More Wolves and False Teachings

Hot off the press this morning — Josh Harris, the homeschool and courtship cults’ darling, has decided that he isn’t a believer after all.  First he announces his divorce from his wife, and then he announces (the most likely reason for the divorce) his total apostasy from the faith to the point of sanctioning the GLBTQYZ agenda, including “marriage equality.” It’s sad how he once had some good ideas jumbled with legalistic ideas, putting many Christian youth into spiritual bondage, and now has thrown even the good teachings away. There is some smoldering history behind the defection.

More proof that the United Church of Christ is not a church of Christ, but rather a church of Satan.

The Catholic Church—total apostasy in the making.

Using discernment with “Christian” magazines.

Beth Moore seems to be going soft on homosexuality. Sigh. The full time-line of Moore’s hole being dug deeper.  Elizabeth Prata has a good commentary about the situation. Of course homosexuals are rallying around Moore!  More thoughts about the Moore imbroglio by Justin Peters.

Michael Brown — WOW!  And “DOUBLE WOW!” He is getting deeper and deeper into aberrant and blatantly false teaching.

Kenneth Copeland is a dangerous wolf who, if he doesn’t repent, will spend eternity in hell. There is absolutely NO reason any real pastor needs a private jet. He fleeces his congregation of goats (certainly not sheep) and even talks to Satan in prayer!

Living Out ministry has some BIG trouble!

It’s really sad when solid Bible teachers continue to appear at conferences, etc, with well-known false teachers. The information about John MacArthur was new to me, as well as very surprising. The only way I see as being legitimate to attend along with false teachers is to use the opportunity to EXPOSE THEM!

I don’t know if Steven Furtick can get much worse, but the man does not appear to be a true Christian.

The Episcopal Church is sinking lower and lower, blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

Can Believers Manipulate the Power and Presence of Christ?  The short answer is, “NO.”  Several names of false teachers are included.

This video is a perfect example of why Mark Batterson is a false teacher.  Remember him — Circle Maker tripe?

Stop reading Ann Voskamp!  She is a dangerous heretic.

Now HERE’S a list worth perusing! Teachers and teachings to avoid, OH MY!

I never cared much for the music of Casting Crowns, but now there is an excellent reason to avoid them — why support false teachings?

When Christian universities go bad.

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

A year-and-a-half ago I wrote an article about Finis Dake and his “study” Bible and how much of his teachings were heresy.  This week I was directed to this link which has some more exposing of Dake’s false teaching. 

Warning signs of the invasion of the New Apostolic Reformation.

Another example as to the ungodly ideology at Bethel Redding.  H/T Marsha West

Seeing the names in the lineup for “Together 2016” just frustrates me that some usually solid teachers are joining with the Pope, Hillsong, and all sorts of false teachers in the ecumenical nonsensical meeting.  Seeking a 1-world religion?  Oh, and aren’t you just ecstatic to know that false teacher Ann Voskamp will be there?

With this history of helping pagan religions, why is Russell Moore still in office?!?

These people worship “another Jesus,” and not the Jesus of the Bible.  This is not only blasphemy, it is downright disgusting.

Midwest Christian Outreach posted a video of Victori Osteen making this heretical statement:  “Jesus was man until God touched him and put the Spirit of the living God on the inside of him.”  Victoria is just as much of a heretic as her husband, Joel.  Both worship another Jesus than the one of the Bible.

What about our “relationship” with Jesus? God?

Polemics is hated by false teachers.

The Southern Baptist Convention is losing lots of members, most likely do to their seeker-sensitive/market-driven mentality, as well as their promotion of false teachers.

Some facts about Paul and Jan Crouch and their heresy network, TBN.  They were nothing but wolves slaughtering the sheep.  Always use discernment when reading on-line “Christian” news.

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones vs Beth Moore on the same Bible passage.

More information about “The Shack”.  Kent Hovind’s endorsement is another reason why Hovind should be avoided.  The claims of “The Shack” just being a novel and not theology are inane, because the whole book teaches theology — pure heresy.

This may be satire, but it is really true of too many sermons.

Finally, it’s difficult to believe that this is just satire.

