Random Apostasies and Heresies

Things have been collecting because I spent a few days at the St. Louis Conference on Biblical Discernment.  This biennial event was as good as ever, and I learned lots of good stuff!  Teaching discernment is what my blog is about, especially with these random clips of some of the sometimes more subtle errors affecting the Church today.  Hold on to your hats, because there are some weird things exposed below.

Sunday, April 8th, Christians around the world celebrated the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.  Unfortunately, many “church” assemblies chose to worshiping something else, as you will see in the following examples:

1.  Bill Gothard had a new twist by sending out a mass mailing asking his followers to “Let’s Celebrate Easter...by Doing the Impossible.”  The letter is typical Gothardism abuse of Scripture promoting his aberrant views, without even a hint of what Easter was about, other than to give us “resurrection power” to “do the impossible.”

2.  Beavercreek, Ohio (a Dayton suburb) Church of the Nazarene had a very bizarre “dance” [link gone by 12/15/16] on stage as part of their Easter service.  I agree with The Museum of Idolatry that this dance has nothing to do with the Resurrection, and at times is even quite sensual for a church service.

Okay, moving on from Easter, a new fad spreading more and more is the idea of “Chrislam,” a clear violation of 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.  I found a report this week to be disturbing:

Now the End Begins appears to be a bit aberrant with some of their ideas (KJV only, e.g.) and, with their emphasis on prophecy, I wonder if there is a connection to Seventh-day Adventism.  However, I think their article about Chrislam is pretty accurate.  I noticed in their list of churches involved in sponsoring Chrislam services is one near me in Iowa City, and where I even played for a funeral.  Be discerning on this site if you choose to look over it.

With Mitt Romney in the news, more and more goatherds are showing their ignorance of the LDS faith.  Rick Warren, promoter of Islam, ecumenicism, and other false teachings, thinks the main problem with Mormonism their view of the Trinity. [link gone by 12/15/16]  HELLO!!!  They could accept the Trinity but as long as their God and Jesus are not the God and Jesus of the Bible, believing the Trinity would still be a “sticking” point.  And there is one heck of a lot more than this which makes a “fundamental difference” between LDS and true Christianity.  Then Richard Mouw, the president of the very liberal Fuller Theological Seminary, claims that he’s studied cults and therefore knows that the LDS isn’t a cult.  Of course his reasoning is that cults don’t have world-class universities.  HUH?!?!  So according to Mouw, as long as the LDS has a great university, it doesn’t matter that their theology is everywhere contradictory of true Christianity.  Another reason not to trust any graduate of Fuller to be a teacher worth listening to.

I’m learning more and more about Emergent heretic Steven Furtick.  As with other false teachers, not only does he totally abuse Scripture, he also claims to hear directly from God.  And yet James MacDonald still supports him (as he still does T.D. Jakes).

Emergent heretics are now going after our children.  A conference is coming up next month to train children and youth in a “new kind of Christianity.”  Those who send their children there should first read what Christ has to say about causing children to stumble (Matt. 18:6).  The “old kind” of Christianity is what Jesus started; we don’t need a “new” kind.

You just have to love false teacher Richard Foster; he says the Bible is still a reliable guide even though it has many “inconsistencies.”  Of course Foster just seeks his “inner light” for determining the accuracy of the Word.

We have a new Bible translation coming off the presses, this one called “The Voice.”  

It was previously out only as a New Testament in 2008, but now it’s available as a complete “Bible.”  Steve Bricker makes a short comparison between The Voice and the ESV translation at Titus 3:1-11, and just that comparison should be a warning bell going off in anyone’s head.  Other reports I read this past week were from Erin over at Do Not Be Surprised (who also points out the heretics on the writing team) and The Blaze. [link gone by 12/15/16]  There is really no need for any new English translations of the Bible.  Despite the claim from those promoting The Voice, who claim the Bible is difficult to read and therefore they are solving the problem, there are numerous easy translations of the Bible available, including the formal English Standard Version, and the less formal Holman Christian Standard Bible, the New International Version and the New Living Translation.  Going more dynamic is God’s Word translation, as well as the old Today’s English Version (Good News Bible).  None of these are as paraphrased as is The Voice.  The only reason for a new translation is to push a particular agenda.  Leave this mine in the minefield.

Multi-site churches have become a rage, but they cannot possibly be good for shepherding the flock since the shepherd can’t know his sheep.  The very idea of preaching from one site and broadcasting to numerous other sites to super-large followings reeks of egotism and entertainment-orientation.  Erin has posted an interesting article about this subject.

Another article from Erin exposes Ed Young, Jr and his continued reliance upon gimmicks for church attendance.  This time he’s holding a “pet service,” and he wants it to be the “largest pet service in the history of Christianity.”  I have no doubt that it will be. But what has that got to do with the purpose of the church?  For those who see nothing wrong with this, I suggest you read my article, “What is ‘Church’ For?”

Lastly, Sola Sisters posted an excellent commentary about some problems with Ann Voskamp’s book, “One Thousand Gifts.”  Short answer, the book is just another mine in the Christian book store minefields.  Leave it there.