Of course, all government inquiries are politically motivated ... internationally and historically!The pastor of one of Minnesota's largest churches said an IRS investigation into his ministry's finances is "politically motivated."Good, that is one thing the courts are supposed to do!
The Rev. Mac Hammond [says his] church declined to comply with an IRS summons, arguing that the law states the request must come from a "high-ranking official" of the IRS. The IRS has filed a petition in U.S. District Court to force the church to answer a demand for detailed financial information.Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, is seeking the financial records of six ministries that follow the same theology to see if they comply with IRS rules on nonprofit spending and compensation.I'm not so sure that is good! This has been around for awhile; it seems to me the only reason it continues is that those who've complied already have revealed some areas of concern.Hammond's church is not one of the six targeted groups.Excuse me? All that then this? Say what? So why the report?
Showing posts with label False teaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label False teaching. Show all posts
Saturday, August 30, 2008
PROSPERITY GOSPEL: Grassly's IRS inquiry? NIMBY!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
PENTECOSTALISM: Some needed questions are asked about Todd Bentley!
In his latest "Fire In My Bones" column, J. Lee Grady asks some needed questions of his faith family ... but I've grown weary of reporting on the embarrassing lives of the Pentecostals and the Episcopalians, so go to Grady's column and read it for yourselves.
I will, however, post the questions so you'll have them in your mind before you get there.1. Why did so many people flock to Lakeland from around the world to rally behind an evangelist who had serious credibility issues from the beginning?2. Why didn’t anyone in Lakeland denounce the favorable comments Bentley made about William Branham?3. Why did God TV tell people that “any criticism of Todd Bentley is demonic”?4. Why did a group of respected ministers lay hands on Bentley on June 23 and publicly ordain him? Did they know of his personal problems?5. Can anything good come out of this?Grady answers his own questions but they leave me as repulsed as did Bentley's original snake oil pitch.
The answers to these questions won't be found in Grady's article, they are simple answers and are found elsewhere! Do you know where?
Sunday, August 10, 2008
CHURCH DECAY: Leave the ruins to the Muslims!
CHURCH DECAY: Leave the ruins to the Muslims!
A British Lord takes issue with the Church of England's main man, who happens to be Anglicanism's main man as well. He says,
Who am I to criticise the Archbishop of Canterbury on the matters of theology, doctrine or what the scriptures mean? [...]And oh how they have been leaving. The issue of ordaining non-celibate gay & lesbian priests has fractured the Worldwide Communion of the Anglican body ...
I am, however, a 'fellow traveller' and it is fellow travellers, whether of political parties or churches, whose opinions should be listened to most carefully by the powers that be. If the politicians or bishops offer confident, reasonable leadership, we follow them. If they look lost, confused and out of touch, we leave in droves.There is, of course, nothing new about homosexuality or homosexual priests and I suspect that most people these days will say 'so what?'I'll not waste your time with theological nit-picking here, but our "fellow traveler" does go on to make several excellent points.
But the Church of England still has a role to play in upholding the standards and beliefs which have shaped the society in which we live. And for the leader of that institution to appear confused by his moral standpoint is surely disastrous.I fear that the leaking of Dr Williams' letters [revealing a bifurcated theology on the issue], even if they are from eight years ago, will give more comfort to those who see the church as a leftover from the past than to those who would like to see it stand up boldly for the values on which it was built. For a while, the traditionalists will rally ... but the fellow travellers will drift away leaderless, with neither a church nor a political party prepared to champion their views and beliefs.And we see it in the visible church everywhere; the Emergents and the Seekers being two not so wonderful examples.So who is left? Watch out for the challenge from the mosques. An Islam with a modern face will soon begin to present itself as the natural home for those who long for moral certainty and a new sense of discipline within society. [...]The task for the imams will be to exploit the fatal weakness of the multicultural society and replace a Christian church that has lost its sense of history and direction with a Mosque that has a strong, ingrained sense of both.Once again I am led to prophetic implications ... what about you?
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
MEGA-ANGLICAN ANGST: A family reunion that's not!
When 25% of a royal family's princes stay away from a once each century family reunion ... you've got a regal knot in your imperial breeches!Church officials said that 230 of the 880 bishops in the Anglican worldwide communion were staying away from the Lambeth conference being staged in the English cathedral city of Canterbury, spiritual home of the deeply divided church.Referring to Gene Robinson, the queer Bishop from New England, who was forced to stay away from Lambeth, and remains the catalytic issue for the boycott, Reuters said ...Robinson, whose decision to be open about his homosexuality provoked so much Anglican angst, agreed it was time for the church to stop being so self-obsessed.How magnanimous!
