Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

A good one from The Babylon Bee about Joel Osteen!

A good examination of another well-abused Bible passage: Philippians 4:13.

Were tongues real languages?  Absolutely!

What about praying in “tongues”?  As I have previously noted, modern “tongues” is nothing more than gibberish.

Anne Graham Lotz is going farther and farther afield.  Beware of her teachings!

Beth Moore and Christine Caine together — two false teaching peas in a pod.

When Christians join in supporting the destruction of patriarchy in the family, then it is no wonder that the family unit is falling apart.

Continuationism is not a non-essential doctrinal issue.  Thought-provoking article.

Run for your life from false teachers!  H/T Lindsay.

The “Seven Mountains Mandate” of the NAR.  These people have no idea of what Christianity is about!

“Cruise with a Cause” — something I never heard of before.  Just another scam with some of the “usual suspects” among false teachers.  These guys will do anything to promote themselves.

False prophet/teacher Paula White is at it again!  Look at what she promised for Easter — more money for herself.  Yeah, sure God told her this.

Postmodernism has really affected the Church at large, and is part of the reason the Church is compromising with the world.  Gary Gilley has an excellent 5-part series on this topic.  Part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5.

Contrary to the claims of the charismatics and cultists, “Sola Scriptura” was not newly invented with the reformation.  Just remember the Bereans, who made sure what Paul was teaching was in accordance with Scripture!

For all those out there idolizing “Prince” and mourning his death, we should really mourn because he was unsaved.

A Critique of David Stewart's "Healing Oils of the Bible.”

“Christian” adult coloring books?  I guess I just don’t understand the draw to start with, but why delve into “new age” ideology?

But, hey, Justin Bieber is into coloring now — doesn’t this make you see him as a great pastor for his new church?  Um, no.

The Watchman Fellowship has a good profile on Rob Bell.

Another good one from The Babylon Bee to end with.

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

Conservative commentator Mike Adams has a good article about “Three Kinds of Christians.”  I’m looking forward to the “to be continued…”

Arch heretic Rob Bell just completed his “Everything Is Spiritual Tour.”  This guy is a dangerous wolf pretending to be Christian, and yet he continues to sucker believers into believing his tripe.

R.C. Sproul’s ministry has an interesting graphic demonstrating the state of the Church insofar as theological beliefs of the average Christian.  Granted, 3000 people is a small survey sample, but in my personal contacts with many, many Christians I tend to find the same things.  Sigh.

Paul Young is back.  You know, that heretic who wrote that horrid book, “The Shack.”  Now he has a new book coming out, “Eve.”  As Elizabeth Prata says, “The heresy continues.”  I was pointed to another blog article covering Young’s new book as well as his old book, and his teachings in general — and if you have no idea who Young is, then I recommend this article as a good primer!

If you use “Bible Gateway” for quick reference, etc, be very wary of the advertisements which may show up.  I received an email this past week alerting me to this site as being advertised there — and this is certainly not something Christians should be fed!  I  realize that sites which open up to advertising may have little or no control as to what shows up, so you need to be careful on ANY site with advertisements.

The Watchman Fellowship has a new profile out on Hinduism, which you may find useful.  They have a lot of good “profiles” on various false teachers and cult, and you can purchase the complete set if desired.  Always concise and usually only 3-4 pages.

When I read about this arrest, it didn’t surprise me.  False teachers are always trying to fleece the flock!

Excellent article by Albert Mohler in regards to that historic First Baptist Church of Greenville, SC, which decided to apostatize over homosexuality.  Somehow they discerned that the Bible is in error.

Marsha West reposted an article from four years ago, and I think she’s right to do so because of the attitude projected by many against apologetics sites like mine.  While Tim Challies had a point, he painted with too broad of a brush, as Marsha pointed out.
I do have to say that those who follow my blog KNOW that I don’t only cover the bad (although exposing the wolves is the primary purpose of this blog), but I also provide information to good stuff, post thought-provoking quotes from excellent teachers, etc.  And I see the same thing with the many excellent blogs I follow.  I know there are indeed “nasty” blogs and sites out there, having come across many, but I think any discerning person will easily discover they are to be avoided.

(I "stole" the graphic from Berean Research)

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

Only a week has gone by and it’s already time for a “Random” post because so many things are happening — and I can only scratch the surface!

