Warren: Playing Both Sides of the Gay Agenda , Christian Leader Pays For Speaking Out Against Rick Warren , Protestant Pope's Self Promotion & Presidential Politics , Peggy Campolo: Gay Christians Can't Wait Any Longer

MORE PROOF: Seeker-sensitive / Purpose-driven Models Creating False Converts

From Christian Research Network

Granger Community Church, one of the premiere Purpose-Driven churches and the 6th most influential church in America just announced the results of their Reveal Study. The results are SHOCKING but not surprising because sites like this one have been warning for years that the seeker-sensitive / purpose-driven model was creating false converts and now there is hard statistical data that backs up this claim.

Granger’s own qualitative study revealed that:
47% of those attending Granger DO NOT believe in salvation by grace.
57% of those attending Granger DO NOT believe in the authority of the Bible.
56% of those attending Granger DO NOT believe Jesus is the only way to eternal life.

Don't miss the Fighting For The Faith Radio Program discussion on this sobering, but not surprising announcement.

Editor's note: Imagine if the Southern Baptist Convention conducted such a study with SBC pastors. Would the statistics be much different than Granger's?

Will Granger now return to the Biblical "methodology" of preaching the whole counsel of God, discipling and equipping the saints?

Will Granger join Willow Creek in the next stream in the flood of man-centered, experiential religion offered by the Emergent church?

See related articles: A Shocking “Confession” from Willow Creek Community Church , Willow Creek: Seeker-Sensitive Church Doesn't Work! , Willow Creek & The New Monasticism ,
Brian McLaren: The Willow Creek Statement , Willow Creek’s Emergent & Mystical Youth Conference , Seeker Sensitive’s Slippery Slope to Sojourners , The New Age of McLaren & Willow Creek , Monastic Evangelicals: The Attraction of Ancient Spiritual Disciplines , National New Church Conference: Intersection of the Purpose Driven & Emergent , Another Emergent Face at Rick Warren's Place , More on the National New Church Conference 2008

The Bodily Ascension of Sinless Mary Into Heaven?

The Roman Catholic Feast of the Assumption is observed on August 15, 2008.

The Catholic Encyclopedia offers the following details regarding this Marian dogma...

This feast has a double object: (1) the happy departure of Mary from this life; (2) the assumption of her body into heaven. It is the principal feast of the Blessed Virgin.

Regarding the day, year, and manner of Our Lady's death, nothing certain is known... Regarding the origin of the feast we are also uncertain.

Today, the belief in the corporeal assumption of Mary is universal in the East and in the West; according to Benedict XIV (De Festis B.V.M., I, viii, 18) it is a probable opinion, which to deny were impious and blasphemous.

By promulgating the Bull Munificentissimus Deus, 1 November, 1950, Pope Pius XII declared infallibly that the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was a dogma of the Catholic Faith. Likewise, the Second Vatican Council taught in the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium that "the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, when her earthly life was over, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all.

Since Mary is closely associated with all the mysteries of Jesus’ life, it is not surprising that the Holy Spirit has led the Church to belief in Mary’s share in his glorification. So close was she to Jesus on earth, she must be with him body and soul in heaven.

Just For Catholics.org tests this dogma with Scripture and finds:

• Assumption is not explicitly taught in Scripture.
• Not Taught by the Church Fathers
• First Taught by Heretics

In practice, Rome teaches doctrines that are not drawn from the deposit of faith. We have seen that the Assumption is neither found in Scripture nor in the early church tradition. Certainly, if this doctrine were transmitted by the apostles to the bishops of the early church, we would expect to find at least some references to it in the voluminous writings of the Fathers. But they are conspicuously silent about this subject.

If you are a Catholic, ask yourself whether your implicit trust in the Roman magisterium is warranted. The magisterium claims to explain the Word of God, but at least in this case, it has gone far beyond it's stated role. It is inventing novel doctrines beyond the Word of God. Be careful! You may feel convinced that your faith is built on a solid rock, when in fact, you are standing on sinking sand.

Visit What Every Catholic Should Know, and Eternal Productions for more on Roman Catholicism witnessing resources.

See more related articles and videos regarding the Roman Catholicism's Queen of Heaven.

Peggy Campolo: Gay Christians Can't Wait Any Longer

From The Associated Baptist Press
Peggy Campolo, is an advocate for civil rights and full inclusion in the church for her lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender sisters and brothers. She is the wife of Baptist author and Eastern University professor Tony Campolo.