"With young men knifing each other in the streets of London [a reference to the "growing knife" culture of the capital city] and a billion or more people going through life on less than a dollar a day, what a shame , what a waste it is for the Anglican communion to be tearing itself apart over two men or two women who want to make a Christian family together," he told Reuters.
Your denomination has just certified you a heretic in the least offensive and most unofficial-official way possible (like a director of a corporation being excluded from the firm's annual meeting by the other directors) and you wax eloquent about their corporate failure to stop English violence and global poverty. Not a word about the cause of it all: your personal failure.
Simultaneously, you reveal an extremely low opinion of Scripture's infallibility and inspiration, dissing (by extension) the Creator of the Living Word, thus disparaging the nature and magnitude of it, and ignoring two thousand years of biblical scholarship, as-well-as the collective wisdom of the men and women who were motivated to that scholarship.
Wow! What arrogance!
Apparently Robinson and the Reuters reporter did combine to forecast one likely outcome ...... it will end with a typically fudged Anglican consensus, [the Gay cleric] said "It will drive the press crazy. There will be no resolutions, no proclamations, no lines drawn in the sand."And this is a once in a century conference ... ho-boy! Forgive us all sweet Jesus, Your heart must be heavy these days.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
PENTECOSTALISM: Proof positive that being slain in the Spirit is not of God!
Man Sues Church for $2.5M After Being 'Felled by Holy Spirit' | FoxNews.ComHow can being "slain" in the Spirit be of God with results like this? Maybe when the tower fell on the 18 at Siloam it was of God, but major injuries and a million dollar lawsuit ... come on?
A man says he was so consumed by the spirit of God that he fell and hit his head while worshipping.
Now he wants Lakewind Church to pay $2.5 million for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
CHARISMATICS: I see, since we fail at Spiritual War let's have Civil War!
Can We Avoid a Charismatic Civil War? - Fire In My Bones | J. Lee Grady - Charisma Magazine
Some leaders say the controversial Lakeland Revival is forcing us to choose sides. But I don’t believe God wants to split our movement.
Not too long ago I posted on a Charismatics meeting in Florida ... at the time I smelled a rat in the grain silo. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I was clearly waiting for the other shoe to fall.
Charisma's Grady not only drops the other white buck but raises the curtain on the slain bearded lady, fills our teeth with genuine pyrite, stops the spin on Pentecostal unity, and pricks Elmer's bubble while he's at it.
Speaking of his personal experiences and convictions concerning false teachers and prophets (my terms), Grady reveals all is not well with the white patent leather crowd.
I was jolted into reality in May after I wrote an online column [CRIB link] in which I raised honest questions about some of Bentley’s teachings and techniques. Even though I celebrated his passion and zeal, and praised God for the healings that were reported in Lakeland, I was immediately branded a revival critic and banished to the [enemy] camp.I think many of us have been in that frying pan ... yet Christ's experiences with truth-telling exceed ours by an infinite measure.
I became the bad guy because, by asking questions, I was “relying on my intellect.”Surely, I imagined, my Christian brothers and sisters do not really think it is wrong for a Spirit-filled believer to test the spirits (which we are instructed to do in 1 John 4:1), discern truth (see 2 Pet. 3:17) or evaluate prophecies and angelic encounters (see 1 Cor. 14:29, Gal. 1:6-8).Grady recommends both sides consider three alternatives to a war ...
But now I realize that some people really want a war.This is admirable but falls horribly short of God's glory. Words like rebuke, repudiation, curse come to mind ... but then I'm a fallen man, just like them, who am I to point fingers.
- Let’s accept one another. “so that there may be no division in the body” (1 Cor. 12:25, NASB).
- Let’s admonish one another. Anything I say, even if it is corrective, must be said in love (see Eph. 4:15).
- Let’s pray for one another (see James 5:16).
Apart from a direct intervention of God, this can't end well.
Monday, June 30, 2008
ANGLICAN ANGST: Statement by Jefferts Schori will have little eternal impact!
A just-concluded meeting of conservative church leaders in the worldwide Anglican Communion will have little lasting impact, the head of the Episcopal Church, the faith's U.S. branch, said on Monday.
