Commentary, analysis and opinion.

Breaking: Mancow Announces ‘James MacDonald is No Longer a Part of Harvest Bible Chapel’

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“Given our desire to be patient with the process, we elected not to publish last night.  However, this morning, Mancow Muller made the following announcement on his radio program.  And as has been our practice as of late, we are merely pointing to what another figure is now publicly reporting as fact.”

(The Elephant’s Debt)  Seven years ago, The Elephant’s Debt was launched amidst mounting concerns about the theological drift at Harvest Bible Chapel.  But what began with apprehensions over Trinitarian formulations and prosperity gospel inclinations quickly morphed into something much larger, and far more troubling.  Reports from former elders and pastors began to pour in.  Continue reading →

Leftism – Not Just Wrong, But Evil

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“Nothing has demonstrated this evil stratagem quite as starkly recently as Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings last fall, which degenerated into a circus of demonic behavior by leftists gleefully determined to destroy Kavanaugh and his family over a single, decades-old, unsubstantiated accusation of sexual assault. The sick smears from even the mainstream media that Kavanaugh was a gang rapist, belligerent drunk, and pedophile helped wake up many people to the boundless cruelty in which the left revels.” Continue reading →

The Five Tests of False Doctrine

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“It is this simple: Sound teaching originates with God and false teaching originates with men or demons. When it comes to doctrine, if man made it, then we should not hold it. God is the Father of truth and Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44).”

(Tim Challies)  T.D. Jakes says that God eternally exists in three manifestations, not three persons. Greg Boyd says God knows some aspects of the future, but that other future events are outside of his knowledge. Creflo Dollar says because we are created in the image of God, we are little gods. Mormonism says God revealed new scripture to Joseph Smith that supersedes the Bible. Roman Catholicism says we are justified by faith, but not by faith alone. This world is a murky madness of true and false. For every doctrine we know to be true, there seems to be a hundred pretenders. Continue reading →

How to Heal from Theological Abuse

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“One of most common series of questions looks something like this: What can I do to heal and move on from the abusive theology and actions I have been a part of? What do you think my next step is? How to I get over this? How do I get stable after being so confused?”

(Costi Hinn – For the Gospel)  It’s not uncommon for me to receive communication from people who God has graciously saved out from extreme charismatic abuses, prosperity gospel exploiters, and cultish movements like the New Apostolic Reformation. … Continue reading →

Trump the Hero: ‘All children – born and unborn – are made in the holy image of God’

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“The bulk of evangelicals have made the conscientious decision to enshrine in power a deeply flawed man who at least is not so flawed as to approve of societal evils like human abortion.”

(JD Hall – Pulpit & Pen)  Donald Trump is likely not a born-again Christian. Nonetheless, Trump is proving to be one of the most unlikely advocates of born-again Christians the political realm has seen in many years.

Claiming to have never asked forgiveness, with rumors circulating that his conversion experience was mediated by charismatic false-prophetess, Paula White, and demonstrating the personal sexual ethic of well, Paula White, Trump’s credentials as a practitioner of Christianity theologically or ethically are dubious. … Continue reading →

Gov. Northam and the guy who said: Kill people in mixed-race relationships

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“Certain qualities help your cause, such as being non-white, female, non-Christian, “LGBTQ,” left-wing, and Democrat; the more of these qualities you possess, the more protected you are. You’re practically bulletproof if you have them all.”

(Selwyn Duke – Renew America)  It’s certainly a sign of the times that Governor Ralph Northam’s resignation has been demanded not because of an apparent endorsement of infanticide, but because of a 1984 yearbook photo. Yet another sign is how, while Virginia’s Northam is condemned for having appeared in blackface or a KKK costume, another man is being honored despite having actually appeared before a KKK rally and preaching strict racial separation. Continue reading →

Nancy Pelosi Keeps Quoting Her Favorite Bible Verse. The Mystery: It’s Not Actually in the Bible

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“Between 2002 and 2018, the quote appears 12 times in the Congressional Record, with Pelosi responsible for all but one of the entries. (The other time, Texas Republican Louie Gohmert was quoting Pelosi.)”