I am a committed Baptist who has worked within the church of Jesus Christ for more than 20 years to foster the understanding and acceptance of my gay,lesbian, bisexual and transgender sisters and brothers - I'll just say "gay" for shorthand. I can personally testify to the anguish gay people feel when rejected by church and family because of who they are. I have also witnessed the joy of the many gay people I know who have found church homes where they are loved and accepted...

...However, we must also find a way to end the exclusion and anguish of God's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender children NOW.

See Mr. Tony Campolo's views and theology here . For friends and family who know of individuals trapped in alternate lifestyles, encourage them to visit Stephen Bennett Ministries. Stephen Bennett is living proof of freedom from the bondage of homosexuality by saving grace of God.

Growing Hostility Toward Biblical Christianity...from Evangelicals

From CROSSTALK:

Sarah Leslie is an author and researcher. She's a member of the board of directors of Discernment Ministries and is a member of the Discernment Research Group.

This edition of Crosstalk looked at the ramped up persecution in the West when it comes to biblical Christianity from within evangelicalism. Rick Warren's chief apologist online, Richard Abanes, has publicly likened Ingrid and several colleagues to David Koresh and other cult leaders and claims that they are all marked by:

1. A deep seated 'us vs. them' mentality
2. Feelings of persecution
3. Paranoia
4. A kind of xenophobic response to any and all attempts to have a more tolerant/civil approach to various issues.

Here's a quote:

"...Not surprisingly, such a perspective is also often linked to an extremist end-time obsession that acts as fertile ground for the planting, watering, and harvesting of all kinds of conspiracy theories related to such things as the anti-Christ, the Great Apostasy, and the so-called coming One World Government...This is all very disturbing, but God is in control..."--Richard Abanes

This kind of resistance is not unusual because as Sarah Leslie noted, having a master's degree in counseling, she was taught that those who hold to any absolute ideas are suspect as being mentally ill.

Ingrid and Sarah discuss how and why this attitude has entered the church, others that are promoting it, and how a rejection of biblical eschatology within evangelicalism is helping New Age teachings and Christianity to merge.

Listen:
RealAudio , Windows Media , MP3 , Order Tape or CD

See related articles: Throwing Cyber-Sand In The Face of A Purpose-Driven Resister , Web Hosting Service Caves To Purpose Driven Pressure , Darkness Befalls Apprising Ministries , The Price of Personal Pursuits , Where's The Libel or Defamation, Mr. Abanes?

See more Purpose Driven perceptions of Biblical Christians: Warren Casts The First Stone , Warren Blames Church Splits on Indulgent Christians , THE ABCs OF RICK WARREN , SBC Fundamentalists Equated to Islamic Fundamentalists , Rick Warren: Fundamentalist Christians Don't Listen , Rick Warren Condemns Christians ... Again , Evangelist to Africa Speaks Out Against Rick Warren's "Big Mouth" Comments , Rick Warren Casts More Stones

Warren: Protect The Unity, Throw Out The Resisters , Rick Warren: "People are going to have to die or leave" , Purpose Driven Resisters - Must Leave or Die , Rick Warren’s Inquisition, Resisters Called "Leaders from Hell"

See the fruit of these Purpose Driven perceptions here. See more Purpose Driven dismemberment articles here and Resisting the Purpose Driven here.

Evangelicals and New Agers

We want to call our readers' attention to a recent article by Constance Cumbey posted at http://www.newswithviews.com/ entitled "'The Family and its Hijacking of Evangelicalism: Part 1."

This is a must-read article from the Michigan attorney who first brought the "New Age Movement" to the attention of the evangelical world in the early 1980s in her landmark book The Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow (Huntington House, 1983)...

...Sharlet's book is a must-read for those who want to study the historical roots of the marketplace transformation movement, which is an increasingly active offshoot of the New Apostolic Reformation. The book sheds considerable light on the interworkings behind the the current evangelical mania for leadership training, cell/hierarchical networking structures, covenants, warriors, worldviews, and Rick Warren's global dominionism efforts. Sharlet describes one secret society behind the emerging global framework of dominionism.

HT: Herescope

See more posts on Rick Warren's affection for the New Age Movement here.

See related posts: Rick Warren, Facism & The Family , UK to U.S. Red Letter Christians: Admit You Are Marxists! , Rick Warren's PEACE Plan Invokes Hitler

Changing Churches: When Do You Know It's Time To Go?

