(Christian News) Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed on Monday a bill that would have banned abortions after 20 weeks, but also would have allowed dismemberment of the unborn up to that point as long as the baby was first killed by another method, such as being “injected by saline to cause its death before its arms and legs are ripped off.”
Author Archives: Marsha West
Doing Church Away from Church isn’t Church
Church means something specific in the New Testament.
(Eric Davis – The Cripplegate) Maybe you’ve heard it. “We can’t make it to church today, so we’ll just do church as a family.” “I can just do church on a hike this morning in God’s creation.” “The church is really the people, so we can do church wherever. God is everywhere, after all.”
Do we really need to go to a building on a certain day for it to count as doing church? If so, isn’t that legalistic?
Bethel’s house of cards; tarot-rists leading people to Baal/Jezebel by practicing occultism in God’s name
(Churchwatch Central) If the people of Bethel really read their bibles, they would notice that Jesus was very judgmental at times. Consider these words of Jesus to one of the churches in Revelation:
“But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.” Revelation 2:20
College Drinking Culture Must Change — Our Kids’ Lives Are at Stake
Our nation’s college students are abusing alcohol and other drugs in ways that threaten their health, their safety, and their academic success.
(Michael A. Fitts – Lifezette) This is the time of year that many college students return home to see family and friends, and to face nosy but well-meaning questions about school. Just as everyone at the holiday table will press them for information, students will be trying to assert some independence.
The Life & Teaching of Social Justice Jesus
Following is a satirical piece written in 2008 by the late Ken Silva:
Apprising Ministries gave you a description of this social justice “Jesus,” whose roots are firmly within spiritually bankrupt liberal theology, years ago in Will The Real Jesus Please Stand Up?
I am the Jesus of today’s liberal theology of inclusive, politically correct, universalism. I am only a human man—arguably the best example of a man and the greatest teacher to yet live. However, I was not born of a virgin; nor did I actually rise from the dead. Unfortunately as a mere Jewish Rabbi, I attracted such devoted followers that even after my death they wanted to keep my spirit alive so to speak. And so they went and built this elaborate theology around me, which is largely based on the writings of that rascal Paul. Sadly, they ended up making me into a god.
But I never I made any such outlandish claims. I teach that the most important thing we can do is to love one another. You see, that’s all that matters because we are the brotherhood of man. No one should ever criticize what another person honestly believes about God. After-all, all of humanity is actually already all God’s children. And even though we may take different paths of religion in this life, as all religions please God if they are sincere, in the end—as in Love Wins a la Rob Bell—we’ll all be with God because everyone is eventually going to be saved. Mankind is just too good to be condemned and God is too good to condemn him.
Computer models of global warming proven wrong
(World) In the midst of gloom-and-doom predictions of rapid climate change, a recent study shows computer models grossly overestimate the rate of global warming. The study, published in the Asia-Pacific Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, shows real-world climate change over the past 38 years is 0.096 degrees Celsius, about half of what computer models predict.
Does Jesus’ Reference to Eunuchs Affirm Transgender People?
(A. Philip Brown, II Answers In Genesis) In a recent Huffington Post article, Mark Olmstead claims that, according to Jesus, some people are born transgender and that expressing transgender identity behaviorally is no big deal. In Olmstead’s view, people who panic, demonize, or make a fuss about nontraditional categories of gender expression should just “get over it.” To justify his claim, Olmstead appeals to Jesus’ statement regarding eunuchs in Matthew 19:12 (NASB). Specifically, he asserts that the phrase “eunuchs, who were born so from their mother’s womb” may legitimately be understood to include traditional eunuchs, intersex persons, and transgender persons.
Catholic League: ‘Homosexuals Committed Most of the Abuse’
(CNS News) Commenting on an Australian commission report that recommends ending mandatory celibacy of priests in the Catholic Church to apparently curtail sexual abuse, Catholic League President Bill Donohue said this possibly is Australia’s way of saying there are too many homosexuals in the Catholic clergy, and he added that in the United States “homosexuals committed most of the abuse” in the church over the last 50 years.
