Commentary, analysis and opinion.

How to Guard against False Ideas about God

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

“The only way to guard against false ideas about God is to fill our minds with true ideas about God. But thinking rightly about God doesn’t come naturally. Our natural inclination is to think wrongly about God. That is why we must look to Scripture—God’s Word—for guidance and authority on what He is like.”

(Tim Barnett – Stand To Reason)  In this series, we’ve looked at the danger of false ideas about God. We’ve discussed how they originate and considered biblical examples. We’ve also taken note of one of the most influential sources of false ideas about God: the culture. … Continue reading →

Racist cop? Anti-gay preacher? Middle schoolers asked to pick who lives and who dies

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

“This is what identity politics looks like – when you determine a person’s value based on their sexuality or their skin color or the bank account.”

(Todd Starnes – Fox News)  The Earth is about to blow up and there’s only room on the spaceship for eight passengers. So who gets left behind?

Seventh graders at Roberts Middle School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio were assigned the task last week of deciding who got to live and who was doomed to be blown to smithereens. Continue reading →

Someone Tell Carl Bernstein the Cover-Up Is Worse than the Crime

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

And Bernstein swears on a stack of Bob Woodward’s best-sellers that those sources-sources-sources were not Lanny Davis…

Contacted by CNN, one of Cohen’s attorneys, Lanny Davis, declined to comment.

Except…

Lanny Davis was CNN’s source, and we know this because Davis burned himself and admitted he was the source.

(John Nolte – Breitbart) CNN’s Carl Bernstein, the man made co-famous through his historic Watergate reporting, lied to us — to all of us. And he is now engaged in a cover up to protect this lie. Continue reading →

Has Hillsong conquered the Australian Government/Law Mountain?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

“What needs to be understood is that those in the New Apostolic Reformation pride themselves in not being bound by rule or regulation. Their message is about freedom from man’s rules, expectations and opinions. Nevertheless, Apostolic Centers (as they are also called) like Hillsong, see it as their mandate to ‘infiltrate’ and take over governments to influence culture. That any culture allows a ‘dominionist’ cult, rife with sexual and financial scandal, influence their top leaders (particularly the now newly elected Prime Minister Scott Morrison here in Australia) is a problem that needs to be seriously addressed.”

(Churchwatch Central)  For decades Australian media has portrayed Hillsong as a prosperity or word of faith cult. As former members once involved in Australia’s biggest cult, we know this is not an accurate representation. In reality, Hillsong is part of a global network known as the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) – with its roots beginning with the New Order of the Latter Rain (NOLR) cult at Sharon Orphanage in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1948. Continue reading →

The Sexual Revolution Hits Another Speed Bump

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ ,

“A person today can wave the rainbow flag and march in the parade but still be considered a bigot if he or she or ze does not feel sexual attraction to transgendered people.”

(Tim Challies)  Well, it looks like the sexual revolution has hit another speed bump. As it continues its long press toward completely redefining all we’ve ever believed about gender and sexuality, it has encountered a pretty significant issue. This issue appears to prove that many people are expressing loyalty to the revolution outwardly while actually denying it with their deepest and truest desires. Let’s take a quick look, then consider some of the implications. Continue reading →

Vatican Bombshell: McCarrick Conspiracy Uncovered!

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

“I have posted the entire text below. I’ve read it twice now, and I’m telling you, this story is as big as it gets.”

(Rod Dreher – The American Conservative)  Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, who served at the papal nuncio (that is, Vatican ambassador) to the United States from 2011-2016, has dropped an atomic bomb on Francis’s papacy, charging that “corruption has reached the very top of the Church’s hierarchy.”

In a lengthy statement, Vigano says that Francis has known for years about Cardinal Theodore McCarrick’s sexual abuse, but brought him into the pontifical inner circle anyway, and sent him around the world on papal missions. Continue reading →

Oprah Shouts For Abortion

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ ,

One woman said of her abortion: “I never did think of the cell cluster as ‘my baby,’ nor the sperm donor as ‘the father.’ … My whole view on the thing was quite neutral. Scientific.” Somehow it’s “neutral” and “scientific” to deny the humanity of “the thing.”

