Which "God" Do We Thank?

"Thanksgiving" meant thanking God for His blessings, but now -
Which "God"do we thank? And why?
by Berit Kjos - November 26, 2003

Redefining terms. Revising history. Re-imagining God.... Where does it all lead? Whom will we thank for this beautiful land?

The post-modern world has no love for our Biblical God. Those who resist today's spiritual transformation are demeaned as fundamentalist foes -- enemies to the evolving vision of peace and unit. In fact, UNESCO's Declaration on Tolerance shows only intolerance for Biblical faith and evangelism:

Tolerance... involves the rejection of dogmatism and absolutism [confidence in God's Word]....
Tolerance... means that one's views are not to be imposed on others.
Intolerance is a global threat....

Scientific studies and networking should be undertaken to coordinate the international community's response to this global challenge, including... effective countermeasures, as well as research and monitoring...."[1] UNESCO's Declaration on Tolerance ...

See how Rick Warren, Oprah, President-elect Obama, Tony Blair contribute toward the inclusiveness of the coming one world religious system.

The Gods of Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving holiday is a popular time for interfaith celebrations. Various gods of the world's religious systems are represented at these events. One has to wonder toward which god are the particpants expressing gratitude.

Here's a few examples:

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN: Hundreds Gather for Interfaith Service
Leaders of Islam, Judaism and Catholicism celebrate at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Andrew. "The Interfaith Service not only acknowledges the community's differences, it embraces all beliefs in a true spirit of unity."

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH: Interfaith Service Stresses The Equal Worth of All People
19th annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service held Sunday at the Salt Lake Masonic Temple, featuring remarks by Buddhist, Episcopal, American Indian, Latter-day Saint, Jewish, Greek Orthodox, Muslim and Catholic leaders. "The goodness of God — in whatever form or theology — is that all people are of equal worth, despite the spectrum of their differences."

MONTGOMERY CTY, MARYLAND: Interfaith Service Focuses on Religious Commonalities
Presbyterian, Jewish, Muslim congregations come together for Thanksgiving. Normally, Hazzan Sunny Schnitzer's exclamation of "I'm a Muslim!" would have shocked members of the Bethesda Jewish Congregation. But at Saturday's services, Schnitzer was simply getting into the interfaith spirit with his counterpart, Sheikh Abdul Jaleel, and everyone had a good laugh.

RALEIGH, N.C.: Interfaith Thanksgiving Service in Raleigh
Houses of worship come together to give thanks. Participating houses of worship include: Beth Meyer Synagogue, Millbrook Baptist Church, Millbrook United Methodist Church, Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church, St. Philip Lutheran Church, St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church, and Imam Abdul Hafeez Waheed, a chaplain at Duke University.

See how the Interfaith movement is Provoking The God of Jealousy .

Russian, US Showdown Brewing?

Tensions between Russia and the United States have been high since the Russian invasion of the Georgian Republic in August.

Now, Russia challenges US dominance with Venezuela naval war games. Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez described their visit as a “warning” to the United States.

Meanwhile, US warship arrives in Georgian city of Batumi. An embassy spokesman said that the visit was not timed to coincide with next week's arrival of Russian warships in Venezuela.

See related articles:

Israel: The Burden for America , The Humiliation of the Daughter of Babylon , Rise of Persia-Iran is Judgment to Babylon-USA ,

The New World Order and The New Cold War , The War Drums Beating , U.S. Warship in Russian-patrolled Georgian Port Venezuela Hosts Russian Naval Exercise , Georgia, Russia and Ezekiel 38 , Israeli Perspective: Russia Poised To Strike

Russia lines up with Syria, Iran against America and the West , Chávez, Venezuela, and Russia: A New Cuban Missile Crisis? , Venezuela. Russian bombers a 'warning' to US , Russian nuclear bombers relive Soviet glory

Russian warning on Nato warships , Venezuela Hosts Russian Naval Exercise , U.S. Warship in Russian-patrolled Georgian Port , Israel: The Burden for America , U.S. Warns Russia of Military Action

See related videos: RUSSIA WARNS OF WORLD WAR 3 , World War III: Russia & Georgia , Season of Signs: Passover Through Pentecost 2008

South American Volcanoes Erupt

Along with aggressive seismic activity, two volcanoes erupted in South America last week.

Thursday, November 20, 2008: Volcano landslides kill 6 in Colombia

Saturday, November 22, 2008: Volcano erupts in Nicaragua

Earlier this month, on Monday, November 10, 2008 a volcano in Ecuador erupted. Ethiopia Researchers Observe Nation's Largest Volcanic Eruption as well.

Check out the North American volcanoes of concern at the USGS Volcano Hazards Program.

See related video, Season of Signs: Passover Through Pentecost 2008.

Week Rocks World

This morning, 7.2 Earthquake hit Sea of Okhotsk off the far eastern coast of Russia.

On November 16, 2008 , Indonesia was hit by Magnitude-7.5 Earthquake.

All four corners of the earth have seen significant earthquake activity over the last 7 days.

See related video: Season of Signs: Passover Through Pentecost 2008

Musical Meditation of Mystical Mary

Mary, Queen of Peace Meditation Guide & Sung Rosary

NORTH GRAFTON, MA (NOVEMBER 20, 2008) – Catholic performing and recording artist Susan Bailey is announcing the release of a brand new rosary project which will incorporate music, scripture and beautiful artwork to aid in the meditation experience.

“As the participant sings the rosary prayers, he/she can read the scripture verses and meditate upon the artwork,” explains Bailey. “Praying the rosary in this way allows sufficient time for meditation, opening up the possibilities for mystical experiences that will deepen that person’s relationship to our Lord Jesus, and His mother, Mary.”

See related article: EMERGING MEDITATION FOR WORLD PEACE…AND WORSE

See how mysticism is the common denominator of the world's religious systems. Learn more about Mary of Rome.

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 2Thess. 2:7

Say " It Ain't So", Virginia Commonwealth University!

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) , the largest university in Virginia is located on two downtown campuses in Richmond. VCU boasts an enrollment of more than 32,000 students.

Public safety is provided by the VCU Police Department, which is an Accredited Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission Agency. Given the security challenges of an open campus environment, The VCU Police Department has a tremendous responsibility in safeguarding students and the greater VCU community. The VCU Police department has a strong reputation for the public service it provides to VCU families.

Which raises the question, why would a VCU Police officer cite a private citizen for trespassing while on a public sidewalk adjacent to a VCU building?

Well, it seems that if the citizen is associated with The Richmond Biblical Evangelism Team (RBET), stands on a public sidewalk, and leans on a VCU landscape wall, the chances of being cited by VCU Police may increase significantly.

Recently, one Friday evening between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. The RBET was preaching across the street from the dorms on the corner of Franklin St. and Laurel. Two VCU Police officers approached the group and expressed concern for the group's safety.