I guess it isn’t surprising that Christianity Today Astray has “whitewashed” Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood.  To them she is a hero because she was an advocate for birth control.  Yet Sanger was a eugenist and decried what she called “human weeds,” and was all for elimination of such “weeds” by forced sterilization.

On another note, Christianity Today Astray did get one commentary right; a Christian assembly’s view on marriage is a very good litmus test of their doctrinal soundness.  “In other words, by the time a Church legitimizes "same sex marriage", it has already ceased to be a Church. The shift on a biblical idea of God and his Word has already happened and the result is a people who have created God in their own image, and whom he has given over to themselves, so that they even approve of what is evil (Romans 1:32).”

Arch heretic Creflo Dollar is looking to purchase a HUGE corporate jet, a Gulfstream 650, to the tune of $65 million.  While he claims it is so he can work more effectively for Christ, it is really about traveling in the lavish style he is accustomed to.  As a Word of Faith con artist, his “ministry” is nothing more than a way of enriching himself.  Michael Brown explains why Creflo won’t be getting his money - nor mine!  (Of course to me the primary reason is because he teaches a false gospel which we don’t want spread anywhere!)

Lutheran Satire seems to have quite a few good videos making good points (too bad Lutheranism is much like Calvinism doctrinally, and also has false teachings such as baptismal regeneration and consubstantiation).  This one is right on target in regards to current “praise and worship” songs.  If you let it go to the next one, you’ll see a good satire about contemporary worship.  One of the best laughs I had is this one about Rob Bell — and any of his ilk!

Rachel Held Evans has left evangelical Christianity.  Hmmm.   By her teachings, there isn’t any evidence she was ever part of it.

Four characteristics of legalism warning; if you recognized these in your assembly, abandon the place!  (Disclaimer— I disagree with the author's recommendation of Phillip Yancey’s book — that is not a book for anyone looking for good teaching.)

Sola Sisters blog has another good article about Sarah Young’s “Jesus Calling” books.  BBBAAADDD stuff!

San Francisco’s largest megachurch has decided to allow as members non-repentant practitioners of homosexual behavior.  "If Jesus were the pastor of City Church, what would he say to the people who are asking if they can belong?" the pastor asks. "As we consider the life of Christ, his example of love, his call to embrace the outsider and cast down, and his patience with those earnestly seeking him, what is a Christ-like response?”  Ending the requirement for celibacy for gays "aligns with our existing core vision: the doors of this church are as wide as the arms of the Savior it proclaims," he adds. "We will no longer discriminate based on sexual orientation and demand lifelong celibacy as a precondition for joining. For all members, regardless of sexual orientation, we will continue to expect chastity in singleness until marriage," Harrell concludes.  Harrell seems to have a lack of understanding as to the reason for the local assembly.  The purpose of the local assembly is quite clear:  It is for the meeting of the body of Christ, not a place to evangelize.  It certainly is not a place for membership to be bestowed on unrepentant sinners!  What’s next — unrepentant adulterers?  What about unrepentant child molesters?  What did Jesus REALLY say — what would a real “Christ-like response” be?  “Go and sin no more!”

Elizabeth Prata’s blog post for yesterday included some good examples of apostasy in the church: 1) the internal rot of the Southern Baptist Convention continues unabated with another member church led by a woman pastor, 2) the election as a Baptist college president of an unrepentant practitioner of homosexual behavior, and 3) another Baptist college inviting a lesbian to speak.

Speaking of homosexuality-based apostasy in the Church at large, the very apostate PCUSA indeed decided to vote in a new definition of marriage in their “Book of Order” to include same-sex unions.  (They already decided that the “love of gays and lesbian couples is worth celebrating,” in total rebellion against God’s abhorrence of such sexual behavior.)  How can anyone in the PCUSA still claim to be Christian?!?  [Today I came across someone’s definition of PCUSA: Presbyterian Church (Unlimited State of Apostasy).  That pretty much sums them up.]

Easter is upon us and every aberrant, seeker-sensitive, and market-driven assembly will be looking for new ways to appeal to the flesh with their services — as well as advertisements for their services.   A perfect example from Southpointe Church.  (HT to the Museum of Idolatry)

It really gets discouraging to see all this nonsense invading the Church.  The tares are being deeply sowed among the wheat.

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

My first two items today are with a hat tip to Erin Benziger for alerting us to them on her blog.

Andy Stanley is becoming more and more dangerous in his teachings.  He’s taking a road which should not be taken.

