Commentary, analysis and opinion.

Educational Limbo: How Low Can You Go?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

A few months ago Josh Niemi blogged about what he called “educational limbo.” Niemi believes that when tolerating the amount of moral mischief in their child’s school, each parent has a personal limit of how low they will go before removing them. In his piece he quotes Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis who said the following about public schools:

I think parents need to repent of just handing their kids over to the secular world. That’s what they’ve done. They’ve basically handed them over to a system. You know, it’s about time we faced up to it—the public education system, by and large, is nothing but a church of atheism. They’ve thrown the Bible out, they’ve thrown God out, they’ve thrown creation out, they say in their textbooks you can explain the whole of reality by natural processes. What is naturalism? It is atheism. Continue reading →

Farewell, Willow Creek: Where the ‘Regular’ Churches Can Go From Here

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

“Well, Weeping Willow Creek and all others of its ilk, we’re on to you. We see the chinks in your armor, and they’re gaping open ever wider with each passing day. Another one of your empires has fallen, and others will follow soon.”

(Jonathan Aigner – Patheos) It looks like the beginning of the end at Willow Creek. They aren’t saying that, but I feel like that’s what’s happening.

If so, good riddance.

I’m sorry if I sound bitter. I’m not, really. More relieved than anything else. Saddened for the stories of abuse, gaslighting, and hero worship. Grieved by the commoditization of human hearts and souls, the theological void, and the liturgical collapse. But relieved that this sad chapter in American religious history is rattling to an end. And you can take the megachurch movement you spawned with you. Continue reading →

Bethel Faith Healer, Beni Johnson, Seeks Medical Treatment for Cancer

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

“Johnson is married to one of the most famous faith-healers in the world who regularly claims to heal Stage-4 cancer. He teaches that with enough faith, one can be healed. He decrees and declares such things, and weekly claims to do it. His wife is receiving medical treatment at hospitals and from naturalists. Think about that for a minute.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  We should pray for healing to come to faith-healer, Beni Johnson, who has recently announced having cancer. Beni is the wife of Bill Johnson, with whom she serves as co-lead pastor of Bethel Church. Continue reading →

Colleges: A Force for Evil

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Rodney Swanson, a UCLA economics professor, told his class, “The United States of America, backed by facts, is the greediest and most selfish country in the world.”

(Walter E. Williams – Townhall)  Many of the nation’s colleges have become a force for evil and a focal point for the destruction of traditional American values. The threat to our future lies in the fact that today’s college students are tomorrow’s teachers, professors, judges, attorneys, legislators and policymakers. A recent Brookings Institution poll suggests that nearly half of college students believe that hate speech is not protected by the First Amendment. … Continue reading →

Newspaper Industry Seeks Character Assassination of President As Antifa Wants to Kill Him

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

Photo credit Patriot Prayer

Here was my question to the progressive protesters (I asked everyone the same question): “If Donald Trump showed up here, what would you say or do?” Over half-dozen progressives voluntarily told me they would kill Trump. This is the definition of “Violence on both sides.”

(Judi McLeod – Canada Free Press)  Without ever blinking a jaundiced eye, 100 newspapers will follow the Boston Globe’s directive on Thursday with a collective hit job on President Donald Trump.

At press time, not a single newspaper had stepped forward to state that this is proof positive that there is no such thing as an objective free press; that what the Boston Globe is calling for is nothing less than a coordinated hate attack. Continue reading →

Arrest Warrant issued for NAR Apostle David Tomberlin – exposed for having multiple wives, kidnapping & prostitution?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

“This article hopes to provide resources for believers and non-believers on the criminal New Apostolic Reformation and its ‘Apostolic leaders’ who have not called out David Tomberlin, or told him to report to the proper authorities, in order to be properly investigated.”

(Churchwatch Central)   Once again, the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) network has allowed another criminal to remain within their ranks, despite reports alleging Thai Police having an arrest warrant issued for child kidnapping. Continue reading →

The New Apostolic Reformation – A Shelter for the Unqualified

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

The Bible is absolutely clear regarding the qualifications for a pastor,” says Stephen Colin. In this piece over at Famine In The Land, Colin offers two examples of wolves in sheep’s clothing, Todd Bentley and Mark Driscoll, who have found shelter in the NAR cult, despite the fact that, according to 1 Timothy 3:2-7, both men have disqualified themselves from pastoral ministry.  Colin writes:

Bob Dylan, hailed as one of the great song writers of the 20th century penned a song called “Shelter from the Storm” in 1975. The lyrics to the song have been regarded as a poetic masterpiece, which is probably why he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016. The third verse in particular uses imagery which is akin to something we see in the visible church today. … Continue reading →

The Ten Most Hateful Americans and Why they Matter

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

Language alert!

