Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

How to Ignore "Discernment Bloggers" and Stay Comfortably Clueless.  Need I say more?

Typical worship service at Ed Young’s goat pen.  Why do people think this is what church is for?!?!

An excellent analogy!

Jonathan Cahn continues to demonstrate why he has no business being a Bible teacher.

YES — Priscilla Shirer is a bonafide false teacher!  There is no debate about it.

The Children of God cult.

Calvary Chapel is going farther and farther into apostasy.

An e-mail from the undiscerning.  Some good thoughts about defending the faith — and the need for it.

Gary Gilley’s review of “The Circle Maker” and its false teachings.

Steven Furtick Cornucopia.

The “Code Orange Revival” is in progress, and being a program initiated by Steven Furtick, we can imagine what it is like.  Ah, but the doctrines espoused lead to a Bible challenge!  This is indeed a gathering of goat-herds.  The name for the event is actually quite ironic.

In April I linked to an article by Lyndon Unger beginning a series exposing the false teaching about “generational curses.”  Somehow I missed part 2 of the series, and now Lyndon has part 3 posted.  The series is well worth reading.

Doubt is NOT a sign of humility and non-judgmentalism; it is a sign of denying the faith.

Sadly, this is what passes for “worship” at too many goat-pens.

Hey Andy Stanley, what about the Bible passage about not suing fellow Christians (1 Cor. 6:1-8)?  Oh, wait.  I forgot that to Andy the Bible isn’t important.

Ellen White was a false prophet from the beginning, and no matter how close she turned toward orthodoxy it won’t change that fact.

Lastly, Mary Dalke has posted another “chapter” in her series on Roman Catholicism.  She’s doing an excellent job with lots of work involved.

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

It's that time again, but you may ask why we apologists report about the false teaching and false teachers -- TO EXPOSE THE WOLVES!

What is Heresy, and what is a “heresy hunter”?

Greg Laurie’s Continuing Slide Into Apostasy.

The Polemics Report has coined some terms to describe new heresies.  Some are just new “technical” words for well-know heresies (such as Word of Faith), but I found these to be worthwhile:

Theoerosism — “erotic love for God.”

Vinism — Gay theology

The “Code” used by Steven Furtick and his goat-pen, Elevation Church.  I wonder if they even know what the Bible is?  H/T to one of my readers for pointing me to this article.

You can’t make this stuff up.  Be sure to read all the way through to see even the stuff about Lisa Bevere.

How to spot a New Apostolic Reformation Book.

The Pope continually proves he has no clue about the Christian faith or the things of God, as he kowtows to all the LEFTIST ideology.  There is no evidence than man can do anything to change our climate, yet he has bought into all the leftist talking points and has declared it a sin against God.  If you aren’t an environmentalist, you are sinning according to him.  The Pope teaches the social gospel on top of the heretical Catholic doctrines.  Of course promoting all the LEFTIST ideologies just helps promote the one-world religion.

Mother Teresa is now a Catholic saint — but was she a saved Christian?  Sadly, the answer has to be, “no.”

Listen to false teacher Ed Young talk about how you need to tithe.  I’m still trying to find where he gets his support without twisting Scripture.

Andy Stanley — Again.  He really needs to get another job.  Here is another excellent review of this sermon.

A troubling situation developing with the joining of two cultic groups.

I’ve previously addressed the fact that Jeremiah 29:11 does not apply to the Christian, rather it was about Israel and only Israel.  Many people have discounted my article because I’m not a lettered theologian.  Okay, so let’s hear Gregory Kouki say pretty much the same thing I’ve said and perhaps people will finally accept the truth.

More proof that the “Church by the Glades” is nothing more than a goat-pen full of self-worshipping goats.

More proof that the ELCA denomination is totally apostate.

Just a reminder that there is a good site exposing the dangerous false teachings of “Adventures in Missions” and “The World Race,” as well as the leader Seth Barnes.  If you’re like me and never heard of this stuff before, get the word out to those who need to know.