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

I’m not going to have time to do much reading of news items or writing anything for the next couple days, so I thought I’d get this “edition” of “RAAH” out this evening.  Lots of crazy things going on out there as Satan's web grows even wider.

Another very good review of Ann Voskamp’s horridly unbiblical book, One Thousand Gifts.

Good review of Steven Furtick’s book, “Unqualified,” as well as being a short review of Furtick himself! “Furtick-ology” proves Steven Furtick is a false teacher.

Lastly about Furtick, he doesn’t like to answer questions about his “ministry.”

Doug posted another article in his series on the New Apostolic Reformation.  Good stuff!

Fred posts the final episode of his excellent series on Continuationism.

When your church leadership refuses to exercise discipline for promoting sexual immorality, this is what you get.

Anne Graham Lotz — false teacher to avoid.

Should we judge others?  A good collection of Bible passage explaining that, yes, we should but that we need to make sure we are doing so properly.

Bill Gothard’s powerless gospel.

Morningstar Ministries and Rick Joyner — false teacher with a “ministry” of deceit.

Bethel Redding’s NAR false prophet and heretic Bill Johnson doesn’t want people to learn the truth about him.  He’s also a liar.

Finally, Gary E. Gilley examines C. S. Lewis.

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

Well ladies and gents, it is time for another episode of providing you with information as to what to avoid in the realm of false teachings, and providing you with resources to respond to such teachings when you come across them.  I have to give a hat-tip to Erin Benziger for pointing me towards the first five items.

A “pastor” who affirms homosexuality now believes in polyamory.  Once you’ve rebelled against God in regards to what marriage is, then there really is nothing stopping you from affirming any and all perverse unions as being right and proper.

For those “old earth” creationists, here is another reason to believe what the Bible actually says about the days of Genesis 1.

Goatherd Ed Young is playing off the pornographic “Fifty Shades of Gray” with a book titled “Fifty Shades of They,” and apparently will be doing a sermon about it [link gone by 7/12/18] this weekend where he will “baptize” a copy of “Fifty Shades of Grey.”  So, will baptizing the book clean it up? The man never seems to be able to pass up a chance to use sex as a subject for his antics.

An interesting article about the violation of the 2nd Commandment by Sarah Young and Ann Voskamp.

Can you believe such false teachings as “90 Minutes in Heaven” is being made into a movie by Family Christian Stores?   I have to agree with Erin Benziger when she says “This is such a bad idea. Such a horrible, terrible idea.”  Family Christian Stores long ago became minefields of almost every imaginable false teachings, and now will spread such garbage to even larger audiences.

When discussion the issue of same-sex fake marriage the subject of polygamy often comes up.  I’ve previously written why God’s view of marriage cannot include polygamy — contrary to Mormon theology.   This week I came across this old article from Answers in Genesis which gives another viewpoint confirming God’s intent for one-man/one-woman unions.

Entertainer Katy Perry, who I’ve never bothered to watch or hear, has stated that, just before her Super Bowl performance of a song promoting lesbianism, she actually got a word from God — a direct revelation telling her that her performance was going to be okay.

“I was praying and I got a word from God and he says, ‘You got this and I got you,’” Perry said. “And then I was on top of the lion and a guy — a  random guy — looked at me with a headset that I’d never communicated with before. He looked me straight in the eyes and said ‘You got this.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, that’s God confirming I can do this!’”

Katy also “tweeted” a message that day, citing Psalm 118:24.   I did not see her performance, but from reports it sounds like it was fairly raunchy, especially when one reads the lyrics of the song.   While she grew up in a Christian home, Katy claims she is not a Christian.  Since she rebels against God with her lack of faith in Christ and her promotion of homosexuality, I think it is very safe to say that, contrary to Katy’s claims, she did NOT hear from God.

A friend pointed me to this abomination pretending to be Christian teaching for children.  Right off the bat I have to point out that it violates the commandment against making images of God; their “God” looks like Santa Claus.  I saw a lot of trivialization of the Christian faith and its teachings; it is nothing more than simplistic religious entertainment. I wonder how many churches, and Christian families, will buy into this?

