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

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

I have many articles I want to write (a topic list with some references sits on my desk) but I am just busy with so many things lately that I’m resorting to posting some great quotations for provoking the thoughts of my readers.  Due to various medical issues with both me and my wife, we've had too many doctor visits; we’ve had extra band practices because of an important performance next month (our band meets 70 miles from our house); we are involved with photographing old country schools and helping a newspaper website with their archiving of photos and information on these schools; I’ve been busy teaching the history of U.S. military aircraft; doing much research for a local pastor; ministering to an elderly shut-in (including transporting her for doctor appointments); and responding to many e-mail apologetics requests.  I’m really hoping some of this stuff slacks so I can get back to reviewing New Age Bible Versions as well as writing articles on various topics.  Until then, I hope my readers enjoy the citations I post.

As a follow-up to my December 4th discussion of “church karaoke,” why does it have to be so LOUD!?!?  The youth group choir sang to the recorded music today and the music was so over-powering in volume that you could barely hear their voices!  Please, you who are in the position of running the sound — lower the volume!

More proof that the Pope speaks for the devil and not for God.

Why do any churches allow Jesus Culture garbage into their assembly?!?  OR Hillsong, or Vineyard, et al ?  Worship leaders, please use some discernment!

Is self-defense a biblical position?  I have always said it is, and this article agrees with my understanding of Scripture.

Rick Warren has now proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is not only apostate, but also a heretic.

The foolishness of dangerous false teachings gets more bizarre daily.  Self-proclaimed “prophet” Larry Randolph (one of many Elijah List false prophets) has a bizarre teaching in an even more bizarre book: The Physics of Heaven.  Please don’t waste your money.

When discussing the bizarre, I am immediately reminded of IHOP, and Mary’s weekly “Warning You With Tears Wednesday” includes a lot of information about this cult.

When skeptics/atheists accost you about why Paul didn’t mention the virgin birth, use the information from this article to counter them.


A good perspective on Mary, the mother of Jesus, to counter the Marian cults (such as Romanism).

More heresy by the Roman Catholic Church.

Jesus Culture band is dangerous.  Of course you should expect that, coming from the  Bethel cult.

Some good warnings about admiration of “Christian” celebrities.

Chuck Missler has been on my RADAR for quite some time.  While he has a lot of things right, he has way to many things wrong.  Mary Dalke has a good exposure of Missler which I recommend for your perusal.

While doing some research on Joyce Meyer this week I came across this excellent article exposing her worst teachings.  And yet Christians will go to the mat defending Meyer—including many of the commenters!


Just remember as you are warned about the wolves, that we know who wins in the end!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Glenn,

Sorry to hear you and your wife have been having some health issues. Praying for the Lord's mercy and healing for you both, and not in a health/wealth/prosperity way, not that you think I pray that way. :) But I say it for the benefit of your readers.

Alec Satin's article, I agree Christian men need backbones. Honestly, as a woman, I can't stand the things like flowery decor, flowery music, and wimpy man-pandering, either.

When it comes to standing up and being counted, everyone seems to be so busy being politically and socially correct, we've forgotten what a real man defending what is right looks like. Think of all the sweep-it-under-the-rug handling of child s*x abuse in the evangelical churches, while all the "big name" leaders help each other duck and dodge. Or the advice given to women who are beaten or hurt by their husbands: submit and pray and "win him without words". How about this: call 911 and have that cad arrested. Then the church men take in the woman and her children and make sure they are in no need of anything, while her "husband" spends some quality time in the clink learning about Jesus from a prison minister who doesn't mince words.

By the way, most churches don't like stand-up women either. I think we're expected to sit quiet and pretty in a corner. I don't do that well.

That said, my husband and I don't "fit in" at church.

As for your articles about worship music. Oh yes, there is certainly a lack of discernment. Either that or if they do manage to play a solid hymn, they manage to wreck it somehow...

Rick Warren, say it ain't so. Honestly NOTHING that man does shocks me at this point. The only thing that grates me are all the foolish pastors who STILL follow him.

-Carolyn

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

We've been in assemblies who don't like women standing up either, even though nothing in Scripture forbids them from talking to leadership. It was actually this reason that I was approached by one of the women in our last assembly with questions about Beth Moore because the leadership didn't like her always pointing out problem teachings. And that is how I began my investigation of Moore!

As for our health issues, most of the numerous visits have been tests, and then re-checks on progress, etc. We are now nearing the end of the tunnel with one minor surgery ahead.

Anonymous said...

Glenn,

Your comment about the leadership not liking a woman pointing out problem teachings is exactly what I'm talking about. Most men in the church do not want to hear from a discerning woman. Yes I have talked to leadership, but no they don't listen to me. So then when I ask my husband to talk to them, they don't listen to him either... probably because he's not in the in crowd.

-Carolyn

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

I wasn't in the crowd either, but when I handed in my review of the 10-DVD series "Believing God" by Beth Moore, they sort of had to listen! From then on I was pretty much ostracized.

Anonymous said...

"I was pretty much ostracized." Yup that about sums it up. The last pastor my husband attempted to confront over a problem... the pastor tried to silence him through power-posturing. My husband instantly recognized that as false authority. From then on, we understood their view of "our place", which of course we wholeheartedly reject. So we just press on for the Lord and serve Him in our own way. What we've learned over the years, most leaders don't want to listen to the nobodies in the pews. Of course as you demonstrated, they don't want to listen to God, either, because when confronted with something like the truth about a false teacher (as you did with brining information about Moore to your pastor), they will ostracize the messenger and keep using the false teaching.

-Carolyn

Alec said...

Hi Glenn,

Prayers for you and your wife.

Your comment about Rick Warren set me to thinking. Are there apostate church pastors and teachers who are not heretical?

In all the online hubbub about the Saddleback announcement , people forget that the noise itself is the point. When new cultural shifts are introduced, they are not to get people to agree (or disagree). The social discussion is the value sought in the new ideological wars.

It works like this:

First: shock
Next: dullness
Finally: acceptance

Alec

PS Thanks for the mention. And to Carolyn, keep speaking up. The church needs you!!!

Doug Evans said...

I looked up the article about Rick Warren teaching that Allah and God are the same God because the page you linked to is dead. All I could find was articles on the impressive speed that Rick Warren is backpedling at. Of course if you've followed Rick Warren at all you know that he's an olympic calibre backpedalist which he proved in the Gay Marriage Fiasco of 2009

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Hi Alec,

I see one who is apostate as one who is beginning to no longer believe essential doctrines. Heresy is when they begin to actively deny them and preach against them. Fine line, I guess.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Doug,
I just checked the link and it works. It loaded very slowly, but it works. Check again.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Alec for the encouragement, though most days the church doesn't seem to "want" me... or my husband for that matter.

-Carolyn