Then we have more information about Rob Bell’s interview with Oprah and his promotion of homosexuality.  For all his claims, there is nothing about Bell’s ideology or teaching which can be called “Christian.”  He’s a heretic, plain and simple.

In regards to homosexuality, the PCUSA denomination is continuing its downward spiral into total apostasy.

Elizabeth Prata has a good blog which I follow.  I know, she’s hard-core when it comes to Calvinism, but I just tiptoe around her TULIPs and read for the good stuff.  However, she has twice within the past week made proclamations which I think are mighty presumptuous.  First, she said “Copts are not Christians.”  Then she said, “Catholics are not Christians.”  I argue that while these organizations are corrupt versions of the Christian faith and are not Christian as organizations, we cannot know the individuals’ stance before God.  There is enough of the truth among the teachings of these organizations (and Eastern Orthodoxy) that people have come to be true Christians in spite of their teachings.  I’ve known many Catholics who are true Christians, and I’m suggesting the same would be the case for Copts.  Call the organization non-Christian, but don’t judge the individuals.  These organizations are not like cults who have no true teachings about Christ, such as the LDS and JW, whose members can never be Christians as long as they remain with those beliefs.

Now that I’ve broached the subject of Catholicism, it seems they have some real problems among their ranks.   Many Catholic schools and institutions are accepting the legitimacy of same-sex unions!!!!  As long as the Church leadership does not excommunicate or somehow exercise discipline and rebuke them, these actions will continue to spread.

Then we have an assembly, affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, which has a female “lay minister” which performed a same-sex fake “marriage,” and the SBC “may” expel them.  Why “may”?  The deed was done and needs discipline.  The very fact that they had a woman lay minister should be warrant enough for their expulsion.  I’m going to assume that the “may” will end up being “did.”

I agree with those who think that homosexuality will be a great falling away from God for the Church in general.  The denominations are falling like dominoes, and individual assemblies even more so.  (HT to Lindsay)

Watch out for the “IF” gathering.  It is a hotbed of false teachers.

Hip and Thigh has a good article refuting the claims of liberals, and KJV Onlyists about the inerrancy of Scripture.  He follows up with a response to their challenges.

And yet another article about Beth Moore, except this one is more about the un-discerning church which propagates Moore’s teachings.

As if Roma Downey has mainstreamed enough false teachings with her series, “The Bible,” and “Son of God,” she is now about to release a new series titled, “A.D.”, which “reenacts key events in the New Testament.”  We can certainly expect revisionist, liberalized telling of such “key events.”

An interesting way of approaching Jehovah’s Witnesses is provided by Don Veinot of Midwest Christian Outreach apologetics ministry.

Lastly, watch out for Peter Enns.  He tends to get a lot of press time from liberal Christians.  He’s a former Senior Fellow with the BioLogos group which denounces Creationism in favor of evolutionism.  As this article demonstrates, for being an acclaimed theologian, he is nothing less than heretical in his teachings.

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

The big news this week was about Rob Bell on Oprah Winfrey’s show, and how he denigrated the Bible and proved himself to be a bonafide heretic.  Matt Walsh has an excellent commentary on megachurch false teachers in general, and also on Rob Bell in particular!

“Speaking” of false teachers, A Lutheran Layman reminds us that the Bible warns us to exercise discernment while being on guard against them.  He has some good “billboard” examples exposing a variety of false teachers.

A new booklet is available from Lighthouse Trails Research Project, all about Roma Downey.  Roma has deceived many people with her character on the television program, “Touched By An Angel,” with it’s New Age theology.  More deception came from her with last year with her miniseries, “The Bible” — which was quite unbiblical!  From that series came the movie, “Son of God,” which gave a false teaching about who Jesus is.  Roma has become quite popular, but her teachings are dangerous.   Read the booklet on-line.

More news from last weekend told us that 21 Coptic Christians were executed by barbaric Muslims.  I find it sad that some Christian bloggers say these people were not Christians; it’s like saying Roman Catholics aren’t Christians.  While both organizations have brought in heresy and various apostate teachings, there are indeed individuals within those organizations who have come to saving faith in spite of the organizations’ teachings, because among all the weeds there are the basics of the Christian doctrine.  I wouldn’t claim to know whether these 21 Copts were indeed saved, but the possibility is there.  Here’s a summary look at their teachings, so you can see the problem areas.