(Ruth Graham – Slate)  Nancy Pelosi addressed a gathering of presidents of Christian colleges this week in Washington, where she thanked the evangelical community for its leadership on immigration and refugee policy reform. To this end, the speaker of the House quoted a favorite bit of biblical wisdom in her opening statement: “To minister to the needs of God’s creation is an act of worship. To ignore those needs is to dishonor the God who made us.” Continue reading →

The Murder of Discernment in Modern Christianity

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The willingness to accept discernment when talking about cults, false religions, and well-known charlatans is one thing.  But when the lens of discernment is turned to the celebrity pastor, teacher, podcaster, or fellow, professing “brother,” the willingness for discretion is deleted, particularly when it’s pointed at “our” favorite celebrity. 

(Justin Pierce – Bible Thumping Wingnut)  The Christ-chosen, Spirit-inspired Apostle, Paul, told Timothy to warn “the brothers” of false teachers, the wolves, who bring false doctrines and demonic lies disguised as truth.

“If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus,being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.”  1 Timothy 4:6

Continue reading →

Mark Driscoll to Host Biblical Church Governance Seminar — Not Satire!

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“Why anyone would have Mark Driscoll host a conference on how to govern a church when he has utterly destroyed one and is covered in the blood of his former sheep. Was Ted Haggard unavailable? Rob Bell too busy? I pray anyone foolish enough to attend this can see they are being taught unbiblical principles by unprincipled men.”

(Anthony Wade – 8:28 Ministries) The truth is often stranger than fiction. When I saw the story about Mark Driscoll hosting a conference on biblical church governance I immediately thought it was another scathing satire from Babylon Bee but I was mistaken. Apparently Driscoll thinks enough time has passed since he destroyed Mars Hill Church in the most unbiblical manner possible and then fled church discipline by lying that God told Him to. … Continue reading →

Cheerleading Infanticide Might Just Be The Tipping Point For Democrats

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“Their position is that a baby can be killed anytime before it is born for any reason. Not just deformed or sick ones, and not just when mothers are in the essentially mythical danger of dying if that baby isn’t aborted stat. Anytime, for any reason.” 

(Kurt Schlichter – Townhall)  As a man, I feel very comfortable telling women that they can’t murder their babies.

I will never be impregnated, or carry a baby, nor give birth, and yet I am still going to demand that no one murder a child. Continue reading →

Russell Moore Paints Conservatives as Idolaters of Power Because of ‘Racial Injustice’

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“While conservative, Biblically astute Christians — which, unfortunately, aren’t very many any more — can see right through the smoke and mirrors of Moore’s words and actions, Moore continues to paint the right as “bigoted” in an effort to move more people to his side. Creating a false dichotomy, calling it the “idolatry of power,” he essentially claims that conservatives are pro-life but racist, and liberals are pro-choice but non-racist and he wants you to join him in the ‘middle.’”

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  Russell Moore is no stranger to leftist political games. Russell Moore is a pro-life Democrat who holds to nearly every liberal political position there is — to some varying degree or another — with the exception of abortion. Let me say, I’m glad he hates abortion, as any professing Christian should. But Russell Moore likes to play the moderate mediator good guy game, making his position appear more tenable to the masses. Continue reading →

Demonizing White Men

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“That is just a partial list of statements that would be viewed and condemned as racist simply by replacing “white men” with “black men,” “Mexican men” or “Asian men.” You can bet the rent money that university presidents and media executives would sanction any of their employees for making similar broad, sweeping statements about nonwhite men.”

(Walter E. Williams – Daily Wire)  Rush Limbaugh’s December 2018 Limbaugh Letter has an article titled “Demonizing White Men.” It highlights — with actual quotations from people in the media, academia and the political and entertainment arenas — the attack on white men as a class. You can decide whether these statements are decent, moral or even sensible. Should we support their visions? Continue reading →

Hillsong Church Phoenix Conducting a Catholic Mass and Hosting Catholic Priest at Alpha Conference 2019

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“Get this, at a Hillsong Church — they are holding a Catholic Mass”.

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  Hillsong Church is a hotbed for heresy–a celebrity-minded prosperity gospel Sunday morning entertainment venue where you can go to have your week’s fill of self-adulation with — by any discernible standard — no Biblical teaching or exhortation.