One of the officers familiar with the RBET (Some RBET members are VCU students) noticed one of the RBET members leaning on a wall that circled the perimeter of a VCU building talking to someone. He was standing on a city sidewalk during the conversation.

The officer asked if the RBET team member if he was a VCU student. The RBET team member replied "No". The officer then escorted the RBET team member across the street and began writing him a citation for trespassing.

Of course, the presumption of innocence concept, "innocent til proving guilty" is a key element of American jurisprudence. However is standing on a public sidewalk, leaning on a wall of a public university a threat to public safety?

Is it illegal?

How does open air Bible preaching on a Friday night in downtown Richmond rate the official attention of VCU Police officers?

The RBET has received similar attention from the Richmond City Police Department when three RBET members were arrested for street preaching under a noise ordinance. The charges were later dismissed.

The venerable Richmond Times Dispatch covered the story, incorrectly reporting that "Three Richmond street preachers plan to keep using loudspeakers to spread their message, after a judge dismissed charges they violated the city noise ordinance."

That erroneous statement could have been avoided if the Times Dispatch exercised due diligence by making direct inquiry of the RBET. It would have learned that the RBET is complying with all existing noise ordinances.

One Richmond area resident shared this editorial, Loud Music Is OK; Loud Preaching Isn't.

Meanwhile in California, Christians exercising free speech receive police escort off public streets as angry pro-homosexual protesters exercise their loud, threatening angry free speech.

What's wrong with this picture, America?

Campolo's Unbiblical Stand On Homosexuality

As the not-so-surprising news about Tony Campolo's opposition to California's upholding of the definition traditional mariage spreads through cyberspace, a number of folks are sounding off.
Here's just some examples:

Pastor Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries adds a little satire to Campolo's definition of a Red Letter Christian...

“Well, he or she is somebody whose beliefs are very ‘traditional’ in an ecumenical sense where most any belief that considers itself Christian is accepted as simply another ‘tradition’. It’s a person that relishes the brevity and non-specitivity of the Apostles’ Creed, who believes that the bible becomes inspired by God as a given passage ’speaks’ to them, but whose politics are not aligned with anyone we broad-brush as being part of some nebulous religious right.”

From Ingrid Schleuter of CrossTalk America & Slice of Laodicea: Tony Campolo: I Opposed Proposition 8.

In this piece, Ingrid describes her encounter with Tony Campolo at a National Religious Broadcasters convention. She and and an associate, a former homosexual from a New York ministry, approached Tony Campolo and asked why he was not teaching that Jesus Christ could deliver people from homosexuality. Ingrid writes:

Tony came unhinged when he found out who we were. He began hollering and screaming at us so loudly that the Zondervan PR rep had to pull him by the arm and tell him forcefully that they were “going to lunch.”

A crowd had gathered as Tony began screaming at us, “agenda, agenda, WHAT AGENDA? Gays don’t have any more of an agenda than Christians do!” Well, Tony, all these years later, the gay agenda is pretty obvious. Just ask the church members in Michigan whose church was invaded and desecrated by rioting gays. Just ask the elderly woman in San Fransisco who had her cross trampled by hate-spewing homosexuals. And you, Dr. Campolo, are still supporting that same agenda, just like you were then.

Comments on the article, Campolo: The Bible Is Not Sufficient to Deal With Homosexuality

Ralph M. Petersen-Always Right; Sometimes Wrong! writes:

What has a state's constitution, the will of the people, a general election, the rule of law, and a definition of a noun got to do with Christianity or the Gospel? Tony Campolo talks like he believes Prop 8 is a biblical dogma forced on the people by the church. He is an embarrassment.

And this from Joe Caruso of Echo The Truth:

Tony Campolo seems confused. Does he plan on reaching gays when they're married? It certainly sounds like he needs to get out of the limelight and brush
up on Christian apologetics. Just like many leaders in our political system need to step-down, many Christian leaders need to pass the torch. So it's Christians who are sending the bad messages? How about the recent attacks on Christians from tolerant homosexuals?

See these headlines and videos at Joe Caruso's Echo The Truth website:

Gays Disrupt Church Service & Gay Thugs Threaten Christians

Hats' off to the eyes wide shut at The Baptist General Assocation of Virginia and The Virginia Baptist Mission Board for hosting Tony Campolo. It's obvious what side of the bread your butter is on.

Campolo: The Bible Is Not Sufficient to Deal With Homosexuality

The Associated Baptist Press reported on the comments of guest Tony Campolo at the recently held Annual Meeting of The Baptist General Association of Virginia.

Campolo said that, while he is “a conservative on the issue” of homosexuality, he opposed California’s recently adopted Proposition 8. The amendment to the California Constitution upends a court ruling that extended marriage rights to same-sex couples.

“I don’t know how we’re going to reach these brothers and sisters,” he said, “but I’m an evangelical and I’m going to win them to Christ.... And we’re not going to win them to Christ if we keep sending them bad messages, and we’ve sent them a bad message. I think the decision in California was in agreement with how I believe, but sometimes you’ve got to consider the person before you bang them over the head with your principles.”

“I don’t know how we’re going to reach these brothers and sisters...” It is obvious by omission that Dr.Campolo does not believe that the Scriptures are sufficient to deal with homosexuality. If Dr. Campolo doesn't know how to bear witness to the depravity of man and God's salvation plan, perhaps he should remain silent. Perhaps Dr. Campolo should open his Bible to see how Christ dealt with all sinners. How about Peter when he addressed the crowds at Pentecost? How about Paul in his letters to the churches? Or Paul's writings to Timothy on detailing what is a Biblical pastor? The Old Testament offers graphic examples of how God dealt with the sins of Israel.

Perhaps Dr. Campolo should visit Way of the Master . WOTM is an excellent resource for learning how to testify to the God of creation to anyone, regardless of political correctness.

Perhaps Dr. Campolo should stop acting like the God of the Scriptures is not sufficient to "win" the individual trapped in homosexuality.

Stop sending "them" bad messages, Dr. Campolo? Didn't Christ illustrate how to deal with personal sin...if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out! Have you considered sending the message that says all sinners sit under the indignation of God and will face His wrath and judgement if without the newness of life born of the Spirit by the Blood of Christ?

Perhaps Dr. Campolo should consider the "bad message" he is sending to the cloud of witnesses in the heavens and the God of the Scriptures. Dr. Campolo is sending a bad message to the homosexual community... no need to repent, there's nothing that can be done to change the way you are, and there is no God that can change it for you.

"...you’ve got to consider the person before you bang them over the head with your principles." Dr. Campolo's point makes sense in a social context. But Dr. Campolo was addressing a roomful of SBC pastors and leaders. Unfortunately, Dr. Campolo reveals his lack of confidence in the Scriptures in this statement. He creates a straw man inference that Bible preaching is the equivalent to banging people over the head. He also reduces and replaces the sufficiency of Scripture with man's principles within the context of his statement.