I wonder if there is a connection between the “GO! Join the Story” reported in the previous paragraph and “The Story” Bible version?  It wouldn’t surprise me.  I wrote an article about “The Story” three years ago, demonstrating some of the dangers of this version.  This month’s issue of The Berean Call newsletter has an article examining more serious problems with this “Bible.”

If you are not knowledgable on what the Jehovah’s Witnesses cult teaches, you may find “Why I’m Not a Jehovah’s Witness” to be a good primer.

Lastly, Andy Stanley has a new book.  As with so much of his teaching lately, it is subtly dangerous.  However, even more dangerous is his beliefs about how a Christians should respond to being asked to provide services for a fake marriage:  Evangelical pastor Andy Stanley leads North Point Ministries, the second largest church in the U.S. He told me he finds it "offensive that Christians would leverage faith to support the Kansas law." He said, "Serving people we don't see eye to eye with is the essence of Christianity. Jesus died for a world with which he didn't see eye to eye. If a bakery doesn't want to sell its products to a gay couple, it's their business. Literally. But leave Jesus out of it.”   No, Jesus is very much a part of it.  Nowhere in the Bible does He even hint at condoning participating in sinful activities.

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies.

Some big news over the past week or so has been about Rick Warren’s capitulation to Rome.  A YouTube video has been posted, showing Warren’s discussion.  It takes 41 minutes, but is enlightening.  Aside from him calling the Pope, “Holy Father,” quoting the horrid “The Message,” and his much bragging about Saddleback, his books, courses, etc, he has some good things to say about marriage.  If only he had stuck to the subject of marriage and self!

Elizabeth Prata posted a couple 15-minute videos of James White examining Warren’s capitulation to Rome.  Find them here and here.

Oh, and since I mentioned Warren’s use of “The Message,” you might want to look at the new tract booklet about this corruption of the Bible at Lighthouse Trails Research Ministry.  It should be enough to prove how corrupt The Message is.

Erin Benziger has some more comments about Ann Voskamp’s book, “One Thousand Gifts.”  The book is rife with false teachings.

Christine Pack over at Sola Sisters posted an article about the Hebrew Roots Movement and Christmas.

But, “Is Christmas Day Rooted in Paganism?”  Nope.  However, another humorous view of the same question might just give you a chuckle.

Answers In Genesis has many times posted articles about the dangerous and compromising teachings coming from the BioLogos organization.  This week I found another site examining why BioLogos is dangerous to Christian education.

Don’t let anyone tell you that “Allah” is an acceptable name for the God of the Bible.

I have previously posted information about the apostasy of the Disciples of Christ denomination, but Neil has added another log onto that fire.

Just when you think that the seeker-sensitive and market-driven church mentality has reached its limit for worldliness, you come across an article like this — which add more fuel to the fire of the apostasy at the Disciples of Christ!

A hat tip now to Erin for pointing us to this video, “Christian Girl Instagram.”  Good humor to end this post with!

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

Notice that I changed my heading for these weekly reports; it was due to someone pointing out an item wasn’t really a heresy, and there could be some debate as to whether it was even an apostasy.  So I decided to add “Aberrations” and let YOU decide which label best fits.

First up, a hat tip to Erin Benziger for pointing me to this one.  Perry Noble, a bonafide false teacher, has “Four Things That Are Essential For a Healthy Children’s Ministry”; and please note that the teaching of the Gospel isn’t included.   Well, what do you expect for a seeker-sensitive, entertainment-oriented emerging church like Noble’s?

I have quite often dealt with pacifist Christians who really like to twist what Jesus said about turning the other cheek.  These people use the reference to refuse to join the military, for example.  I worked with a fellow believer who said if someone broke into his home and was attacking his children and his wife, even sexually, he would not try to defend them because that would be using violence!  It is impossible for me to accept such rationale, let alone using Jesus’ words to support it!  At any rate, here is a good teaching on what Jesus meant.  Perhaps you will find it beneficial for the next time you encounter someone abusing this passage of Scripture.

Whatever happened to the Mennonites having mostly fundamental doctrines?  How in the world did they get to the point of teaching contemplative prayer to children?!?

