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

Monday, August 4, 2014

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

Well, I’m a bit behind in my work.  We celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary last week and took a few days away to relax and have some fun.  So now it’s time to catch up with the news of things aberrant, apostate, and heretical in the realm of the Christian faith.

A followup on an article from my last “Random” post on the book, “Healing Oils of the Bible.”  The book has some solidly unbiblical claims.

Roman Catholics continue to surprise me with their unbiblical ideologies.  Here we have a priest who failed at an exorcism and now receives text messages from the demon!  If you believe that, then I have a bridge I’ll sell you.

Of course, Roman Catholics should have problems with exorcism - their teachings are corrupt and have no power over Satan.  The corruption in that church includes the whole idea of socialism, condemning what the Pope sees as “inequality.”

The Cripplegate had an excellent article about the gift of tongues.

Mark Driscoll is in the news again.  Ex-members of Driscoll’s church want Driscoll to know that they are NOT anonymous as he claims, and they want to expose what kind of “pastor” Driscoll actually is.  They have even acquired and released a vulgar message from Driscoll, which he has removed from his site.  I’ve said many times that Driscoll is not qualified to be an elder in the Church.

Three years ago I reported on the first volume of Bill Gothard’s Character Sketches, and how bizarre the teachings are with the way it twists Scripture.  Recovering Grace has a good article about the same volume, and more.  Essentially, Gothard reads his own agenda into every Bible story.

I have really liked the movies put out by Kendrick Brothers.  I have Flywheel, Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and Courageous.  While all of them bother me a bit when they have God resolving every problem, Courageous bothered me the most with some of it’s unbiblical “patriarchy” teachings.  Overall I think they have some good messages about living a Christ-focused life.  Fireproof is my favorite.  Well, now I’m disappointed in their newest adventure with a movie about prayer; it seems they decided to consult with Beth Moore and Priscilla Shirer, both who are promoters of contemplative prayer.  These women should never be used for consulting about prayer — or theology in general!  And yet Shirer apparently has a major part in the film, while Moore appears in a cameo — but she has already made a de facto prophetic claim:  God waits to see a generation that will take Him at His Word.”  The plot, as described in the article Lighthouse Trails links to, includes the idea of a “secret prayer room” — as if God needs us to have one?  Just the fact that Shirer and Moore are going to be in the movie will keep me from seeing it.

Hip and Thigh has some good responses to KJV Only types.

Finally, Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry has an article examining the false teachings in the book, “The Shack.”  Just a good reminder for when the movie comes out.

13 comments:

Anitameg said...

Just found your blog. Love the title!

Most people I know hate bagpipes, but I have Scots ancestors on both sides of my family, both sets of grandparents and a mother born in Linlithgow. My Dad loved bagpipes and I must have inherited that.

Are they hard to learn? It looks very complicated!

I bet you watch the New Years Edinburgh Military Tattoo every year! It was a tradition in our house.

Anyway, looks like your blog has some good reading. Will come back and visit. If I could work out how to 'like' your blog via wordpress I would.

Kind thoughts,

Anita

Anonymous said...

Hi Glenn,

First, Happy Anniversary to you and Jill!

Glad you posted Sola Sisters follow up on essential oils, that is an excellent article.

Frankly MD needs to step down and never be a pastor or elder again. Like you said, Glenn, he is not - and never was - qualified according to 1 Tim and Titus.

:( About the Kendrick Brothers new movie. We have the first three of their movies, and enjoyed each one, Flywheel the most. Hence we are very disappointed to hear that Shirer and Moore are in the new movie. My husband said, "if the new movie is about the power of prayer, those {Shirer and Moore] are two dangerous teachers to have in the film". We're with you, we won't be seeing this new film, either. We never saw Courageous either, but did not know it contained 'patriarchy' teaching. How did they bring that false teaching into the movie?

The most logical response to KJVO is simple: God does not require people to learn a 400+ year old dialect to read and understand His word. KJVOs, like Rome did during the Reformation era, do not provide the Word of God in the common language of the people. It's a form of control, and spiritual elitism. To boot, loyalty to one Bible version can border on idolatry.

-Carolyn

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Hi Anita,

I began lessons on the bagpipes in Jan 1983 because I've always liked the sound of them. In 2006 I learned of Scots heritage - my great-great-great-great-grandparents came over from Scotland in 1830.

i don't think they are any more difficult to learn than any other instrument - I don't play anything else. I've seen two of the Edinburgh Tattoos - on video.

Welcome to my blog!

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Hi Carolyn,

We have all four of the movies. Courageous is a good story, with good acting, so it is worth seeing. Here's my review of it, which may help you understand about the "patriarchy" movement things in it:
http://watchmansbagpipes.blogspot.com/2011/09/courageous-movie.html

Anonymous said...

Hi Glenn,

Thanks for the link explaining the patriarchy elements in Courageous. I agree with your assessment of that aberrant movement.

-Carolyn

Anonymous said...

Hi Glenn,
Big & best congratulations to you & your wife on 38 years of marriage ~~ YAY!! (: May God Bless you both, abundantly, lavishly, all the days of your lives.

Many thanks for all your articles & research. You help us sheep (speaking certainly for myself) to spot heresies bubbling up inside the Church. And equally as important, help us to know how to discern false teachings. God Bless, and thank you abundantly. ~Brenda

Anonymous said...

More MD news:

http://www.acts29network.org/acts-29-blog/a-message-from-the-board-of-acts-29-concerning-mark-driscoll-and-mars-hill-church/

It's a good start...

-Carolyn

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Yep, I saw that. Glad to see it, too.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Brenda,

We have been blessed exceedingly in so many ways.

Thank you for you kind words. :o)

I sort like to think of myself as a sheepdog. The sheepdog warns the shepherd and the flock of the wolves.

Anonymous said...

Glenn,

I also saw on the Christian Post online, that most of MDs books were pulled off the shelves by LifeWay, excepting books that he contributed to, but did not author directly.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/lifeway-pulls-mark-driscolls-books-from-stores-website-124610/

You - along with others - have been saying for years that MD is not fit for leadership and is not a Biblically qualified teacher or pastor. I pray this is the beginning of the church at large finally coming to this realization.

-Carolyn

Anonymous said...

And the beat goes on...sadly after finally pitching MD, Matt Chandler of Acts29 embraced false teacher Ann Voskamp.

I read a link on this days ago, but forgot where I found it. But Erin Benziger found a source (his twitter account) saying the same thing:

https://twitter.com/MattChandler74/status/499363611471392768

-Carolyn

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Yep, I saw that, and it will be on my next random post.

I follow Erin's blog, even though she is a TULIPer :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Glenn,

I know you follow Erin's blog. :)

I'm just astonished, when it seems like perhaps some leaders are finally taking one step forward (pitch Driscoll), they turn around and take two huge steps back (embrace Voskamp).

For the record, I've not been keen on Chandler or A29 for years. Nonetheless, I was hoping pitching Driscoll was an encouraging sign, but I guess now my token enthusiasm in the matter is necessarily short lived.

-Carolyn