The Seventh-day Adventists don’t like the idea of hell, so they’ve erased it from their “Bible.”

Skip Moen, one of the movers and shakers of the Hebrews Roots Movement, denies the Trinity.

A good article about what has happened to the Church since the “emergent” movement began, which just added to the already corrupt social gospel.  He even names some of the vicious wolves.

It’s a nightmare — Perry Noble says he’s coming back to being a vicious wolf!  (I disagree that he is an “alcoholic” or suffers from “alcoholism” — this malady was invented to take responsibility away from the individual by calling it an illness.  The Bible calls it drunkenness.)

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

Responding to the recent Supreme Court unconstitutional and fiat decision on same-sex fake marriage, the media has been seeking comments from various church leaders.  This article has ten “well-known pastors and leaders” responding to the question, “is homosexuality a sin”?  Rather than ask this recently, they decided instead to find sources where the question is answered.  I found it interesting — and somewhat amusing — who they chose to answer the question:
Joel Osteen (from 2012) — Yes, he calls it a sin, but it’s about the only thing he gets right.
Rick Warren (from 2013) — He calls it a sin, but I certainly wouldn’t trust him for much teaching.
Tim Keller (from 2011) — Calls it a sin, and he is often okay in his teachings, but he has a lot of problems, which I have noted many times.  But, he spends a lot of time obfuscating the standing of homosexual sin over other sins, and totally ignores that God called it an abomination.
Franklin Graham (from 2013) —  Stands firm on the Bible.
Kirk Cameron (from 2012) — He does indeed stand firm on the Bible.
Tony Evans (from 2012) — I expected him to stand firm.
John MacArthur (from 2008) — As solid as you’d expect.
Carl Lentz (from 2014) — I’ve posted on this one before;  he solidly obfuscates and won’t teach against it.
John Piper (from 2010) — Solid answers
Perry Noble (from 2013) —  A real obfuscater, but he does call it a sin.  He doesn’t explain that, although all sexual immorality is sin, he doesn’t make the distinction that homosexual sin has been called an abomination by God, while He does not say this about sexual immorality in general.  And yet he encourages them to come unrepentant to the assembly — a place of meeting for CHRISTIANS!
So I find the responses to be interesting, but I wonder who Perry Noble and Carl Lentz would view same-sex fake marriage now in light of it being legal.

Then we have the Roman Catholic pope demonstrating he really doesn’t know where to stand in regards to homosexuality.

Sadly, so-called “Christian” colleges have caved to the homosexual agenda.  While some don’t surprise me because of their continuing apostasy in other areas, some also surprised me.

Ed Young is becoming a much more dangerous teacher.  He recently had Mormon Glenn Beck at a service and, when Beck stated he was a “saved” Christian, his congregation applauded — with no correction from Young! 

Jonathan Cahn thinks America is Israel.  Of course, as previous articles have pointed out, this is really the basis for his recent books promoting all sorts of false teachings.

By now my readers should know my stance on music in worship, including style and lyrics.  Of course the lyrics should always be a primary issue regardless of how one feels about the style.  Tim Challies has a good article about musical styles which “stifle community.”

Lighthouse Trails Research Ministry has a new booklet tract which should be distributed to all your charismatic friends.  It addresses the false teaching of “slain in the spirit.”  The entire tract is published at the link.

Hat tip to Elizabeth Prata for her link to an article about “The Danger in Women’s Ministries.”  That blog looks to be quite interesting, and I just may have to follow it.

Lastly, Doug has a good article about the many cults and their Bible versions.

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

I don’t know how many  — if any — of my readers look at my chapter reviews of Gail Riplinger’s New Age Bible Versions, but I’m posting them anyway (as I just did last night).  Perhaps when I’m finished I can work it into a book.  Her book is arduous to review, but it is one of the works the KJV Onlyers point to for supporting their position, and so it needs to be debunked.  It really isn’t difficult to debunk — just time consuming!