Two years ago I linked to an article at Sola Sisters which reviewed the horrible book by Ann Voskamp, “One Thousand Gifts.” Sola Sisters has posted another article about this book, which demonstrates the bizarre sexuality/sensuality that Ann teaches about her relationship with God.

Charismatics have a lot of aberrational teachings in general, and addressing such nonsense was really what the “Strange Fire Conference” was all about.  Hip and Thigh has a good article exposing some of these really aberrant teachings.

What about the apostate teachings of the mystical movement, including lectio divina.   Tim Challies explains the danger of such teachings.

Finally, again in reference to Mormonism, Liberty University is actually defending its stance in regards to allowing Mormon Glenn Beck to speak there.  Let me address some specifics.
This is the excuse given for allowing Beck to preach a sermon (for that really is what it was): “College is about learning. How can you defend what you believe if you don’t understand what others believe?”  The problem here is that the students DIDN’T understand what Beck believes because he sounded just like a Christian!  Let’s look at some of Beck’s teachings in this sermon:

1.  “I am Mormon and share your faith,… Training Champions for Christ.”  NO, a Mormon does NOT share the same faith as Christians, so they cannot train anyone for Christ.

2.  “Days before Joseph Smith was martyred he was taken out by the sheriff;…”  Smith was not martyred.  He died in a shoot-out.  Martyrs don’t shoot back.  This is one of the big fables that Mormons like to teach to show how they have been persecuted.

3.  “Later in his message, the Mormon talk show host told the students that ‘no one in the Grand Councils’ sent them to earth just to make a living. Beck was referring to the Mormon belief that human souls pre-existed in heaven, and that a gathering of heavenly beings known as the Grand Councils, send certain individuals to earth to accomplish a special purpose.  ‘You didn’t come down for a job. You came to this university maybe thinking, “I have to have an education to get a job.” You need this education from Liberty University because of your only true job, the purpose you were sent here for.’”

Beck is actually teaching them nothing less than the Mormon doctrine of eternal progression!  Why was there no rebuttal given?!?!

The article claimed that there were those who believe Beck has had a “born again experience.”  Since Beck still teaches LDS doctrine, I’d say that is impossible for him to be “born again.”

Beck later made a typical Mormon whine about those who disagreed with his speaking there: “This is why your churches are dwindling.  You think you’re standing for something, when indeed, you’re standing for hate and bigotry. I think Jesus was hanging out with prostitutes and sinners, wasn’t He?”

So it is “hate and bigotry” to make a truth statement that having a Mormon preach a sermon at a “Christian” university is wrong?!?  Yes, just marginalize the opponents as hateful and bigoted so you don’t have to actually deal with their arguments.  And just what does the fact that Jesus was “hanging out with prostitutes and sinners” have to do with allowing a sermon full of false teachings being taught at a Christian university - does Beck really believe Jesus would have thought it was okay for a pagan Canaanite to be teaching in the temple?

If Beck had been there simply as a conservative commentator, and made no references to religion, then there would have been no problem.   Read James Duncan’s statement in the last couple paragraphs - he sums up the problem quite nicely.

Random Apostasies and Heresies

Things have been collecting because I spent a few days at the St. Louis Conference on Biblical Discernment.  This biennial event was as good as ever, and I learned lots of good stuff!  Teaching discernment is what my blog is about, especially with these random clips of some of the sometimes more subtle errors affecting the Church today.  Hold on to your hats, because there are some weird things exposed below.

Sunday, April 8th, Christians around the world celebrated the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.  Unfortunately, many “church” assemblies chose to worshiping something else, as you will see in the following examples:

1.  Bill Gothard had a new twist by sending out a mass mailing asking his followers to “Let’s Celebrate Easter...by Doing the Impossible.”  The letter is typical Gothardism abuse of Scripture promoting his aberrant views, without even a hint of what Easter was about, other than to give us “resurrection power” to “do the impossible.”

2.  Beavercreek, Ohio (a Dayton suburb) Church of the Nazarene had a very bizarre “dance” [link gone by 12/15/16] on stage as part of their Easter service.  I agree with The Museum of Idolatry that this dance has nothing to do with the Resurrection, and at times is even quite sensual for a church service.

