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

Friday, January 3, 2014

Random Apostasies and Heresies

I decided since we are now in a new year, my first post of the year should be a report on “Random” things.  Watch out for these wolves eating the sheep.

How about a quick look at one of Mormonism’s more bizarre teachings - that Jesus was  born from sexual intercourse between Mary and “God.”  This was a big problem for me as a Mormon when I first learned of it.  The whole idea of Mary not being a virgin when Jesus was born didn’t make sense to me, but I was told that Jesus was a virgin to “mortal man” while “God” was an “immortal man.”  My response was that it didn’t matter who she had sex with, if she had sex to have a baby, then she wasn’t a virgin and the Bible would be lying!  And that is what started me on my studies of the LDS history which, after about 18 months, led me to denounce the Mormon faith.  What is amusing to me is how the LDS now tries to downplay this teaching, and I have even been told by LDS missionaries that the church didn’t teach it.

More on Sarah Young’s book, “Jesus Calling” comes from the Lighthouse Trails Research ministry, as they tell you “10 Things You Might Not Know” about the book.  For LTR’s first post of the year they give some details about specific false teachings about Abraham.
And yet there are Christian people out there, especially women, who are fighting tooth and nail against anyone who dares to call Young a false teacher.

A young missionary we know, who is serving in Mexico, has been grieving about many of the Christian youth down there heading for a conference this week put on by IHOP.  She has a family member in Iowa who is wrapped up with this cultic group, so it is very personal for her.

Why is it that so many Christian teachers think we have to have “Bible” studies based on movies?  I learned a couple weeks ago about “The Harry Potter Bible Study,” and just shook my head over what I consider the stupidity of such “studies.”  My comment on the post reporting it was as follows:
So the author wants you to waste precious time watching four movies about occultic practices so that we can then learn how to interact “redemptively” within our culture?!?!?
I understand that the author does raise some valid questions about learning discernment, and such, but how about we not call his book a “Bible Study,” because it certainly isn’t.
I’m a firm believer in the adage, “what you win them with is what you win them too.” I will never feel the need to use a movie to teach biblical truths. I think the whole idea is about as wrong-headed as it gets.

If you have encounters with Jehovah’s Witnesses, you might find the article, “A Twisted View Of God With A Jehovah’s Witness Elder,” to be enlightening.

The United Methodist Church continues to have perversion within the ranks of their “pastors” because they don’t take a firm stance on such sin.  Oh, sure, they de-frocked a minister recently, but they didn’t excommunicate him.  So what is going to happen with these two lesbian ministers who “married”?  The UMC started down this road long ago when they allow women to be “pastors” contrary to solid biblical teaching.  Every church which does this soon becomes another liberal, left-leaning house of apostasy.

Surprisingly, there are Mennonite churches who ordain women as “pastors,” and this week we have another example of the turn to apostasy when they did this - the Mennonite Church USA has just ordained a lesbian “pastor.

And speaking about homosexuality, I was surprised to learn that the Vatican has hired pro-homosexual corporations as advisors!!!

Lastly, the news about Utah’s anti-polygamy law being struck down by a Federal Court was just as many of us have said about the slippery slope of same-sex fake marriage, especially since the court used that in the argument.  Well, it wasn’t long before an Episcopal priest cheered the ruling!  Another example of a denomination which put women in then pastoral role going quickly down the path of perversion.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Glenn,

Oh my, Chan embracing Bickle... I wish I could say I am surprised, but sadly I am not.

Hillsong - just another example of the market philosophy and why it produces nothing but rotten fruit.

Utah's polygamy - again, I wish I could say I am surprised, but I am not. It was the next expected step after redefining marriage.

Thanks for keeping us up to date and aware, so we can be protected, and warn our believing friends.

-Carolyn

Anonymous said...

Thank you for all you do Glenn, in warning us of what's happening in the so-called 'church'. Many walk around with their eyes closed to what is really happening. May God bless.
Louise Moore

Anonymous said...

The problem with the UM and Episcopal churches is that they reject scriptural authority. It is quite possible for someone to respect scripture and yet disagree with the way it is misused to silence women; it is possible for teachers to silence women to the pleasure of those who call themselves orthodox, and yet depart completely from scriptural authority -as did Joseph Smith and Charles Taze Russell. In rejecting scriptures which run counter to the silencing of women, how do you justify that to yourself? Do you reject those scriptures that say that there is no male nor female as regards our station in Christ, or do you try to figure out how they fit? If you simply throw them out you are in the same danger as those you condemn.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Anonymous,

There are no Scriptures which run counter to the "silencing of women." What you have is those who practice poor hermeneutics.

Gal. 3:28 is about everyone, regardless of race, color, creed, or gender, are all the same in regards to salvation. Look at the context; just prior to that passage Paul says we have all clothed ourselves with Christ (all believers, that is), and we all belong to Christ no matter who we are. It says nothing about individual roles given to men and women.

Other places in Scripture define the different roles of man and woman in marriage, and women are NOT to be in leadership roles in the assembly - i.e., they are not to be pastors or elders.

The issue of remaining silent in the church is much more nuanced than people want to accept. First, contrary to many claims, this is not just a cultural issue, because Paul makes his teaching in regards to the creative order - and that has nothing to do with culture. In 1 Cor. the issue is primarily directed at women entering in the discussion over teachings, which is why Paul tells them to save it for discussion with their husbands at home - otherwise it would appear as if the wife is usurping the husband's authority. There is much debate as to whether it is just limited to wives or to women in general.

There is actually much more to it, but space is limited in the comment section.

I think I'll post a short study I did a few years ago, demonstrating the proper exegesis of the passage.

Remember, the equality of men and women does not include roles; men and women have different roles not only in the church, but also in marriage.

00BoBeaux said...

Thank you for your discernment and knowing that it matters and caring enough to stand up and warn HIS people