We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum. A.W. Tozer
Therefore let God-inspired Scripture decide between us; and on whichever side be found doctrines in harmony with the word of God, in favor of that side will be cast the vote of truth. --Basil of Caesarea
Once you learn to discern, there's no going back. You will begin to spot the lie everywhere it appears.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service. 1 Timothy 1:12

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Random Apostasies and Heresies


I have been so very busy lately that I’m still behind on researching things I want write about.  However, I still try to stay up with the news in regards to the false teachers and false teachings invading the Church today.  So I’ve collected stuff for today’s edition of random things.

Rick Warren’s “Daniel Plan” is getting more exposure.  Not having reviewed the plan myself, I rely on information from those who have, and every article I’ve read seems to come up with the same problems with this program.  I read another excellent article exposing he unbiblical nature of Warren’s “health program.”

While I’m “talking” about Warren, you need to see his idea of what it will take for a revival in the U.S.A.  Did you know that a sign of renewal is that the singing gets better in your church?!?!   And you really need to bring in an outside speaker, because, apparently, the local teacher isn’t good enough.  As usual, his ideas are about human efforts.

The ignorance of “evangelicals” when it comes to the Mormon cult is really unbelievable, and without excuse.  Southern Baptist leader Richard Land has claimed that Mormonism is a “fourth Abrahamic faith,” while the liberal Fuller Theological Seminary’s Richard Mouw has long been promoting “detente” with the Mormons, decrying the historical denouncement from Christianity towards Mormonism.  Mouw even suggests we should “work together for the cause of righteousness,” although how pagans and Christians can work together for righteousness is beyond my comprehension!  To make matters worse, he seems to think that the Mormons “Jesus” and the real Jesus are the same.  Ladies and gentlemen, the LDS is a cult - a non-Christian cult.  They have nothing in common with Christianity except words, for which they have a totally different definition.  People like Land and Mouw need to remember 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

Speaking of the LDS, here’s an article demonstrating that science, philosophy and history all prove the LDS to be fraudulent.

I’ve seen one particular false teacher pop up now and then, but this week an article about her just rankled me.  Nadia Bolz-Weber is only one of the newest emergent heretics who is rapidly growing in popularity with her “anything goes” teachings.  First, as a woman she is already going against the Word of God by being a “pastor.”  Second, she is a  member of the apostate ELCA denomination.  The comments following this article are very interesting, with a couple from supporters and one important one which gives links to some of this woman’s beliefs.  I disagree with the last paragraph of the author’s article, because she thinks Nadia will be able to share the Gospel; from the evidence, I would suggest it would be “another Gospel.”  And I wonder what sort of “church” this “Calvary Baptist Church” is if they permit her to have such a platform.

Anyone reading this blog for any length of time knows that I frequently talk about good hymns vs so much of what passes for “praise and worship” songs today.  Steve Bricker had a thought-provoking post on this subject.

I have attended a couple churches (one a few times and the other just once) where someone in the congregation would stand and speak in “tongues.”  Of course it was all gibberish pretending to be the “tongues” of the Bible.  On this subject, I recommend this article from Hip and Thigh.

One of the worst false teachers in the public eye is Jim Wallis of Sojourner’s.  What makes him such a wolf is that he is media and political darling, and therefore represents true Christianity to the public.  Unfortunately, he teaches “another gospel.”  Lighthouse Trails Research Ministry examines some of his teachings.

An article in the Huffington Post examines some of the heretical Word of Faith teachings  promoted by Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Glenn,

AAAAAAARGH! I read that article about the Pearls (hadn't previously heard of them), as well as your other posts about them, and Challies' review, and my blood boiled! To inflict such harm on a child, all under the guise of it being "God's way" and done in Jesus' name, misusing the word of God, is utterly reprehensible! HOW WICKED! Those Pearls better read the verses about millstones...

Speaking of such wickedness, our (husband and me) home church is currently doing another type of "God's way" parenting curriculum, and when I researched it, turns out it is off the mark just like the Pearls.

Re: Warren's Daniel Plan, yes that is new age to the core. I'm starting to be convinced that only naive people and fools listen to Warren.

Re: Evangelical compromise with the LDS... sadly Al Mohler even went to SLC and spoke there about yoking with the LDS for conservative values. As you said, 2 Cor 6:14-18, absolutely.

The rest of your roundup was excellent, thanks for keeping us all informed.

-Carolyn

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

At least Albert Mohler made no bones about there being irreconcilable doctrinal differences between the LDS and Christianity.

Anonymous said...

Glenn,

Agreed, thankfully Mohler still stood on the fact that LDS and Christianity are miles apart doctrinally. I still think it's inappropriate to yoke with unbelievers - especially those in a cult - even over "moral issues".

-Carolyn

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

I have no problem joining with non believers for a political cause, but it should never be seen as representing a particular religious stance while doing so. For example, my non-believing neighbor might want to have me assist with posting political signs against same-sex fake marriage - we could do that together as citizens rather than as Christian and atheist.

In which case, Mohler should not have been where he was because the appearances are that Christians and Mormons are together in their spiritual beliefs, regardless of how much Mohler spoke against their doctrine.

Anonymous said...

Amen, Glenn, exactly, that's what I was trying to say, you said it far better.

-Carolyn

Michael Johnson said...

I would like to point out an error or maybe better said, "a misunderstanding" for now. I am a Southern Baptist myself, and not approving of some of the ways we address our differences with the LDS church. But I think we should quote our sources better. You made a mistake about Land. When he said that they are a "Fourth Abrahamic Faith" he said this to say that they are NOT Christian, but something else. Your source says it correctly, but when you quoted it, you left off the last half of the source, and, at least to me, it appeared to now say that Land was saying that LDS has a Christian claim. That is not what I got out of the source you quoted.
I am not also saying that you did this on purpose. This is just how it "appears" to me. If I am wrong, and I hope I am, Sorry. You can correct me. Thank you for the article. I do believe that we are getting too close to LDS, and we should call our the truth to others about the lies LDS makes.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Hi Michael,

Here’s the citation from the article:
Land, who considers Mormonism to be a “fourth Abrahamic faith” — and thus distinct from Christianity — said there has been “gradual increased understanding on both sides.”

It says Land considers Mormonism to be an Abrahamic faith. Period. But Mormonism is NOT an Abrahamic faith, and that is the problem with that statement. Mormonism does not descend from Judaism, Islam, or Christianity, nor is it a separate religion descending from Abraham. It has its origins in the false Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. Since there is nothing true about the LDS faith, it cannot be an Abrahamic faith.

I was even intimating that Land thought they are a Christian faith. The point is, he should not give them credence for being any part of an Abrahamic faith - i.e., based on the O.T.

Does that make sense?