"Much of the Anglican world must be lamenting the latest emission" from the Global Anglican Future Conference issued on on Sunday in Jerusalem, said Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church.So too spoke Phillip Franklin, White Star Line Vice President, the day prior to the maiden launch of the Titanic:
"There is no danger that Titanic will sink. The boat is unsinkable and nothing but inconvenience will be suffered by the passengers."The day after her maiden voyage sinking:"I thought her unsinkable and I based my opinion on the best expert advice."And the Lord God Almighty said:There is a way which seems right to a (wo)man, But its end is the way of death. [Proverbs 14:12]
Sunday, June 29, 2008
CHURCH: The Late Great Body of Christ!
Recent survey results show a pitiful and putrefactive body of "christians" in the good ol' USA ... a kilometer wide and and a millimeter deep.
One thing is clear, as Billy Graham is given credit for saying,"on Sunday mornings, the church is the richest mission field on earth."Like Bambi, the people in our churches are some of the loveliest in the world, truly a joy to know. Yet again, like Bambi, when looking out of their darkness into the bright light of the Word of God, they stare, open-eyed, unblinking, not knowing whether to fight or flee.
Ironically, the pew people (plumbers, housewives, lawyers, mechanics, clerks, the unemployed, the dysfunctional, school teachers, and high-school dropouts) truly believe they know more about pastoring than pastors ... and they also believe it is their job in life to tell us.
How would it be if we dropped in on them, during the day, and waxed on about what they are doing and the way they are doing it?
Pastors were not to be their people's friends, they are to be their shepherds; they are to preach the Word, in season and out!If we had more hell in the pulpit, we would have less hell in the pew. Billy GrahamAll these visitation and relational programs are nothing but worldly human waste. The clergy is not better than the laity but they sure as h___ weren't intended to be tied up in an interpersonal touchy-feely wasteland.
Face it my peers, bringing the mulch of the world into the garden of God has produce weeds, not fruit! On any given Sunday morning, over half the people listening to you are lost ... LOST!!! What good is your new series on parenting to them? What good does it do to proclaim a "green" series them? What good does it do to preach the Ten Commandments to them? They need to know the meaning of the bronze serpent on the staff before they can comprehend the Manna from heaven.
What they need, and are not getting, is a message concerning their being "sinners in the hands of an angry God." [For a sad commentary see Yale's intro to this great message.]
Friday, June 27, 2008
END TIMES: Convergence of the unrelated!
Two unrelated stories got me thinking:
first, the revelation that, in a Pew Forum survey, nearly 60% of those who indicated an evangelical worldview believed there are many roads that lead to heaven and,second, an offer to sell an original, first edition copy of George Orwell's seminal ditty "nineteen eighty-four" with an accompanying quote, "He loved Big Brother."How thought provoking that quote is in light of the sad condition of the Bride of Christ. Everywhere I turn, people are open to and looking for authentic Christianity ... but the visible church (including me) has done its best to conceal the real thing from the unsaved masses.
I'm not surprised the people (searching for real truth) love Big Brother and buy into his lies. Bottom-line, however, the church, like Peter, will soon hear the cock crow for her virtual denial of Christ.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
APPLAUSE: Calling on leaders to take responsibility!
Applause for J. Lee Grady's February first column in Charisma Magazine. The article is titled "The Fuzzy-Wuzzy World of Charismatic Morality," and calls to task several of this past year's more notorious Charismatics ... by name no less.
Brother Grady you have my respect for your courage; congratulations to Strang Communications for theirs as well.
A few weeks ago The CRIB lambasted Grady and Charisma for lacking the courage to do the right thing in light of all the embarrassments coming out of Pentecostalism the past few years. This piece, though constrained by space, takes a giant step toward calling a spade a spade.
One aspect that might be too easily ignored is the plethora of followers who trail behind these reefs and continue to support their ministries. I can only guess at their shallow theologies. God help us!
Friday, January 25, 2008
PROPHETIC VOICE: Unless we repent ... !
Chuck Colson is wincing at the message of a ...
... new book, unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity . . . And Why It Matters.And what people think is what they believe ... until they are shown otherwise.[David] Kinnaman and [Gabe] Lyons spent three years polling young, unchurched Americans to find out what they thought about Christianity. Millions of young people, they discovered, see us as judgmental, hypocritical, anti-homosexual, too political, insensitive—and boring. Ouch!I know what they mean; many believers (myself included) see contemporary Christians in this same way. Why?
Because they are! (Let me qualify my opinion by narrowing the sample size to "western" Christianity.)As the authors write, “Many of those outside of Christianity . . . reject Jesus because they feel rejected by Christians.”And it's not just unbelievers who feel rejected by believers; far too many believers feel rejected by believers.