Most people know Hillsong through their swaths of ear-tickling music that’s poured out of their multiple campuses and celebrity bands throughout the world — a money-making machine for sure. … Continue reading →

Is Denying Hell [ECT] a Gospel Issue? A Response to the Anti-Hell Acolytes, and Their So Called Christian Supporters

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“Denying Hell is a Gospel issue because the everlasting God will render everlasting salvation for His elect, and everlasting damnation for His enemies. This is constituted in His word.”

(Sonny Hernandez – Reforming America Ministries)  Is denying the biblical doctrine of Hell a Gospel issue? Well, that depends who you ask. If you ask an anti-Hell heretic, one who affirms either soul sleep, conditional immortality, or annihilationism, they will tell you that it is not. If you ask a so called Christian or hireling pastor who spends more time listening to their anti-Hell internet buddies, they will tell you the same argument that anti-Hell heretics use. But if you ask a Bible believing Christian, one who affirms the sufficiency and inerrancy of Scripture, you will undoubtedly hear that denying the biblical doctrine of Hell is not only a Gospel issue, it is heresy! Continue reading →

The Left’s Comfort with Infanticide Is a Warning About ‘Medicare for All’

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“Not only do the Democrats’ “Medicare for All” socialized-medicine pipe dreams have such staggering price tags that even Kamala Harris felt the stabbing pain in her wallet, but they would put profound and deeply personal medical decisions in the hands of authoritarian bureaucrats whose ideology is hostile to the very concept of individuality.”

(John Hayward – Breitbart)  It’s been a shocking few weeks for abortion extremism, from New York’s shocking late-term abortion law to Virginia’s mercifully unsuccessful attempt to legalize infanticide. It’s time to start talking about death panels again, because this casual attitude toward the destruction of human life is a grim omen of what “Medicare for All” would be like. Continue reading →

The Christian and Tolerance

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“People rise up in the church and begin teaching doctrine that does not accord with the pattern of sound words entrusted to us in Scripture. Others stand up against that error and criticize it for not aligning with biblical truth. Yet still other men push back against that and say, “Hey, let’s not be so rigid and dogmatic, OK? These folks are aiming to ground their teachings in Scripture; they just have a different interpretation than you do. Who’s to say that our interpretation is better than their interpretation? After all, the text isn’t all that clear anyway. We should hear them out. We should give them a platform. We ought to be tolerant of a diversity of views.”

This is what happened in the Corinthian church…” Continue reading →

Russell Moore Joins With Nancy Pelosi to Address Liberal Organization

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“The NAE is a sister organization of the National Council of Churches, which is affiliated with the World Council of Churches. The NAE is an ecumenist organization, which from its inception was branded as being theologically liberal.” 

(JD Hall – Pulpit & Pen)  Russell Moore speaking alongside Nancy Pelosi really isn’t a stretch of the imagination. Moore, a former Democratic staffer, has done everything in his power to be as fierce a critic of President Trump as the Speaker of the House. … Continue reading →

JD Greear Calls Greed Equally Sinful as Homosexuality & Same-Sex Attraction

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“The Bible makes it clear that there are different types and degrees of sin and that God looks upon sin in this manner; which Pastor Greear fails to point out when he equivocates homosexuality and SSA attraction as being to equal to other sins.”

(Richard Haas)  This past Sunday on January 27, 2019 Pastor, JD Greear of Summit Life Church, preached a sermon entitled How the Fall Affects Us All. In this hour and a half sermon, Pastor Greear addresses the topic of Homosexuality and Same-Sex Attraction (SSA). This sermon is part of his series, The Book of Romans. In this sermon, he is addressing Romans 1:24-32, which he purely mishandles and misappropriates. Continue reading →

Stone Indictment Underscores That There Was No Trump-Russia Conspiracy

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It has to have been obvious to investigators for months that this suggestion was misleading. Yet there has been no correction of the record. For month after month, the FBI, the Justice Department, and the special counsel have been content to allow the presidency to be enveloped in a cloud of suspicion that necessarily infects the administration’s capacity to govern, to conduct foreign relations, and to deal with Congress.

Why?

(Andrew C. McCarthy – National Review) Roger Stone is the shiny object. The obstruction charges in his long-anticipated indictment, made public on Friday, are not the matter of consequence for the United States. Continue reading →

Adults who corrupt children for fun and profit

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But the drag queens’ own website tells a different story. “Drag Queen Story Hour captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. In spaces like this, kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where people can present as they wish, where dress-up is real.”

