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

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

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.

4 comments:

MyBulletinBoard said...

Thanks for keeping up with this crazy stuff. Hope it doesn't drive you up the wall. It's a real help to many of us who don't have time to search it out and need to know the trends so we know where our congregations are drifting.

Anonymous said...

Hi Glenn,

MacDonald on TBN is unreal. TBN - The Blasphemy Network. The Baloney Network. Someone else suggested the B stands for Baal. Either way, a network of heretics. Not surprised MacD joined them, after the Elephant Room debacles. Furthermore, MacD's statement "God multiplies healthy things" is so gimmicky, sounds like something Rick Warren would say. Well, just as the Lord says, in their greed they will exploit you... with swelling words...

We should never mistakenly assume that numerical and/or financial growth of so-called "Christian" ministries and networks is indicative of "God's multiplying" or His favor. As if false teachers don't prosper... they often do, far moreso than real Christians. But only in this age... They gain the world and forfeit their soul. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.

All the major denom's jettisoning God's definition of marriage is just a sign of the time. The Days of Lot.

I'm not a fan of NoCo for the same reason you mentioned.

Challies' article was good. His quote: "Amazingly, it is often those who stand fast against falsehood who get labeled as divisive. The church often trusts a smiling false teacher ahead of a frowning defender." So true, unfortunately. My husband and I have been on the receiving end of this scorn from fellow believers when we tell them that their certain favorite popular teacher (Warren, Hybels are the two we've most frequently warned about, due to their local popularity) is actually untrustworthy. We get slapped with the usual misused pejorative "you're a pharisee", and the believers (often pastors, sadly) go on loving the false teacher. Sigh.

I also appreciate Challies' statement that false teachers are not innocent. They know who they are and they are very intentional. Really, are we so naive to think these men just "lost their way"? No, if you do your homework, you'll find out they were not faithful to the truth from the start. Quote: "Their attack on truth is far more brazen than we may like to think." - yes.

-Carolyn

Ann said...

Excellent update and visual, ie., clown.

I have been pondering the very same case scenario as I believe most churches have become "circus churches" designed to have a pseudo holy spirit experience drummed up, of course, by the praise band and preacher. It is as if God, the Holy Spirit cannot speak to us through His Word testifying to Christ alone, or move in a person's life outside of the building built with bricks and mortar. And to add to the circus charade, no longer is sin and repentance preached from our Holy Scriptures, therefore true Biblical grace has been redefined. Now, the average church goer says this, "I don't do anything wrong!"

Yes, I hear this often from the churched, therefore when a sin occurs, another person is blamed or the situation is cast aside with absolutely no searing of the conscience of the sinner. When Law and Grace are not preached, taught, or practiced within God's church, what we really have then, is a social club meeting together for the sake of Sunday morning appearances.

And sadly, the so called adults/mature believers have allowed the young people to lead the so called "praise bands" and give the "message" from the pulpit during the service....but then again, it does stroke the pride of the parents sitting in the audience who push to have their "children in leadership"......and the sheep are starving for lack of sound doctrine and true worship in spirit and truth. I am sorry, but I hear the bragging and boasting of man's character and man's accomplishments more than I hear the teachings of Jesus Christ.

I guess the circus of immaturity is more important than the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Well said, Ann. Great descriptions of the modern church.