Christ aggressively rebuked the Pharisees and turned over the vendors tables of profit at the temple. He obviously considered the activity of the target audience. Would these two examples send "bad messages" because of the method by which the messages were delivered?

Perhaps The Baptist General Association of Virginia, The Virginia Baptist Mission Board and Dr. Campolo should stop politicizing homosexuality. Perhaps those who call themselves pastors should return to the Biblical calling of the pastor and call people to repent of sin, instead of embracing it.

Oh, but that would require trusting in the sufficiency of the Scriptures and God himself.

Next year the BGAV should invite former homosexual Steven Bennett to their Annual Meeting. Bennett is living proof of the sufficiency of Scripture and God's grace to set the captives free.

Compare Campolo's position on homosexuality with Stephen Bennett's statement below:

Stephen Bennett educates churches and congregations worldwide through preaching and teaching, expounding on the biblical truths of the sin of homosexuality and sexual immorality – bringing to light God’s perfect, biblical plan for mankind. According to God’s infallible Word, everyone is created either male or female: heterosexual. Sexual relations are only to be between one man and one woman – a husband and wife -- for life – within the grounds and confines of biblical marriage only. Anything outside of this – including fornication, adultery, pornography or anything else – is sexual sin according to God’s Word. Biblical abstinence is to be adhered to until a man and woman enter the biblical covenant of marriage together as husband and wife. Biblical, sexual purity is this ministry’s overriding and uncompromising message.

If you or someone you knew was trapped in homosexuality, who would you call...Tony Campolo or Steven Bennett?

Shame on The Baptist General Association of Virginia and The Virginia Baptist Mission Board for hosting Tony Campolo. Shame on them all for promoting a political position instead of a Biblical solution on homosexuality.

British Prime Minister: Birth Pangs of The New Global Order

Excerpts from Looking Beyond the Global Economic Summit

There can be absolutely no doubt that the globalist movers and shakers intend to take full advantage of the international financial and economic turmoil to bring international banking and other financial activities under international (read: UN) authority, and little doubt as to how the program is going to unfold.

...the real action, for anyone who was paying close attention, was at the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations last Friday, when British Prime Minister Gordon Brown addressed a special session ...lobbying for an ambitious new plan to globalize financial activity.

Friday's presentation at the CFR left little doubt what Brown (and, presumably, a very sympathetic globalist elite at the CFR and elsewhere) truly intends to accomplish with the negotiations that kicked off over the weekend.

Brown spoke of the "birth pangs of the new global order," and called for "cross border supervision" of financial activity "wherever it is necessary" as well as for "better surveillance of the world economy."

See also British PM urges to build a new truly global society where PM Brown first made the call for the new global order...

"Together we can seize this moment of change to create age of a truly global society," he said. "Today's challenges are birth-pangs of new global order."

See related video: Season of Signs: Passover Through Pentecost 2008.

See all related articles on The Rise of The Fourth Kingdom.

Gay Rights Anger Goes Nationwide

From The Age.com.au

It was the second major protest within days in New York, the previous one targeting the Mormon Church — hence the reference to multiple wives — for its role in financing the anti-gay marriage campaign.

California's overturning of state gay marriage rights may have sparked a national movement, with protests held yesterday in Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco. The reaction follows the success of Proposition 8, which overturned a Supreme Court decision legalising gay marriage in California.

Editor's note: Ironic that CALIFORNIA Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger likened the fires in California to Armageddon . The fires have been burning during the same time period as the protests.

Seeker Sensitive Stage Master Ed Young, Jr's Sex-Periment

CNN.com: Pastor preaches sex

A Texas pastor is asking all married couples in his congregation to have sex for seven straight days.

Christian Research Network responds: “Sex-Periment” with Ed Young, Jr. of Fellowship Church

“Pastor” Ed Young, Jr. talks about s-e-x *tee hee* with a CNN reporter who is rather perplexed about it all. Yeah, we know that’s just never talked about in today’s seeker sensitive evangelicalism.

CRN wants you to note the irony of Young having a toilet on stage with him; and, we agree with the reporter who says this is “a pearl in a pig stye.”

Italian News: G20 Summit Sign of The Birth of New World Order

The German news site DW-World.DE captured the headlines of various European papers regarding the G20 summit on the global financial crisis. Here's just a few:

Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung praised the summit as a "first step on the way to a new world financial order..."

Britain's Financial Times said "the G20 summit is as historic as the crisis it responds to... the world working together can emerge healthy from this crisis.

Italy's La Repubblica: "The only clear signal from this G20 was the acceleration of the birth of a new world order..."

See related video: Season of Signs: Passover Through Pentecost 2008.

See all related articles on The Rise of The Fourth Kingdom.

EMERGING MEDITATION FOR WORLD PEACE…AND WORSE

Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD. You have abandoned your people, the house of Jacob. They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and clasp hands with pagans. (Isaiah 2:5-6)

Eastern-Style Meditation As The Bridge To Unite All Religions And Transform Mankind

Building on It’s High Time To Realize The Importance of Mysticism, a post over at the Apprising Ministries outreach Christian Research Net, below we will show you that when Dr. Marcus Litz, Director, Goethe-Institut, says the Eastern-style meditation of mysticism “could also facilitate an East-West dialogue and could be a bridge between Islam and Christianity” he’s hardly alone. In his 2004 book Speaking My Mind Tony Campolo wrote:

"...a theology of mysticism provides some hope for common ground between Christianity and Islam. Both religions have within their histories examples of ecstatic union with God, which seem at odds with their own spiritual traditions but have much in common with each other…

I don’t know what to make of the Muslim mystics, especially those who have come to be known as the Sufis. What do they experience in their mystic experiences? Could they have encountered the same God we do in our Christian mysticism?… The founder of this movement was Hasan Al Basri (A.D. 642-728)… [Basri's] attempt to bring about religious reform very much paralleled the path of Francis [of Assisi], both in style and spiritual direction. Both men sensed a sacred presence in everything and claimed to have experienced a mystical union with God." (149, 150, emphasis mine)

This is precisely what Trappist monk Thomas Merton, one of most highly prized Golden Buddhas of Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism (CSM) and master of Contemplative/Centering Prayer (CCP) was after; and do you really think it’s some kind of an odd coincidence that Merton is a hero to Living Spiritual Teacher and Quaker mystic Richard Foster? At the heart of his brand of spurious of Spiritual Formation, which is given a veneer of scholasticism by Foster’s spiritual twin Dallas Willard, is ecumenicism; and for the more hardcore mystics meditation that will, in their minds, quite literally transform people by leading us to a higher consciousness resulting in an improved version of mankind.

Read the rest of the adulterous mysticals at Apprising Ministries.

Editor's note: Is there anyone in The Baptist General Association of Virginia or The Virginia Baptist Mission Board who thinks that maybe they have made a mistake by promoting the heretical theology of the emergents?

