Author Archives: Marsha West

About Marsha West

Marsha West is the owner and managing editor of Christian Research Network, Apprising Ministries (the late Ken Silva’s blog) and On Solid Rock Resources. She is also co-founder of Berean Research. For two decades Marsha was the owner and managing editor of Email Brigade website as well as the EMB News Report, a bi-weekly email report for conservative people of faith. For many years Marsha was a regular contributor to several blogs including CRN, RenewAmerica, News With Views and Web Commantary as well as popular websites she no longer endorses: American Family Association, Worldview Weekend, Stand Up For The Truth, The Christian Post and Christian Headlines. Although Marsha still blogs, her primary focus is CRN. Marsha also writes Research Papers (White Papers) on various topics that are published on CRN, Berean Research and On Solid Rock Resources. Visit Marsha’s other sites: On Solid Rock Resources https://www.onsolidrockresources.com/ Apprising Ministries http://apprising.org Marsha’s RenewAmerica Column http://renewamerica.com/columns/mwest Marsha’s Facebook Page http://facebook.com/marsha.west.77

The Current Downgrade of the Evangelical Church

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(Steve Evans – Pulpit & Pen) “Many of us belong to churches that have a low view of sin, but will have a very high view of love and grace. And then some of us are privileged to belong to churches where the true Gospel of Jesus Christ is declared weekly, where people are being called to repentance and pointed to the cross.”

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.  –II Thessalonians 2:3

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth and turned aside to fables. –II Timothy 4:3-4 Continue reading →

Met Gala’s ‘blasphemous’ Catholic theme

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A post over at CNBCNews contains photos of celebrities wearing costumes that deliberately mock Roman Catholics. MET Gala 2018: Heavenly Bodies was billed as a “celebration of God and beauty.” Pop star Rihanna came decked out in a short skirt and Pope-like mitre hat. Cardinal Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, attended the event. Reportedly, the Vatican provided items for a display on “religious fashions through the ages.” Not surprisingly, many Catholics voiced their outrage and chided celebs for wearing outfits that were blasphemous, disgusting, disrespectful, and accused them of “cultural appropriation” and hypocrisy.

Now to CNBC’s report: Continue reading →

ERLC panel at SBC to address sexual abuse, assault

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(Tom Strode – Baptist Press) Sexual abuse and assault will be subjects of a panel discussion convened by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission on the eve of the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention June 12-13 in Dallas.

The ERLC will sponsor a conversation on some of society’s hottest topics during “Gospel Sexuality in a #MeToo Culture” at 9 p.m. June 11. Panelists will discuss how the Gospel of Jesus guides the Christian view of such subjects not only as sexual assault, abuse and harassment but domestic violence, pornography and infidelity. View article →

A No Holds Barred Response to Beth Moore’s ‘A Letter to My Brothers’

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“I had no personal aspirations to preach nor was it my aim to teach men. If men showed up in my class, I did not throw them out. I taught.”

Bible study author, speaker and blogger Michelle Lesley was asked the following question:

Did you see Beth Moore’s recent blog post “A Letter to My Brothers“? What do you think about what she said?

Michelle was in no rush to respond, so her reply is very well-thought-out. As you will see, she offers her overall impressions and then addresses a few of Moore’s statements from the letter she penned. Michelle also provides us with a biblical assessment of Beth Moore’s teaching and calls her to task for throwing out “unsubstantiated, generalized accusations against a wide swath of nameless Christian men and churches.”

Now to Michelle Lesley’s no holds barred response: Continue reading →

Cardinal: Pope’s Failure to Transmit Faith Clearly Hints at Apostasy

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The Roman Catholic Church claims to be the one true Church. CRN’s view is that the RCC is apostate. We urge you to read our informative Research Paper and see for yourself that the doctrines long held and taught by the RCC stand in stark contrast with true biblical Christianity.

Now to Michael W. Chapman’s post over at CNSNews. 

In a forceful commentary on Pope Francis’ decision to not give the German bishops clear guidance on whether Protestants married to Catholics may receive Holy Communion at Mass — intercommunion — in some cases, Cardinal William Eijk of the Netherlands said this was “completely incomprehemsible” and reminded him of the Church’s teaching about its “ultimate trial” and “the price of apostasy from the truth.” Continue reading →

Be Certain Of God’s Will

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For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (Romans 11:29)

I have a right to ask for anything that God has promised me, but if I go beyond the range of the divine promises, I also go beyond the range of assured and confident expectation.

The promises are very large and very wide, but when one gets a fancy in his head, he must not suppose that God is there, in his fancy. I have known some fanatical persons who thought they could live by faith. Continue reading →

Scaling the NAR language barrier: ‘Local Church’ means ‘One City-wide Church Government’.