Finding A Church Home on The Mike Corley Program

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:1,2



What are the standards a believer should consider when looking for a home church, or when considering leaving a church? Mike examines this sharing a archived interview with Dr. Mark Dever, author of the book The 9 Marks of a Healthy Church.

Click here to listen. Afterwards, check out A Healthy Church Member from The Mike Corley Program.

Rick Warren and Other Contemplative Proponents at Thomas Road Baptist Innovate Church Conference

Contemplative proponents Rick Warren and Lance Witt will be speaking at Thomas Road Baptist Church (home of the late Jerry Falwell) at the Innovate Church conference, starting Monday, August 11th going through Wednesday, the 13th.

Rick Warren, who has been promoting contemplative for over a decade and whose website recommends some of the most blatant mystical promoting books in the Christian market today, will speak Monday night. One of the books featured on Warren's site right now is Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun. This book promotes mantra meditation, giving detailed instructions on several types of contemplative practices. In addition, the author quotes from many New Age sympathizers and New Age contemplatives. In Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, Ahlberg Calhoun encourages the use of centering prayer, breath prayers, contemplative prayer, labyrinths, palms-up, palms-down exercises, and recommends for further reading a who's who of mystics.

Source: Editors at Lighthouse Trails

Warren-Driven or Bible-Obedient?

The semi-pelagian Church Growth Movement that slithered out of Fuller Theological Seminary has by now metastasized its cancer into many different centered on man movements within apostatizing evangelicalism. And one of its most insideous forms is the purpose driven plague as carried by PDL Pope Rick Warren.

In this insightful post at Deception in the Church by Sandy Simpson we are asked: “Is your church Warren-Driven or Bible-Obedient?” And then you can use DITC’s comparison chart to see which direction your church is currently headed.

HT: Christian Research Network

Darkness Befalls Apprising Ministries

From Crosstalk:

Free speech is increasingly being threatened on the Internet, as the exploding number of blog sites that provide an outlet for opinions and interaction with readers has caused some to try to silence those with whom they disagree.

Traditionally, blog sites that invite comments often create a lively exchange that if not administered properly, can get out of hand, in language, innuendo, and even vicious attacks. Many blogs allow this to continue, while others try to maintain more civility.

But in this case, the response by one individual, Richard Abanes, who is a strong supporter of Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven ministry, took the battle to a whole new level. Instead of simply stating his disagreement with statements by Ken Silva, he accused him of slander in an article written by Ken three years ago. Without trying to work directly with Ken Silva, Abanes contacted the hosting company to demand that the article be removed.





In this Crosstalk program Ken and Ingrid also go into the background context which would later lead to the article in question A Pastor’s Assessment of Richard Abanes. You can listen to and/or download this program here.

See also: SETTING RICHARD ABANES STRAIGHT ON MY RICK WARREN ATTACK

See another short video regarding the Purpose Driven apologist in the The Abanes Spin Zone.

The Price of Personal Pursuits

Richard Abanes dropped by and left a few comments regarding this post, "Throwing Cyber-sand In The Face of A Purpose-Driven Resister". ( click on the link to see his comments.)

In light of his visit, I wish to share the following:

Mr. Abanes,

I am not sure why you had to make a statement for the record regarding lawsuits, as my post made no such reference or implication.

You are entitled to your interpretation of these events. You are entitled to your opinion about what Pastor Ken Silva wrote in both articles in question. You are entitled to defend your position.

In these personal entitlements to which you avail yourself, have you considered that the leverage of your entitlement is solely driven by your personal opinion?

Do you really want to subjugate a pastor's role in protecting the church from false teaching (Acts 20:28-31; 1 Co. 14:29; 1 Tim. 4:1-6; Tit. 1:9-13) to your personal pursuit?

Do you really want to publicize a lack of charity, honor and respect toward a pastor (1 Th. 5:12-13, 1 Pet. 5:3, Heb. 13:17) and create a stumbling block for others (Romans 14:13-18) who are observing this issue?

Do you really want this matter to be simply a pursuit of public opinion at the expense of doctrinal purity and Christian example?

If you really feel that you have been civilly harmed, take it offline and get legal counsel.
(consider 1 Cor. 6:1-8)

In all your getting Mr. Abanes, may I suggest you contact a Biblical pastor and get Biblical counsel to this Biblical matter.

See related articles and links: Where's The Libel or Defamation, Mr. Abanes? , The Tainted Fruit of Purpose Driven , BATTLES IN THE BLOGOSPHERE