Saudi King Basks in Praise at UN Interfaith Forum

From REUTERS:

With President George W. Bush in the lead, they have all come to present their compliments to King Abdullah, the Saudi ruler, who has turned the Manhattan hotel and the world body into an extension of his court, complete, it would seem, with a Majlis to receive petitioners.

Naturally, all the VIPs visiting him are eager to congratulate his majesty on his interfaith initiative, a gathering of religious and political leaders which took place this week under the auspices of the United Nations. The meeting has attracted extravagant praise from, among others, Tony Blair, the former British Prime Minister, and Shimon Peres, the veteran Israeli president.

It is a fact that the king’s initiative is unprecedented and bold, taking place despite the displeasure of many influential religious clerics at home. It is also a fact that he is the first Saudi leader to have travelled to the Vatican, opening dialogue between the two largest religions.

See time-related article Shaping a New World Order.

Virginia Baptist Mission Board's FAITH UNDONE Part III

Dedicated to The 185th Annual Meeting of The Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) - (SBC) & The Virginia Baptist Mission Board who not only featured the mystical emergent Tony Campolo but also the ecumenical Dr. David Coffey, President, Baptist World Alliance ( BWA ).

Faith Undone - Chapter 5: “Ancient-Future Worship”

The late Robert Webber, like many emergent leaders, was trying to differentiate between Roman Catholicism and Catholicism (as a universal body). However, the Roman Catholic Church does not make this distinction because they claim an apostolic succession of papacy (popes) beginning with the apostle Peter.

Therefore all Catholicism is Roman Catholicism. Some in the emerging church do not show an attachment to the authority of the papacy but embrace the practices and early history of the Catholic Church.

See related article Virginia Baptist Mission Board Promotes ROBERT WEBBER & EMERGENT VILLAGE .

See more on the emergent and mystical pinings of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board.

See Virginia Baptist Mission Board's FAITH UNDONE Part I , Virginia Baptist Mission Board's FAITH UNDONE Part II

Listen to Pastor Bob DeWaay discuss Why Evangelicals are Returning to Rome on CrossTalk America.

Virginia Baptist Mission Board's FAITH UNDONE Part II

Dedicated to The 185th Annual Meeting of The Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) & The Virginia Baptist Mission Board who not only featured the mystical emergent Tony Campolo but also the ecumenical Dr. David Coffey, President, Baptist World Alliance ( BWA ).

Faith Undone: Chapter 7 “Monks, Mystics, and the Ancient Wisdom”

“Almost without exception, leaders in the emergent conversation embrace mysticism (i.e., contemplative spirituality) in their theological playgrounds; it is the element that binds the movement together.”

This mystical formation, also known as ancient wisdom, is occultic by its very nature. And through the emerging church, this occult wisdom is overtaking the spirituality of countless lives. Mysticism is rooted in pantheism (God is in all things) and panentheism (all is God). Since mysticism is the very steam that drives the emerging church, to exclude it from critique is to side-step the real danger of this movement.

Contemplative prayer, spiritual formation, the interspiritual path – they inevitably lead all who follow them to the same non-biblical conclusions, and if not repented of – ultimate spiritual destruction.

See Part Virginia Baptist Mission Board's FAITH UNDONE Part I

See also The Baptist General Association of Virginia's Time of Departing

It's High Time Europe Realize The Importance of Mysticism

In this news piece, Mysticism, spirtualism form the edifice of religion, Anil Datta reports on the book launch of, “Journey to God: Sufis and Dervishes in Islam”, by Dr Jurgen Wasim Frembgen, at the Goethe-Institut, Karachi.

Here's some interesting points raised in the article:

Dr Jurgen Wasim Frembgen said that the Sufis had made a massive contribution to Islam and their message of love, brotherhood, and universalism transcended the earthly barriers of caste, colour, and creed.

A Dervish, he said, was one who fluently communed with The Almighty and was his ambassador to mankind interpreting his will and his plan for His Creation. Mysticism, he said, was the essence of religion.

Dr Marcus Litz, Director, Goethe-Institut, said that it was high time people realised the importance of mysticism in Europe. This, he said, could also facilitate an East-West dialogue and could be a bridge between Islam and Christianity

Looks like Tony Campolo isn't the only influencer who believes that world peace can be achieved by the emptying the mind in order to be yoked with the universal consciousness.

See more on the mystical and emergent Tony Campolo here.

See more on the mystical and emergent Baptist General Association of Virginia and the Virginia Baptist Mission Board here.

Iron Sharpens Iron with Ken Silva on Mysticism

Dedicated to The 185th Annual Meeting of The Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) & The Virginia Baptist Mission Board who not only featured Red Letter Christian /social activist Tony Campolo but also Dr. David Coffey, President, Baptist World Alliance ( BWA ).

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.



Originally posted August 22, 2008

Shaping a New World Order

G-20: Shaping a new world order By Steve Hargreaves, CNNMoney.com staff writer

U.S. economic mettle tested as emboldened leaders of the world's 20 largest countries gather in Washington

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The role of the United States as the world's economic leader will be tested this weekend when emboldened leaders of the 20 most powerful countries meet in Washington to address the global financial crisis.

Some European leaders are hailing the summit as the next Bretton Woods - a reference to the historic talks in the latter days of WWII that in effect made the dollar the world's dominant currency and laid the foundation for the economic order of the past 60 years.

See all articles on The Rise of The Fourth Kingdom.

The Baptist General Association of Virginia's Time of Departing

Dedicated to The 185th Annual Meeting of The Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) & The Virginia Baptist Mission Board who not only featured Red Letter Christian /social activist Tony Campolo but also Dr. David Coffey, President, Baptist World Alliance ( BWA ).

Contemplative Spiritualities from the Mike Corley Program

In this special repeat broadcast, Mike Corley talks with Ray Yungen, author of the book A Time of Departing.

They discuss such issues as centering prayer, the silence, yoga, Reiki, the Desert Fathers and spiritual formation teachings, and the influence of these new age teachings in the contemporary church.

Click here to listen now.

See more on author and lecturer Ray Yungen and Purpose Driven Mysticism here.

Listen to Jan Markell of Olive Tree Ministries and author Ray Yungen discuss how the world's "spirituality" has changed in 40 years. Starting with the 60s counterculture that was guided by the Hindu East, up until today's occultism, it has all followed a diabolical plan to seduce all people and even the evangelical church. And to a point, it has been successful. Can we stop the train that has already left the station since it is headed for the one world religion? Probably not, but we can be more aware of it and sound the alarm to all those we care about.

Click here to listen.

Judge OKs Gay Marriage in Connecticut

From Christian Today

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Gay marriage is legal in Connecticut now that a judge has cleared the way. New Haven Superior Court Judge Jonathan Silbert ruled at a brief hearing Wednesday morning that gay and lesbian couples now may pick up marriage license forms at town and city clerks’ offices statewide.