Okay, now for today’s collection:

Rome Catholicism is getting worse and worse as a supposed representative of Christianity - the “Vicar of Christ.”  Now the Pope bows to an Islamic Grand Mufti!  I can just imagine Christ doing that — NOT!

There is one Catholic site, LifeSite News, which I follow which is really good for pro-family and anti-abortion information — if you can just wade through a lot of promotion of the papacy, etc.  At any rate, a priest sued the site because the Pope cited them when he forced the priest to choose between being pro-abortion or being a priest.  The Pope should have just excommunicated him.  The suit is over only because the priest died — and now knows the truth about his faith!  The point is, as with all false teachers, he didn’t like being exposed and sued those who exposed him.

Speaking of LifeSite News, they have reported on a Jesuit university which hosted a Planned Parenthood event, which was just disgusting.  So why doesn’t the Pope bring about church discipline?  Roman Catholic schools have really entered a love affair with the world.

It’s a sad day when the President of the United States, who claims to be a Christian (although it’s been proven that he isn’t), doesn’t have the faintest idea about what the Scripture really says.  And yet too many Christians accept what he says as truth because he is their president — as if that means discernment isn’t necessary!

I’ve posted a few citations recently about how worship in the church is becoming more and more just entertainment.  One of my readers pointed me to this video which sums up the situation quite nicely.  I’ve seen this video before, and thought I posted it in the past, so if you’ve already seen it, well just accept it as a good review!

Are relationships “the glue that holds a church together”?  Rick Warren seems to think so.

Benny Hinn is so far into heresy and apostasy that I really don’t address him much; I figure those who read this blog already know he’s hell-bound.  However, I thought this article was a good report for alerting people why they need to avoid Hinn.

Should we, or should we not, celebrate Christmas?  To help you make your decision, a good collection of articles can be found here.  We’ve always celebrated it appropriately as the birthday of Christ.

Who are really the most dangerous people in the world?  Great article by Elizabeth Prata.

For the last two items, I have to give a hat tip to Erin.

The founder of the Foursquare Church was Aimee Semple McPherson, and if you have a bad root, you will not have the best fruit.  She is a good reason to avoid this denomination.  They still believe in a lot of her aberrant charismatic teachings.

How shameless will Ed Young get?  And yet he has a huge following — goats with a goat-herd.  Sadly, too many church leaders are just like him.

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

I’ve been quite occupied lately and unable to get time to post a blog article.  (Well, I have posted some on my other blog, but those are easy to just copy out.)

Anyway, I spent a couple days in the Chicago area, and my desktop computer was down for repairs for five days.  Then there were some ministries out of town, band practice for an upcoming concert, and even a memorial service for the son of a friend.  And now my yard needs mowed and my gardens are overgrown with weeds!

Speaking of something being overgrown with weeds — that’s sort of what is happening to the church as the pure teachings for the Word are being overgrown by false teachings from every quarter!  Some of what I’m reporting today might be a week or two old, but it may still be the first place my readers have seen it.

False teacher Ed Young has taken a page from the Benny Hinn playbook for seeking money from his gullible congregation.  (By the way, Christians DO NOT TITHE!!!!)

The Presbyterian Church (USA) has finally declared official approval of same-sex fake marriage.  After giving tacit approval to homosexuality and same-sex unions for years, at last there is no more pretense!  But they’ve even made another heinous decision; they’ve struck down “a resolution condemning the killing of babies born alive during abortions.”  It’s difficult for me to believe that any real Christian remains in that denomination.

An example of how perverse, apostate, heretical the Episcopal Church is the “transgendered priest” delivering a sermon.  (By the way, “transgender” is a load of psychobabble - there is no such thing; mutilating one’s body doesn’t change their gender.)

Ever wonder what apologists mean when we talk about churches being “liberal”?  Christian Apologetics & Resource Ministry has a good list of the elements of liberalism.