(Brent Bozell & Tim Graham – CNSNews)  Over the years, Oprah Winfrey has seemingly evolved into America’s mom. After her TV career, she sounds like an evangelist preaching a feminist substitute to replace religion in her monthly Oprah Magazine. Her August issue carries this motivational nugget of Oprah wisdom on the cover: “We all want to feel radiant, joyful, and alive. It starts with choosing love — in any form.” No mention of faith, but no surprise there. Continue reading →

Russell Moore to Speak at George Soros Event

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

“As the links above demonstrate, the National Immigration Forum is directly funded by George Soros. Its initiative, Bibles, Badges, and Businesses, is an explicit strategy to get evangelical churches (Bibles), law enforcement (badges) and corporations (businesses) to coalesce for the purpose of ending national sovereign borders.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  Russell Moore will be a plenary speaker at the National Immigration Forum, an organization formed and funded by Democrat financier, George Soros. The purpose of the National Immigration Forum is to advance the cause of amnesty for illegal aliens, demolish national sovereign borders, and establish a global government. … Continue reading →

New False Prophets to the Old False Prophets — Time for you to Step Off

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

“The message is clear and the gauntlet has been thrown down. If you are part of the old regime that has fleeced God’s flock through lying about what He says — time to step off! Have some humility to let the new batch of wolves into the pen.”

Read Jeremiah 23:16-32

(Anthony Wade – 8:28 Ministries) It seems there is a civil war brewing within the apostate church. For the sake of their master, I am sure they will remember how to sing Kumbaya but in the interim the irony is gratifying. R. Loren Sandford is a pastor in Colorado and apparently he thinks it is time the old guard goes off to that false prophet retirement ranch. What is delicious is he takes their own false prophet network language, weaponizes it and uses it against them. Thus get ready get ready get ready because there is a shift coming in the prophetic atmosphere! Let us reason together through above linked article: Continue reading →

Steven Furtick is the Most Dangerous Kind of False Teacher

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

“The issue here stems from the fact that Steven Furtick is not qualified to teach in any capacity, nor does he heed the harsh warnings for teachers. With respect to this, one can only conclude he willingly embraces his role as a false teacher.”

(Grayson Gilbert – Patheos) Steven Furtick has long been a bane to the Evangelical church on the basis of his own self-admission: he’s unqualified for the pastorate. He literally wrote the book on it in response to MacArthur’s one word answer when asked what his thoughts were on Furtick. Yet, rather than reassess whether or not he would be qualified per Scripture’s own stance, Steven Furtick doubled down in his pride with a publishing deal. Continue reading →

When Should I Leave My Church?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

How do you know if you should stay or go?  What theological and practical guidelines should be considered before moving to another church?

(Josh Buice – Delivered By Grace)  Far too many people leave their church prematurely and without biblical warrant.  The evangelical church today is infected with a disease called—church consumerism.  People often choose a church based on what the particular congregation can do for them.  In other cases, people are too quick to abandon their church on the basis of unbiblical or superficial rationale. This is not a new problem and it likely will remain a problem until genuine reform happens on a local church level in the area of biblical ecclesiology. Continue reading →

How Do You Know if Your Church is Healthy?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

There are healthy churches and unhealthy churches (so, so many unhealthy churches). How would you know the difference?

(Tim Challies)  Today I want to talk about the health of a local church. Are there ways we can know that a church is healthy or a way we can know it’s unhealthy? And this comes from a question I received from somebody who’s been watching these videos. Let me read the question:

“I’m curious to know how you might go about evaluating the spiritual health of the congregation? Here’s the key; are there objective ways of identifying whether a congregation is growing or stagnant and is there a clear set of biblical markers or indicators that you would use to assess whether the congregation is spiritually healthy?”  Continue reading →

‘Raise the Rainbow Flag, We Surrender’

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

Pope Francis “definitely got his nerve purging his message to a shell-shocked American Catholic community of anything that could
vaguely comfort her amid this storm.”

“Facts are notoriously stark, and numbers don’t lie: that homosexuality at all levels of the [RCC] hierarchy is a huge part of the problem is not debatable anymore.”  

(Alessandro Marinelli – The American Thinker)  These are stormy times for the Catholic Church in North America.  First, Theodore McCarrick, whose resignation as cardinal Pope Francis accepted in July.  Then the Pennsylvania grand jury report, which is having the effects of the detonation of an atomic bomb with its subsequent devastating shockwave and radioactive fallout.  As a Catholic, I would be lying if I said the mind-blowing revelations over the extent and the creepy deep-rootedness of sexual promiscuity and perversity in the clergy have not taken a toll on my trust in the Church.  As many of us are still reeling from the shock and the disgust, rage and exasperation mount. Continue reading →

Study: Children of Same-sex couples do less well than those of married couples

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

“Adults should NOT be thinking about how to duct-tape a child onto any old relationship that doesn’t offer the same safety and stability that opposite sex marriage offers. We should be passing laws to strengthen marriage in order to protect children, not to weaken it.” 

(Wintery Knight) The Public Discourse reports on a recent study out of Canada.

Excerpt:

A new academic study based on the Canadian census suggests that a married mom and dad matter for children. Children of same-sex coupled households do not fare as well. Continue reading →

Consequences of Sexual Sin

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ ,

“When sexual impurity moves in, joy moves out (Ps. 51:8). The two cannot coexist in the heart at the same time. They are mutually exclusive. Joy and gladness will not move in until the lust has moved out and there has been repentance and confession.”