HT: Christian Research Network

The Baptist General Association of Virginia's Global Ecumenical Wink

The 185th Annual Meeting of The Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) & The Virginia Baptist Mission Board not only featured Red Letter Christian /social activist Tony Campolo but also Dr. David Coffey, President, Baptist World Alliance ( BWA ).

Back in 2004, The Southern Baptist Convention voted to pull out of the Baptist World Alliance, accusing the worldwide organization of "a drift toward liberalism that included growing tolerance of homosexuality, support for women in the clergy and "anti-American" pronouncements."

"The Rev. Paige Patterson, president of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary told yesterday's meeting that the alliance also contains "gay-friendly" churches that support same-sex marriage.

"What you give your money and name to, you give tacit approval to," he said."

The Baptist General Association of Virginia was greeted at the BWA 2005 Annual meeting as one of the BWA's newest members. America's Pastor, Rick Warren shared a few thought provoking comments at that 2005 meeting:

Rick Warren, the other keynote speaker, likewise affirmed that Baptists from around the world can “have unity without uniformity.” Warren, pastor of Saddleback Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif., told reporters the withdrawal of Southern Baptists from BWA was a “silly” mistake. “I see absolutely zero reason in separating my fellowship from anybody,” he declared.

“God has called us to enjoy and fellowship with each other and work together. We’re all in this together,” he said, adding Baptists can “celebrate our diversity and celebrate our unity.”

Perhaps Warren's ecumenically-loaded statements were a foreshadowing of what was to come for the Baptist World Alliance. The BWA is now formal partners with the Global Christian Forum.

The Global Christian Forum describes itself as:

The Global Christian Forum seeks to offer new opportunities for broadening and deepening encounters. It is especially intended to promote new relationships between and among Christian constituencies...

The Global Christian Forum is pursuing this goal through the creation of a 'space' where participants all meet on an equal basis, to foster mutual respect, and to explore and address together common concerns.

...there has been no place where representatives of all the main Christian churches and church families, and their international organizations can join together around one table. The Global Christian Forum aims to create such a place, independent of existing structures.

The Global Christian Forum convened this week as well as the BGAV' Annual Meeting. Australia's Christian Today reports:

The gathering brought together sixty representatives of the historic Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Pentecostal and Evangelical movements to share their future goals and participate in forum discussions on nurturing a broader ecumenical movement.

Hubert van Beek, Secretary of the Global Christian Forum, told Christian Today: "With this meeting we will leave the experimental past and move into more visible ways in actively serving the global church."

This organization has Vatican representation, unlike the World Council of Churches. Fuller Theological Seminary, Rick Warren's alma mater, also has been instrumental in the Global Christian Forum effort.

Looks like the The Baptist General Association of Virginia is quietly plotting it's course toward the global ecumenical faith community.

RICK WARREN ON “STEVE TV”

In a what is a familar theme the long arm of Saddleback censors requested embedding be disabled. So, if you wish to see America’s Pastor Warren make his appearance you may do so here:

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. (1 Corinthians 13:11a)

HT: Apprising Ministries

See America's pastor share what he calls "the secret of church growth", as he employs a childhood method of simulating the sound of passing gas.

The Virgina Baptist Mission Board Agrees To This Attack On Scriptures?

Don't miss Part II of Dr. MacArthur's comments on the Emergent Church.

Virginia Baptist Mission Board's FAITH UNDONE

Picture your Baptist General Association of Virginia church...now picture your BGAV church on the Emergent Church train with the Virginia Baptist Mission Board at the wheel...

See the rest of this 6 part presentation and more resources by missionary and author Roger Oakland of Understanding The Times.

Willful Ignorance of Immanuel Baptist Church & The Virginia Baptist Mission Board

Willful Ignorance

“Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us;
for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.”
(Job 21:14)

“Man’s apostasy began in an affectation of forbidden knowledge,
but is kept up by an affectation of forbidden ignorance.”
– Matthew Henry

We live in a time of great apostasy when many choose to ignore or disbelieve the simplicity of the Gospel of Salvation, the message of the Cross. Many of the new heresies are intricate, complex, always evolving, and “emerging” with new theologies, philosophies, terminologies, eschatologies, ecclesiologies, etc. These false teachings puff up people with pride in their human knowledge and lead them to “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth”(2 Timothy 3:7).

Error-filled teachings reflect an artificial light that beckons to those wandering in darkness. The neon beacon of heresy is alluring, creating warm feelings, and bestows a temporal vision that seduces the believer off the narrow path. But it does not convict man of sin in his heart.

The Gospel is the Light of Truth. Matthew Henry in his Commentary on John 3:1-21 says it is a “terror to the wicked world” and it makes men’s sins manifest, showing them “the evil of their transgressions…. The Gospel has its convictions, to make way for its consolations.” Just as this Gospel light shining into the darkness of men’s hearts “convinces and terrifies evildoers, so it confirms and comforts those that walk in their integrity.”

Matthew Henry declares that those “who do not come to the light” of the Gospel of Salvation have an “antipathy to saving knowledge” and a “damning ignorance.” Harsh words in our era of touchy-feely assuages to the conscience! But it is a fact of human nature that men choose to willfully disregard the Truth, preferring instead the soft comforts of empty assurances and synthetic lights.

Read the rest of this very timely post at Herescope.

Dedicated to The Virginia Baptist Mission Board, who is bringing Tony Campolo to speak to the 185th BGAV Meeting November 11 & 12, 2008. Also dedicated to the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) churches like Immanuel Baptist of Colonial Heights, Virginia who are silent on the matter.

If the congregations only knew the stew their pastors are cooking.

Britain's Prime Minister: Britain, U.S., Europe Key To New World Order

UK's Brown: Now is the time to build global society

LONDON (Reuters) - The international financial crisis has given world leaders a unique opportunity to create a truly global society, Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown will say in a keynote foreign policy speech on Monday.

In his annual speech at the Lord Mayor's Banquet, Brown -- who has spearheaded calls for the reform of international financial institutions -- will say Britain, the United States and Europe are key to forging a new world order.

"The alliance between Britain and the U.S. -- and more broadly between Europe and the U.S. -- can and must provide leadership, not in order to make the rules ourselves, but to lead the global effort to build a stronger and more just international order," an excerpt from the speech says.

HT: In The Days

See related video: Season of Signs: Passover Through Pentecost 2008

See all related articles on The Rise of The Fourth Kingdom.

Virginia Baptist Mission Board: Yesterday's Evangelicals

A video response to the Virginia Baptist Mission Board Promotes The Heresy of Brian McLaren article...

"Today's liberals were yesterday's Evangelicals"

- Dr. Albert Mohler, President, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Here R.C. Sproul, Al Mohler, and Ravi Zacharias discuss post-modernism, modernism, liberalism, and the emergent church. Is there any real difference among the four?

Virginia Baptist Mission Board Is OK with Campolo's Centering Prayer Practices?

"The Holy Spirit was in you before you became a Christian...