Talking about liberal churches - the United Methodist Church fits just about all those elements in CARM’s list.  They have now decided to re-instate an apostate “pastor” who presided at his son’s same-sex fake marriage.  Like the PCUSA, the UMC is dropping all pretense of being against homosexuality.

Beth Moore is really getting more and more bizarre in her teachings.  So why do pastors allow her junk in their churches?!?

I don’t often direct my readers to No Compromise Radio because of their very heavy Calvinist leanings, but this one is some good information about false prophet Ellen G. White of the Seventh-day Adventists.  Just another example as to why I call the SDA a cult.

The Watchman Fellowship has posted a new profile on the Hebrew Roots movement.

Lastly, Tim Challies tells us about the lessons he’s learned from false teachers.

Random Apostasies and Heresies

The big news last week was the Ken Ham and Bill Nye debate.  If you haven’t seen it, the full debate is available to watch on youtube.  Albert Mohler has an excellent commentary about how the debate was really an examination and exposure of clashing worldviews.  Rick Phillips at Reformation 21 has a good, short commentary worth your while also.
There are some really good analyses of the debate, and I can provide some links if requested.

I’ve read several interesting things about the Mormons the past week or so, a few of which really need to be shared with my audience.
A lawsuit has been filed in England against the LDS president, for fraudulent teachings which led to the loss of money from an adherent of the faith.  It will be very interesting to see how this plays out.
This situation was first brought to my attention through a link to a site I’ve never seen before, but which I think is a good one to follow regarding news about the LDS; it’s called, The Mormon Curtain.  Mormon Coffee has posted part 2 of their article exposing Joseph Smith as the founder of racism in the Mormon church.

Recovering Grace, a web site by former followers of Bill Gothard, which exposes the teachings and practices of Gothard’s organization, had as a six-part series the testimony of a young lady who was being groomed by Gothard to be his bride - unbeknownst to her.  It is a good exposure of the sort of sexual harassment that was apparently common with Bill.  Part one will take you to part two, and so forth.
After you’ve read that one, take a look at Charlotte’s Story for an example of just how far Gothard would go.

Long ago I learned of the origin and teachings behind Alcoholics Anonymous, and why it is something Christians should not be a part of.  Lighthouse Trails Research has a new booklet about AA, and this article sums up what the booklet exposes.
(I’d like to point out that the founder of AA coined the word “Alcoholic” so as to take away the responsibility of the drunk, and the psychology and psychiatry industry turned “alcoholism” into a “disease,” which is total nonsense.)

One site I have never previously read is that of Rolling Stone Magazine; that sort of material is just not my cup of tea.  However, I was given a link last week to an article on the site, about the International House of Prayer cult.  It is a very interesting viewpoint from a secular publication, but they seem to have hit the proverbial nail on the head in their assessment.  And I would say they describe a lot of demonic activity! Of course, as with any cult, followers have joined in the comment section making claims against the article - but my personal research confirms what the article says.  It is sad that cult followers are so deluded in the defense of their particular cult.

Donald Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz, continues his slide into total apostasy.

One of the things which has always bothered me is the teaching that Christians pay a “tithe” to the Church.  This is a 100% false teaching!  The tithe (meaning 10%) was something Israel was required to give (as one of many required offerings).  Christians have no minimum amount for giving, rather we are told to just give as our heart directs us, without grudging or compulsion.  Some people say 10% is a good place to start, but I think that depends on one’s financial condition - sometimes that 10% can be the difference between eating or not eating.  
Elizabeth Prata has a good article on this subject.

I thought Larry King’s interview with Joel Osteen took place a few years back, but this link makes it appear to be recent.  So is this a new one?  I don’t know, but the interview is 100% proof positive why Joel Osteen should not be in any pastoral position.  It is difficult to even conceive of him being saved, since he never really seems to understand the Gospel.  I think, again, that Elizabeth Prata has a better handle on Osteen’s teachings than do most Christians - “doctrines of demons.”

