Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

Mark Driscoll, who is definitely disqualified from being a pastor, is holding his first service in his new church on Easter.  Driscoll claims:  “God is planting The Trinity Church and we are following his leadership.  God has a plan that has been 50 years in the making.”  Yea, right.  Now this charlatan false teacher has direct communication with God.  I don’t think so.

Concerns about AWANA.

This satire article perfectly describes the market-driven church.

Exposing the false history of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The Church by the Glades has done it again — made a mockery of worship.  They just continue to feed the itching ears.

A good report on heretic Todd Bentley.  His conversion story sounds more like demons at work than the Holy Spirit, especially when you consider his history ever since!

An interesting connection between Charles Finney’s teachings and the seeker-sensitive movement.

There are not greater things than Scripture.

Why Seventh-day Adventists don’t celebrate Easter — another example of the difference between the SDA Jesus and the real Jesus of the Bible.

Another episode of Fred’s review of “Which Bible Would Jesus Use?”

Perry Noble continues to prove what a wolf he is.  In fact, he daily sounds more and more liked a Word of Faith heretic.  How many times must we remind Christians that we DO NOT TITHE.  We were never commanded to do so.

The article about Perry Noble has links to another of his ilk — a new name to add to the wolf list.  His name is Tavner Smith.  Read the other articles linked to and you will see just how dangerous this man is.

Ah, the need to be “relevant”!  You know a church has gone apostate when they do this. and, yes, this is a real “church” in Tampa, FL.  They even have a staff member titled “Creative Pastor”!  If you want some real head-shaking, look at their beliefs and what they value.  And yet they claim God called them to this ministry!

A good article by Gary Gilley explaining how we need to build up the Body.

Christians should be alert to the cult of Armstrongism.  Although the Worldwide Church of God itself has changed to orthodoxy, the followers of Armstrong’s teachings are still out there propagating them.

As if Sarah Young’s “Jesus Calling” books and junk weren’t bad enough, now there is a “Jesus Calling Devotional Bible”!  Thomas Nelson Publishers will publish any heresy which enriches them.  H/T Marsha West.

That’s it for today — a lot of things to be discerning about.  Have a blessed Easter celebrating the resurrection of our Lord.

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

The PCUSA has some of the worst false teachers and heretics.  Now they have a “pastor” who loves abortion, and calls the abortion industry a “ministry”!!!

Elizabeth Prata has a good article demonstrating why Hebrews 9:27 does not contradict scriptures where people are raised from the dead.

The heretical teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong, founder of the Worldwide Church of God, are infiltrating the church through news articles by Joseph Kovacs of WorldNetDaily (WND).  Watch out!

If you wonder why Christians — real Christians vs the “Christian Left” — are hated, so much, Dr. Don Boys explains why we’ve always been hated.  One of the big troubles in modern times is that real Christians are hated not only by the world, but also by so-called Christians who have embraced the world’s cultural teachings.

Just what we need—another book by Rachel Held Evans.

Some more information on Andy Stanley’s recent teaching about homosexuality.

The latest episode of the TV series “A.D.” is reviewed by Answers in Genesis.  The series has proven once again that when false teachers are in charge of such projects, you will end up with a lot of unbiblical nonsense deceiving the non-discerning.

I learned more about another false teacher this past week—John Bevere.  Apparently he’s just another Word of Faith heretic.  My introduction to him was by the way of a review of a book he has written.  I’m telling you, you just can’t keep up with all the false teaching invading the Church and the world. (A couple years ago I linked to this article which included information about his wife, but also some information about their ministry.)

Tony Campolo—need I say more?

For those who are involved in Bible Study Fellowship, be very cautious about where that organization is headed. Now they are promoting the horrid book, "Jesus Calling," a book whose author claims direct revelation from God -- among other things.

One of the current arguments for homosexuality supposedly being a biblically okay lifestyle is the claim that Jesus never said anything about it. Of course arguing from silence is rarely a good argument, but as I pointed out in an earlier article Jesus DID say something about it.  Christianity Today Astray actually has a good article addressing this claim, and I think this is a good summary statement:  “From Hollywood celebrities to famous pastors, Jesus’ silence is being cited as the final authority on issues ranging from homosexuality to masturbation to street evangelism. This negative hermeneutic is the logical extreme of Red Letter Christianity.”  Yes, this is exactly the end result of the teaching of Tony Campolo and his ilk.

Lastly, some good information for responding to the cult of homosexuality in the Church.  One of their claims is that the word arsenokoites, translated as “homosexuals” in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and 1 Timothy 1:9-11, is actually about abusive homosexual relationships rather than loving ones.  The Cripplegate has a fairly lengthy excerpt of Robert A.J. Gagnon’s excellent book, “The Bible and Homosexual Practice,” in which the idea of “abusive homosexuality” is thoroughly rebutted.  (I purchased this book 3 years ago and need to alert the reader to the fact that the author subscribes to the nonsensical JEPD and Q theories, uses Kinsey’s studies, has some hermeneutical problems in regards to other passages which deal with gender roles.)

Thomas Nelson Publishers - Heresy for Fun and Profit?

The following article was included in yesterday's weekly e-mail letter from Midwest Christian Outreach apologetics ministry.  This information definitely needs to be spread around.

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Several were surprised last week as they read about the seeming lack of discernment at Thomas Nelson Publishers. I have said for a long time that one of the most spiritually dangerous places a Christian can go to is Christian bookstores. It isn't because the bookstore owes are evil but because there is an underlying belief that the books which are published by so-called Christian publishers and sold in Christian bookstores have been reviewed and approved as theologically sound. It ain't the case. In addition to the ones mentioned last week, Thomas Nelson has published WND author Joe Kovacs' book, Shocked by the Bible. Kovacs is a follower of Herbert W. Armstrong and as such is anti-Trinitarian, holds to a non-physical resurrection and  the God Family wherein we become of the same substance and stuff as God. WND in What's the most astonishing fact of the Bible? proudly quotes Joe Kovacs in an interview:

“I think the most important thing is the destiny of human beings,” said Kovacs. “A lot of people are aware that the Bible does promise eternal life for people who obey God; but the Bible does go well beyond that to tell us about an incredible, fascinating, fabulous future that we can barely conceive of and it uses the phrase ‘children of God’ and ‘sons of God’ and ‘daughters’ of God and it says that we will be above the angels, judging angels and judging the citizens of this world, and sitting down on the throne of Jesus Christ as the children of God.

“So that we will actually be born into the spirit world, not composed of flesh and blood anymore, but looking like yourself, composed of spirit just like God the Father and Jesus are composed of spirit, and be members of the actual Family of God; where yes, we’ll be immortal; and yes, we’ll be judging angels; and yes, we’ll be ruling from Christ’s throne. This is exactly what the Bible says and it calls us the children of God. God is having children. God is reproducing Himself after the God kind.”

Obviously Thomas Nelson can publish anything they want and if profit takes priority over orthodoxy at least they should be honest about that. WND though, is in the same boat. Joseph Farrah has been contacted on this issue more than once but has taken no steps to correct the problem.