California Health Officials Release Guidelines To Avoid Cellphone Radiation
(CBS San Francisco) California health officials have a new message for cellphone users.
For the first time ever, the California Department of Public Health has released guidelines about harmful cellphone radiation and how you can avoid it.
Dr. Karen Smith with the California Department Of Public Health said, “We recognize that there are a lot of people in the general public that have some concerns about their cellphones and whether using a cellphone is safe.”
Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Rollback of Obamacare’s HHS Contraceptive Mandate
(Breitbart) A federal judge in Pennsylvania has blocked the Trump administration’s new rule on Obamacare’s contraceptive mandate that exempts employers with religious or moral objections to providing contraception and abortion-inducing drugs and devices to employees through health insurance plans.
U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone, an Obama appointee, said Friday that the state was “likely to suffer serious and irreparable harm” if she did not order a preliminary injunction.
Kris Vallotton and Bethel Cannot Escape Link to New Age Occultism
(CRN Editor) Steven Kozar, curator of the Museum of Idolatry, offers proof that Bethel Church of Redding CA is linked to the world of the occult. According to Kozar, Australian couple Ken and Jenny Hodge, founders of Christalignment, “has been following the Bethel methods to a tee.” In Kozar’s story we learn that the couple has been thrown under the bus by Bethel’s Kris Vallotton, Bill Johnson & Company. This story has many twists and turns!
CRN believes that it is important for the Body of Christ to know what goes on at the infamous Bethel Redding — it will curl your hair! So we recommend Steve Kozar’s informative piece over at MoI:
Related: Holy Pivec’s piece “The ‘Christian’ Tarot card controversy at Bethel Redding” includes updates at the bottom. Pivec informs us that “Since writing this a couple of hours ago, I noticed that Christalignment has altered their website descriptions of their Destiny Cards, removing the word “tarot” and making other significant changes to the wording I cited above, including distancing themselves from animal totems and their claim that their cards will certainly predict the future. See screen captures of their original page below and compare it to the current page.”
Entire Family Turns Transgender
(CNS News) An entire family – man, woman, son and daughter – in Arizona is transgender.
The father identifies as a woman. His fiancée, the mother-to-be, identifies as a man. The son considers himself a girl and, of course, the daughter thinks she’s actually a boy. An entire transgender family, all under one roof.
Daniel Harrott was born a woman, while his fiancée, Shirley Austin was born a man. Both have previously been married.
When Life Seems Unfair
Have you never questioned those who travel? Have you paid no regard to their accounts—that the evil man is spared from the day of calamity, that he is delivered from the day of wrath? (Job 21:29-30)
Life seems to be unfair. There appears to be a basic unfairness at the root of things, and this is what causes many people to be troubled by Christians’ claims about a loving, faithful, just, and holy God. You often hear the question raised, If there is a good God, why does He let this kind of thing happen?…
Should Parents Subscribe to Family-Friendly ‘Christian Netflix’?
Christian Post (CP) has a piece by Leah Marianne Klett urging parents who want to give their families a “clean, uplifting alternative” to the filth Hollywood pumps out to purchase a free one-month trial to PureFlix.com. But is this really a wise choice for Christian parents, as Klett suggests?
In January 2016, she reported on this alleged Christian alternative to Netflix in “Pureflix an arm of dominionist International Coalition of Apostolic Leaders” which we’re reposting for those who may have missed it the first time around, as it’s important for parents to have the facts. As you will see, she actually took the time to research Pure Flix Digital and discovered that the company is part of the New Apostolic Reformation network. Unfortunately some reporters can’t be trusted to do their research, even those who write for popular “Christian” sites such as CP.
So with this background in mind, here’s that report:
Is Christian-themed movie subscription site PureFlix a strategic tool of the New Apostolic Reformation, or does this movie company simply focus on delivering films with a pro-Christian message? I’m about to make a case for the former.
