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, June 7, 2014

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

This week I’ve read lots of things about Roman Catholicism, so I’ll start with those articles, which you should find of interest.

Elizabeth Prata has an excellent article examining some of the teachings about Mary.

Then the Pope himself posted a “tweet” about being able to “turn to the Mother of God and find protection and care.”  I really would like to see where they find this nonsense in the Bible.

Quite a while back one of my RA&H articles linked to an article about Roman Catholic Womenpriests, a liberal feminist movement to ordain Catholic women.  Of course they do not do it with the sanction of Rome.  The movement is still going strong.

Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry had four articles about Romanist teachings:

1.  Salvation by works.

2.  The Gospel according to Rome.

3.  Responding to the question about whether Catholics are Christian.

4.  The Catholic view of the god of Islam.

In addition to articles about Romanism, CARM also had a synopsis of the basic  teachings of Mormonism.

Another cult I learned something new about this week is the Jehovah’s Witness.  I was reading the weekly email from Midwest Christian Outreach and there was a report about a meeting with a JW.  The author gave an example of part of the conversation:
She mentioned she believed Jesus is HER (personal) mediator just as the Bible teaches. I said I agree w/her! but then I showed her pg.10 of the WT book Worldwide Security Under the Prince of Peace in which the WT teaches:
"Jesus Christ, is not the Mediator between Jehovah God and all mankind. He is the Mediator between his heavenly Father, Jehovah God, and the nation of spiritual Israel, which is limited to only 144,000 members."

Mind you, this is a citation from an official JW publication!  I had never read this before - had never known that they saw Jesus as the mediator for ONLY the 144,000.  And yet this cult claims to be Christian!!

Another really false teacher is Todd Bentley.  Not only is he a false teacher, but he is dangerous to peoples’ physical well-being because he likes to kick and punch them for “healing.”  Pastor Justin Peters confronted Bentley this week; read this report to see what happened.  (Hint - false teachers don’t like to be confronted.)

More on the “bridal eschatology” of the International House of Prayer.  This cult actively seeks the youth, so be very careful to protect the young people you know from this self-centered and perverse false teaching which leads to arrogance on behalf of those at IHOP.

5 comments:

Neil said...

Great roundup, as usual.

Re. Mary -- I like to point out how she is mentioned once in Acts, and only because she is in the room. No references in the spread of the early church, in Romans, 1 Cor., 2 Cor., etc. Zero. Yet they make her divine! Blasphemy. And it only works because they don't study the Bible.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

There you go bringing in the Bible again. What are we going to do with you!!! :oD

ali said...

Each time I read RA, I see more and more the need for prayer. Thanks Glenn for your superior research and insight.

Anonymous said...

The RC woman priest movement - totally news to me. Never heard of that one.

Turning to Mary for *anything*... No way. What idolatry!

IHOP has some seriously twisted theology.

-Carolyn

Anonymous said...

Thank-you for posting the IHOP link as this movement has consumed many churches. I, personally left a church, no, ran as fast and as far as I could, from this spiritually, verbally, and emotionally abusive movement. The attendees/worshippers of this false move of God will have you believe they are the only who truly love Jesus and are the only ones "hearing from God, the Holy Spirit." And the real danger is this....they will have you believe that you need them to intercede on your behalf as they know God so much better than you do, for they are the true "anointed."

Many in that former "lying signs and wonders" church consider me either "backslidden" or "unsaved" as told to me by several "spiritually anointed" women that called my home upon leaving. A funny things has happened on the way to our Sunday morning forums.....when experience, feelings, and emotions have more truth in them than the very Word of God, well then, you have submitted to the very essence of the IHOP movement.

Please keep your children away from this cult, for the sake of their faith in Christ alone.