Now that I mentioned Roman Catholicism, it seems their leadership needs to clean out those who don’t adhere to their faith.  First, a Catholic University in California is promoting homosexual dating!  Then we have a Cardinal in New York has decided that homosexual activists can march in the Catholic St. Patrick’s Day parade!

Last week I linked to an article at the Cripplegate about the beliefs of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.  This week they gave the same treatment to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I’m sure you will see from this article why Mormons are not Christians.  For more information on the Mormon church, feel free to skim through my new blog about them.

I stumbled across a blog new to me this week, but it looks like a good one to use for examining the false teachings of the Word of Faith cult.  This article demonstrates how many top faith fake healers all died of some disease.  If their faith was true, why did this happen?

The Mennonites in Canada are becoming more and more apostate.

About Rob Bell, et al

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

I’ve been away from home so much this past week that I haven’t even had time to work on my New Age Bible Versions review, let alone much of anything else.  But I’ve tried to keep up with the news about the Church at large, and collected some links to share with my readers.

I think I’ll start out with a couple posts by Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry. 
Have you ever wondered just what teachings are considered to make a church “liberal”?
What is wrong with Rob Bell’s book, Love Wins?

How about a couple items Erin posted about?  I just learned that Joyce Meyer has a “university” where you can learn all sorts of things from her — like how horrid her teachings are and what heresy she promotes.  Then there is some good information about the Insider Movement.

When “Christians” attack you for teaching children about sin, you know there’s a problem with THEIR theology!

Recovering Grace has a two-part posting about some of Bill Gothard’s bizarre twisting of Scripture, here and here.

Hip and Thigh has two more articles completing his series about responding to KJVO questions, and you will find those quite interesting— here and here.  The various claims about conspiracies might give you a chuckle.

This month’s Berean Call has a thought-provoking article about false prophets.  Pay attention to the names.

Another example of problems with contemporary Christian music.

Speaking of which, there is a band I’ve not previously heard of which is coming under fire for their anti-Creation teachings.  Answers In Genesis notes that Gungor has a problem with most of Genesis.  Bravo to the Baptist church which cancelled their concert — why let false teachers into your assembly!

As I have pointed out many times, the United Church of Christ is the most liberal and un-Christian denomination in the USA.  I call them CINOs - Christian In Name Only.  A perfect example is the sponsorship of “gay games.”

Someone has discovered another way to get rich off of God’s Word; now you can buy a "virtually indestructible” Bible.  I guess you’d also have to buy special pens if you are like me and like to mark passages, although the video didn’t mention that — the article says they offer pens! By the way, I’m sure this book won’t last forever - what about fire?  It certainly isn’t inexpensive, nor are their other products!  One last thing: in their “kickstarter” project they say this:  “And whether you call it a blessing or simply good karma, inspiring someone is a powerful thing.”  So now we are teaching “karma” as valid?

Finally, a very interesting study about Christians and morality shows that those who sanction homosexual behavior and same-sex fake marriage have already compromised by sanctioning fornication, abortion, adultery, and pornography.   Yes, it is a slippery slope.

Random Apostasies and Heresies

Too many Christians listen to Glenn Beck and consider him a brother in Christ.  Well, he isn’t.  He is a Mormon, but on top of that he is a new-ager.  As with most Mormons, he wants to sound like a real Christian and gets involved in things only non-discerning Christians get involved in.  His latest attention-getting claim [link gone by 12/21/16] is about a book he is reading - Mark Batterson’s “The Circle Maker.”  Well, go figure.  That book is nothing but unbiblical nonsense and Beck wants to pretend to be a Christian by letting us all know he’s reading it.  Now, don’t get me wrong; Beck is a good conservative and normally has a conservative worldview, as well as a Constitutional understanding of the U.S. government.  Don’t confuse his half-way decent politics for Christianity.  He is still a lost soul.

The reviews of the last two chapters of Michael Brown’s Authentic Fire have been posted here and here.  Brown loses.

As if Rob Bell hasn’t demonstrated his heresy enough, now he’s joined false teacher Oprah Winfrey for a tour.

Ron Livesay has a good review of the “Son of God” movie.  Too bad this wasn’t available to include in my post about that movie.

Rachel Held Evans says she is leaving evangelicalism.  Funny, from my reading of all her teachings, I’d say she never was a part of evangelicalism, let alone a Christian.

Denny Burk has an interesting series going about false teachers.  He tells us how to identify them, and how to deal with them.

