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

Friday, March 25, 2016

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

Mark Driscoll, who is definitely disqualified from being a pastor, is holding his first service in his new church on Easter.  Driscoll claims:  “God is planting The Trinity Church and we are following his leadership.  God has a plan that has been 50 years in the making.”  Yea, right.  Now this charlatan false teacher has direct communication with God.  I don’t think so.

Concerns about AWANA.

This satire article perfectly describes the market-driven church.


The Church by the Glades has done it again — made a mockery of worship.  They just continue to feed the itching ears.

A good report on heretic Todd Bentley.  His conversion story sounds more like demons at work than the Holy Spirit, especially when you consider his history ever since!

An interesting connection between Charles Finney’s teachings and the seeker-sensitive movement.

There are not greater things than Scripture.

Why Seventh-day Adventists don’t celebrate Easter — another example of the difference between the SDA Jesus and the real Jesus of the Bible.

Another episode of Fred’s review of “Which Bible Would Jesus Use?

Perry Noble continues to prove what a wolf he is.  In fact, he daily sounds more and more liked a Word of Faith heretic.  How many times must we remind Christians that we DO NOT TITHE.  We were never commanded to do so.

The article about Perry Noble has links to another of his ilk — a new name to add to the wolf list.  His name is Tavner Smith.  Read the other articles linked to and you will see just how dangerous this man is.

Ah, the need to be “relevant”!  You know a church has gone apostate when they do this. and, yes, this is a real “church” in Tampa, FL.  They even have a staff member titled “Creative Pastor”!  If you want some real head-shaking, look at their beliefs and what they value.  And yet they claim God called them to this ministry!

A good article by Gary Gilley explaining how we need to build up the Body.

Christians should be alert to the cult of Armstrongism.  Although the Worldwide Church of God itself has changed to orthodoxy, the followers of Armstrong’s teachings are still out there propagating them.

As if Sarah Young’s “Jesus Calling” books and junk weren’t bad enough, now there is a “Jesus Calling Devotional Bible”!  Thomas Nelson Publishers will publish any heresy which enriches them.  H/T Marsha West.



That’s it for today — a lot of things to be discerning about.  Have a blessed Easter celebrating the resurrection of our Lord.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Glenn,

Correct, Driscoll is - and has pretty much always been - utterly disqualified from ministry. But that little detail won't stop him or those who promote him. Hasn't yet.

AWANA - my husband and I were both bothered by some aspects of the program and no longer serve in it. Never saw anything contemplative, though.

GTY article about Finney --> seeker movement, good assessment. The Babylon Bee satire just took Warren/Hybels/A Stanley's path to its logical conclusion.

Gilley, spot on. "Evangelicalism has stooped so low that it can no longer be distinguished from that culture."

That said, the rest of the apostasy you listed this week (Furtick, Noble, Hillsong, Glades, Bentley, Young, "Relevant" FL church, SDA, JW, Armstrong) should all be abjectly rejected, without hesitation. Why? See my comment on Gilley. Still confused? Reread what Gilley wrote a few more times. Let his words sink in.

One final thought. Mature sheep are STARVING TO DEATH in the vast majority of today's assemblies. I believe this is due to one reason: church leaders (mainly elders, but deacons also) have forgotten what church is: a gathering OF AND FOR the SAINTS and the SAINTS ALONE. Instead, the weekly worship gathering we call "church" is used as an evangelistic tool, welcoming in all the unbelievers. This unbiblical catering to the unsaved has had a completely predictable negative effect on the church. Mature sheep, especially, end up with no one to shepherd them. That is because the pastors have exhausted themselves from entertaining the goats they erroneously brought into the fold, and from coddling infant believers who cannot grown up on the diluted doctrine that is necessary to entertain the goats!!!

Our area - that is, where my husband and I live - has literally been swallowed up by "seeker" mentality. EVERY (and I do mean EVERY) church we have ever attended/visited/learned about has gone this route. Even the "solid" local reformed baptist church that is in our area is asking people to bring their unsaved family and friends to church.

My husband and I wish the pastors would do their job: feed the sheep. Tend the lambs. Guard the flock from wolves; don't promote them by name during service!!!

Want to evangelize the lost? Train up the saints to go OUT into the world and evangelize them. If/when the unbelievers get saved, then by all means, bring them into the body, but not a day before. That's what Scripture teaches. Stop rolling out the welcome mat of the fold to the unconverted.

Dismounting soapbox.

-Carolyn

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Carolyn

church leaders (mainly elders, but deacons also) have forgotten what church is: a gathering OF AND FOR the SAINTS and the SAINTS ALONE

That sums up the entire problem!

Anonymous said...


Included a link on pope Francis' false god of peace & love! Very sad! The world watches on, applauding his (w)holy deceptive gesture!


https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/03/25/children-of-the-same-god-pope-francis-washes-the-feet-of-muslim-migrants/?tid=sm_fb

Ms B

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

HI Ms. B,

I saw that article but decided not to use it only because so many other sites were carrying it, and I think most of my readers already know that Roman Catholicism is a cultic false belief system, and I was getting too many things to read anyway. Thanks for including it in your comment.

Alec said...

Carolyn,

Good "soapbox" :)

Alec

Anonymous said...

Thanks Alec.

I do want to add this thought: mature sheep can self feed. So they are not "dependent", per se, on their pastor to teach them. (Actually, no Christian should be dependent on man to teach them, see 1 John 2:27.) However, all sheep, mature ones especially, still need good local assemblies, with reputable elders who genuinely care about them.

Unfortunately, as I said, so many pastors have forgotten that church is of and for the saints. So there's a lot of neglect of the fold, and not just in preaching and teaching of the word, either. At least the mature saints know how to self feed, but they still suffer tremendously when the pastors aren't doing their jobs.

-Carolyn