Not more than a half an hour ago I was discussing (with a member of my church) the Christian wounded found lying on the highway of Christian service. I told him it wasn't non-believers passing them by that bothered me, but the believers who walked by pretending not to notice (I can't bring myself to admit they actually do not notice; consider the implications if true).
I have an opinion about this ... I believe it is a direct result of two aberrant lay-theologies: Hop-a-long and Get-a-long theology.
The former refers to that theology among lay Christians which says, "I'll visit here, but not get involved, that way I can hop-a-long when I see something I don't like." These are your pew sitters and church hoppers.
The latter refers to that theology among moderately committed church-goers; which says, "Why can't these church leaders just go-a-long to get-a-long? Why do they have to take the bible so seriously? Who are they to judge? People don't want that." These are your self-righteous, stealth-liberals; the ones who surprise everyone when they vote to throw the pastor out based on unfounded accusations.
Colson has his own opinion ...Sometimes we do come across as judgmental, anti-homosexual, and excessively politicized. And all too often, when others misrepresent Christianity, we do not know enough about our own doctrines to explain the truth. Yes, we draw millions into our churches on Sunday, but let’s face it: We draw them in by offering therapeutic services that make them feel better, but not be better.It's the same coin, just the other side.
Colson says, the book ...unChristian providentially challenges us at the very moment many are waking up to the need to clean up our own house. Once we do this, we will be able to reach out to those outside the faith and—in a loving, non-judgmental way—offer them the glorious Truth.I agree with that assessment, only it too is too weak. I read "loving, and non-judgmental" as more compromise and subtle doctrinal capitulation: he is basically suggesting we treat our brethren with velvet gloves so we can all get-a-long.
Where is the doctrine of body discipline in the western church today? Where is the dctrine of chastisement and correction in the church today? Is there no place for these?
If not, perhaps we should take the scissors to ..."All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."I don't know where you are on this milquetoast bell-shaped curve but I'm fairly certain of where Peter and Paul would be ... not to mention Jesus.2 Timothy 3:16-17
BLOGGERS BLOGGING:No one yet!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
PENTACOSTALISM: Good intentions; labored results!
J. Lee Grady writes Charisma Magazine's excellent and informative column, "Fire In My Bones"; his 8 January piece is entitled "Eight Prophetic Directives for 2008." Not his best work.
The article is basically a report on the "Charismatic Leadership Summit"; CLS was a two day gathering of the 61 shakers and movers of the movement. What follows is an analysis of the article's content.
The past few years have confronted our Spirit-filled brethren with one embarrassment after the other; these embarrassments are "alluded" to in the piece. In general we should be pleased they devoted most of the two days to the problems which manifested themselves during 2007. But they go back much farther.
But, if Grady's wording is indicative of the meeting itself, we shouldn't expect a change to take place anytime soon. He opens with this phrase, "2007 was a difficult year." Wow, now that is an understatement.
I could think of several words more descriptive of that disastrous year ... see here, here, and here for example. On a similar note - the article's title is not some of the magazine's best word-smithing; Grady's eight offerings provided are hardly prophetic (there is little genuinely prophetic voice in them) or directive (in the sense of ultimatums). What is more final than a truly prophetic word.
On a personal level, I was offended when the author reported this august group of believers knelt in prayer before our God Most High ..."on the first night and repented of the pride that has tainted the American church."Excuse me, but the body of believers I shepherd and the denomination I call home have not participated in any of the embarrassments alluded to; nor have many other well-disciplined members of "the American church" ... these have been almost wholly the purview of our Pentecostal brethren (except perhaps Lonnie Latham and Catholicism's gay priesthood).
Let me add this: if Grady meant "the American [Pentecostal/Charismatic] church" rather than the American church in general, I retract my criticism and apologize (however, a good editor should have captured that faux pas).
Also, I suspect "the holy hush" my brother mentions was more a moment of corporate conviction and shame, rather than a movement of God's Spirit ... but this is not a hill I want to die on!
The two days included ...three sessions that focused on these questions: (1) Where is the charismatic movement headed? (2) Is the charismatic movement healthy? and (3) Is the charismatic movement making a difference?I wonder if any of the many faithful readers of Charisma will notice the CLS's failure to answer well even one of these questions as reported by Charisma?