We know that one of the hallmarks of the NAR (New Apostolic Reformation) movement is taking dominion over seven spheres of life on Earth, in order to activate the reign of Jesus’ Kingdom. It’s called the “7 Mountain Mandate,” in which Christians are to dominate and fix business, government, media, education, the family, religion, and arts and entertainment.
Nearly one-quarter of teens are using pot
CNBC has the latest statistics on this risky behavior among teens:
Of eighth, 10th and 12th graders surveyed, 24 percent said they’ve used the drug in the past year, according to research from the University of Michigan. The 1.3 percent increase is the first significant rise in seven years.
The increase in teens using marijuana comes as more states legalize pot for medical and recreational use.
This year, 14.1 percent of high school seniors said they see “great risk” in smoking marijuana occasionally, down from 17.1 percent last year. Also, 64.7 percent said they disapprove of using the drug regularly, down from 68.5 percent last year.
Hallmark Christmas movies under fire for spreading ‘Caucasian cheer’
Todd Starnes, host of Fox News and Commentary has the story:
The Hallmark Channel is a throwback to an age when Hollywood produced family-friendly films and love stories that did not involve leather and whips.
The network has earned millions of loyal fans for broadcasting movies that promote the virtues of faith and family — stories that tug at your heartstrings.
“We are a place you can go and feel good,” Bill Abbott, the chief executive of Crown Media, told the Washington Post.
Dr. R.C. Sproul went home to be with the Lord this afternoon
R. C. Sproul has now completed the good fight, he has finished the course, he has kept the faith. Absent from the body, present with Lord. — Steve Lawson
Beloved theologian R.C. Sproul is with the Lord now. According to Ligonier Ministries:
Dr. R.C. Sproul went home to be with the Lord this afternoon around 3 p.m. surrounded by his wife, Vesta, and family in his hospital room in Altamonte Springs, Fla. He was 78. He died peacefully after being hospitalized twelve days ago due to severe respiratory difficulties exacerbated by the flu and complicated by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Remembering R.C. Sproul, 1939-2017
R.C. Sproul, theologian, pastor, and founder of Ligonier Ministries, died on December 14, 2017, at the age of 78, after being hospitalized due to complications from emphysema. Dr. Sproul is survived by his childhood sweetheart and wife of fifty-seven years, Vesta Ann (Voorhis); their daughter, Sherrie Sproul Dorotiak, and her husband, Dennis; and their son, Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr., and his wife, Lisa. The Sprouls have eleven grandchildren, one granddaughter deceased, and seven great-grandchildren.
R.C. Sproul was a theologian who served the church. He admired the Reformers not only for the content of their message, but for the way they took that message to the people. They were “battlefield theologians,” as he called them. Many first heard of the five solas of the Reformation through R.C. Sproul’s teaching. When R.C. taught about Martin Luther, it was as if he had met the sixteenth-century Reformer. R.C.’s commitment to sola Scriptura led him to play a key role in drafting and advocating for the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (1978). He also served as president of the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy. Because of his commitment to sola fide, justification by faith alone, R.C. took a bold stand of opposition to Evangelicals and Catholics Together (ECT) in 1994. He later opposed the New Perspective on Paul and also the Federal Vision view. Like the Reformers, R.C. was willing to take bold stands for the central and essential doctrines of historic orthodox Christianity. He was a defender of the authority of God’s Word and of the gospel.