Another false teacher in Tim Challies’ series is Marcus Borg.

Speaking of Challies, he has some good things to say to those who focus on numbers of people in their church.

Larry Crabb is one of those so-called “Christian psychologists” who syncretizes the Bible with secular psychobabble, so he’s already been someone who's teachings Christians should avoid.  Now he’s joining forces with false teacher Richard Foster.

So much of the secular world - as well as way too many people who claim to follow Christ - paint Jesus as some nice, tolerant, “girly-man” who would never speak harshly or get angry, etc.  I read two articles this week which soundly refute such nonsense.  "Step over" to read what Stan has to say.

There is no end to the type of entertainment goatherds will use in their attempt to “evangelize.”  I wonder how we’ve been able to successfully evangelize over the centuries without all this nonsense?  Notice how the goatherd abuses Scripture as he sends a kid into a fight.

Cindy Jacobs is one of the those in the “worst false teachers” list.  If you believe her claim of having an unending pot of spaghetti or oil, and non-wearing tires and shoes, then I have a huge bridge to sell you.  But wait — she has some prophecies for 2014 which you’d better pay attention to; that is, if you want to copy them down from this video so as to prove she’s a false prophet.  She also has many unsubstantiated and anecdotal claims about previous prophecies!

When it comes to twisting Scriptures, those who promote homosexuality often hold the prize for making the Bible say what no one else has found in it.

Lastly, I spent the past week reading the book, “An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins,” by Grant H. Palmer.  Palmer is a die-hard Mormon, yet he proved that the Book of Mormon is fraudulent, as well as all the claims behind it.  He proved Joseph Smith was not a prophet, that the BOM witnesses never really saw it, that the first vision never happened, etc.  And yet he always gave these things a pass because of the culture of the time.  The saddest thing — and the perfect example of cult-think — is that it doesn’t matter because Joseph Smith taught that the main focus was Jesus Christ and how we are to follow him.  He ends the book with this: “As Latter-day Saints, our religious faith should be based and evaluated by how our spiritual and moral lives are centered in Jesus Christ, rather than in Joseph Smith’s largely rewritten, materialistic, idealized, and controversial accounts of the church’s founding.  I hope that this study contributes in some way to that end.”  What Palmer doesn’t seem to understand is that the false Jesus of Mormonism has little in common with the Jesus of the Bible, and a false savior can bring no salvation no matter how much you honor him.

Random Apostasies and Heresies

My last report told how the Church of England was considering women for the roles of church leadership.  Now they are saying that those people in same-sex fake marriages should be welcomed into the assembly.  And their pit gets deeper.

Is it right to “name names” when exposing false teachers?  I have previously written an article about this subject, explaining the necessity for naming who the false teachers are.  In that article I linked to another blog’s article with much more in-depth teaching on the subject.  Since that time I have come across this post examining as to whether we should name names.  The answer is, of course, that we should do so.  By not doing so, we allow the sheep to be attacked by wolves.

Christianity Today Astray actually named names of some of the movers and shakers in the Emergent Church movement: Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, and Donald Miller.

Don’t step on the toes of a Beth Moore follower!

I have many times debated with charismatics over their use of so-called tongues.  One of the major claims I hear for supporting their position is that there are TWO types of tongues.  The Cripplegate demolishes this argument.

Further reviews of Michael Brown’s book, “Authentic Fire” are now posted.  Chapter five part one is here, while part 2 is here.  Last for now is chapter six.

A new movie is coming out which we can expect to misrepresent Christ: Son of God.  From what I read, it will be just as bad as the other fad movie, “The Passion of Christ.”  But, can you believe that Rick Warren has joined in a project to make “Bible” studies available, which are based on the movie?  Why don’t they study the Bible once in a while!!??!!

More about Steven Furtick’s advice on how to plan for “spontaneous” baptisms.  And there’s more about his vast wealth and how it is acquired.  There sure are a lot of deceived people following wolves like Furtick.

Another Bible for bringing in the dollars to publishers; this one is a Jesus Calling Devotional Bible!  Since Sarah Young’s book is a theological disaster, why is Thomas Nelson publishing such blatant false teaching?!?!  Because making money is more important than loving God.

Another episode at Mormon Coffee exposing the racism in the Mormon Church.

The Mormons are always making changes to their doctrines, and then they turn around and say we misrepresent them!  I want to know how they can change their “Articles of Faith” without consulting Joseph Smith!