Random Apostasies and Heresies

Last week I came across an interesting article about “Why Impostors Love the Church.”  It’s thought-provoking, and anyone who has witness such phenomena can heartily agree with the author’s conclusions.

Last week I was asked to research Andrew Wommack, to see if he was a teacher people should be following.  Well, I came across quite a bit of information demonstrating the answer to be “NO.”  The man is just another Word of Father goatherd.  While he does seem to have some good teachings (I looked over his site), his WOF theology takes him out of the running for any teacher I would recommend.  The Christian Research Institute has a good review of Wommack and his dangers.

Meanwhile, Harold Camping has admitted he sinned with his prophetic claims.  Too bad he doesn’t repent of his other false teachings.

The Roman Catholic Church seems to be often good for amusement: they had an exhibition of relics this past weekend.  If you ever felt the need to “venerate” phony relics to “bring you closer to God,” you missed this one.  If you really believe what they displayed are pieces of the Cross and the crown of thorns Jesus wore, then let me tell you about the Cardiff Giant.

It never ceases to amaze me that Christians will participate in some of the worst of entertainment.  I personally know some Christian families who are letting their children read “The Hunger Games” series, as well as heading for the movie version.  I didn’t know anything about this subject until reading a review by Berit Kjos, and I find it difficult to justify as entertainment for Christians.  And I thought it was bad enough that Christians found the “Twilight” series worthy of their time and money!

The controversy about what Rick Warren is or isn’t doing by coddling Islam is still a big topic.  What I have learned is that the evidence proves Warren is not very truthful in some of his denials.  Sola Sisters has an interesting chart I recommend for your viewing.  Two days later Ken Silva had a good post on the same subject, and I trust you will agree that Warren is trying his best to cover his wolf-tracks.

Robert Schuller has long been one of the rankest heretics posing as a Christian, and his family pretty much holds to his self-esteem gospel.  I came across an interesting video this week, showing Schuller’s daughter Sheila giving a talk.  I didn’t realize she was one of the Crystal Cathedral’s pastors, but I guess it shouldn’t have been a surprise.  She is now going to start her own church! Just what we need, another heretical assembly.

Today’s report will end with three good apologetics articles I recommend for your perusal:

1.  Marsha West has an excellent article about the Word of Faith movement, including a wee bit of exposing Joel Osteen as an example of such false teachers.  What I really like about the article is that she isn’t afraid to “name names.”  Take a look at her list if you want to see the movers and shakers in the WOF cult, and stay away from them!

2.  Stan over at “Winging It” has a good article on discerning the wolves in sheep’s clothing.  

3.  Apprising Ministries has an outstanding article about why women pastors are unbiblical.  I think the fact that every church with women pastors (ELCA, Episcopal, UMC, PCUSA, et al) goes liberal in their theology should be evidence enough, but feminists don’t want to accept what God has to say.  They’d rather claim it was just a patriarchal system of the culture which Paul was talking about, or perhaps Paul was the problem and came up with the teaching himself.

The Danger of False Teachers

Harold Camping has been a false teacher for at least 20 years since I first heard him on the radio, yet during all this time I have rarely read anyone teach against him until his latest false prophecy of a May 21st rapture.  Oh, there were those solid watchmen of various apologetics ministries who would publish things about him, but mainstream Christianity seemed to ignore him as his radio empire grew larger and larger.

Now it seems that Camping’s teachings have had disastrous results.  According to news reports, especially the latest I’ve seen from World Net Daily, many Hmong people of Vietnam have been shot and beheaded by government officials when they gathered on a mountain praising God for the Camping predictions.  Many others were arrested and now about 7,000 are hiding in the jungles.

In California a lady upset by the failure of the Rapture slit the wrists and throats of her two daughters and then her own so as to avoid the “Tribulation”.  Fortunately a neighbor called an ambulance and saved their lives.

Camping, of course, says none of this is his responsibility.

Pastors and other church leaders, this is why we must name the names of false teachers and false prophets FROM THE PULPIT!!!   Get the word out to as many as possible so as to expose the likes of Camping and his ilk.  Expose the Word Faith teachers, expose the Bill Gothards, the Jim Wallises, the Rick Warrens, the Joel Osteens, the Eugene Petersons, the Rob Bells, the Brian McLarens, and all their ilk.  Warn people that to follow these men will bring pain and suffering into their lives.  Part of a shepherd’s job is to protect the flock from wolves, and yet that seems to be the one part of the job which is most neglected.

Christian leaders, expose the wolves!

Harold Camping - False Prophet and Heretic

Remember back in September 1994 when Harold Camping’s prediction of the Rapture didn’t happen, and rather than admit to be a false prophet he said he made a mistake in what the date meant and that it actually was the end of the church age?

Well, you’d think that since Camping’s Rapture date of May 21, 2011 was also proven to be a false prophesy, that he’d repent of his ways.  No, this isn’t the way of a cult leader.   A false prophet just makes excuses and gives another date (sort of like the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Adventist movement).

Harold Camping now says he wasn’t spiritual enough, which is why his calculations were off.  But never fear, he has guaranteed that he has the right date this time, and it is October 21, 2011.  So what will happen on October 21?  Probably the “Jonah excuse” - God relented because of so many being saved.

The sad thing is that there are so many of his followers who now have ruined lives, having given away or spent all their assets, quit jobs, etc, thinking they would be leaving planet Earth.  And yet, like many other cults, my guess is that most of Camping’s followers will accept his excuse and continue to follow him.

An interesting thing to me is the wealth of Camping’s organization.  According to OneNewsNow, his assets are “more than $104 million, including $34 million in stocks or other publicly traded securities.”  Again, very typical of cults.

Camping has denied the Trinity, which makes him not only a false prophet, but also a heretic.   Let’s pray his followers will finally get some discernment.