“John Brennan was Obama’s CIA director who once voted for Communist Gus Hall for president. This Deep State denizen, who many believe helped organized the Obama spying on the Trump camp during the election, is suffering from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

(Frank Hawkins – American Thinker)  The American Left is stoking hatred and it’s tearing us apart. Our media is guilty of not only of failing to shame those responsible, in many cases they egg them on, giving them a platform. The volume of irrational hatred spewing into our ether is extremely unhealthy, even dangerous for our republic and the broader American culture. Continue reading →

BSF Leader resigns; warns members about 2018 Study

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ ,

From Berean Research:

This week, long-time Bible Study Fellowship International (BSF) leader Linda Davis is warning members signed up for this fall’s new study, People of the Promised Land. Davis is a BSF veteran of 22 years. Please consider sharing this link with women who are not on social media.

Also share our resources:

White Paper: Purpose Driven

White Paper: Spiritual Formation

White Paper: Emergent Church  Continue reading →

Getting ‘Unhitched’ from the Old Testament? Andy Stanley Aims at Heresy

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

Megachurch pastor Andy Stanley describes the effort to retain much of the Old Testament as “intellectually ruinous and morally debilitating.” Albert Mohler, president of Southern Seminary & Boyce College, disagrees. He argues that because the Lord Jesus and the Apostles didn’t “unhitch the Christian faith from their Jewish Scriptures” as Stanley urges Christians to do, we should pay no attention to him.  Moreover, Dr. Mohler warns:

We are looking here at the ancient heresy of Marcion, who argued that the Old Testament must be repudiated by the church. Marcion, who lived about the years 85-160, taught that the Old Testament revealed a Creator deity who is not even the same God who sent Jesus. Unsurprisingly, he also held to a heretical Christology.

Now listen to Dr. Mohler explain why he believes Andy Stanley’s teaching aims at heresy. He writes: Continue reading →

Having Faith in Doubt: A Response to Steven Furtick

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

Let me say as this plainly as I know how: there is nothing of doubt in faith. God is not honored by doubt; doubting is not obedience to God. It is disobedience.

(Owen Strachan – For The Church) Doubt is back in the news. We’ve all heard a great deal about postmodernism over the years; one of the ways it continues to influence us as a culture is to make us prize uncertainty and distrust certainty. It seems more authentic, more truly human, even more virtuous, to live in gray areas than it is does to traffic in certitudes. You could sum up the spirit of the age like this: we’re being encouraged to have faith in doubt. Continue reading →

A tale of two confessions: Bill Hybels and Art Azurdia

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

“The bottom line—when a pastor disqualifies himself because of immorality, his church needs to investigate, and then rebuke. They need to rebuke him publically, clearly, and directly.” 

(Jesse Johnson – The Cripplegate)  In the past month, two prominent pastors have had their private sins publicly exposed: Bill Hybels and Art Azurdia—one nationally known and whose fall was front page news, the other known only inside of evangelical circles and his fall reported largely on social media.

Both demonstrated conduct contrary to the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3, conduct that disqualifies them from being elders. Both committed adultery, and the fall of both men will obviously bring shame on the name of Christ. Continue reading →

Christians Mystically Encountering God (Reprise)

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , , , ,

FLASHBACK FRIDAY

This article by CRN managing editor Marsha West was published 4/16/2013.

For a couple of decades there has been a big push by numerous evangelical leaders to incorporate pagan practices into the visible Church.  These unbiblical practices have their origins in Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, likewise the New Age movement.  Roman Catholic Trappist Monks fully embraced Eastern religion’s pagan practices.  Through the writings of Thomas Merton, Basil Pennington, William Menninger and Thomas Keating these practices have been introduced into mainline Protestant churches as well as independent, nondenominational, charismatic and Pentecostal churches. Continue reading →

Rick Warren Says Saddleback Has Matched the Growth of Church in Acts 2: Just Needs a Few More Baptisms to Pass a History-Making Milestone

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

“Already baptized? That’s ok!  Since baptism doesn’t really do anything your invited to come and be baptized again!” 

(Daniel Long – Long For The Truth)  Do you want to feel significant, special, important? Then you need to be baptized! But, baptism in any old church won’t do! Nope. In order for your  baptism to be really special, you need to be baptized at one of the twenty Saddleback Campuses.

Why?

First, because “no other church in America,” or quite possibly the world, has done what Saddleback has done! Saddleback is the modern-day church of Acts 2. Continue reading →

Willow Creek Elders and Pastor Heather Larson Resign over Bill Hybels

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

“We believe that [Hybels’s] sins were beyond what he previously admitted on stage, and certainly we believe that his actions with these women were sinful,” she said. “We believe he did not receive feedback as well as he gave it, and he resisted the accountability structures we all need.”