The following are some random thoughts on the magazine's "directives" (bold emphasis via The CRIB) ...1. We must have personal revival. Marcus Lamb ... fought back tears as he lamented how far leaders have fallen in this day of Christian superstar scandals. “When was the last time we fasted?” he asked. “When was the last time we studied the Word just to hear from God?” Lamb believes “an alarm was sounded in 2007” that is calling each of us back to the simplicity of devotion to Jesus.Amen! This opening salvo is one of a couple of worthwhile contributions; the following is another.2. We must embrace humility. This was the overarching theme of the Orlando event. Robert Morris ... said we must “go overboard in humility” by being genuine, touchable and accessible. Naomi Dowdy ... noted that too many leaders today are enamored with their image or their frequent flyer status. ... .I thought the "overarching theme" was to deal with the three questions listed above? Overall a good contribution, and one that seems to answer the three questions in this way - 1.) the movement is going in the wrong direction! 2.) No, we are not healthy! and 3.) Only in the most negative sense!3. We are experiencing gracious judgment. Many leaders alluded to recent theological and moral scandals involving charismatic ministers. ... .Forgive me if I seem harsh, but a meeting of this kind should be naming names and specifically labeling "scandals," so that they are held up in the light for all to acknowledge, not allude to.4. We must balance the prosperity message. Although not everyone in the room was in agreement about the recent U.S. Senate investigation of six charismatic ministers, many called for restraint and a new attitude toward money. Several leaders, including Hispanic apostle Héctor Torres, emphasized that God is calling us to a higher standard of ethics, integrity and corporate governance. A prophetic warning was also issued: Leaders should either adopt a policy of “full disclosure” in the financial area, or they can expect “full exposure” of financial misdeeds.Neither am I, but if my Pentecostal/Charismatic brethren would just publicly investigate their own, guys like Grassly wouldn't be tempted to call them out!Robert Morris used the term “hyper-prosperity” to describe a theology that emphasizes wealth and personal blessing. He urged leaders to teach people “to give extravagantly, not expecting anything in return” instead of suggesting that people should “give to get.” Revivalist Rodney Howard-Browne bluntly suggested that the prosperity movement has “gone off the tracks.” ... .Ha-ha-ha! Again, forgive me for my harshness, but this Rodney is part of the problem not part of the solution and you guys should reveal him for what he is ... a wolf in sheep's clothing, etc. [Toronto blessing, holy laughter, gold fillings, falling gold dust; good grief he shouldn't have even been there]5. It’s time to get back to evangelism. The phrase “get back to the basics” was repeated numerous times over the course of our 24-hour session. ... .I am intentionally avoiding the issue of women in the pulpit.Other leaders ... cautioned against an inordinate emphasis on manifestations of the Holy Spirit. “We must get back to the core doctrines of the Bible, and test all things,” said prophetic minister Cindy Jacobs of Dallas, noting that our focus must not be on manifestations but on souls.Define "inordinate" for me, please! How can anything truly associated with the Holy Spirit be inordinate? What you mean, then, is this: a false emphasis on the manifestations of the Holy Spirit.
Regarding Cindy's comment, I would ask: you mean like the rest of us have been trying to do for decades?Rice Broocks, pastor of Bethel World Outreach Center in Nashville Tenn., said he believes our mandate for 2008 is simple: “Don’t get cute. Don’t get fancy. Go and make disciples.” He urged leaders to stop majoring in minors when evangelism has been neglected. ... .Cute? Fancy? You mean like the name of your "church"? Now that's cute and fancy!
Notice the name is in blue and emboldened; as have been several other words in the eight quotes. This was done to highlight the number of times titillating titles are used by our more zealous brethren. Aren't they cute and fancy?6. We must root out racism in the church. The tensest moment in the discussion came after California-based church leader Samuel Rodriguez, president for the National Association of Hispanic Evangelicals, called on the group to challenge racist attitudes toward Hispanics. He warned that unless we develop a true “kingdom DNA” in our churches—by welcoming and celebrating all ethnic groups—we will not successfully impact our culture or enact biblical justice on issues such as immigration policy. Charismatic prophet Rick Joyner also challenged what he called “spiritual bigotry” that is caused by “our prideful attitude about the groups we are associated with.”Many of us don't think "immigration policy" is any of our business, since it's in Caesar's domain.
But more importantly, there is neither Hispanic nor non-hispanic in God's house. Brother Sam having an organization for a special ethnic group, while the NAE exists, is racist, divisive, and wasteful of God's resources!
How is your NAHE "welcoming and celebrating all ethnic groups"? How is it relating to blacks and orientals? How does a Native American join as a native American? How are your efforts helping to "develop a true 'kingdom DNA"?