Bethelgate – looking under the rug of Bethel administration
A few days ago we posted “Christalignment: Our cards lead the way….into the occult” and reported that a blog calling itself Christalignment uses “destiny cards,” which is just another name for tarot cards, to practice the prophetic. What’s the big deal? Tarot cards are used to tell one’s future. Fortune telling is an occult practice. Occultists believe they are endued with magical or supernatural powers. These folks are into witchcraft, satanism, and other forms of psychic discernment (tarot cards, astrology, seances, Runes, palm reading, teacup reading, etc.). So it is clear that the Christ in Christalignment is the New Age Christ, not the Christ of holy Scripture, as God’s people are not to participate in occult practices such as “destiny card” reading. (Deut. 18:10)
In a piece entitled “Charismatics Now Using ‘Christian’ Tarot Cards” Pulpit & Pen reported Bethel Church’s association with Christalignment by claiming that “some associated with Bethel Church in Redding, California – are engaging in what is essentially tarot card reading.” Bethel leader Kris Vallotton came out with a Facebook post denying the charge. Although Vallotton denies it, Churchwatch Central says his statement is misleading. In this article, CWC reveals that Bethel is fully aware of this tarot card ministry:
After denying the charge, Bethel was exposed for promoting necromancy, in the form of what is known as ‘grave-sucking’. Now Bethel and their leadership claim they are not responsible for promoting New Age occultism in the form of ‘tarot card readings’. This article refutes well known Bethel leader Kris Vallotton’s claims that this fringe group (Christalignment) does not represent Bethel. This article reveals Vallotton’s statement is very misleading.
List of important Christians to follow on social media (not). Plus, ridiculous books
According to Elizabeth Prata of The End Time “many of these people on the list teach not immature and temporary error, but permanently damning heresy.” Three examples are Rick Warren, Steven Furtick and Christine Caine. Clearly, the woman who put together this list has zip, zero, nada discernment. See who else is included on Crosswalk’s list of important Christians you should follow:
Crosswalk Ministry recently posted a story titled 20 Important Christians You Should Follow on Social Media. Crosswalk.com’s About says,
Crosswalk.com aims to offer the most compelling biblically-based content to Christians on their walk with Jesus. Crosswalk.com is your online destination for all areas of Christian Living – faith, family, fun, and community.
After seeing the list of “important” Christians you should follow, Crosswalk should not be your destination for anything. Why? Most of their list is populated by false teachers. Sadly, the author of this list states that she is a teacher/leader at her church. It is apparent that the author lacks discernment, which is terrible for a church teacher/leader. It’s clear that the publication’s editors lack discernment, too, because they allowed it to be published.
Jennifer LeClaire Resigns From Charisma Magazine
NAR prophetess Jennifer LeClaire, aka Sneaky Squid Spirit, recently made this “mega announcement”:
After eight years with Charisma magazine, I resigned from my role as senior editor to follow God’s higher call for my life and ministry in June. I stayed on as a consultant for several months but am now moving forward to the “next” I prophesied in January.
I am thankful for the opportunity to serve as the first female editor in the company’s history. I would like to think the Lord used me to inspire and equip people through this platform, which grew online from thousands to millions of visitors a month during my time there.
I will continue releasing my voice through my book and itinerant travel ministry, my Ignite prophetic network, Awakening House of Prayer, AwakeningTV.com and the other ministries under the umbrella of Jennifer LeClaire Ministries.
Related: False Teacher of the 2017
How are we to regard Michael Brown, Todd White and other NAR leaders?
From Berean Research:
A few day ago we posted Michael Brown has been WHITE-washed and urged our visitors to share Churchwatch Central’s (CWC) piece. CWC continues their exposé on NAR charismatic apologist Dr. Michael Brown. In their latest blog post they give an explanation of the false Kenotic Jesus of the NAR. Briefly, the kenosis theory states that while He was on earth Jesus gave up some of His divine attributes. This theory is not taught in the Bible. What the Bible does teach is that Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man. As a man on earth, Jesus did not give up any of His divine attributes (Col 2:9).
Once again we urge our visitors to share CWC’s piece:
Todd White, Michael Brown, Mike Bickle, Heidi Baker, Bill Johnson, John Wimber, C. Peter Wagner and many other top NAR Apostles may need to be seriously considered worse than demons. This sounds like an outrageous statement.
But why even say such an ‘unloving’ thing?