I’ve previously addressed Michael Brown’s book, “Authentic Fire,” and how confused it is with reality.  Another article about the subject, which I think is worth your perusal, is over at the Cripplegate.  Meanwhile, Phil Johnson addresses Brown’s association, and defense of, arch-heretic Benny Hinn.

Then we have “The Circle Makers,” which exposes many who are teaching some really bad doctrines.  Mark Batterson isn’t alone in this convoluted idea; Rick Warren and Ed Young are right in there with him, albeit with a difference.

We’ve heard a lot over the years about all the “Holy Laughter” in so many false revivals, but the real “Holy Laughter” is from God.

Lastly, this video sums up a lot of current “worship” styles.

Random Apostasies and Heresies

Time for another round of things that should scare - and sadden - a discerning Christian; things which people need to be alerted to stay away from.

Let’s start with The Alpha Course.  As noted in previous blogs, this is a spiritually-dangerous course.  Not only did it originate from someone with aberrational ideas, but it is also extremely ecumenical and brings in lots of Roman Catholic teachings.  There is just so much wrong with this course that it has taken books to examine it all.  One of the best sites for good summation articles is Erin Benziger’s “Do Not Be Surprised...”

Apprising Ministries has also previously posted articles exposing the nature of The Alpha Course, and last week posted an excellent one examining six important points where this course is problematic.

What is shocking about The Alpha Course is that, while making a strong comeback, it is being promoted by too many well-known church leaders.  In my last “Random” post I noted that John Piper, and Moody Radio’s Janet Parshall were both speaking approvingly of the course.  Rick Warren has now joined the band-wagon, claiming that “God began a movement” with The Alpha Course, and that it was “inspired by the Holy Spirit”!  I hate to burst Warren’s apostate bubble, but God would never start a movement which teaches apostasy and other false teachings, nor would the Holy Spirit inspire it.  Just another reason Warren should not be trusted as a Christian teacher.

Apprising Ministries was good enough this past week to post an older article from another site examining some issues surrounding The Alpha Course, and whether or not we should be judging its content.  This link will go to the original article.

Moving right along, Rick Warren is not only promoting Alpha but he is now regretting making the video supporting real marriage during the 2008 Proposition 8 in California.  Putting this together with a comment he recently made during an interview when he stated that homosexual behavior “might be” a sin, one has to wonder what his particular teachings about homosexuality will now be.

I’m not done with Rick Warren yet (one could write a very large book about the false teachings of Warren).  I previously briefly mentioned his new PDL anniversary version as being as bad - if not worse - than the original; this week Lighthouse Trails Research ministry posted a special report which should be reviewed by everyone interested in the whole PDL issue.  The book is still unbiblical.

Although the fundamentalist LDS groups who practice polygamy are ostracized by the Utah church, in regards to polygamy the FLDS actually follows the teachings of Joseph Smith better than does the LDS.  Greg Kouki makes an excellent point comparing the Mormons desire for clear distinction between them and the FLDS, and Christians’ desire for clear distinction between us and the LDS.

Remember Christine Caine, mentioned in previous posts as being a false teacher?  Well she is again reminding us that her “spiritual mother” is none other than Word of Faith heretic Joyce Meyer.  Anyone with a heretic as a “spiritual parent” should not be teaching the Word of God.

Christine Caine’s association with heretics and other false teachers is becoming a very common occurrence.  It seems another of her favorites is Sheryl Brady, another WOF “pastor” who was installed in her office by WOF heretic and modalist T.D. Jakes.  In this article by Apprising Ministries, you can see the connections between all these false teachers with so many other WOF fakes.  None of these people have a clue about what the Bible really teaches.

And of course there is Rod Parsley, with his “prayer cloths.”  But guess who is chummy with this WOF heretic?  Steven Furtick!  There is no shame with these new “superstar” emergent and seeker-sensitive leaders; take a look at the latest from Ed Young, Jr.