(Eric Davis – The Cripplegate) Life can get dicey this side of Genesis 3. Crops fail. Weather fails. Nations fail. Health fails. Resolve fails. Much of life is simply about learning to navigate disappointment and pain. But there is one thing which perhaps causes more pain than anything else; sexual sin. There’s the betrayal; the lying; the deception. There’s the severing of trust; severing of families; severing of relationships. Sexual sin in spiritual leadership packs an added severity. Churches are damaged; ministries are damaged; witness is damaged. Continue reading →

Camp Followers Endanger the Church

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

“It’s a camp exalting a Jesus who is a feminist, a sexual libertine and a socialist. Faith leaders like Franklin Graham are considered fools. Jonathan absorbs rhetoric from Black Lives Matter without questioning the manipulative race- baiting, anti-law-enforcement agenda.”

(Linda Harvey – MissionAmerica)  Jonathan is a self-labeled Christian. He listens to CNN every day and never questions that he’s getting a reliable version of the truth.

What’s wrong with this picture?

Jonathan has a worldview issue but also a “camp” issue.

Which camp are you in? Have you decided? Continue reading →

Masters University Placed On Probation by Accrediting Agency

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ ,

“If you read the reports from WASC yourself, you’ll see that they didn’t make any clear accusations, but asked questions that need to be resolved.”

(JD Hall – Pulpit & Pen)  Masters University, the school associated with Grace Community Church and the esteemed John MacArthur, has been placed on probation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). According to WASC, there are a number of deficiencies that Masters must improve upon for them to come out from under their probationary status. Continue reading →

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Want to Drop the ‘Mormon’ Moniker

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

LDS Prophet Russell M. Nelson

“But here’s the thing: the Mormon faith is not the true church of Jesus Christ, and to say so threatens to lead untold numbers of people astray. The truth is that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is completely incompatible with biblical Christianity.” 

(Chris Queen – PJ Media)  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints conjures up plenty of different images. Some people equate the Latter Day Saints with bland, middle-of-the-road public figures like Mitt Romney or (if you’re old enough) the Osmonds. Others may think of polygamy. Still others may recall those eager, if dorky, young missionaries making their way through town in their short-sleeve white shirts and ties. Continue reading →

Press needs to restore its credibility on FBI and Justice Department

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

“This is an absolutely stunning development, suggesting a “deep state” conspiracy hidden even from superiors and driven on the basis of undisclosed dollars ultimately from the opposition candidate going to the wife of a DOJ official. Even moderate senators like Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) have been shocked by this and called for a special counsel to investigate the FBI.”  

(Mark Penn – The Hill)  I will never call the mainstream media “the enemy of the people.” But I will call them out for having strayed from fairly reporting some of the biggest stories of the last two years. No matter how egregious their errors, they insist on pointing fingers elsewhere and reinforcing their political biases, in ways unimaginable to those of us who grew up in the Walter Cronkite era. Continue reading →

Nadia Bolz-Weber Steps Down from Pastorate: Replaced by Gay Man Married to Drag Queen

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ ,

Lutheran pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber

Humber [Bolz-Weber’s replacement] came to HFASS from St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco. He is “married” to a man who pretends to be a woman and is a “drag queen.” His partner’s drag name is “Fruit Bomb.” 

(Pulpit & Pen) Nadia Bolz-Weber retired from her pastorate at the House for All Sinners and Saints (ELCA) and was replaced by a gay Episcopal man who is married to a drag queen who goes by the name “Fruit Bomb.” This is not satire.

Bolz-Weber is the giant Amazon-esque, tattoo-graffiti’d, potty-mouthed impastor who has referred to herself as a “dyke” (she is married to a man, however). … Continue reading →

Be skeptical of Dr. Oz’s remedies and Rick Warren’s ‘plans’ (Reprise)

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

FLASHBACK FRIDAY

This article by CRN managing editor Marsha West was published January 15, 2015

Dr. Mehmet Oz, who is a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon, author and host of a successful TV show, has involved himself in some, um, questionable cures for what ails you. According to a Fox News report, a recent study showed that “Half of Dr. Oz’s health advice is bad.” Die-hard Oz fans will more than likely ignore the study results and continue tuning into his TV show for advice from him and the panel of doctors that appear regularly, even knowing that Oz and the other doctors often recommend products straight out of Quacksville.

Our idols would never steer us wrong, would they? I mean, Oz wouldn’t allow his fans to purchase remedies that have little basis in fact or that many in the scientific community agree are bogus. Test the “cures” and you will find that, in some cases, what they recommended is on par with the sort of thing you’ll find in a witches brew – bat wings, spider legs and crow bones. Continue reading →