5 Most Ridiculous Books to Ever Become Christian Bestsellers
Blogger, author, and book reviewer Tim Challies reveals what he considers the 5 most ridiculous books that Christians purchased, loved and passed on to their friends, starting with The Prayer of Jabez. Watch the vlog or read the transcript:
If you were to scan the lists of the best selling Christian books of all time you’d see some truly amazing books there. You’d see some books that have helped us better understand who God is and books that have instructed us. and how we as Christians can live lives of obedience to Him, and like you, I’m genuinely thankful for these books. Sadly though, you’d also see some truly flat-out awful books. Today I’ve narrowed down that list to the five most ridiculous books to ever become Christian bestsellers.
Christalignment: Our Cards lead the way….into the world of the occult
Christalignment, which has no connection whatsoever to the Lord Jesus Christ, uses “destiny cards” (tarot cards), some with Bible themes, to practice the prophetic. For those who are interested in a reading:
Team members can be booked individually for deep consultations, healing, spiritual readings, & spirit cleansing.
According to these frauds, the artists who design the cards are prophetic:
That means that as intuitive readers themselves and artists able to connect with spirit [demons] their art work carries meaning and power to change lives. Each painting has been done through connection to the third heaven realm.
The third heaven is the dwelling place of God.
More…
Our unique Love Destiny cards, which we have developed, are so accurate, that even if your life circumstances change dramatically, on your return to do them again years later, you will find the results identical, such is their accuracy.They are able to give profound insight into relationships, career and spiritual life.
Sadly, there are many people, including professing Christians, who actually buy into fortune telling. Using cards to tell one’s future is no different than gazing into a crystal ball or doing a teacup reading (looking at shapes formed by tea leaves after a cup of tea has been consumed) to see what the future holds.
What does the LORD say about this sort of thing:
There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God, for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do this (Deuteronomy 18:10-14). (emphases added)
A video is provided at the end that shows a woman explaining to a potential client what he can expect during a reading.
Be sure to check out Berean Research’s White Paper on Occult-Sorcery
Modern Day Witches Call Theirs ‘A Beautiful Way Of Life’
CBS2 was invited into the Church of the Eternal Circle, a Wiccan church in the state of New York. Witches are all about charms, potions, spells and magic. According to one of the witches “magic is simply the belief that you can make anything happen.” “My thoughts can heal,” sang the church’s high priestess. In other words, positive confession. Some witches actually wear black hooded robes. Brooms are used, not for flying, only for sweeping the circle and clearing the energy. Included in CBS2’s report is a video of the service.
At a time when participation in traditional religions is declining among Americans, the practice of witchcraft is said to be on the rise.
CBS2’s Ali Bauman went inside the secret world of modern-day witches to explore why so many say they’re falling under its spell.
“I am the high priestess,” Lisa Stewart said.
“To be a witch is incredibly relevant in today’s society,” Anton Stewart explained.
Nestled in the heart of the Hudson Valley is the Church of the Eternal Circle, the only legally recognized Wiccan Church in the state of New York.
“We follow the tradition of the craft of the wise — witchcraft — and we are witches,” Stewart said.
For the first time, members invited CBS2 to attend their services.
Our Pagan Children
From Berean Research:
What is the specific goal of paganism? According to Dr. Peter Jones, it is for our sexual identities to merge into an androgynous being. Those in our society who embrace this sort of nonsense are having great success in pushing their bizarre ideas on innocent children. Through public education, the entertainment industry, the liberal news media and the books youngsters read, they’re becoming indoctrinated into the pagan belief that gender differences don’t exist — humans are non-binary beings.
Dr. Jones skillfully explains what’s going on in our culture in his latest blog post over at truthXchange. He writes:
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). For centuries, this biblical wisdom has reassured Christian parents—until now. Our culture is pushing an increasingly pagan worldview on our Christian children. About 75% of evangelical children abandon their faith after a year or two of college. But college-age men and women should at least know enough to resist! It gets worse: our young, tender little ones are now on the front lines.