Okay, moving on from Easter, a new fad spreading more and more is the idea of “Chrislam,” a clear violation of 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.  I found a report this week to be disturbing:

Now the End Begins appears to be a bit aberrant with some of their ideas (KJV only, e.g.) and, with their emphasis on prophecy, I wonder if there is a connection to Seventh-day Adventism.  However, I think their article about Chrislam is pretty accurate.  I noticed in their list of churches involved in sponsoring Chrislam services is one near me in Iowa City, and where I even played for a funeral.  Be discerning on this site if you choose to look over it.

With Mitt Romney in the news, more and more goatherds are showing their ignorance of the LDS faith.  Rick Warren, promoter of Islam, ecumenicism, and other false teachings, thinks the main problem with Mormonism their view of the Trinity. [link gone by 12/15/16]  HELLO!!!  They could accept the Trinity but as long as their God and Jesus are not the God and Jesus of the Bible, believing the Trinity would still be a “sticking” point.  And there is one heck of a lot more than this which makes a “fundamental difference” between LDS and true Christianity.  Then Richard Mouw, the president of the very liberal Fuller Theological Seminary, claims that he’s studied cults and therefore knows that the LDS isn’t a cult.  Of course his reasoning is that cults don’t have world-class universities.  HUH?!?!  So according to Mouw, as long as the LDS has a great university, it doesn’t matter that their theology is everywhere contradictory of true Christianity.  Another reason not to trust any graduate of Fuller to be a teacher worth listening to.

I’m learning more and more about Emergent heretic Steven Furtick.  As with other false teachers, not only does he totally abuse Scripture, he also claims to hear directly from God.  And yet James MacDonald still supports him (as he still does T.D. Jakes).

Emergent heretics are now going after our children.  A conference is coming up next month to train children and youth in a “new kind of Christianity.”  Those who send their children there should first read what Christ has to say about causing children to stumble (Matt. 18:6).  The “old kind” of Christianity is what Jesus started; we don’t need a “new” kind.

You just have to love false teacher Richard Foster; he says the Bible is still a reliable guide even though it has many “inconsistencies.”  Of course Foster just seeks his “inner light” for determining the accuracy of the Word.

We have a new Bible translation coming off the presses, this one called “The Voice.”  

It was previously out only as a New Testament in 2008, but now it’s available as a complete “Bible.”  Steve Bricker makes a short comparison between The Voice and the ESV translation at Titus 3:1-11, and just that comparison should be a warning bell going off in anyone’s head.  Other reports I read this past week were from Erin over at Do Not Be Surprised (who also points out the heretics on the writing team) and The Blaze. [link gone by 12/15/16]  There is really no need for any new English translations of the Bible.  Despite the claim from those promoting The Voice, who claim the Bible is difficult to read and therefore they are solving the problem, there are numerous easy translations of the Bible available, including the formal English Standard Version, and the less formal Holman Christian Standard Bible, the New International Version and the New Living Translation.  Going more dynamic is God’s Word translation, as well as the old Today’s English Version (Good News Bible).  None of these are as paraphrased as is The Voice.  The only reason for a new translation is to push a particular agenda.  Leave this mine in the minefield.

Multi-site churches have become a rage, but they cannot possibly be good for shepherding the flock since the shepherd can’t know his sheep.  The very idea of preaching from one site and broadcasting to numerous other sites to super-large followings reeks of egotism and entertainment-orientation.  Erin has posted an interesting article about this subject.

Another article from Erin exposes Ed Young, Jr and his continued reliance upon gimmicks for church attendance.  This time he’s holding a “pet service,” and he wants it to be the “largest pet service in the history of Christianity.”  I have no doubt that it will be. But what has that got to do with the purpose of the church?  For those who see nothing wrong with this, I suggest you read my article, “What is ‘Church’ For?”

Lastly, Sola Sisters posted an excellent commentary about some problems with Ann Voskamp’s book, “One Thousand Gifts.”  Short answer, the book is just another mine in the Christian book store minefields.  Leave it there.