(Bob Smietana – Christianity Today)  In the summer of 2008, Bill Hybels stood in front of thousands of pastors and other church leaders gathered at Willow Creek Community Church and admitted his megachurch had failed. Continue reading →

What Censorship of Alex Jones Means for the Rest of Us

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

“What is disturbing is that these are independent companies that seem to have made this decision collectively. In other words, competitors are making decisions about content publication together. Regardless of how you feel about Jones, that should make anyone who is cautious of a Corporatocracy a tad concerned.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  Social media companies are private corporations that reserve the right to deny service to anyone. There is no constitutional right to demand that Google, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, or iTunes allow any person to speak freely. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution restricts the government from prohibiting speech, but privately owned companies – whether newspapers, opinion websites, or social media platforms – can censor whomever they want. That said, the coordinated censorship of Alex Jones by these companies should frighten anyone who is seriously concerned with a free flow of information in the Marketplace of Ideas. … Continue reading →

The Pastors Who Run Evangelical Hollywood

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

Judah Smith & Justin Bieber

“Pentecostal interpretation of the Bible is not always what millennials want to hear. Media outlets have questioned Lentz, Veach, Smith, and Wilkerson about their views on marriage equality and abortion, which more traditional Pentecostal churches rail against. The cool pastors, however, prefer not to share their opinions on these issues.”

(Pulpit & Pen) Kanye West. Kim Kardashian. Russell Wilson. Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Justin Bieber. I know that if you hear these names you think, “solid Christian believers.”

No? The influence of charismaticism’s prosperity-driven moralistic, therapeutic deism in Hollywood has been well-established. In particular, the influence of Hillsong has been explored by major media. Like the Church of Scientology, Hillsong has thrived primarily by celebrity influence. And so, Carl Lentz – the pastor of Hillsong New York – has been seen taking shots with addiction-riddled Justin Beiber. Beiber and his one-time sweetheart, Selena Gomez, have visited pastor of Hillsong’s affiliate church in Seattle, Judah Smith via private jet. Continue reading →

What are the greater works Jesus promised we would do?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

The key is to see that these “works” were a signpost, along with Jesus’ words, that bore witness to the truth of Jesus – that he was indeed God’s promised King. The works we do, as Christians, are the good things that are part of the normal Christian life that bear witness to the truth of Jesus.

(PastorFish) “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12) Continue reading →

Bethel’s delusions of grandeur – impervious to the realities of the Carr fire

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

Before we get to Rick Becker’s piece, here’s a quote by Theresa Dedmon, a woman who’s on the pastoral staff at Bethel Church in Redding CA. Bethel’s not far from the raging Carr fire that took the lives of 7 people and destroyed well over 160,000 acres and 1,077 homes in Shasta County:

All of us have most likely experienced raging fires, like the Carr fire, that has come against us either in our relationships, pursuing our dreams, or feeling secure for our future. Remember, that support from others, hearing God’s voice, declaring, and giving thanks will be key for your victory. I can hardly wait to share with you stories of victory and breakthrough as we press in for God’s mercy and blessing for protection and restoration. Remember you are Born to Create, and declare life! (Emphasis in the article) Continue reading →

Revoice: Sliding into Heresy

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

“In spite of the Scripture’s clear teaching against homosexual activity … the church will be splintered, divided not so much by justification by faith or the status of Scripture but by non-binary homosexuality, which claims to be god-honoring but will lead to outright paganism.”

(Peter Jones – truthXchange)  A mixed bag of straight and gay pastors, celibate and non-celibate gays, parents and children—450 in all—have just met in a church (PCA) in St Louis. The conference attempted to integrate into the church and its ministry homosexuals who accept the biblical view of sex and marriage as limited to heterosexual people, but who see their same-sex orientation as unchangeable, even as a normative part of creation. … Continue reading →

Women Preaching: It’s Not a Secondary Doctrinal Issue

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion

Lutheran pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber

According to Bible study author, speaker and blogger Michelle Lesley, there are “essential”, “primary”, or “first tier” doctrines a person must hold in order to become a Christian and/or be considered a Christian. So, what are these doctrines? One example she gives is that you must believe you’re a sinner. And if you don’t believe you’re a sinner? You’re not saved. Period.

Michelle also delves into what the Church considers “secondary issues” a.k.a. non-essentials.  As you can see by the title, she believes the Bible teaches that women should not preach. Moreover, she has confidence that women should not serve as pastors, teach men Scripture in the church, and exercise authority over men in the church.

Now listen to Michelle Lesley explain all the reasons for believing that her’s is the biblical view.  She writes: Continue reading →

What does Jesus think about discernment? This verse tells you

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ ,

Photo credit Stuart Miles – from 8:28 Ministries

I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. (Revelation 2:2).

(Elizabeth Prata)  We live in an age where fellow Christians say that to speak of someone specific being a false teacher is mean, or ill-mannered, or inappropriate. “Just let them alone, God will take care if them,” they say. Or they claim that speaking against false teaching is uncivil, and to “Just pray for them.” Many of thems ay, “You can’t know if he/she is false, you don’t know their heart.” Continue reading →