These activities are a manifestation of our preoccupation with works (like this blog) and rooted in a desire to civilize mankind. That's neither the Way nor the mission!7. Holiness is not an option. The leaders had a lively discussion on the need for proper accountability so that leaders who have moral failures can be properly restored. Mike Bickle, founder of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Kan. decried the “greasy grace” that quickly forgives a fallen brother but does not offer tough love and discipline. “That is no grace at all,” he said. ... .Restoration is fine, if it follows biblical accountability, chastisement, and discipline! I agree with Bickle who obviously agrees with Bonhoeffer's concept of cheap grace.8. God is calling us to transform society. Several leaders, including Harry Jackson of Washington, D.C., noted that American culture—and our government—is becoming increasingly hostile to the Christian faith. He and others challenged the group to become active politically, in the current presidential contest and on every level. If we run from our calling to transform culture, we may end up in a fish’s mouth like Jonah. We must engage in a kingdom mission rather than hide behind an escapist Left Behind eschatology. Barbara Wentroble, an apostolic leader from Dallas, noted that Christians for too long have viewed politics, education and the financial realm as evil when we must see those arenas as mountains to claim for Christ.God warned us that this would happen, didn't He? But He is not calling us to "transform society"! Where is that in the Scriptures! Were're to be salt and light, yes! But in order to bring men to His throne of Grace, so that God can transform them!
We are not of this world! The things of this world are passing away, and that includes "society." My, listen to yourself!
All eight of the "prophetic directives," taken collectively, indicate a broad or general admission of a problem, several address specifics (e.g., absence of humility vs. abundance of pride; lack of fasting and prayer), several encourage direction but, on the whole, I felt they were so far from addressing the questions supposedly "on the table" that it might have been better not to waste the ink and bandwidth.
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Tuesday, December 18, 2007
MORMONS: Given enough rope they'll hang themselves ...
In this FoxNews.com report the mormon church [sic] responds to 21 doctrinal questions posed by Fox editors.
Their response to the very first question immediately causes a serious investigator to question their agenda; it is a purely defensive response ...The fact that the word cult is a well defined term, and in use for centuries, should not be ignored ...Q: Why do some call the Church a cult?
A: For the most part, this seems to stem from a lack of understanding about the Church and its core doctrines and beliefs. Under those circumstances it is too easy to label a religion or other organization that is not well-known with an inflammatory term like 'cult.' Famed scholar of religion Martin Marty has said a cult means a church you don't personally happen to like. We don't believe any organization should be subjected to a label that has come to be as pejorative as that one.1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremoniesA simple, rational, and direct answer could have been couched in terms consistent with the above.
2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult... .
6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader
By definition mormons are a cult, but no more so than Southern Baptists or Catholics. There's nothing to fear by being honest; their spin will not dispel suspicions.
It is true the historical Christian church (Catholic/Protestant) has co-opted and abused the term "cult" for its own unique usage, but that should not color an honest person's response to an honest inquiry.
The next three questions received an identical "canned" response (7 of the 21 questions were answered in this fashion) ...Q: Does the Mormon Church believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God?This is clear evidence the LDS are hiding something. If the answer to the first is to be taken as a candid answer to a legitimate question regarding the person of Jesus, the second cannot be ... it is evasive and is so for a specific reason: Jesus is divine to them in the same way they believe they will one day be divine.
Q: Does the Church believe in the divinity of Jesus?
Q: Does the Church believe that God is a physical being?
A: Mormons believe Jesus Christ is literally the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer, who died for the sins of humankind and rose from the dead on the third day with an immortal body. God, the Father, also has an immortal body.
One could imagine a response to the first question to be somewhat theologically subjective, but the second required a simple "yes" or "no," followed by a statement as to what the word "divine" means to the LDS.
Using the same answer to the third question (an abject evasion) only reinforces the conviction the LDS fear revealing real doctrine by providing a clear response to the question.
This kind of duplicity would make a reasonable man question the entire machinery of the LDS. I personally could not vote for a man who participates in such childish distortions.
Notice the one critical question (alluded to in the second through the fourth questions) is not asked, therefore not answered: did the Son of God come in the flesh?
The question regarding "gods and goddesses" should inform the reader that Mormonism (at its deepest roots) is a works (not a grace) based form of redemption ... this means they're out of the mainstream of post-reformation Christian orthodoxy.
The remainder of the questions are interesting but not as substantial as the first four. If you are a serious Christian with an earnest interest in knowing the enemy, you should click over and read the remainder for yourself.
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Wednesday, October 31, 2007
FALSE TEACHERS: Westboro Slammed to the Mat - GOOD!
The ministry of Westboro Baptist is an embarrassment to the entire Body of Christ ...The father of a fallen Marine was awarded nearly $11 million Wednesday in damages by a jury that found leaders of a fundamentalist church had invaded the family's privacy and inflicted emotional distress when they picketed the Marine's funeral.I hope they collect every penny.
