It seems like the devil never ceases to find things to tempt people into believing rather than the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ. Educate yourself by studying Scripture and being aware of what is going on within the “church” at large so as to be able to discern what to avoid. So here is my latest “round up” of news I’ve come across in the past couple of weeks. Forewarned is forearmed.
I’ve written a series and posted articles and links to articles about the fraudulent and anti-Christian nature of psychology. This article explains even moreso why it is anti-Christian.
This man is NOT a pastor, but he IS a narcissist. Just another clown entertaining goats.
Nasty fallout over the James MacDonald imbroglio. Pastor John Secrest was in the right to refuse to allow MacDonald to speak, and yet HE gets fired!!! So much for church discipline. But the latest information says James MacDonald himself has now been fired. Then there is a big shake up with the Elder Board and Executive committee.
No dead person ever had a “mantle” for another Christian to take on. Lou Engle is a very, very dangerous wolf; beware of him and the false teaching group Youth With A Mission.
Good resource of examinations of Beth Moore’s teachings.
Avoid teachings by Lisa Bevere as if your spiritual life depends on it — because it does.
Brannon Howse continues to demonstrate how he is more about promoting himself than about promoting truth. I used to respect this guy but he went “off the rails” sometime back and it looks like he will never be on track again.
How many times do I have to warn people that Hillsong is NOT a Christian organization!?!? And yet churches still financial support them by using their music.
Christianity Today Astray again attacks the Bible and real creationists.
Southern Baptist Convention continues their spiral into apostasy.
Followers of Todd White have absolutely NO discernment and actually want to be deceived. White is a fraud and a tool of Satan.
11 comments:
People might find this article on the Roman Catholic Church and the second commandment to be quite interesting:
https://rationalchristiandiscernment.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-roman-catholic-church-on-second.html
Glenn,
There are days my husband and I just thank God for His discernment. Even though few believers have listened to us, God has saved us from following many unqualified 'teachers'.
When we first heard James MacDonald on the radio (WITW), we thought he was arrogant and didn't bother listening to or following him. We immediately ruled him out. Many years later came that Elephant Room debacle. And his friendship with disqualified "cussing pastor" Driscoll. Now, fast forward to the goings on of today... HBC, a church over $40 million in debt (let that number sink in), with a "pastor" who has lived a very lavish life, reports of myriad behaviors indicative of spiritual abuse, other concerning happenings within church walls, and an attempted lawsuit to silence those investigating him (journalist Julie Roys, and the bloggers at theelephantsdebt), only dropped when the judge agreed that HBCs financial records were indeed to be opened. Then, as you mentioned, the wrongful termination of Ps. Secrest, when he was trying to do what an elder should do: protect the flock.
Anyhow, first comment I made to my husband when this whole thing started to blow up: with all these money shenanigans, I bet MacD's also been immoral. The blog that journalist Julie Roys writes addresses that issue. 2 Peter 2:14-15, two marks of a false teacher: wages of unrighteousness (ie, greed for gain) and "eyes full of adultery". Those two sins just seem to go hand in hand.
Yes, MacD has been fired. And rightfully so, as he is disqualified from the pastorate. But there are far more people who need to be removed from that place. I wouldn't be surprised if MacD has a golden parachute, though, because the men ('elders') who surrounded him were complicit in his wrongdoings. Either that, or like unqualified Driscoll, he will just rebrand and take his "kingdom" elsewhere.
Sadly, it seems the Harvest empire was tantamount to a cult, misusing the name of the Lord, to fleece the flock of God. I feel so sad for the genuine believers who have been hurt by this mess. I also grieve over the reproach this has brought on Christ's name.
What you didn't mention: the recent SBC scandal (cover up of child abusers), and some of the things resulting from this revelation. It's just like SGM, the evils of which were known for years and years, but ignored by leaders and the 'celebrity' Christian circle. Even more reproach has been brought on Christ's name, and even more people have been hurt.
Praying the church learns one thing from this: quit hiding/covering up sin. Fame or notoriety do not allow a teacher or ministry get away with ungodly conduct. God will have His church pure, and He does not overlook harm done to people by people misusing His holy name. He is exposing all these scandals in the famous churches, very publicly. God cares about integrity and character in His children and in His churches.
-Carolyn
Jesse,
No, I wouldn't call Howse a false teacher, just a deceived one with all his conspiracy theories.
Conspiracy theories? Such as?
It has been said over and over, "If you want to discredit someone else's information, just label them a conspiracy theorist." Then go around and talk about those individuals and their "radical" conspiracy theories so that your community will also, "believe your nuts!"
I remember taking one of my children to the doctor for a sports injury. During the interrogation, oops, their version of "healthful questioning," the doctor asked my son, "Do you have guns in your home?" My son looked at me with a questioning face, so I answered this invasive question with this, "Sir, you don't need to know that information because when our government takes over the healthcare system, we don't need our private information available for all to see, for that is none of your business."
This happened a decade ago, prior to the increased governmentalization of healthcare, in which, they aren't through with privacy invasion, by the way. This doctor turned a lovely shade of beet red, and yelled at me, rolling his eyeballs to the back of his head (like Kenneth Copeland loves to do), looking at me as if I needed a straight jacket, "The government is NOT going to take over our health care system!!!"
This is no doubt that this man labeled me a "conspiracy theorist" and did what the medical profession does best, "gossips about us behind our backs so that everyone in the office knows the business of our personal visits." The Book of Revelation is coming and will come to pass regardless of the "conspiracy labelers'" "theories." Can't imagine the prophets of old were labeled "conspiracy theorists." Times haven't changed much.
Jesse,
Well, his last one was the whole nonsense claiming James White was working with a Muslim to bring is "Chrislam."
Martha,
There are bonafide conspiracies and then there are nonsensical conspiracy theories. Nutty people come up with the latter (such as the US actually blew up the twin towers).
There are many times when labeling someone a conspiracy theorist is 100% truth, which is the case with Howse.
I have even heard Howse say that Martin Luther King never wrote the I Have a Dream speech. That guy is nuts. I would not be surprised if he was also a flat earth believer.
One of the main reasons I have trouble with YEC is the apologetic burden it places on the Evangelical. You may say that the object of our Christian faith is not science, and while I agree with that statement, we are to be preaching Jesus not Genesis.
John,
There is no more "apologetic burden" to the Evangelical with YEC than there is with promoting Christ. Real science agrees with YEC, which is why it is an easy apologetic.
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