I believe Christ is in everyone."

No Response From Immanuel Baptist Church Or Virginia Baptist Mission Board Regarding Campolo Visit

Immanuel Baptist Church of Colonial Heights, Virginia has earned quite a reputation for ignoring the biblical concerns expressed by various members in the past.



Even though the former CEO-style pastor, Jerry Parker left last year, his replacement, David Prather carries on the IBC style of patronizing and ignoring individuals who have concerns over doctrinal issues. In February, 2008 Prather quickly called a concerned church member "dogmatic and divisive" after evidence was presented to him regarding the unbiblical nature of the Purpose Driven program.




Assistant Pastor Fred Atkins expressed with great pride that he didn't read a lick of information of what was presented to him by a concerned church member regarding the purpose driven program that was rolled out under Parker.


Well, somethings never change. David Prather favorably quoted Tony Campolo last year for the pulpit. Recently, Prather and Atkins were asked to provide a comment regarding Campolo's visit to the Virginia Baptist Mission Board & Baptist General Association of Virginia Annual Meeting, November 11 & 12, 2008.

No response from either pastor.

Both were asked how long has Immanuel Baptist Church been apart of the BGAV.

No response from either pastor.

The Virginia Baptist Mission Board was sent several emails of concern regarding the error of Tony Campolo's theology.

No response.

Are these leaders so arrogant or too afraid to go on the record regarding their position on Campolo?

Could it be they don't want the congregation to know that they remain silent on Campolo's pro - abortion, pro-gay rights, mystical theology?

Are Biblical pastors not obligated to warn their congregations of the wolves in sheeps' clothing?

Oh, if we would only let the Scriptures be our authority in these turbulent times.

Why Evangelicals are Returning to Rome

CrossTalk America
Host:Ingrid Schlueter
Guest:Bob DeWaay

Pastor Bob DeWaay is the pastor of Twin City Fellowship in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. He's also the author of the Critical Issues Commentaries. He appeared on Crosstalk to discuss why Evangelicals are returning to Rome and the abandonment of Sola Scriptura.




See relate article and audio: Clarion Call To Return To Scripture

The Creeping Things Within The Virginia Baptist Mission Board

Dedicated to The Virginia Baptist Mission Board, who is bringing Tony Campolo to speak to the 185th BGAV Meeting November 11 & 12, 2008...


Ezekiel 8 (English Standard Version)

7 And he brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, there was a hole in the wall. 8 Then he said to me, "Son of man, dig in the wall." So I dug in the wall, and behold, there was an entrance. 9 And he said to me, "Go in, and see the vile abominations that they are committing here." 10 So I went in and saw. And there, engraved on the wall all around, was every form of creeping things and loathsome beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel.

11 And before them stood seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had his censer in his hand, and the smoke of the cloud of incense went up. 12 Then he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, 'The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land.'" 13 He said also to me, "You will see still greater abominations that they commit."

Apostasy In The Virginia Baptist Mission Board

The Rapture Ready Bulletin Board Sounds off on The BGAV / VBMB's guest appearance invitation to Tony Campolo for the BGAV Annual Meeting...

"Robert" responds:

I read the article; here's what I gather from it:

1)The BGAV (Baptist General Association of Virginia) says it opposes abortion, but Tony Campolo is in favor of it.

2) The BGAV says they oppose Homosexual behavior and Homosexual church leadership, but Tony Campolo supports it.

3) The BGAV's stance on marriage is that it is between a man and a woman, but Tony Campolo accepts it.

4) The BGAV says that Christ is the only way to heaven, But Tony Campolo espouses heresy on that matter.And they want him to host their annual meeting? Am I missing something here, or can you say the word APOSTASY???!!!

Virginia Baptist Mission Board Infested With Heresy

Apprising Ministries takes a virtual tour of heresy at the Baptist General Association of Virginia and it's Virginia Baptist Mission Board website...

But suppose like me you were intrigued by the Spiritual Needs button on the front page of the VBMB website so you click on it and then you notice Spiritual Guidance. Then you say: If I was a betting man I’d wager a search for “Richard Foster” will turn up favorable materials about him from this “Protestant” website. Sure enough under Resources for Christian Growth we find Foster’s Celebration of Discipline, which my friend Dr. Gary Gilley rightly called “an encyclopedia of theological error.”

And the Recommended Reading section features a number of questionable sources not the least of which are the late Spiritual Master and Roman Catholic monk M. Basil Pennington, Linda Graybeal (Richard Foster’s personal assistant), SBC minister and mystic Dallas Willard, Emergent Church theologian Leonard Sweet, quasi-New Age Christian Ken Blanchard, and Emerging Church pastor Dan Kimball. Then at the bottom of the page under “Emergent Culture Recommended Reading” we find a whole who’s who of the Emergent postliberal cult and its rebellion against God’s Word such as Rob Bell, Spencer Burke, Shane Claiborne, Alan Jones, Tony Jones, Brian McLaren, and Doug Pagitt.

Virginia Baptist Mission Board Promotes ROBERT WEBBER & EMERGENT VILLAGE

From the Virginia Baptist Mission Board's "Worship First" website...

Click on image for close up

Here's a sample of the Biblical Conflict that The Ancient - Future Faith theology creates.

See related articles:

Christianity Today Promotes Return To Rome , Press Release: Pagan Practices Taught by Emergent Church , The Train Called The New Monasticism , Christianity Today Proclaims Ancient Future Church At Hand, Christianity Today Promotes Return To Rome

Monastic Evangelicals: The Attraction of Ancient Spiritual Disciplines, Willow Creek & The New Monasticism , The New Monasticism , The Emerging Affection for Catholicism , Flirting With Disaster , Presbyterian Church in Canada Embraces McLaren and Emergent

Virginia Baptist Mission Board Promotes Socialist PEACE Plan

Click on image for original article

Learn more about the very worldly roots of Rick Warren's PEACE plan

Learn more than you ever wanted to know about the heretical slant of the Baptist General Association of Virginia and it's Golden Calf, the Virginia Baptist Mission Board.

See related article: Virginia Baptist Mission Board partners with Saddleback Church

Virginia Baptist Mission Board Promotes The Heresy of Brian McLaren

Click on image for close up

Click here for the tip of the heretical McLaren iceberg

Click on the VBMB image above and see the mystical Wheaton College link.

Politics, Activism, and the Gospel

From Pulpit Magazine by Dr. John McArthur

We can’t protect or expand the cause of Christ by human political and social activism, no matter how great or sincere the efforts. Ours is a spiritual battle waged against worldly ideologies and dogmas arrayed against God, and we achieve victory over them only with the weapon of Scripture. The apostle Paul writes: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 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” (2 Cor. 10:3-5).

...God is not calling us to wage a culture war that would seek to transform our countries into “Christian nations.” To devote all, or even most, of our time, energy, money, and strategy to putting a façade of morality on the world or over our governmental and political institutions is to badly misunderstand our roles as Christians in a spiritually lost world.

