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

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Random Apostasies and Heresies


Apostate and heretical teachings seem to never end; there is alway something new with which we are tempted to leave the true faith for a false one.  Pastors and teachers are always toying with the ways of the world so as to draw more people to attend their assemblies, regardless how it waters down the Gospel.

Lighthouse Trails Research ministry gives a warning about John Ortberg’s book, Fully Devoted.  It isn’t something you should be reading if you are looking for the truth, nor are his other books.  Ortberg promotes al the contemplative stuff which is the rage now.

Oh, and here we go again with new Bible versions!!  As if we don’t have enough, charismaniacs have developed the “Modern English Version,” which appears to be nothing more than the KJV cleaned up of 1611 language.  It will be coming out next year, so they say.  But look at where its promotion comes from - the site of Sam Stoms. [link gone by 9/23/20] The advertisement for his book, The Singing God, should make any Berean cringe:
God loves you—with all your faults and failures, with all the secret sins no one else knows about. In fact, He rejoices over you so much that He breaks out in inexpressible joy and song as He thinks about you.”  Oh, really?  God just gets all giddy about me?  I don’t think this guy really understands the holiness of God.

This isn’t the only new Bible making the news, though.  Get ready for “Genesis Deflowered,” a “Bible” with lots of sex scenes so we can see in the Bible that “people actually have sexual experiences that they like, and they’re also spiritual people.
Ahhh, Satan is having so much fun distorting and abusing God’s Word nowadays.

I’ve previously done a short review and posted some citations from Keith Gibson’s book, Wandering Stars.  This past couple of weeks The Berean Call has interviewed Gibson while discussing the book.  TBC has the transcripts for quick reading, with part one here, and part two here.

I found an excellent site addressing the lies and logic fallacies of the KJV only crowd.  This site has so many articles with excellent research demonstrating that the KJV only idea is total nonsense with no factual support behind it.  Just this one page will give you links to a large number of the articles completed by the time it was posted, and if you go to the home page you will be able to look over more recent ones.  I did a lot of skimming around through dozens of article and have found this place to be a wealth of information for countering the KJVO cultists.

Another cultic and legalistic idea is the Hebrew Roots Movement.  I have briefly mentioned this ideology in past articles, and have recommended this site as a place to go for information exposing the aberrant nature of this movement.  This week they posted a thought-provoking article about whether or not those in the HRM are lost. [9/2/13 update.  It has been brought to my attention via a comment below that the author of this site recommends teachers in the WOF cult; so while I find her reports on the HRM to be good, I can't recommend teachers she supports.]

The Mennonites supposedly have a reputation for being quite fundamental, if not even legalistic, in much of their doctrine; there are quite a few in my neck of the woods.  Which is why I found it surprising to learn that a Canadian seminary is bringing in Lectio Divina.  I guess fads have to be taken up by everyone nowadays.

Hey Pope Francis, can’t you control those guys leading your churches?  Aren’t you supposed to be in contact with God?  Aren’t you responsible for making sure your priests are following Romanist teachings?  So why am I always reading about another rogue priest or bishop violating Christian, let alone Romanist, teachings and yet not being defrocked? Now we have a Mexican bishop who is way off base with his teachings on homosexuality.  I agree with him that it isn’t a mental illness, since there is no such thing as a mental illness, but to tell a woman that she can condemn herself “because your child was formed that way in your own womb” is a bit bizarre.  Bishop Lopez has even affiliated his diocese with a “group that openly promoted the homosexual lifestyle” and saying that he was their spiritual guide.

And the Presbyterian Church slides more and more into the devil’s playground as they ordained their first openly “gay” minister.  Talk about thumbing one’s nose at God!

Finally, I have some great articles to point you towards in regards to the Mormon cult.  Two were on Mormon Coffee, the blog of Mormonism Research Ministry.
The first one discusses the honesty of Joseph Smith.  I think you’ll find plenty of information to demonstrate the the LDS missionary at the door that Smith had very little honesty.

The second article gives a good example of how the Mormons dodge teachings which they don’t want to discuss - “that isn’t official.”  Well, with the LDS, determining what is official is like trying to make Jello stick to the wall.  It’s official sometimes, but then it isn’t, but then it is, but then it isn’t. 

Janis Hutchinson has an excellent article which is part of a series refuting claims of the Book of Mormon and the LDS themselves in regards to who the white Indians of South America are.  Even if you aren’t interested in the LDS, this article has some fascinating history!

15 comments:

Steve Bricker said...

Sam Storms seems to be wandering the same wrong direction as others who are trying to instill greater commitment into believers by packaging the Lord in ways appealing to the emotions, rather than proclaiming the truth as presented in his word.

And speaking of Mormons, I just posted on my blog an LDS apostle's quote that I had also heard almost verbatim from an Evangelical.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Yes, I saw that citation when I looked at your FB share of the post. (I checked my FB before my emails). Too often LDS quotes sound too good and too much like real Christian stuff, but that's primarily because except for the LDS no one knows the definitions behind the words they use.

Anonymous said...

Glenn that site that exposes the Hebrew Roots movement, the woman who heads it up does not support solid teachers. Have seen an "OK" to her followers on facebook to Joseph Prince. As a result of the exposes on Hebrew Roots its seems she has veered FAR into the opposite, which is greasy (cheap) grace. Have interacted with her via email, she is very nice, and was very honest that she supports a guy by the name of Rob Rufus who is a big Bill Johnson supporter (that is what she herself told me). I personally do not think she has bad intentions with her blog, I think she has some solid arguements against the Hebrew Roots movement, but her endorsements are questionable.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Sarah,

Wow! Thanks for that information.