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(Churchwatch Central)  “[Brian] Houston and others in Hillsong have recounted again and again that God said to Houston, “I will give you this city.” Obviously Houston was influence by the ‘Kingdom Now!” thinking of the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s where it was popular to take “the city for God”. “

Cult expert Walter Martin was a master in understanding ‘cultspeak’, warning people to realize there is a language barrier between Christians and cultists. He stated, Continue reading →

Bethel Music and Bieber Sang It. But Do We Really Believe in ‘Reckless Love’?

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(Kate Shellnutt – Christianity Today)  “CT asked Christian music experts to weigh in on “Reckless Love.” Most agreed that it’s a good thing for Christians to examine the theology beneath catchy lyrics—and said it’d be reckless not to.”

Bethel Music’s Cory Asbury hit it big with his song about the “the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God.”

It’s also back at the top of Billboard’s hot Christian songs chart, thanks to a boost from none other than Justin Bieber, who recently posted a clip of himself singing the chorus on Instagram before performing the song as part of an impromptu worship set during the Coachella music festival in California. Earlier this year, Israel Houghton offered his gospel cover. Continue reading →

Jesus the Christ

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But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. Acts 2:24

Here revealed is the power of God among men — the resurrection power of God, a power which man cannot duplicate. Resurrection power is the ability to bring life out of death, to correct a situation which is hopeless, to change a person who is irremediable — that is resurrection power. Continue reading on Ray Stedman Devotions

 

Live for Life Everlasting

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“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. (1 Corinthians 10:23-24)

I would that all men at this hour abounded in almsgiving, but specially those who are followers of the loving Jesus. Regard your transactions from the standpoint of eternity.

Weigh what you do, not as it may be thought of by men of the world, but as it will be judged by yourself when you behold in the heavenly country the face of Him you love! I do not want you to have to say when you come to die, “I have had large possessions, but I have been a bad steward. Continue reading →

The Holiness of God and the Sinfulness of Man

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(R.C. Sproul – Ligonier Ministries) One word that crystallizes the essence of the Christian faith is the word grace. One of the great mottos of the Protestant Reformation was the Latin phrase sola gratia—by grace alone. This phrase wasn’t invented by the sixteenth-century Reformers. Its roots are in the theology of Augustine of Hippo, who used it to call attention to the central concept of Christianity, that our redemption is by grace alone, that the only way a human being can ever find himself reconciled to God is by grace. That concept is so central to the teaching of Scripture that to even mention it seems like an insult to people’s intelligence; yet, if there is a dimension of Christian theology that has become obscured in the last few generations, it is grace. Continue reading →

‘Show pornography in sex ed lessons’, C4 presenter

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(The Christian Institute) “Parents would be in outcry, but so what.”

Pornography being shown in sex education would be “very helpful” for children, a doctor and TV presenter has alleged.

Dr Christian Jessen, who presented Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies, made the claim during an interview with The Daily Telegraph.

He called for parents to make their kids “cringe and squirm” by watching pornography with them, and said it would also be helpful in sex ed lessons.  View article →

A Letter Back to Beth Moore from Seth Dunn

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Beth Moore took a selfie with uber false teacher Joyce Meyer while promoting unbiblical unity on Meyer’s show.

From Seth Dunn to Beth Moore:

Dear Beth, 

Today you wrote a letter to your brothers in Christ.  Allow me to respond. 

Be silent.  You are not a good Bible teacher.  You preach and write about yourself all the time as is if you were a character in the Biblical story.  You’re not.  You are a character in the farcical and cruel story of the evangelical industrial complex. I read Believing God recently; it was one of the worst Christian books that I have ever read.  It pains me to know that so many women erroneously think that you are a good source for biblical teaching.  You are not.  Let me be clear, you aren’t a terrible Bible teacher because you are a woman, you are a terrible Bible teacher because you are not good at teaching the Bible.  That you are a woman is irrelevant. Continue reading →

When Psychological ‘Science’ Defines Ultimate Cosmology

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(Peter Jones – truthXchange) “The great danger is that the state, in classic Marxist fashion, and in the name of psychological science, will take on the religious role of defining the “true” mystery of human life and will impose that definition on other religious views of human life, punishing by the power of the state those who disagree. A totalitarian state always claims religious authority.” 

Assembly member Evan Low (D-Cupertino), Chair of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, has recently introduced Assembly Bill 2943, declaring “homosexual conversion therapy” a fraudulent and therefore unlawful practice in the state of California. Continue reading →

Amazon Boots Christian Nonprofit From Donations Program Because Of SPLC’s ‘Hate List’

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(Bre Payton – The Federalist) A non-profit, public interest law firm which focuses on religious freedom issues has been booted from AmazonSmile, after the Southern Poverty Law Center deemed the law firm a “hate group.”