The jury first awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It returned later in the afternoon with its decision to award $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress to the Marine's father, Albert Snyder of York, Pa.
Snyder sued the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church for unspecified monetary damages after members staged a demonstration at the March 2006 funeral of his son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq.
Friday, August 31, 2007
WHITEHEADS: Once they fester, they must be popped!
I've been so disturbed by the embarrassment brought about by "Christian" leaders this year and last (Christy, Tester, Haggard, Pearson, Paulks, Whites, Bynum/Weeks), that I promised myself I wouldn't go there again.
Bottom-line, what brought me here again is J. Lee Grady's piece on Pentecostalism's huge White-head! It needs to be lanced before the whole body becomes diseased ... my opinion, not his.
I subscribe to Charisma Magazine to receive Grady's online editorial called "Fire In My Bones" ... always a good, brief read; and Grady is usually a discerning and skilled Christian-writer, but not this time.
His article, There’s a Whole Lot of Shaking Going On, coming from a charismatic leader and and magazine, is not part of the solution, it's part of the problem. At its foundation it's as carnal as "Bishop" Thomas Weeks III receiving a standing ovation from his church after pummeling his wife and being released from jail.
The article is more of the same old Christian-spin and overwrought White-wash. Friends, there is forgiveness, there is self-control, and there is restoration; but there is also condemnation! It is the only thing which will cleanse the pockmarked face of Pentecostalism. Grady even goes so far as to modify Bynum's beating with the politically correct "allegedly."
In reality, Grady is telling us sin is not the problem; he's telling the injured, who lie devastated around the intersection at Avarice and Pride, that its their fault and that THEY need to be careful about how they react to these events. See the following ...Ultimately we must come to a place of humility as we face this crisis. We must admit that we too might stumble into compromise or moral failure if we held a stressful leadership position. How would you act if you had Juanita Bynum’s preaching skills, Randy White’s huge congregation or Ted Haggard’s access to the White House?I am so tired of Christian leaders telling us the stress of the calling to higher position is responsible for their transgressions I could puke! That's tantamount to saying Jehovah Jireh called me but is incapable of providing what I needed to do the job He gave me.Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.The advice offered by Grady is the same-old trinity of secular psychobabble that I'm so sick to death of ...Jude 1:24-25These very public people need to make very public demonstrations of remorse, contrition, and guilt. [Psalm 51] If the church continues to follow the world's methods of discipline the word should be removed from our lexicon.
- It’s OK to be angry.
- It’s necessary to grieve.
- It’s essential to pray rather than criticize.
On the surface there is nothing patently wrong with Grady's advice - in fact, one paragraph sounds more like the true heart of the writer ...Holy anger should boil inside us as we see how the name of Jesus is maligned and misused in today’s church. We must aggressively seek accountability and integrity at a time when we have been compromised by hyper-prosperity preaching, carnal showmanship and self-absorbed charlatans. America’s pastors should lift their voices in this hour and denounce this shameful charade before the false prophets of Jezebel completely hijack the American church. The people of God need bold prophets who are not afraid to draw lines and call down the fire of holiness from heaven.Hoorah! Amen! Preach it brother! But then he intermigles this:For those of us watching this painful drama, it’s tempting to become cynical, discouraged or judgmental.There's that setup word, "judgmental." The reader is warned, "Don't you dare take offense at what these dear brothers and sisters have done, don't you dare show your God given emotions ... for shame, you'll be worse than them."
Folks, this steals the prophetic voice from among us; it diminishes the prophetic office and those who hold it. Discipline becomes an anachronism.But godly people sometimes do ungodly things—and these scandals are a clear indication of deeper issues God wants to address. In this time of unprecedented spiritual shaking we must respond properly.There it is, the spin! The excusing of sin! The adoption of worldliness ... political correctness!
Now a setup phrase, "respond properly." In this context, a proper response would be indignation, outrage, and gnashing of teeth. But that's not what Grady is advising, is it? What in the world does properly mean to a faithful follower, when his leader has betrayed his trust? It means, "You better watch out how YOU respond; your leaders are watching you!"
Friends, the "pewsters" didn't commit these acts, the leaders did.