(Bart Stinson – OneNewsNow)  I went to an out-of-state sporting event recently and was surprised to see that a youth dance troupe from my city, just a couple of blocks from our house, preceded us there. The boys drummed, and the girls danced.   Continue reading →

Most Prominent Southern Baptist Leader Admits He’s Influenced By False Teachers

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“Russell Moore has spent the majority of his career in the ERLC waging war on conservative views in the culture, including his push for open-borders in America and redefining the word “refugee” to include illegal immigrants. He’s waged war against traditionally southern symbols such as the confederate flag and statues, calling them “racist” and “bigoted” – despite their wider meaning for individual states’ rights.” 

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  There really is no argument that the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is rapidly declining into a vapid morsel of what used to be a powerful voice of biblical truth. Succumbing to anything from social justice to charismaticism, the SBC is a world leader in ecumenism with its leaders partnering with just about anyone to achieve its notoriety as a moral progressive voice in the culture. Continue reading →

Vatican to be exposed as ‘one of largest’ homosexual networks in world in new book

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Martel claims to be able to show us with his new book the underlying connection between the following topics: the celibacy of priests, the condemnation of the use of contraceptives, the cover-up of countless cases of sexual abuse, the resignation of Benedict XVI, misogyny among the clergy, the dramatic fall of  vocations to the priesthood, the plotting against Pope Francis.” His book is meant to “reveal these secrets.”

(Maike Hickson – LifeSiteNews)  A press release that is to be published tomorrow in several different languages announces more disclosures about the content of the book In the Closet of the Vatican which itself aims at revealing that there now exists in the Vatican “one of the largest homosexual communities in the world” (according to the French version of the press release). Continue reading →

Here’s What We’ve Learned About Democrats From Their Response To Covington Teens, NY Abortion Law

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“As demonstrated by the cheering and applauding of the extremist abortion bill in New York, the Democrats have increasingly embraced a radical hatred for anything conservative, driven to celebrate any perceived victory over conservative values and beliefs.”

(James Barrett – Daily Wire)  On his inimitable radio show Monday, Rush Limbaugh paused to note the “overwhelming reaction” to his monologue last week responding to New York State Democrats passing the most extreme abortion law in U.S. history, which, among other things, allows for abortion up to the child’s due date and loosens restrictions on who is allowed to perform an abortion. The response to his monologue was so strong, the radio host suggested, because in it he addressed a key concept that many people have struggled to understand: What is really driving Democrats even to the point of cheering such an extreme abortion law? Continue reading →

Ungovernable

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“The congressional swearing-in event introduces profound incoherence into the solemn ceremonies of investiture that seek to protect the nation from immoral subversion. Biblically-based law (the truth) and Sharia law (the lie) are irreconcilable. One cannot combine these competing “moral” systems without introducing at the highest level a totally chaotic and irrational basis for our nation’s governing principles.”  

(Peter Jones – truthXchange)   Last November’s elections brought into Congress some of the most extreme office holders ever seen. Recently defeated Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill said: “I’d be lying if I did not say I was worried about this place. It just does not work as well as it used to.”[1]Paul Kane of The Washington Post describes how in the early meetings of the new Congress “tensions flared and lawmakers walked toward each other in the well of the House. The chance of physical confrontation seemed to grow by the second… Shouting, near fisticuffs, emotions high…Today’s Washington could get worse.” Continue reading →

Where Did All This Pentecostalism Come From?

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William J. Seymour, leader of the Azusa Street Revival

“The leaders of the movement were convinced that speaking in tongues stood as proof that the Spirit was beginning to work in a fresh way that foretold the imminent return of Christ. This added an urgency to the movement that often overwhelmed reason and discernment. So missionaries were dispatched to foreign lands without preparation, without any view to biblical qualification, and without any thought as to when and how they would return.”

(Tim Challies)  It is impossible to consider the modern history or contemporary state of Christianity without accounting for the sudden rise, the explosive spread, and the worldwide impact of Pentecostalism. To that end, I’ve been reading several books on the subject, focused especially on the Azusa Street Revival, which most historians consider the setting in which Pentecostalism began. Here are a few key points I’ve learned about the Azusa Street Revival and the Azusa Street Mission that housed it. Continue reading →