In a statement released Thursday, Alliance for Defending Freedom President Michael Farris said the law firm has been excluded from the retail giant’s program, which donates a small portion of purchases to the nonprofit of the customer’s choice. Farris said the firm’s exclusion is the result of Amazon’s reliance upon SPLC, an organization that has long been regarded as a glorified direct-mail scam that profits from hate-mongering.  View article →

Ex-Homosexuals, Free Speech Advocates Join Forces Against New Law

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(Elizabeth M. Economou  – LifeZette)  ‘Junk science will increasingly become the basis of legislation’ — groups plan Freedom March on May 5 in nation’s capital

A new California law — coupled with an egregious attempt by those on the Left to ban books they deem inappropriate (note the irony) — is exactly why free speech advocates, ex-gays, and Christians are taking part in an upcoming Freedom March in the nation’s capital. Continue reading →

Good Works Actually Extended from God

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 I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.(Jeremiah 10:23)

False Converts Teaching False Doctrine Are Leading Professing Evangelical Christians Astray

Labors in the Lord like this one here at Apprising Ministries would never have been necessary had the mainstream evangelical Christian community not decided to follow the mainline denominations, who’re now mortally wounded by adherence to the religious slavery of liberal theology. It was a serious error from which evangelicalism may indeed never recover. Continue reading →

Boy Scouts Overrun by Sex & Gender Revolutionaries

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(Todd Starnes – Fox News) The Boy Scouts of America is dropping the word “boy” from its signature program. The name change is part of a marketing campaign to promote inclusiveness.

The umbrella organization will still be known as Boy Scouts of America, but the older youth program will become Scouts BSA. The term Cub Scouts will not be changed because it is considered gender neutral.  The Scouts recently announced plans to invite girls and transgender kids to join their ranks — hence the necessity for a name change to the once exclusively all-boys organization. View article →

 

Leaning Toward Heresy

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Because a large number of churches opt for “user friendly” sermons and no longer teach the essentials of the faith on a regular basis “most who attend such a church are prey for cults and false teachers who use similar terms with different definitions to pull the unwary away from the faith,” caution Don and Joy Veinot over at Midwest Christian Outreach. For example, when it comes to The Trinity, we must watch out for definitions that sound close to the truth but in fact lean into heresy. Speaking of the Trinity, the Veinots warn us to watch out for organizations such as WND (WorldNetDaily) for the following reason: Continue reading →

The True Basis for Social Concern

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Throughout the land that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land. If one of your fellow Israelites becomes poor and sells some of their property, their nearest relative is to ;come and redeem what they have sold. Lev 25:24-25

As you read this chapter you can see that these are God’s instructions on how to deal with poverty. This is an issue which seethes and throbs beneath the surface in every land on earth today. Continue reading on Ray Stedman Daily Devotions

Seth Dunn and The Masons: The Blackball Rolls Downhill

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(Seth Dunn – Pulpit & Pen) “No network is more powerful than the God I serve. When it comes down to it, I will not assent to the idea that I committed the nebulous sin of “sowing discord” because I wouldn’t put up with a demonic cult being part of God’s Holy assembly.”

I was baptized at Tabernacle Baptist Church (TBC) in Cartersville, GA. I was married there. The church endorsed my application to seminary. My children have attended PreK there for two years. My parents are members. I attended Sunday services there on April 29th. On April 30th, I was informed that I am no longer allowed on the TBC campus for Sunday worship services. … Continue reading →

Science Says Dark Chocolate Is a Mother’s Day Winner

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(Michele Blood – LifeZette)  Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13, and families all across the country are asking each other the same question: “What should we get Mom for Mother’s Day?”

There’s (literally) a sweet answer that checks every box on your wish list — it’s inexpensive and easy to find. New research says it’s good for moms, too.

Enter the humble chocolate. But not just any chocolate –– dark chocolate. Three new studies present impressive results about chocolate’s effects on the immune system, stress, and even vision, according to one of the studies. Continue reading →

65% of Public School 8th Graders Not Proficient in Reading; 67% Not Proficient in Math

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(Terence P. Jeffrey – CNSNews) – Sixty-five percent of the eighth graders in American public schools in 2017 were not proficient in reading and 67 percent were not proficient in mathematics, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress test results released by the U.S. Department of Education.

The results are far worse for students enrolled in some urban districts.

Among the 27 large urban districts for which the Department of Education published 2017 NAEP test scores, the Detroit public schools had the lowest percentage of students who scored proficient or better in math and the lowest percentage who scored proficient or better in reading. Continue reading →