...Using temporal methods to promote legislative and judicial change, and resorting to external efforts of lobbying and intimidation to achieve some sort of “Christian morality” in society is not our calling—and has no eternal value. Only the gospel rescues sinners from sin, death, and hell.

Viriginia Baptist Mission Board & Campolo's Shades of Marxism

United Kingdom to U.S. Red Letter Christians: Admit You Are Marxists!

The Christian Socialist Revolution from the UK's Acton Institute:

The rise of the Christian neo-socialists has been quite surprising. These Marxists have been using the Sermon of the Mount and Beatitudes and “Jesus’ teaching” to smoke screen the resurgence of a Christian Socialist agenda. It’s amazing.

We see this clearly in socialist redistributionists like Barack Obama, Jim Wallis, Wendell Berry, Shane Claiborne, Tony Campolo, Ron Sider (although he’s moving more toward center), Brian McLaren, and many others I’d love to name.

At least in the U.K. leftist Christians are honest about being socialists. You will see no difference between this agenda and anything you’ll find in Jim Wallace’s neo-socialist organization Sojourners. Here’s part of the neo-socialist Christian manifesto from the U.K.’s Christian Socialist Movement. At least these folks are honest. It should sound familiar...

See related article: What are Red Letter Christians? , Rick Warren, Facism and the Family , Tony Campolo: The Marxist Delusion and a Christian Evangelist , Evangelicals Broadening Issues to Include Poverty, Education , and the Social Gospel , UK's One World Week Inter-Faith Initiative , The New Monasticism,

Red Letter Christians and Rick Warren's PEACE Plan , Decoding The Evangelical Manifesto's Call For Global Ecumenism , Part II The Evangelical Manifesto: Poison In The Pot , Pastor Ken Silva On The Seeds of Socialized Christianity , Tony Campolo's aberrant liberal "theology" ,

Warren's Works Gospel Doesn't Work , Seeker Sensitive’s Slippery Slope to Sojourners , Spreading The Global Religion , The Global Peace Plan for a Global People , The CFR, The Social Gospel, & The Peace Plan , Purpose Driven Peace Plan & The Vatican sending the same message ?

Is The Pope Emergent? , Evangelical Leaders Reiterate Call for Two-State Solution , The Two Witnesses Emerging: Saddleback & Willowcreek , The SBC North American Mission Board partners with emergent church planting conference?

Campolo Quotes of Compromise

Dedicated to The Virginia Baptist Mission Board who is bringing Tony Campolo to speak to the 185th BGAV Meeting November 11 & 12, 2008.

From The Thinker Up blog:

Some christian leaders look up to Tony Campolo. What's even more scary is that some christian youth pastors look up to him and consider Campolo to be a mentor of theirs. I get nervous when I realize this. I know of one youth pastor in particular who has made this statement, that Tony Campolo was his mentor. I have heard this youth pastor reference Campolo on more than one occasion while addressing the youth.

... If you're a parent or a teenager whose youth pastor mentions his admiration for Tony Campolo please take a look at some of these quotes of his and you let me know if you're comfortable with anyone looking up to Tony Campolo as a mentor or as a christian leader:

"Jesus is the only Savior, but not everybody who is being saved by Him is aware that He is the one who is doing the saving" -Tony Campolo EP News Service, Oct. 4, 1985

“That a new humanity will be brought forth from this Christ consciousness in each person."-Tony Campolo"A Reasonable Faith" 1983 page 65

"going to heaven is like going to Philadelphia....There are many ways....It doesn't make any difference how we go there. We all end up in the same place."-Tony Campolo"Carpe Diem: Seize the Day", 1994, pages 85-88

“There is a feminine side of God. I always knew this ... It is this feminine side of God I find in Jesus that makes me want to sing duets with Him ... Not only do I love the feminine is Jesus, but the more I know Jesus, the more I realize that Jesus loves the feminine in me. Until I accept the feminine in my humanness, there will be a part of me that cannot receive the Lord's love. ... There is that feminine side of me that must be recovered and strengthened if I am to be like Christ ... And until I feel the feminine in Jesus, there is a part of Him which I cannot identify.” -Tony Campolo"Carpe Diem: Seize the Day", 1994, pages 85-88

"Beyond these models of reconciliation, a theology of mysticism provides some hope for common ground between Christianity and Islam. Both religions have within their histories examples of ecstatic union with God, which seem at odds with their own spiritual traditions but have much in common with each other."-Tony Campolo(Page 149, Speaking My Mind)

"I am saying that there is no salvation apart from Jesus; that's my evangelical mindset. However, I am not convinced that Jesus only lives in Christians" -Tony Campolo (National Liberty Journal, 8/99)

"...what can I say to an Islamic brother who has fed the hungry, and clothed the naked? You say, "But he hasn't a personal relationship with Christ." I would argue with that. And I would say from a Christian perspective, in as much as you did it to the least of these you did it unto Christ. You did have a personal relationship with Christ, you just didn't know it."-Tony Campolo from EVANGELICALS AND INTERFAITH COOPERATION, An Interview by Shane Claiborne

"We cannot allow our theologies to separate us" (speaking on the relations between Muslims and Christians)-Tony CampoloEVANGELICALS AND INTERFAITH COOPERATION, An Interview by Shane Claiborne

See the entire catalog of quotes assembeld at The Thinker Up blog.

Virginia Baptist Mission Board Promotes Neo-Gnosticism

As the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) warm up to holding hands with Tony Campolo...

Pastor-teacher Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries exposes the adulterous relationship between contemplative spirituality, Roman Catholicism and "Evangelicals"...

In the Apprising Ministries piece Tony Campolo to Enlighten Southern Baptists in Virginia we pointed out that Emergent Evangelical Prophet Tony Campolo is going to be featured speaker at the upcoming Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) “185th Annual Meeting of the BGAV” on November 11-12. (Online source)

There Campolo will be bringing his brand of neo-Gnostic wisdom which he supposedly gleaned from his practice of corrupt Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism (CSM) along with the reimagined social gospel of the Emerging Church to enlighten Southern Baptists in Virginia.

But the problem with this spurious CSM being spread as a “Protestantized” version of so-called Spiritual Formation is that it originated in the antibiblical lifestyle of hermits and hermettes in the desert of Egypt (hello!) and then flowered in the monastic traditions of apostate Roman Catholicism.

The Virginia Baptist Mission Board: Heretics and Liars?

The Baptist General Association of Virginia's (BGAV) Truthfully Speaking document addresses frequently asked questions about the BGAV and it's affiliate agency, The Virginia Baptist Mission Board (VBMB).

There are four questions within Truthfully Speaking that are of particular interest, given the hosting of Tony Campolo by the VBMB at the BGAV Annual meeting November 11 & 12, 2008:

1. What is the BGAV’s position on abortion? pg. 5
In November 1997, the BGAV reaffirmed its opposition to abortion...we reject any indiscriminate attitude toward abortion, as contrary to the biblical view...