And this: "godly people sometimes do ungodly things" ... yes, and sometimes ungodly people do godly things. Good grief!Before you say anything negative about Randy White, Bishop Thomas Weeks, Ted Haggard or any other leader who may have disappointed you, pray for them by name and ask God to grant them His loving correction, His amazing forgiveness and His full restoration.Just speaking of their confessions is something negative ... we can't avoid it! Especially when addressing their sins. Does this mean they're "innocent until proven guilty in a court of law"? God help us! Unlike non-believers, authentic Christians (to their credit) confess their sins openly. Are we suggesting we cannot speak of their confessions because it's politically incorrect to do so?
I can just hear Isaiah, Amos, Malachi, and Jeremiah confronting the leaders of their day with their disappointment: "I'm angry and you've disappointed me, but I'll pray for you!"
Under normal circumstances, when a leader disappoints you, yes! But not when they've egregiously sinned against God and the church! Cleanse the Temple! Pentecostalism is surely sending the wrong message by leaving these apostates in power and encouraging others to imitate them. Is there no fear of the Lord among them?
Lee, your callers asked you a question, "What in the world is happening to the church?" Tell them, my brother, tell them! Sin and Satan have entered the hearts of Pentecostal leadership and are bringing her down. Period!
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DIVORCE: Paula & Randy raising the White-flag!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
CHRIST: Is it all about the image of God or the Word of God?
I know we revere the doctrine of the Imago Dei but we live by "every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" not iconic images.My question to my readers is this: What does Jesus look like? We know more about the face of the mysterious and murderous bin Laden since 9/11 than we do about the image of the Jesus we've known for 2000 years.An Aussie artist who created a controversial piece depicting Usama bin Laden morphing into Jesus Christ defended her work, calling for people to look beyond the comparison of good and evil, the News Limited of Australia reported on Thursday.
Priscilla Bracks denied she was trying offend people.
"Absolutely not, no, no,” she said in the News article. “I am not interested in being offensive. I am interested in having a discussion and asking questions about how we think about our world and what we accept and what we don't accept," she said.
There is no picture of Jesus available to man ... so how is it that we become offended by a human representation of an unknown? Besides ...BLOGGERS BLOGGING:You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.Deuteronomy 5:8Anchoress
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Sunday, August 26, 2007
DIVORCE: Paula & Randy Raising the White Flag!
Both the secular and Christian media are reporting the breakup of the Whites ... no not The Whites the popular Bluegrass/Country musical family ... the Whites, internationally renown MegaBarn co-CEOs, prosperity-gospel proclamators, who've confessed and possessed for over fifteen years.Adding a little emotional context is this ...The married duo pastoring one of the nation's biggest churches is planning for divorce.
Randy and Paula White of Without Walls International in Tampa, Fla., announced their decision to split at their Thursday evening service, shocking most congregants and bringing some to tears. [Christian Post]I agree with Duane at The Black Informant on this one ...Members of Without Walls International Church reacted with tears and a chorus of "Oh, no's" after the Whites' announcement at Thursday night's service.Randy called Paula to the podium about an hour into the service. He was somber; Paula appeared choked up. [MSNBC - Tampa Bay Online]I am a firm believer in scripture and the passage found in Numbers 32:23 is no exception: “But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.”But I'm not fool enough to think that these false teachers will just wilt and wither away without vocal condemnation! What but pride and greed can be at the heart of this continuing soap opera in the Pentecostal temple? Sadly there are few voices expressing outrage from within the tent [another here].If this continues, the good people of the excitable-side of the church will be forced to hide for shame and the Pentecostal landscape will be littered with empty MegaBarns from sea to shining sea ... and I plan to be on the sidelines cheering their demise.What I don't understand is how good decent, fairly aware people can continue to be fleeced by so many ... ssssoooooo many?What her forthcoming divorce will mean for Family Praise Center in Northwest San Antonio remains unclear. White plans to keep Tampa as her base and continue preaching there, but she's putting down some roots here. She bought a nearly $700,000 home outside Boerne earlier this month, about the same time she was giving a five-week sermon series at Family Praise Center, founded by Bishop Rick Hawkins. Increasingly, White, Hawkins, his son and the San Antonio church have developed closer links.Without Walls is more about the Whites, showmanship, arrogance, and filthy lucre than it is about the saving of souls. The sooner the wrath of God is poured out on this awful group of filchers and milchers, the better off the authentic church will be.White is a rising TV evangelist who has widespread appeal among evangelical Christians, particularly women. Her "Paula White Today" show is broadcast nationally on major networks such as CMT and BET and her Life By Design empowerment conferences, based in New York City, are spreading to cities nationwide. [My San Antonio.com]
I have no compassion on those who accept a call to teach and line their pockets in the process, ultimately ending in personal disaster and bringing public reproach up on the cause of Christ.
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