We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum. A.W. Tozer
Therefore let God-inspired Scripture decide between us; and on whichever side be found doctrines in harmony with the word of God, in favor of that side will be cast the vote of truth. --Basil of Caesarea
Once you learn to discern, there's no going back. You will begin to spot the lie everywhere it appears.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service. 1 Timothy 1:12

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Random Apostasies and Heresies


To start off this week I just have to show you one of the most bizarre “Christian” ceremonies I’ve ever seen.  Ken Silva first just posted the video and titled it, “Christian Ordination or Really Bad Off-Broadway Musical.”  At that time he didn’t have a context.  However, a couple days later he posted an article at Apprising Ministries with the whole context, as well as posting the video again.  So I will only link you to the second post.  One of my questions while watching the video was, “This stuff is supposed to be tongues?!?!?!”  My other main question was, “Where do these people come up with this stuff!?!?!”  Well, when it originates with Oral Roberts, anything goes.

As a follow-up to last week’s information about Passion 2013, I must point you to Elizabeth Prata’s report about the subject of slavery raised at the conference.  “Let's pray that the more kids than not, released back to home churches after Passion 2013, learn who the real slaves are: themselves, to Christ, and their unsaved community members, to satan.”

Herescope has an excellent article about the importance of events such as Passion 2013, and how they are indoctrinating our young people into the whole “Latter Rain” and NAR aberrational beliefs.

Do you remember from my last report that one of the problems with Passion 2013 was the appearance and endorsement of the heretical/aberrational “ministry” of Jesus CultureThis video demonstrates some of the occultic ideas they profess, including getting an imparting of the Spirit from dead people - they pray to “release the anointing of God” from the corpse of a dead man. They claim to know that God is healing someone as they speak - not just once, but at least twice in the video.  This group is dangerous to non-discerning Christians; and they are “more dangerous than bad politics.”  And don’t forget that they are a ministry of Bill Johnson’s church, which, again, demonstrates the nature of the false teaching HE propagates.

While on the subject of Bill Johnson, Ken Silva has an article demonstrating some of the problems with Johnson, and the good point that any spiritual experiences Johnson and his cronies are claiming do not come from the Holy Spirit.  In fact, the video with the article, showing Johnson’s buddy Todd Bentley at “work,” should prove to everyone that what Bentley has behind his teachings is nothing less than demonic!

Speaking of fake churches (like the Episcopal Church has become), Neil Simpson has an excellent example of what a fake church looks like.  His perfect example is those under the leadership of goat-herd Chuck Currie.  The man is not a Christian by any meaning of the word, yet apparently he gets the attention of the media.

One of the blogs I follow linked to an old book review by Tim Challies.  The review is about Warren Smith’s “Deceived On Purpose,” a book I purchased and read six years ago (I write the year I got a book on the inside cover).  The book examines the false teachings of Rick Warren.  If you don’t have time for the book, Challies’ review will give you a good look at it.

Of course, now that I’ve broached the subject of Rick Warren I have to mention his interview with Oprah Winfrey.  Now, Oprah Winfrey is one of the most spiritually-dangerous people to listen to, so the mere fact that Warren appears on her show gives her credibility, allowing even more people to be mislead by her new age teachings.  Apprising Ministries has two good posts about this show with Warren, showing that Warren’s teachings are unbiblical.  First, we have a clip with Warren giving some unbiblical psychobabble advice.  
Then there is a clip with Warren’s unbiblical idea that God intentionally gives everyone flaws so as to make us “unique.”  Wow, tell that to someone born without limbs, and that is sure to make him see God as loving.  Scripture teaches us that what flaws we have, including genetic defects, are due to sin being in the world.  Of course, if you’ve read Warren’s Purpose-Driven Life, you will know that he teaches that God decided what you will look like, what parents you will be born to, what time period you will be born into, and even what you will be saying at this very moment.  That makes God into a puppeteer with a pre-programmed robots, which would mean He also programmed into you every sin you will ever commit.  Can anyone show me this from Scripture?

Another United Methodist goat-herd is promoting same-sex fake marriage.  Apparently she has been very pro-homosexual for a long time, and yet the UMC has still not defrocked her.  The UMC continues to proclaim that same-sex unions are not compatible with their doctrine, but they don’t excommunicate any of their “pastors” who promote them!

There has been a lot of brouhaha over Louie Giglio’s withdrawal from being at President Obama’s inauguration, and how Christians just aren’t welcome (the first articles I saw stated that he had been asked to withdraw, but that has been later proven to be wrong).  I’ve seen articles by Christians making him out to be a virtual martyr for the Christian cause.  Well, since I recognized his name from lists of people involved with the “Passion” conferences, I already had a bad attitude about him, so the fact that he had even been invited to do Obama’s benediction was just another strike against him in my mind. You need to read Ken Silva’s article about why Giglio is not to be admired.

And since I’m sending you to Ken’s blog, I may as well do it one last time in this report, by directing you to an article which demonstrates how Steven Furtick is sliding farther and farther into the heretical world of the Word of Faith movement.  Personally, I just don’t understand why anyone is drawn to Furtick as a teacher.

For readers who are not familiar with the International House of Prayer (which I have occasionally reported on), once you’ve read this post at An Unknown Berean’s Blog, you should have a pretty good idea as to why this group needs to be avoided like the plague!

Lastly, many people see Tim Keller as a great man of faith, and an excellent teacher to follow.  While I have to admit that Keller has some good teachings, I have previously posted about his theistic evolutionist beliefs. It shouldn’t surprise me, then, when I came across this video in which Keller, in no uncertain terms, has decided that if the Bible and “science” seem to conflict, we should rely on science.  Of course this is why he is a theistic evolutionist.

1 comment:

ali said...

Forget trying to keep up with the news around the world. Just keeping abreast of what is going on in the "christian" world is enough to keep one busy.

2013 promises to be a very exciting year - for many reasons.
We the remnant must be prepared and discern the signs of the times in both.

"Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught." Proverbs 3:25-26