I have found her reports on the HRM to be quite well done, all being in agreement with reports I've read from solid apologetics ministries. I like the site because she seems to keep up with the movement and its latest happenings.

I guess I will have to give a caveat about this site!

Anonymous said...

To my readers:
As with my comment policy, I could not post this comment with the links it included, and since blogger does not permit editing of the comment before posting, I have post it in this fashion.


Steve Finnell has left a new comment on your post "Random Apostasies and Heresies":

HERESY CHECK !
There are only two kinds of doctrine taught in contemporary churches.

1. Man-made doctrine, which is heresy. (Mark 7:1-9-13... 9 And He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.....13"making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.)

Man-made doctrine is found in catechisms, creed books, and church statements of faith.

2.The word of truth, which is God's word. (1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.)

The word of God is found in the Bible and the Bible alone.

Some believers proclaim that in order to be saved, men must go to a mourners bench, repent and pray until you feel saved. Still other believers assert that men need to go to a so-called altar, in front of the church building, and pray a sinner's prayer in order to be saved. There are those that believe salvation comes from simply saying a sinners prayer, and having a repentant heart. Is this heresy or truth? Where are the Scriptures to support these doctrines? There are no Scriptures, there are only handed down traditions of men

Jesus said, Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Was Jesus a heretic for saying "Is baptized will be saved?" Or was Jesus speaking the word of God?

The apostle Peter said, 1 Peter 3:20-21....were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Was the apostle Peter a heretic for saying, "Which now saves you, namely baptism?" Or was Peter speaking the word of God?

Ananias said, Acts 22:16 'And why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'

Was Ananias a heretic for saying, "Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins?" Or was Ananias speaking the word of God?

The apostle Paul said, Ephesians 5:25-27 ...just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, 26 that He might sanctify and cleans it with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Was the apostle Paul a heretic for saying. "sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word?" Or was Paul speaking the word of God?

The apostle Peter said, Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Was the apostle Peter a heretic for saying, " Be baptized for the forgiveness of sins?" Or was Peter speaking the word of God?

There are only two choices. 1. Man-made doctrine, or 2. The word of God.

(All Scripture from: NEW KING JAMES VERSION)

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Steve,
HERESY CHECK!
Baptism is what the Christians do because they have become Christians by being justified by faith in Christ; it is an outward, public sign of the person’s confession. There is nothing about baptism that saves a person who has not placed their faith in the atoning work of Christ. One is forced to ask why Christ never baptized anyone, and why Paul baptized only a few, if baptism was required for salvation? Faith in Christ alone is what saves us from sin (John 3:16, 36; John 5:24; John 6:47; John 20:31; Acts 16:31; Rom. 1:16; Rom. 3:22,25; Rom. 10:9; Tit. 3:5; Eph. 2:8-9, 16; et al).

The passages you cite out of context to "prove" baptism is required have been addressed by many, many solid theologians and apologists.

All the cults and Roman Catholicism demand the work of baptism for salvation. The Bible does not. If a person became a believer and did not have a chance to be baptized, he would still be save.

Christian Ease said...

We know the thief on the cross that believed was saved.

ali said...

God loves you—with all your faults and failures, with all the secret sins no one else knows about. In fact, He rejoices over you so much that He breaks out in inexpressible joy and song as He thinks about you.

How many times have I heard this before. Even as a young believer in the LORD, I wondered about this one. How many others follow and swallow rather than ponder, question and pray.??.

Anonymous said...

Hi Glenn,

I agree, the Hebrew Roots movement deviates from the truth, it's Galatianism. But I do believe there are, as was said, both true believers and unbelievers in that movement. I pray the true believers will separate, and walk correctly in their freedom in Christ.

The Genesis Deflowered "bible" (lower case b intentional) is nothing short of absolutely revolting. Frankly I'm sick of all the immorality being paraded through the church... let alone our culture.

The church used to be a respite from the world. Not so much these days, if it's not immorality, it's as you said above DJs, fads, etc. Adding to that the factions (name-followers, KJVO, etc), and there is so much division and disunity amongst believers today it is heartbreaking.

I know these are all signs of the times, but that doesn't mean they aren't disheartening. Excepting that when you see these things come to pass... look up!

-carolyn

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Carolyn,

Of course there are true believers in the HRM. Just like there are some true believers in Roman Catholicism and the SDA.

But these are true believers IN SPITE OF the teachings of the church they attend.

Anonymous said...

Hi Glenn, so sorry, it looked like I was disagreeing by my use of "but", which on second thought should have been an "and"... as in "And I do believe there are, as was said, both true believers... in that movement".

Sorry, my communication skills occasionally lack. That and sometimes my brain says something but my fingers type another, and I don't process it.

So regarding Heb Roots, I am in full agreement with you, and also with your statement that those in the movement who are saved, are saved in spite of the teachings of their errant church, just as there are some truly saved in RC and SDA.

Thanks again,
-carolyn

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Oh, no, You made it clear that you believe there are true believers in the HRM. I was just re-inforcing your statement!

Anonymous said...

Glenn,

HAHA, not only are my communication skills apparently lacking, but also my reading comprehension.

I think I'm having a day. Potentially a week (or more, it seems, these days).

Anyhow, carry on brother, carry on.

-carolyn

Ron Livesay said...

Glenn:

I have read some of the stuff Steve Finnell has put on his blog. He pretty much plays a one-string violin - "You have to be baptized in water to be saved." It is interesting that he thinks it is wrong to use commentaries or any other writings of men, but it is somehow OK to read his blog.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Ron,

Yeah, I've actually run across quite a few of his type - "Commentaries are all wrong, but read my blog." They crack me up ever time.