Editor's note: How is it possible that The BGAV and The VBMB does not reject Tony's Campolo's position of keeping abortion legal, and NOT working to overturn Roe v. Wade which has resulted in nearly 50,000,000 abortions since 1973?

Here's what are real pro-life activist has to say about Tony Campolo's election-driven abortion plank...

'Evangelicals' ripped for plugging Dems' abortion platform

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. One of them is Mark Crutcher, the president of Life Dynamics, Inc. in Denton, Texas.

He says the religious leaders in question are "garden variety pro-aborts" who are trying to make Obama and the Democratic platform seem reasonable...

So I think that what's happening right now is that God is showing us who the people are that we can count on -- and obviously these pro-aborts, like the ones you're mentioning here, are not people that can be counted on," the pro-life activist asserts. "They're heretics and they're liars."

According to Mark Crutcher, Tony Campolo's position on abortion makes him a "heretic and a liar". Does the BGAV / VBMB's Campolo invitation and this BGAV document make the BGAV and the VBMB "heretics and liars" as well? Does it create a hypocritical situation for the BGAV / VBMB?

2. Why doesn’t the BGAV take a stand opposing homosexual behavior and homosexual church leadership? pg. 6
It definitely has taken a stand opposing both...We affirm the biblical teaching that homosexual behavior is sinful and unacceptable for Christians. Therefore, we do not endorse elevating those who practice it to positions of leadership.

The response details the BGAV's severing relations with Averett University:

“We ... express our strong dismay and disagreement at the tone and content of public comments by [the professor] on homosexuality and … Scripture ….We are disappointed in Averett University’s decision to host an appearance by Bishop John Shelby Spong to speak to the community and students.” The comments are “contrary to stated core values of Virginia Baptists”

Editor's note: Campolo advocates gay rights. In Campolo's book, Red Letter Christians, he writes:

"Marriage should be viewed as an institution ordained by God and should be out of the control of the state. Of course, homosexual couples could go to churches that welcome and affirm gay marriage and get their unions blessed there, but isn't that the way it should be in a nation that guarantees people the right to promotion religion according to their personal convictions?"

"According to Tony Campolo, in his book Speaking My Mind, he has several suggestions for Christians - the bottom line is he believes we need to "redefine ourselves,"... "recast our opinions," and "entertain the possibility that we might be in error" about particular issues. He says we need to stop being so stubborn about these issues. What are those issues he speaks of? They are everything from mysticism to homosexuality..."

Why does the BGAV / VBMB not find Tony Campolo's comments "contrary to stated core values of Virginia Baptists" regarding homosexuality?

Does the BGAV / VBMB not find this an offense to Romans Chapter 1, never mind the "stated core values of Virginia Baptists." Has the BGAV / VBMB forgot the Sunday School lesson on Sodom and Gomorrah?

Does the BGAV / VBMB's Campolo invitation and this BGAV document make the BGAV and the VBMB "heretics and liars" as well? Does it create a hypocritical situation for the BGAV / VBMB?

Perhaps the work of Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary should be required reading for the BGAV / VBMB.

3. What position does the BGAV take on marriage? pg. 8
The sanctity of marriage continues to face attacks from a variety of cultural attitudes and moral lapses,including those of public and religious leaders. (emphasis mine)

...Today, as never before, believers need strongly to affirm and exemplify Biblical ideals in marriage and family.

...The Virginia Baptist Mission Board emphatically reaffirms the Biblical principles that under gird the sanctity of marriage, recognizes the Biblical call to accountability, and challenges all persons of faith to live out this ideal.

Editor's note: How could the BGAV / VBMB NOT view Campolo's view of same sex marriages and gay rights as an assault on the Word of God and the family?

Does the BGAV / VBMB's Campolo invitation and this BGAV document make the BGAV and the VBMB "heretics and liars" as well? Does it create a hypocritical situation for the BGAV / VBMB?

4. How does your organization view other world religions, such as Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Secular Humanists, Latter Day Saints, etc.? pg.10
For that answer, go to John 3, where Jesus is in a conversation with Nicodemus concerning the Kingdom of God. Verse 3 says: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” There are no other criteria for acceptance into the Kingdom as far as the BGAV is concerned. We do believe that adherents of other religions should have total freedom of choice in their worship, but as Christians we still believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God.

Editor's note: How does Tony Campolo view the conversion experience?

Exhibit A:
January 27, 2007 edition of the Edmonton Journal where reporter Don Retson asks Campolo a straight forward question. Take a look at the doublespeak for yourself:

Q. Do you believe non-Christians can go to heaven?

A. That’s a good question to ask because the way we stand is we contend that trusting in Jesus is the way to heaven. However, we do not know who Jesus will bring into the kingdom and who He will not. We are very very careful about pronouncing judgment on anybody. We leave judgment in the hands of God and we are saying Jesus is the way. We preach Jesus, but we have no way of knowing to whom the grace of God is extended. (Online source)

Exhibit B:
" ...Campolo says that if the Holy Spirit can’t manage to turn someone’s heart, God may use your own psychic powers to do it. And by the way, he suggests, those psychic powers can be honed by the mystical practices that he describes later in the book."

Exhibit C
Tony Campolo says his personal encounter began when he discovered Christ through a practice known as “centering prayer.” Though not found in the Bible, the ritual of centering prayer is a pillar of Eastern mysticism.

In my case intimacy with Christ had developed gradually over the years, primarily through what Catholics call “centering prayer.” Each morning, as soon as I wake up, I take time—sometimes as much as a half hour—to center myself on Jesus. I say his name over and over again to drive back the 101 things that begin to clutter my mind the minute I open my eyes. Jesus is my mantra, as some would say.

Tony Campolo claims he became born again through this practice called centering prayer. He encourages his young readers to get closer to Christ by embracing this ritual. Centering prayer is becoming very popular within the Emerging Church Movement. Is it biblical?

Exhibit D
Claiborne: Both Muslims and Christians are very evangelical in the sense of desiring others to come to faith in their God. When we talk about inter-religious cooperation, does that mean that we need to stop trying to convert each other?

Campolo: We don’t have to give up trying to convert each other. What we have to do is show respect to one another. And to speak to each other with a sense that even if people don’t convert, they are God’s people, God loves them, and we do not make the judgment of who is going to heaven and who is going to hell. (Online source)

Editor's note: This is a Biblical call to accountability, and this blog challenges the BGAV, the VBMB and it's member churches, to practice what you preach and cancel Tony Campolo's address of the BGAV 185th Annual Meeting.

Truthfully speaking, if the BGAV / VBMB holds the Bible as the inspired and authoritative Word of God as their document claims, there would be no choice but to cancel the ecumenical, mystical, political, social activist Tony Campolo.

See all related articles on Tony Campolo here and the BGAV / VBMB here.